A man has been charged and a woman is in a coma following an alleged altercation in the Hunter region.
About 1.30am (Monday 16 December 2019), officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District attended a home in Hampshire Road, Merriwa – west of Muswellbrook – after reports of a domestic violence related incident.
A 40-year-old man was arrested and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
Police will allege that at about 1.30pm on Sunday (15 December 2019), an argument occurred between the man and a 41-year old woman.
During the altercation it’s alleged the man was struck and bitten by the woman. He then allegedly slapped the woman, causing her to fall backwards and hit her head.
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended the home and treated the woman for head injuries. She was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
The woman underwent emergency surgery and is expected to be in an induced coma for several days.
The man was also treated for a laceration to his hand and bruising to his cheek.
The man was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order.
He was refused bail to appear in Muswellbrook Local Court today (Monday 16 December 2019).
Man charged after allegedly firing air rifle near public place – Bolton Point
A man has been charged after allegedly discharging an air rifle near a public place.
About 4.30pm on Friday 13 December 2019, police have been told a man was firing an air rifle at a private residence on Quigley Street, Bolton Point, directed at birds in a nearby reserve.
Yesterday (Sunday 15 December 2019), the matter was reported to police who then commenced inquiries.
A short time later, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended a property on Quigley Street, Bolton Point, and spoke with a 25-year-old man.
Police allegedly located and seized a loaded air rifle inside the property.
The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.
He was charged with use firearm in or near public place and not keep firearm safely.
He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Monday 16 December 2019).
Man charged after alleged police pursuit – Hunter region
A man will face court today following a police pursuit in the Hunter at the weekend.
Shortly before 11pm on Saturday 14 December 2019, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attempted to stop an allegedly stolen Toyota Prado 4WD on Belmore Road, Lorn.
It’s alleged the Toyota then attempted to reverse into police before fleeing at speed.
A pursuit was initiated but was terminated a short time later.
Police then located the Toyota in Skilton Avenue, East Maitland and found a 25-year-old man allegedly hiding in nearby grass.
A short foot pursuit was initiated before the 25-year-old was arrested.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police allegedly located several items suspected of being stolen from an earlier aggravated break and enter offence at a hardware business on Bungaree Street, Maitland.
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with 12 offences, including police pursuit (Skye’s Law), aggravated break & enter dwelling in company and armed with intent to commit indictable offence.
He was refused bail to face Maitland Local Court yesterday (Sunday 15 December 2019) where he was again refused bail to face the same court today (Monday 16 December 2019).
Inquiries are continuing.
LIGHT RAIL OPENS IN THE HEART OF SYDNEY
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Transport Minister Andrew Constance today officially opened light rail services from Circular Quay to Randwick.
The first passengers have ridden on the new L2 Randwick Line following a ribbon cutting ceremony at Circular Quay.
“It’s an historic day for Sydney as light rail takes passengers down George Street for the first time in 61 years,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“George Street used to be a car park with hundreds of buses and thousands of cars congested every day. Now it is one of the best boulevards in the world.
“The new network will move up to 13,500 commuters an hour during peak time, with one coupled tram holding 450 passengers, which is equivalent to nine standard buses.
“The new pedestrian boulevard will create a vibrant new shopping and dining precinct, bringing people along the route to enjoy everything it has to offer.”
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the buzz created by the testing of the light rail and at today’s opening, showed there was overwhelming support for the project.
“The new light rail line will revolutionise the way that the people of Sydney travel through the CBD and South East for years to come,” Mr Constance said.
“Opening the new light rail line between Randwick and Circular Quay marks the next major step to building a modern new public transport network to cater for Sydney’s growing population and befits our world class city.”
Trams on the L2 Randwick Line are fare-free this weekend.
Transport for NSW has partnered with Rural Aid to raise funds to support regional communities and farmers. Volunteers are collecting donations along the light rail route this weekend.
Three charged following police pursuit – Newcastle
Three men have been charged following a pursuit with police in the Newcastle area overnight.
Around 2.25am (Saturday 14 December 2019), officers attached to Newcastle City Police District observed a black Mazda sedan – suspected stolen – parked at a service station on Glebe Road in Merewether.
Officers approached two men, both aged 23, inside the service station, at which time a third 23-year-old – who was sitting inside the Mazda – drove from the scene.
Upon searching the two men, officers allegedly located over $9,000 in cash and ammunition on one of them. Both men were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
Other police pursued the Mazda through the suburbs of Birmingham Gardens, Waratah, Jesmond, Heatherbrae, Raymond Terrace and Williamtown. Road spikes were deployed on Tourle Street, Mayfield West causing the tyres to deflate. The car continued until it crashed into a set of traffic lights at the intersection of Tourle Street and Industrial Drive.
The 23-year-old driver left the vehicle and was pursued on foot before being arrested in a backyard of a home on Groongale Street in Mayfield West.
Officers located and seized two bags dropped near the scene. Upon searching the bags, police allegedly found a number of pills, mobile phones, gloves and a knife.
The driver was taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing before being taken to Newcastle Police Station.
Upon searching the stolen Mazda, officers allegedly located a .22 rifle under the seat. The firearm was seized and will be forensically examined.
The 23-year-old driver was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and drive conveyance taken without consent of owner.
The second 23-year-old was charged with possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority and be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
The third 23-year-old was charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner and custody of knife in public place.
All three were refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 15 December 2019).
ATO tax report proof of broken system
Data released in the ATO’s Tax Transparency Report today showing that a third of our largest companies paid no corporate tax last year are proof that the system is rigged in favour of big corporations who make massive political donations, said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“We have two sets of rules in this country: one for big corporations who can afford to donate to Labor or the Liberals and another for the rest of us – and this report proves it,” Di Natale said.
“What kind of message does it send when a multi-billion dollar corporation like Whitehaven Coal pays less tax than a nurse on $54,000 a year? It’s time that we ended the loopholes that allow big, polluting companies to opt out of paying their fair share towards our essential services.
“If you can afford to make massive political donations so political parties will deliver policies that increase your company profits, then you can afford to pay your fair share of tax,” said Greens Democracy Spokesperson Sen. Larissa Waters.
“Our democracy is sold out. We need to stop the rorts that let big corporates get away with tax avoidance and remove the toxic influence of donations from our parliament .”
NOTE: Of the top 100 companies that paid no tax, 22 are fossil fuel companies:
EXXONMOBIL AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LTD
AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LNG PTY LTD
CHEVRON AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD
SHELL ENERGY HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED
PEABODY AUSTRALIA HOLDCO PTY LTD
YANCOAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED
HOPE DOWNS MARKETING COMPANY PTY LTD
QGC UPSTREAM HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED
SANTOS LIMITED
BHP (AUS) DDS PTY LTD
PIONEER SAIL HOLDINGS PTY LTD
PUMA ENERGY (AUSTRALIA) HOLDINGS PTY LTD
WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED
INTERNATIONAL POWER (AUSTRALIA) HOLDINGS PTY LTD
PETRONAS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
CNOOC GAS AND POWER (AUS) INVESTMENT PTY LTD
QUADRANT ENERGY HOLDINGS PTY LTD
ULAN COAL MINES LIMITED
CLERMONT COAL MINES LTD
BANPU AUSTRALIA CO. PTY LTD
CONOCOPHILLIPS AUSTRALIA GAS HOLDINGS PTY LTD
Government response to Digital Platforms Inquiry misses the mark
After dragging its feet for over half a year, the Morrison Government has finally delivered its response to the Final Report of the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry.
While its findings were broad-ranging, the recommendations do not go anywhere near far enough to restore funding to the ABC and SBS, protect local content quotas and fund public interest journalism, said Senator for SA and Greens’ Spokesperson for Communications Sarah Hanson-Young.
“Despite weeks of chest-thumping, the Morrison Government has buckled to the pressure of the tech giants in its lacklustre response to the review,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“The recommendations from the ACCC were modest at best. Yet, the Liberals could barely commit to implementing them. Instead, they’ve kicked the can down the road by announcing yet another review and yet more consultation.
“The Government has side-stepped much needed reform to protect Australian journalism and content. Everyday Australians deserve to know that regardless of how they consume their news and entertainment that it is factual, quality and is a good dose of Australian made.
“We know that Australian content and children’s content must be protected, to ensure that Australian voices and stories continue to be heard. We also know that streaming video on demand (SVOD) services don’t abide by the same rules on local content as other players.
“The Greens will fight hard in the Parliament for proper protections and support for Australian journalists and content creators.
“There have been successive reviews of news media over the last decade, from the Finkelstein Review to the Convergence Review, and a separate Senate Inquiries into the Future of Public Interest Journalism and Australian Content. Australia has one of the most concentrated media markets in the world, and right now, ours is continuing to trend in the wrong direction.
“It is clear that decisive action must be taken now, and not over some ambiguous, non-committal work period, as outlined by the Liberals today.
“The Commonwealth must play a stronger role in strengthening the health and diversity of our news media. Now is not the time to be complacent.”
Libs go nuclear at the beck and call of mining lobbyists
The Greens have condemned the Liberals’ plan to introduce nuclear power at the behest of their big corporate mining donors, in the Coalition-majority led report of the House Standing Committee on Environment and Energy.
“This report should alarm all Australians. It has belled the cat on the Coalition’s open mind on nuclear power in Australia,” Said Senator for SA and Greens Spokesperson for Nuclear, Sarah Hanson-Young.
“At the behest of the nuclear and mining lobby, the Morrison Government endorsed report opens the door nuclear power stations and subsequent waste dumps here in Australia.
“This is absurd at best and dangerous at worst.
“As NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said earlier this week, Australia is best placed to take advantage of renewable energy, which is now the lowest cost form of new energy electricity generation.
“It has been proven, time and again, that nuclear power is expensive, water intensive, deeply dangerous, with an unresolvable issue of dealing with toxic nuclear waste.
“Nuclear power has no benefit but a legacy of deadly waste on our children and their environment for thousands of years to come.
“Yet the Liberals are clearly doing the bidding of their mines and minerals lobbyist masters by even entertaining the notion of further nuclear power.
“We know the future is in renewable energy. The Greens and South Australia are leading the way by diversifying our sources across wind, solar and storage.
“It is incumbent upon the sensible centre of the Liberal Party to quash this notion, once and for all.”
Vale Jill Emberson 1959 – 2019
City of Newcastle is working with the family of Jill Emberson on a public memorial to be held at City Hall on 23 January 2020, following her sad passing overnight.
Lord Mayor of Newcastle Nuatali Nelmes said as Newcastle’s Citizen of the Year in 2019, Jill was a lion-hearted advocate in the fight against ovarian cancer.
“We are in awe of the courage Jill showed following her cancer diagnosis, as she remained determined to achieve better outcomes for others despite her own failing health.
“She used her own diagnosis to help raise invaluable awareness of ovarian cancer and more than $20 million for research.
“Jill was so incredibly generous with her time, despite knowing her cancer was terminal. I was in awe of her willingness to work with the city and even to make herself available to speak with our staff, all the while in ever worsening pain and suffering,” Cr Nelmes said.
Jill’s career in journalism gave her a platform to document the sometimes-lonely battle she and other women faced against the deadliest of all women’s cancers.
After she was forced off air in early 2016 due to illness, Jill began to advocate for more funding and research while undergoing her own treatment.
Upon returning to the airwaves in 2018, Jill intimately documented her experience with ovarian cancer in the popular podcast Still Jill. In June last year, policy makers took note of her National Press Club address, ‘The Cancer Down Under Killing Too Many Women’, before the Federal Government, influenced heavily by her fierce lobbying, committed $20 million to ovarian cancer research earlier in 2019.
“I am humbled and honoured to be named Citizen of the Year in Newcastle and will use this precious opportunity to raise more awareness about ovarian cancer,” Jill said when honoured at City Hall on Australia Day 2019.
“About 1,500 Australian women are diagnosed with Ovarian cancer each year but our survival rate has been stuck at 45 per cent for decades.
“Research is the only solution to bring our survival into line with other more common cancers and for that we need awareness and funding.”
The official colour of Ovarian Cancer Australia – teal – shone from the face of the City Hall clock that night, and the City plans to honour Jill once again following consultation with her family.
Vale Jill Emberson.
CREATING A SAFER STATE FOR OUR CHILDREN
Strengthened reporting, registration and data-sharing schemes targeting child abuse and record investments into support services for survivors and at-risk children are all helping to keep our kids safe according to a report released today.
Attorney General Mark Speakman and Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said NSW’s second annual report card provides an update on the Government’s actions in 2019 to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“Protecting children from abuse and improving access to justice for survivors are the bedrock of the NSW Government’s response to the findings of the Royal Commission,” Mr Speakman said.
“We are rolling out the Government’s $127 million package of reforms responding to the Royal Commission, which will secure a safer future for our children and ensure we are doing everything we can to stop the horrors of the past being repeated.”
Highlights of the report include:
- a NSW-led national initiative enabling child protection workers to identify whether a child or person of interest may be known in another state or territory
- landmark legislative reforms to strengthen the child protection reportable conduct scheme and expand mandatory reporter groups
- better protection and support for children in out-of-home care
- allocation of funding for community-based support services
- expanded professional education and training about child safety
- increased protections for young people in youth justice centres, and
- significant improvements to specialist sexual assault services.
“While we have made great strides in creating safer environments for our children and young people, there is still much more work to be done,” Mr Ward said.
“We will continue to work with government and non-government organisations to build on our progress and make sure the framework for protecting children is as strong as possible.”
The annual progress report for the NSW Government’s response to the Royal Commission can be accessed at https://bit.ly/2LMCDc9.