Every asylum seeker child has now been removed from Nauru or has had their claim processed and has a clear path off the island.
Our strong border protection policies mean we’ve been able to stop the boats and work through the backlog of cases Labor created when 50,000 people arrived on 800 boats on their watch.
There were 109 asylum seeker children on Nauru at the end of August 2018 at the time we took on our respective roles as Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration.
Since then, and as was made clear at the time, we have been working quietly and methodically through this process without compromising the integrity of Operation Sovereign Borders. There are now only four asylum seeker children on Nauru and they have all been approved for departure to the United States of America with their families.
We have got all the children Labor put in detention centres out, and we have shut down all the detention centres Labor opened, including on Christmas Island.
Australia has one of the most generous humanitarian immigration programs in the world, but we can only do it by maintaining strong borders and insisting people come the right way.
We have secured our borders, we stopped the boats and the tragic drownings at sea. And we have been supporting children compassionately without putting our strong border security at risk.
We have got the balance right.
You don’t get all children off Nauru by putting more on. That is why we must maintain the integrity of Operation Sovereign Borders. Labor’s policies will unravel the strong border protection framework we have put in place.
Labor’s laws currently before the Parliament would end offshore processing as we know it, tearing apart our strong border policies. This would only see the horror start all over again.
On our watch we will never let Australia get back into the mess Labor left us when they locked up nearly 8,000 children in detention.
Appeal for information after serious crash near Newcastle
Police are appealing for public assistance after a serious crash in Maryville today.
About 8.19am (Sunday 3 February 2019) emergency services were called to Hannell Street, Maryville, after reports, a Minivan had lost control and collided with two parked cars, a Honda Accord and a Jeep Cherokee.
The male driver of a Toyota Minivan, a 58-year-old man, from Mayfield, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition. His female passenger, a 30-year-old Mayfield woman, sustained lacerations and a possible leg injury.
The Honda Accord and Jeep Cherokee were parked and unattended.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Initial inquiries suggest the man may have suffered a medical episode.
Police are appealing for anyone with information or dash cam vision to come forward.
Concerns held for missing 10-year-old boy – Newcastle
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a missing boy from Newcastle.
Maxwell Carr, aged 10, was last seen about 8am today (Sunday 3 February 2019), leaving a rear carpark of an apartment block, on King Street, Newcastle.
Officers from Newcastle Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate him.
Police hold serious concerns for Maxwell’s welfare due to his age and medical condition.
Maxwell is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 145cm tall, of large build, and with brown short hair.
He was last seen wearing a grey t-shirt, black shorts, socks, with no shoes.
Anyone who has information about Maxwell’s whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately.
Teenage boy drowns at Bar Beach – Newcastle
A teenage boy has drowned at Bar Beach in Newcastle today.
About 3:30pm (Sunday 3 February 2019), emergency services were called to Bar Beach, Newcastle after reports of a distressed swimmer in the water.
A 16-year-old boy was pulled from the water unconscious by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
He was brought back to the beach; however, he could not be revived.
Officers from Newcastle Police District attended and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Senate inquiry into the APVMA marred by donations from vested interests to Labor and Liberal parties, say Greens
The report of the Senate inquiry into the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been marred by the revelations that vested interests including RoundUp patent holder Bayer and industry body CropLife have collectively donated $139,000 to the Labor, Liberal and National parties in the 2017-18 financial year, say the Australian Greens.
“Exactly a year ago Bayer made a $22,000 donation to the Labor party and today, the Labor-controlled committee for the APVMA inquiry report states they have confidence in the APVMA’s review of glyphosate,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens agriculture spokesperson.
“The report calls the APVMA’s review of glyphosate ‘robust’, even though the agency decided not to conduct a formal reconsideration of the chemical despite the APVMA’s CEO agreeing that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen.”
“The ad-hoc nature of our current regime for chemical review, as demonstrated by the approach of the APVMA to community concerns about glyphosate, is clearly not up to the task of keeping our community and environment safe.”
“It’s also clear from the donations data released today that the independence of this Senate inquiry and indeed the APVMA is under a cloud.”
“We need donations reform right now, to ensure that big business can’t continue to shape outcomes at the expense of the best interests of the Australian people.”
“The Greens are calling on the Coalition government to immediately order an independent, transparent and science-based inquiry into glyphosate to give Australians certainty about its safety, and call on Bayer to release all internal science. We are also calling on the government to immediately introduce legislation to reinstate the APVMA re-approvaland re-registration scheme that was repealed in 2014.”
In the 2017-18 financial year, Bayer donated $40,600 to Labor and $42,540 to the Coalition, with CropLife donating $34,271 to Labor and $22,300 to the Coalition. Information can be found here.
The committee’s final report, including the Greens dissenting report, can be found here.
Police charge man over Tanilba Bay assault
A man will appear in court tomorrow after being charged with assaulting another man at a club near Port Stephens last week.
About 9.30pm on Friday 25 January 2019, an 18-year-old man was involved in a scuffle with another man at licensed premises at Tanilba Bay.
The group was removed from the club by staff and escorted to the car park; however, the teenaged man continued to act aggressively and was spoken to by 55-year-old man.
The teenager has allegedly attacked the older man and punching him in the face. The older man was knocked to the ground, striking his head on a brick pillar and losing consciousness.
The injured man was attended to by other patrons then taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The teenager fled from the club prior to the arrival of officers from Port Stephens/Hunter Police District.
The injured man required treatment for head and facial injuries, and has had a metal plate inserted into a badly-broken leg.
Earlier today (Friday 1 February 2019), the 18-year-old man attended Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was arrested and charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court tomorrow (Saturday 2 February 2019).
Child critical after being hit by car at Cessnock
A child has been critically injured after being hit by a car at Cessnock tonight.
An eight-year-old boy sustained severe head injuries when he was struck by a sedan on Allandale Road, Cessnock, about 8pm (Friday 1 February 2019).
Family members rendered assistance until paramedics arrived and took the child to John Hunter Hospital; he’s reported to be in a critical condition.
The driver of the sedan, a 55-year-old man, has been taken to Cessnock Hospital for mandatory testing.
Allandale Road will be closed for some hours while Crime Scene officers examine the location.
Police from Hunter Valley Police District are speaking with witnesses.
PRESCHOOL DOORS OPEN FOR FIRST YEAR OF SUBSIDISED THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Hundreds of community preschools across NSW are opening their doors to the first year of subsidised three year olds this week, thanks to an historic investment from the NSW Government to ensure every child has access to two years of early childhood education in preparation for primary school.
NSW is the first state in Australia to subsidise all three-year-olds in community preschools, under an investment of almost $200 million, which is only possible due to the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited Doonside Kindergarten today to welcome the new starters, and said she looked forward to seeing the impact this will have on both children and families.
“Not only does this investment mean better educational opportunities for children right across the State, it also means that on average, families will save $825 on preschool fees this year alone,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I am proud that as a Government – because of our strong economic management – we can do more to ease cost of living pressures for parents and improve educational outcomes for our children.”
Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said access to two years of preschool education provides benefits to both children and the community.
“We know that two years of quality early childhood education leads to better performance throughout primary and high school, as well as better university and TAFE attendance, and better outcomes post-tertiary education,” Ms Mitchell said.
Since the Start Strong program was introduced in 2016, which subsidised funding for one year of preschool to begin with, attendance figures have overwhelmingly improved and daily fees have dropped.
“Participation rates have increased by more than 40 per cent for children enrolled for 600 hours, and average daily fees decreased by 25 per cent,” Ms Berejiklian said.
For more information on Start Strong, visit the Department of Education website.
MILLIONS FOR HEALTHY HAROLD TO CONTINUE TO HELP KIDS MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES
More than a million NSW primary school children will be armed with the knowledge to lead healthy and happy lives, under a record funding boost to Life Education NSW.
The record $2 million funding delivered by the NSW Liberals & Nationals guarantees the not-for-profit organisation, which turns 40 this year, will continue to educate the next generation of young students with practical lessons delivered by the nation’s hardest working giraffe, Healthy Harold.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Healthy Harold and the Life Education experience has become a rite of passage in many primary schools and this funding would allow them to modernise their program by providing students access to cutting-edge augmented reality and 3D systems.
“Life Education is as important now as it has ever been. With boundless entertainment options in the digital age it is essential that important life lessons for children are delivered in an engaging and captivating way,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The new funding will assist with teaching young primary school students about issues including sun safety, road safety, and healthy eating.
For older students in Year 6, it will help them begin to tackle the complex issues they will face in high school, such as cyber safety and the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
“It is so important that there is a platform like Life Education that reaches students on their level and helps educate them about the choices they will face,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said Life Education was a priceless asset to teachers delivering important lessons on sometimes sensitive issues.
“Life Education consults with local schools to ensure they cover the topics that may impact that particular school community. The fact that this service is run in conjunction with schools means the lessons have a greater chance of really reaching students,” he said.
Life Education NSW CEO Kellie Sloane said the funding would mean any school across the State that wants a visit will receive one, particularly benefitting regional areas.
“In NSW, sign-ups for our program are at a decade high,” Ms Sloane said.
“As demand from schools for our help increases, this funding is critical to help us reach more children, no matter how remote.”
The funding, over four years, is in addition to nearly $19 million committed by the NSW Liberals & Nationals to Life Education since 2011.
Senate inquiry into the APVMA marred by donations from vested interests to Labor and Liberal parties, say Greens
The report of the Senate inquiry into the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been marred by the revelations that vested interests including RoundUp patent holder Bayer and industry body CropLife have collectively donated $139,000 to the Labor, Liberal and National parties in the 2017-18 financial year, say the Australian Greens.
“Exactly a year ago Bayer made a $22,000 donation to the Labor party and today, the Labor-controlled committee for the APVMA inquiry report states they have confidence in the APVMA’s review of glyphosate,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens agriculture spokesperson.
“The report calls the APVMA’s review of glyphosate ‘robust’, even though the agency decided not to conduct a formal reconsideration of the chemical despite the APVMA’s CEO agreeing that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen.”
“The ad-hoc nature of our current regime for chemical review, as demonstrated by the approach of the APVMA to community concerns about glyphosate, is clearly not up to the task of keeping our community and environment safe.”
“It’s also clear from the donations data released today that the independence of this Senate inquiry and indeed the APVMA is under a cloud.”
“We need donations reform right now, to ensure that big business can’t continue to shape outcomes at the expense of the best interests of the Australian people.”
“The Greens are calling on the Coalition government to immediately order an independent, transparent and science-based inquiry into glyphosate to give Australians certainty about its safety, and call on Bayer to release all internal science. We are also calling on the government to immediately introduce legislation to reinstate the APVMA re-approvaland re-registration scheme that was repealed in 2014.”
In the 2017-18 financial year, Bayer donated $40,600 to Labor and $42,540 to the Coalition, with CropLife donating $34,271 to Labor and $22,300 to the Coalition. Information can be found here.
The committee’s final report, including the Greens dissenting report, can be found here.