Category: Newcastle News

The Newcastle early learning sector is headed for crisis if the Morrison Government doesn’t act urgently and provide support to child care services in the region.
“The Morrison Government’s decision to finally include Newcastle in the gap fee waiver is welcomed, but it means very little if the sector is left hanging out to dry,” Ms Claydon said.
“My office has received many emails and calls from concerned Newcastle parents and early learning centres alike who are worried about the long-term feasibility of the sector.”
Ms Claydon said she was aware that a lot of services are charging gap fees because they can’t afford to give up their income.
Providers are being put in a no-win position, having to choose between either:

• Waiving gap fees for families, and taking such a hit to their revenue that they are at risk of closing their doors, leaving early educators without work and essential workers without care for their children; or
• Not waiving gap fees for families, leaving parents upset that they have to pay for a service they cannot access, and risking them un-enrolling altogether.

“Many providers are being forced to charge parents full fees because the Morrison Government is refusing to offer replacement revenue to child care centres.”
“The Morrison Government needs to ensure families are not left out of pocket during lockdowns for child care they cannot access, because they are doing the right thing and staying home.”
“There are many providers who are struggling to stay afloat because they’re ineligible for other business support payments.”
“In order for centres to waive the gap fee, the Morrison Government must provide a support package to early learning centres similar to the one implemented in Victoria last year.”
During the prolonged Victorian lockdown last year, the Morrison Government introduced a financial support package for early learning services that allowed them to stay open to serve essential workers, while also waiving gap fees for families, and surviving from lower attendance levels.
“It would be truly devastating for Newcastle families and our local economy to see the collapse of the early learning sector.”
“It’s crucial that the Morrison Government acts urgently and provides a support package to early learning centres in our region to keep workers in a job and our local economy afloat.”

One of Newcastle’s three Federal Circuit Court judges has retired, leaving the community in the dark over a future replacement.
Federal Circuit Court judge Janet Terry reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 earlier this month, with no announcement from the Federal Government about her prospective replacement.
“The Federal Government has a responsibility to provide efficient and appropriate judicial and court services to the people of Newcastle,” Ms Claydon said.
Following reports of Judge Terry’s retirement, Ms Claydon wrote to Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash on 31 July seeking clarification over the retired judge’s successor.
Ms Claydon stated that she is still waiting to receive a response from Senator Cash on the appointment process.
“This isn’t the first time the Liberal Government has failed to appoint a replacement Federal Circuit Court judge in Newcastle within a timely manner.”
“Last time the Government waited many months to find a replacement, leaving judges with twice the case load and Novocastrians on waitlists for nineteen months, subsequently blowing the backlog out of proportion.”
“I’m sick of the Morrison Liberal government’s inability to forward plan a timely replacement, given they know full well that judges are compelled to retire at the age of 70.”
Ms Claydon said that lives could be put at risk if a replacement for Judge Terry is not actioned immediately, given that many cases involve the trauma of martial breakdown, domestic violence, drug abuse, and child custody disputes.
“The Morrison Government’s failure to find a replacement is deeply distressing for the many families who are already in vulnerable circumstances.”
Ms Claydon stated that the Morrison Government’s negligence will place an extra burden on the already underfunded judicial system.
“Once a replacement judge is installed, there will still be the issue of the massive backlog that has resulted from the Government’s continuous attacks on the Family Court system.”
“With retired judges set to return to the bench to clear the national 7,000 case backlog, the last thing the Hunter region needs is an empty appointment and unnecessary grief for families.”
“I intend to raise this issue in Parliament next week.”

Officers from Newcastle City Police District have served a 22-year-old man with a Future Court Attendance Notice for breaching the current Public Health Order.
Police will allege a 22-year-old man hosted a number of large gatherings at a home on Sandgate Road, Shortland, on three separate nights from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 July 2021.
He is due to face Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday 28 September 2021.
Two women, aged 21 and 20, have previously been issued Future Court Attendance Notices for attending the gatherings; they remain before the courts.
All three people have since tested positive to COVID-19 and are now isolating.
A further three people – two men aged 21 and 26, and a 20-year-old woman – were issued with $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices for attending the gatherings as police continue their inquiries to identify further guests.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

ADF personnel will join the NSW Police Force in Dubbo and Newcastle today, as part of an expansion of the COVID-19 welfare and compliance activities across NSW.
Police officers will be assisted by ADF personnel as they conduct welfare doorknocks and compliance checks of stay-at-home and self-isolation orders.
50 ADF personnel will assist with compliance in Dubbo and the surrounding area, with a further 50 to assist with compliance in the Hunter region.
Further deployments are expected by the end of the week.
Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, Regional NSW Field Operations, welcomed the arrival of troops in regional towns.
“The NSW Police Force has a long history of co-operation with the ADF and they have provided vital assistance over the past 18 months,” Deputy Commissioner Willing said.
“First and foremost, the troops are there to support the community alongside police. Among other tasks, you will see them delivering hampers and checking on the welfare of our most vulnerable people.
“I want to thank them for their help and again appeal to everyone across our regions to stay at home as much as possible – please do everything you can to help us stop the spread.”
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Hamilton business owner Janice Musumeci has been awarded a two-year contract to provide Business Improvement Association (BIA) support services, replacing previous provider Purser Corporate Communications (Purser).
The initial support services contract was awarded to Purser in 2019 following independent recommendations made to improve the use of Special Business Rate funds, which are collected to promote, beautify and develop the City’s business precincts.
The centralised support service for BIAs delivers efficiencies for its members by providing a shared resource to manage their administrative and compliance obligations. This allows members more time and resources to focus on delivering projects and events that will activate, promote and enhance their precincts.
The contract with Purser ends this month, with the consultancy announcing in July it would be closing its doors after almost 40 years in Newcastle.
Ms Musumeci was awarded the support services contract following a competitive tender process. She has demonstrated a strong ability to deliver outcomes for the business community through her role as Chair of the Hamilton Business Improvement Association, a position she will leave to take the support services contract.
Visit Business Improvement Associations on the City of Newcastle website for more information.

The NSW Government, together with the NSW Police Force, has announced two $1 million rewards for information regarding the disappearances and suspected murders of Lake Macquarie teenagers Robyn Hickie and Amanda Robinson more than 40 years ago.
In April 2019, Lake Macquarie detectives established Strike Force Arapaima to re-examine the investigation into the unsolved disappearances and suspected murders of Robyn Hickie, Amanda Robinson and Gordana Kotevski.
Robyn Hickie, aged 18, left her home around 7.15pm on Saturday 7 April 1979, and was last seen standing at a bus stop on the Pacific Highway, Belmont North.
A fortnight later, Amanda Robinson, aged 14, was last seen walking along Lake Road, Swansea, on Saturday 21 April 1979, after attending a dance at her high school in Gateshead.
Despite extensive investigations at the time, and over the years, neither of the girls have been located.
A subsequent Coronial Inquest into their disappearances found that the teenagers were deceased, most likely as a result of foul play.
As investigations continue, police are renewing their appeal to the community to come forward with any information that may assist detectives with their inquiries.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the increased rewards demonstrates how strongly the NSW Government is supporting the Lake Macquarie Police District investigators.
“For far too long, Robyn and Amanda’s families have lived with the pain of losing a child but without any idea of how it happened or who is responsible,” Mr Elliott said.
“They have been in limbo for four decades not knowing. They deserve answers now and we believe that offering these new rewards should be sufficient incentive for those with information to come forward.
“If your conscience won’t make you act, maybe $2 million will,” Mr Elliott said.
Lake Macquarie Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Steve Benson, hopes this reward will encourage those who have been holding onto vital information since 1979 to share what they know with police.
“The disappearances of these teenagers triggered every parent’s worst nightmare. The Hickie and Robinson families have been fighting for the truth for four decades, they deserve to know what happened to their girls,” Det Insp Benson said.
“Our dedicated detectives under Strike Force Arapaima have re-examined all the evidence compiled over the past 40 years and are hoping this government reward will result in further information being provided to detectives to follow up and investigate.”
Anyone with information about Strike Force Arapaima is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Region at the weekend.
About 5.10pm on Saturday (14 August 2021), emergency services were called to Port Stephens Road, near Kangaroo Street, at Raymond Terrace following reports of a crash.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and identified that a Holden Barina had crashed into a fence after leaving the road.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, the driver and sole occupant – a 69-year-old man – died at the scene.
A crime scene was established and an investigation commenced into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Two women have been charged with breaching the Public Health Order after allegedly travelling from Sydney to the Hunter region.
At 9.45am on Thursday 29 July 2021, officers attached to Police Transport Command – North were conducting opal card checks at Cardiff Train Station when they spoke with a 21-year-old woman on board a northbound train.
She told police she had left the Greater Sydney area; the passenger was issued with a warning that she was in breach of the Public Health Order and was directed to return to Sydney.
About 1.45am on Friday 30 July 2021, Newcastle City Police were called to an address on Sandgate Road, Shortland, for an unrelated matter.
Officers approached a vehicle parked nearby and spoke with two women – aged 20 and 21.
Police requested the women to provide proof of identification, and both women provided digital driver’s licences stating addresses from Sydney’s West.
Neither were able to provide police with a reasonable excuse for leaving the Greater Sydney area and they were issued $1000 PINs for breaching the Public Health Order.
Both women were directed to return to Sydney and left the location, indicating they would comply with that direction. However, investigations have revealed they allegedly failed to leave the area.
Further inquiries have also revealed that the 20-year-old woman travelled from Sydney to Newcastle by train on Tuesday 27 July 2021, before the women allegedly attended several other locations whilst in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas. Both women have since tested positive to COVID-19.
Following extensive inquiries, officers from South Sydney and Mt Druitt Police Area Commands issued Future Court Attendance Notices to two women – aged 20 and 21 – for the offence of fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 – individual.
The younger woman is due to attend Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 29 September 2021, while the older woman is due to appear at Hornsby Local Court on the same date.
Investigations are ongoing into further alleged breaches.

City of Newcastle has worked with the NSW Government and private operator Medtech Services to quickly establish a new testing clinic in Wickham to meet increasing demand from the community seeking rapid COVID-19 testing.
The new testing clinic will open at Passmore Oval (Wickham Park) on Wednesday 11 August and operate from 7.30am to 4.00pm, six days a week.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said opening an additional testing clinic is a positive step towards addressing adequate COVID-19 testing centres to keep the community in Greater Newcastle safe, but more testing sites are needed.
“Novocastrians should be applauded for taking the current public health orders seriously, and for turning up in droves to be tested for COVID-19, even with the slightest symptoms,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Residents are doing the right thing, then waiting hours to get tested, with reports of people even being turned away due to current testing centres being overwhelmed by demand, which is not acceptable.
“Last week I wrote to the Minister for Health asking for more COVID-19 testing locations, and adequate staffing to conduct the amount of testing being asked of our community.
“Newcastle needs to keep its testing rates high to detect any cases of community transmission. The last thing we need is to deter Novocastrians from coming forward for testing due to long wait times or the fear of being turned away.
“The new Passmore Oval testing clinic in Wickham has the capacity to conduct several thousand tests per day, but we will continue to advocate for more testing sites in Newcastle to meet the increasing demand.
“City of Newcastle have offered the NSW Government access to any of our suitable public facilities to bring more testing sites to Greater Newcastle to keep the community safe.”