Category: Newcastle News

A man has been charged following investigations into a public place shooting at Raymond Terrace last week.
About 11am on Saturday 2 May 2020, the occupants of a home on Benjamin Lee Drive, Raymond Terrace, located a .22 calibre bullet has penetrated the front door and lodged in an internal wall.
Police were called and an investigation was commenced.
About 10am today (Tuesday 5 May 2020), police from Port Stephens-Hunter PD searched a Mazda 323 in Dungog where they allegedly located a .22 calibre casing in the footwell.
The vehicle was seized and taken for further forensic examination.
About 4.10pm officers attended a home in Raymond Terrace where they arrested a 19-year-old man. He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was questioned.
Police will allege they found a firearm during a search of the man’s home.
He was then charged with fire firearm at dwelling house with disregard for public safety, and possess unauthorised firearm.
He was given conditional bail and will appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 3 August 2020.

MEETING OF THE CITY TASKFORCE

The City Taskforce, led by City of Newcastle and chaired by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, held its second meeting on 1 May via Zoom. The Taskforce was formed to develop a collaborative approach to the City’s response to COVID-19, from crisis to recovery and beyond. The Taskforce focused its discussion on work streams and resourcing to implement priority programs and initiatives aimed at getting the City back up and running and supporting the community’s most vulnerable.
City Taskforce work streams identified
Staff from each of the 17 organisations attended a digital workshop on 24 April following the inaugural City Taskforce meeting on 17 April. Priorities identified in the City‘s COVID-19 response included implementing programs that enable people, businesses and events to return to normal; transformative economic programs providing long-term strategic benefits; community resilience and social connection; as well as initiatives to address common issues faced across industries.
As a result, the following work streams were proposed to, and unanimously supported by, the Taskforce:

• An industry-specific response program;
• Infrastructure advocacy program;
• City data and analytics program;
• NewSkill citywide upskilling program; and
• A collaboration forum.

Additional concepts raised and backed by the Taskforce were a local insights and impacts platform; buy local program; a skills training and talent strategy; and a re-emergence program focused on events and activities and how these might take shape post-COVID-19.
Collegiate efforts to seek Government support for regional priorities
As well as being a mechanism for collaboration and sharing local insights, a major role of the Taskforce is to advocate for infrastructure priorities in the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Area, such as the diversification of the Port of Newcastle and the Newcastle Airport Expansion, which is critical to both the economic and social recovery of the City and region through job creation and increased visitor economy, noting job losses of 19,000 across the Hunter and a sharp decline in discretionary spending due to COVID-19 impacts.
The Taskforce resolved to support Newcastle Airport in lobbying the Federal Government for project funding as a joint signatory on correspondence.
Similar support was sought and agreed upon to assist international students of the University of Newcastle, both current and future. The Taskforce will co-sign a letter to the NSW Government, calling for humanitarian aid for those international students who have lost employment and do not qualify for support payments, whilst they are also unable to receive financial assistance from their families abroad as they too are impacted.
Building community resilience during the COVID-19 recovery phase
Leaders proposed the Taskforce could offer itself and the region as a pilot for relevant Family & Community Services programs focused on building community resilience, which is important in managing wellbeing as many navigate complex situations they have suddenly found themselves in.
This dovetails with the Lean In Newy initiative, which City of Newcastle is developing for launch in May. The smartphone app connects community organisations and not-for-profits in need of volunteers with those who want to do good, offering rewards and offers redeemable at local businesses. Opportunities are categorised by community service, neighbourhood help, social connections, and local business support.
Sharing the good news
Leaders recognised the Taskforce’s power as a united voice and determined to share case studies and good news stories of community resilience and connection with local media.
An opportunity was identified to involve the arts and cultural sector, which COVID-19 has left reeling, in those narratives, as well as engage with Indigenous communities to capture their shared experiences.
Find out more information about the City Taskforce

Police appealing for witnesses and dashcam vision following a serious crash on the M1 at Mooney Mooney where a female passenger was seriously injured yesterday.
About 9.40am yesterday (Monday 4 May 2020), a blue Volkswagon Golf was travelling south on the M1, when the driver lost control causing the car to rotate and collide with the rock wall.
The vehicle rotated a second time and collided again with the rock wall causing the front wheels and engine to separate from the car.
The 18-year-old male driver was able to free himself from the wreckage.
His 18-year-old female passenger remained trapped and was eventually released by emergency services.
She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital with serious leg and abdominal injuries. The woman underwent surgery and remains in a serious condition.
A crime scene was established, and Crash Investigation Unit commenced inquiries. The vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
The driver, on a suspended provisional licence, was arrested and taken for mandatory blood and urine testing.
He was taken to Woy Woy Police Station and charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, drive whilst licence suspended and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive speed dangerous.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in Gosford Local Court today (Tuesday 5 May 2020).

A unanimous Parliamentary report on the National Redress Scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse has recommended significant changes including advance payments for vulnerable survivors.
Deputy Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Committee Sharon Claydon said that the Morrison Government, having failed to deliver on so many key aspects of the National Redress Scheme to date, was well and truly on-notice.
“It’s appalling that two years after the scheme started, less than 1,500 payments have been made, despite the Royal Commission finding that 60,000 people may be eligible,” Ms Claydon said.
“Most shamefully, we learnt through the inquiry that 22 people have died waiting for their claims to be processed.”
Ms Claydon said the report recommended that the Government consider advance payments for survivors who are especially vulnerable, so that they don’t miss out on redress.
“Forcing survivors to wait a day longer than they need to for redress payments just adds further injustice to the trauma they’ve already experienced,” Ms Claydon said.
“The Government should be looking at the example of other jurisdictions like Scotland, which is making advance payments available to all applicants aged 68 and over or with a terminal illness.”
Ms Claydon said the report also emphasised the need to penalise organisations that were named during the Royal Commission or have been identified in a redress application, but fail to sign-up to the scheme by the June 30 deadline.
“Almost 550 applications are on hold because 284 non-government institutions have failed to join the scheme two years on. This is absolutely unforgivable,” she said.
“The Morrison Government must consider every means at its disposal to ensure these organisations sign up, including removing their charitable status and /or any other sources of public funding and concessions they receive, as well as naming and shaming recalcitrant organisations.”
The Committee also recommended that a full list of organisations that have not signed by the deadline of 30 June 2020, and those that have declined to join the scheme, be published on the National Redress Scheme website, including the written statement provided by the institution which details all financial benefits accrued by means of their charitable status and/or any other sources of public funding or concessions they received.
It would be then up to the Minister to convene a meeting of all jurisdictions to determine and advise what action would be taken.
Ms Claydon urged the Morrison Government to act on the report as a matter of utmost urgency.
“The Government has been kicking the redress can down the road for too long. This must stop now. No more excuses.
“Survivors have been waiting all their lives for redress, they shouldn’t have to wait any longer.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has encouraged Novocastrians to download the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe app to help stem the spread of the virus and meet the criteria for restrictions to be eased.
Ms Claydon made the plea after the Government made the rollback of restrictions contingent on widespread uptake of the app.
“Too many people are hurting in our community right now as a result of the restrictions that have been needed to control the spread of COVID-19,” Ms Claydon said.
“If this app can help slow the spread of the virus even further, it means that many Novocastrians will be able to get back to work, to school, to volunteering and community life sooner rather than later.”
Ms Claydon said the app had capacity to improve Australia’s health response dramatically.
“I can understand that some people have misgivings, and I am disappointed that the government  didn’t consult more widely on the design, but COVIDSafe could be an important part of the national health response to stem the spread of this diabolical virus,” Ms Claydon said.
“It has the potential to improve contact tracing out-of-sight, but if it’s really going to be a game changer it will need millions more Australians to sign up.”
Ms Claydon said she understood that people might have reservations given the Government’s track record of IT bungles.
“There’s no doubt the Government has made some serious blunders when it comes to IT, but when I weighed things up, I decided the health and wellbeing of our community must take priority,” Ms Claydon said.
“That the nation’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), our doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals stand united in their call for us to download the app, is reason enough for me to overcome my own hesitations following a litany of tech failures from this government.
“There are no guarantees that the government has got all of the design elements for COVIDSafe App right first-go, but given it has the potential to save lives and ease this enforced hibernation, I think we need to give it a go.”

A former foster carer has been charged with 20 child sex offences following an investigation into the alleged historical indecent and sexual assault of two young girls in the state’s Hunter region.
In September 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports two young girls were indecently and sexually assaulted by a man while they were in his care.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 65-year-old man at Raymond Terrace Police Station on Friday 6 March 2020.
He was charged with 20 offences including;

• indecent assault where victim under the age of 10 years (x3)
• incite aggravated indecency – victim under 16 years and under authority of offender (x5)
• aggravated indecent assault – victim under the age of 16 years (x6), and
• aggravated sexual intercourse person – victim between 10 and 14 years (x6)

Police will allege in court that the man indecently and sexually assaulted the girls – then aged from eight and 10 – on several occasions while they were in his care between 2002 and 2004.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday 6 March 2020 and is next due to appear at the same court today (Monday 4 May 2020).
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.

Detectives are appealing for community assistance to locate a man wanted on an outstanding warrant, who is believed to be in the Newcastle area.
Jake Clarke, aged 23, is wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant relating to a shooting earlier this year.
Investigators from Fairfield City Police Area Command attached to Strike Force Bellvue, continue to conduct extensive inquiries to locate the man.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build with brown hair and brown eyes.
It is believed Mr Clarke may be frequenting Newcastle and its surrounding suburbs.
If sighted, the community are urged not to approach him and to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Anyone who may have information that can assist investigators are urged to contact Fairfield Police Station on (02) 9728 8399 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident 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 crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has been charged over the alleged possession of child abuse material and drug offences following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler in the state’s Hunter Region.
In November 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began investigating a man allegedly sharing and obtaining child exploitation material on a peer to peer network.
Following extensive investigations, a search warrant was executed at a home in the Hunter Region about 9am today (Friday 1 May 2020), where detectives seized a laptop, electronic storage devices and prohibited drugs.
About 10.30am, strike force detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at a nearby workplace.
The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with three counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, supply prohibited drug and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and appeared before Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 1 May 2020), where he was granted conditional bail to appear before Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 6 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.