Category: Australian News

Construction is underway to transform a locally significant building in one of the city’s most popular parks into a vibrant, accessible café at the heart of Lambton. 

Originally built in the 1940s as a Baby Health Centre and later converted into tea rooms in 2017, the site will be redesigned into a welcoming dining destination named First Light. 

Image: From L-R: State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, Cr Mark Brooker, Cr Siobhan Isherwood, Cr Peta Winney-Baartz, City of Newcastle Executive Director Corporate Services David Clarke, and cafe operator Angelo Luczak celebrate that construction is underway to transform the former Baby Health Centre in Lambton into a vibrant new cafe.  Executive Director Corporate Services David Clarke said the project reflects City of Newcastle’s commitment to public spaces that foster connection and belonging. 

“This project is a tangible example of how we’re revitalising community assets into inclusive infrastructure that enriches everyday social life,” Mr Clarke said.

“Lambton Park is already a cherished community destination, and by transforming this notable building into an accessible café, we’re creating a space that welcomes everyone, from young families to older residents.

“Its location near the library and playground makes it a natural hub for social interaction, wellbeing and connection.”

An artists impression of Lambton Park Cafe frontThe new upgrades will include open-plan dining, a commercial kitchen and a front pergola for additional seating.

Accessible amenities and a ramp to the new rear deck, which overlooks Lambton Park’s playground area, will ensure the café is a welcoming destination for all members of the community. 

The upgrades are supported by $1 million from the NSW Government through the Crown Reserve Improvement Fund. 

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said the project’s progress was a welcome milestone. 

“I’m very pleased to see the next stage of this project progressing as Council engages its chosen operators to commence the works on the Lambton Café project,” Ms Hornery said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the works complete so that our community can benefit from this café, partially funded via $1 million from the NSW Government’s Crown Reserves Improvement Fund.”

An artists impression of Lambton Park Cafe rearThe redevelopment also marks a new chapter for three accomplished names in Newcastle’s hospitality scene, who are joining forces to bring First Light to life. 

Mister Sister Manager Angelo Luczak, Luke Marshall, Director of The Kiosk Newcastle, and Corey Park-Pearson, owner and chef at Parks Bistro and Catering, each bring a wealth of regional and national experience.

Mr Luczak said the team shares a vision to bring a fresh dining experience to Lambton and create a space that feels like home.

“The idea of teaming up has been floating around for years, we’ve always shared a deep respect for each other’s craft and passion for hospitality, and this project is the perfect time to bring that dream to life,” Mr Luczak said.

“With strong ties to the local hospitality scene and a diverse network of friends, collaborators, and customers, we see First Light becoming more than just a café. Our vision is to be a go-to meeting spot for locals, coffee lovers and foodies from across Newcastle and beyond. 

“We’re proud to work with local farmers, coffee roasters and suppliers to build a seasonal menu that celebrates quality and workmanship. Everything we do is grounded in community, connection, and a genuine love for good coffee, food and company. 

“We’re looking forward to contributing to the vibrant and valuable hospitality culture that makes Newcastle such a remarkable place to live and dine.” 

The café is expected to open early 2026. 

The 7th of October 2023 was a day of pain and terror for Jewish people around the world, and we must never forget the atrocities that were inflicted by Hamas.

The attack on innocent people at a music festival that promoted ‘friends, love and infinite freedom’ underlined a core truth, that Hamas stands in opposition to all humanity, and all that we value as human beings.

Two years on, we remember all those who were lost on that day, the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust. Over 1,200 innocent lives ruthlessly taken without mercy.

We remember Australian Galit Carbone, who was tragically murdered by Hamas. We hold Galit and her loved ones in our hearts.

Today, we also think of those still held hostage and join with our partners around the world in calling for the hostages to be returned immediately, and with dignity. We stand with their families, and with all those who have had to hold this two year vigil, which must feel like an eternity.

The Australian Government also stands with Jewish people around the world, who feel the cold shadow of history’s darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism. We will always stand against antisemitism, and so should everyone.

Australia welcomes President Trump’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza after almost two years of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life.

Australia has consistently been part of the international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of hostages, for aid to flow and for a two-state solution.

It is our duty to do everything in our power to see a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side by side, within internationally recognised borders, in peace and security.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the state’s north.

Leo Hampton-Tungutalum, aged 22, was last seen on The Boulevarde, Toronto, about 1.30pm on Friday 3 October 2025.

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for Leo’s welfare.

Leo is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, 175cm tall, medium build, brown eyes, short beard and black hair.

He is known to frequent the Lake Macquarie and Sydney metropolitan areas.

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has quietly commissioned research into the identification of suicidal risk, and to enhance suicide prevention and postvention, in the workers compensation system.

The need for a targeted focus on suicide in the NSW workers compensation system comes in the wake of the NSW Labor government’s planned legislation that would raise barriers for entry into workers compensation for psychological injuries, as well as dramatically curtail access to ongoing critical assistance by way of medical treatments and weekly wage replacement for psychologically injured workers. Under the government’s proposed reforms, over 99% of all psychologically injured workers would have their access to assistance cut in half, to terminate after two and a half years.

The last time entitlements were curtailed through legislation such as this, we saw in the first year of effect 375 injured workers being identified as vulnerable to self harm, 13 instances of confirmed self-harm, and six deaths of workers on workers compensation being referred to the coroner. By 2020, when the majority of workers impacted by the changes were starting to feel its effect, there were 115 incidents of self-harm.

In the 2024 calendar year, 1,025 injured workers had their weekly payments terminated, and 2,013 injured workers had their medical entitlements terminated, due to the arbitrarily imposed legislative timeline. From 2020 to May 2024, SIRA has recorded 59 instances of suicides by injured workers receiving workers compensation support. icare recorded a further 33 attempted suicides during this period, and 170 incidents of self-harm for NSW government workers on workers compensation. SIRA has confirmed that incidence of suicide remains under-reported.

In response to questioning over the government’s planned legislation to cut entitlements further for psychologically injuried workers in particular, icare confirmed they had done no modelling or calculations as to the number of suicides or self-harm incidents that might result from the proposed legislation. 2 months after that evidence was given to parliament, SIRA commissioned new research into suicide in the workers compensation scheme, due to report back mid-next year – just before the predictable wave of self-harm incidents wouldlikely occur if the government’s proposed cuts to support for psychologically injured workers are allowed to pass.

Despite calls from SIRA themselves to reform the workers compensation scheme to become ‘person-centred’, the research Statement of Work expressly prohibits researchers speaking to anyone ‘who has lived experience of an attempted or actual suicide’.

Greens NSW MP, Abigail Boyd, Chair of the Public Accountability and Works Committee, and Greens NSW spokesperson for Work Health and Safety:

“The NSW Labor Government’s proposed cuts to workers compensation entitlements for workers with serious psychological injuries will have genuinely devastating effects on thousands of injured workers across this state.

“We saw the heartbreaking and life-shattering impacts last time cuts such as these were introduced. These cuts are even more targeted towards people who are already more vulnerable by the nature of their injury, and so the impact can be expected to be even more acute and devastating.

“I cannot emphasise enough how dangerous this government’s proposed cuts will be, ripping away support from those who need it the most.

“The government and business lobby are desperate to cut off workers who have been injured as a result of their work just to save a few dollars in the short-term, rather than actually doing the hard work of reforming a system in which poor claims management, administrative inefficiencies and faulty premium calculation methodologies are driving bad outcomes for injured workers and employers alike.

“This government is proposing the blunt and lazy option of eliminating nearly an entire class of injured workers from support when they need it the most. The government’s plan to cut costs will leave injured workers and their families paying the price.”

Media release

Australia and Papua New Guinea have elevated our relationship to an Alliance, with the signing of the Papua New Guinea – Australia Mutual Defence Treaty.

The Alliance will be Australia’s first in more than 70 years, and Papua New Guinea’s first with any country.

Signed today in Canberra by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon James Marape MP, the Treaty reflects a shared commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific.

It will enter into force upon completion of both countries’ domestic treaty-making processes.

Building on our countries’ deep strategic trust and respect, the Treaty contains mutual defence obligations. Both countries recognise an armed attack on either would be a danger to the peace and security of both, and declare they would act together to meet the common danger.

The Treaty explicitly refers to both Australia’s and Papua New Guinea’s respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of our neighbours.

It provides for the expansion and modernisation of Australia’s and Papua New Guinea’s defence relationship, including potential future recruitment of each countries’ citizens into respective forces.

Consultations will commence on a recruitment pathway to enable Papua New Guinea citizens to join the Australian Defence Force.

As the first step, from 1 January 2026, eligible permanent residents living in Australia who are also Papua New Guinea citizens will be able to apply to join the Australian Defence Force.

Today’s signing follows a Joint Communiqué released by both leaders at Papua New Guinea’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in Port Moresby last month, which set out the core principles of the Treaty.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Building on more than 50 years of cooperation and respect, the signing of the Papua New Guinea – Australia Mutual Defence Treaty is a shared historic moment for our two nations.

“The Treaty reflects the deep trust between Australia and Papua New Guinea across the breadth of our bilateral relationship.

“Papua New Guinea proposed this Treaty, and we were honoured to agree.

“Our Alliance is built on generations of mutual trust, and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the Pacific remains peaceful, stable and prosperous.

“By continuing to build our security relationships in the region, we safeguard our own security.”

Police are appealing for information to locate a teenage girl missing from the state’s north.
Hope Booth, aged 13, was last seen in Shortland about 5.30am yesterday (Saturday 4 October 2025).
When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Newcastle Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
Police hold concerns due to her age.

Hope is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 145cm tall, of thin build, with long black hair and a nose ring.
She was last seen wearing a black ‘Redbull’ hoodie, blue ripped jeans and white ugg boots/slippers.
She is known to frequent Bolton Point and Newcastle areas.
Police are urging anyone with any information to contact Newcastle Police Station or Crime Stoppers.

The Victorian Greens have said Melbourne Water’s new flood-risk maps will mean very little without a plan by Labor to protect at-risk communities from worsening climate disasters.

Earlier today Melbourne Water released the first of its new flood-risk maps for Yarra and Darebin, revealing over 60,000 properties across the two council areas to be flood-prone.

The Greens say with climate disasters increasing in frequency and continuing to devastate communities across the state, Labor must ensure Victorians aren’t continuing to bear the costs of decades of government inaction on climate change.

Instead, Labor should invest in protecting communities from these climate disasters, to prevent the impacts of disasters like the Maribyrnong floods in 2022 which saw homes destroyed and residents displaced.

Earlier this year, a Greens-established inquiry into climate resilience recommended a resilient homes scheme, similar to those in New South Wales and Queensland.

A scheme like this would help cover the costs of retro-fitting, lifting, renovations, and in some instances relocations and buybacks or compensation for homes at greater risk of floods.

The Greens say Labor should take up this recommendation and make the polluting fossil fuel giants pay for it.

Labor and Melbourne Water should also be fast-tracking investment in flood mitigation measures, such as upgrading stormwater systems and urban greening, to reduce the risk to communities from flooding. 

Victorian Greens MP for Richmond, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“We’re already in a housing crisis, and the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters is only going to make this worse as more and more homes become uninsurable and uninhabitable.

“Why should Victorians continue to bear the costs of decades of government inaction on climate change?

“Flood-risk maps are an important step, but what good will they do without a plan by Labor to protect the people on those maps most at risk?

“A resilient homes scheme would help cover the costs needed to retro-fit, lift, and upgrade homes under threat from flooding, rather than saddle homeowners with the price tag.

“Labor also needs to recognise its own role in worsening climate disasters, and stop approving new coal and gas.”

The Victorian Greens have said Melbourne Water’s new flood-risk maps will mean very little without a plan by Labor to protect at-risk communities from worsening climate disasters.

Earlier today Melbourne Water released the first of its new flood-risk maps for Yarra and Darebin, revealing over 60,000 properties across the two council areas to be flood-prone.

The Greens say with climate disasters increasing in frequency and continuing to devastate communities across the state, Labor must ensure Victorians aren’t continuing to bear the costs of decades of government inaction on climate change.

Instead, Labor should invest in protecting communities from these climate disasters, to prevent the impacts of disasters like the Maribyrnong floods in 2022 which saw homes destroyed and residents displaced.

Earlier this year, a Greens-established inquiry into climate resilience recommended a resilient homes scheme, similar to those in New South Wales and Queensland.

A scheme like this would help cover the costs of retro-fitting, lifting, renovations, and in some instances relocations and buybacks or compensation for homes at greater risk of floods.

The Greens say Labor should take up this recommendation and make the polluting fossil fuel giants pay for it.

Labor and Melbourne Water should also be fast-tracking investment in flood mitigation measures, such as upgrading stormwater systems and urban greening, to reduce the risk to communities from flooding. 

Victorian Greens MP for Richmond, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“We’re already in a housing crisis, and the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters is only going to make this worse as more and more homes become uninsurable and uninhabitable.

“Why should Victorians continue to bear the costs of decades of government inaction on climate change?

“Flood-risk maps are an important step, but what good will they do without a plan by Labor to protect the people on those maps most at risk?

“A resilient homes scheme would help cover the costs needed to retro-fit, lift, and upgrade homes under threat from flooding, rather than saddle homeowners with the price tag.

“Labor also needs to recognise its own role in worsening climate disasters, and stop approving new coal and gas.”

The Palestine Action Group will be defending the right to protest in the Supreme Court of NSW after the NSW Police announced they will challenge a planned rally in Sydney on 12 October, claiming that it poses a “potential terror threat”. The planned rally will mark two years of genocide in Palestine and comes after up to 300 thousand people safely marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in August this year.

Labor Premier Chris Minns and Police Minister Yasmin Catley have both signalled their opposition to the protest.

Greens MP, Spokesperson for justice and Solicitor Sue Higginson said:

“It is outrageous, extreme and racist of the NSW Police to claim the planned peaceful rally is a “potential terror threat” and it’s oppressive to resort to arduous court proceedings, once again, to try to stop it. The Palestine Action Group is simply trying to facilitate the much needed event to mark two years of the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza,”

“The Police have lost the plot, claiming that the planned event is a “terror threat” is outlandish, not based on evidence and is completely counter-intelligent. If this is a sign of how things are to be under the newly appointed Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, we should all be concerned,”

“The Minns Labor Government does not seem to have learnt anything from the last two years of peaceful pro-Palestine marches and the historic March for Humanity across the Harbour Bridge. The pro-Palestine movement here in NSW is a peaceful movement of hundreds of thousands of people who choose constructively to exercise their right of political expression and their hope as they protest against Israel’s genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza,”

“It is essential that the Minns Labor Government acknowledges the genocide that is motivating these protests. It’s also time for the Premier to declare which side of history he is on. Two years ago he decided to light the sails of the Opera House in support of Israel, now two years later it is understood that more than 680,000 Palestinian people have been killed, women and children maimed and starved, forcibly displaced and Gaza has been razed. The people of New South Wales have the right to march to the Opera House to honour the Palestinian people who have lost their lives and those who are suffering the unbearable atrocities that continue to be inflicted.”

The State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) has quietly commissioned research into the identification of suicidal risk, and to enhance suicide prevention and postvention, in the workers compensation system.

The need for a targeted focus on suicide in the NSW workers compensation system comes in the wake of the NSW Labor government’s planned legislation that would raise barriers for entry into workers compensation for psychological injuries, as well as dramatically curtail access to ongoing critical assistance by way of medical treatments and weekly wage replacement for psychologically injured workers. Under the government’s proposed reforms, over 99% of all psychologically injured workers would have their access to assistance cut in half, to terminate after two and a half years.

The last time entitlements were curtailed through legislation such as this, we saw in the first year of effect 375 injured workers being identified as vulnerable to self harm, 13 instances of confirmed self-harm, and six deaths of workers on workers compensation being referred to the coroner. By 2020, when the majority of workers impacted by the changes were starting to feel its effect, there were 115 incidents of self-harm.

In the 2024 calendar year, 1,025 injured workers had their weekly payments terminated, and 2,013 injured workers had their medical entitlements terminated, due to the arbitrarily imposed legislative timeline. From 2020 to May 2024, SIRA has recorded 59 instances of suicides by injured workers receiving workers compensation support. icare recorded a further 33 attempted suicides during this period, and 170 incidents of self-harm for NSW government workers on workers compensation. SIRA has confirmed that incidence of suicide remains under-reported.

In response to questioning over the government’s planned legislation to cut entitlements further for psychologically injuried workers in particular, icare confirmed they had done no modelling or calculations as to the number of suicides or self-harm incidents that might result from the proposed legislation. 2 months after that evidence was given to parliament, SIRA commissioned new research into suicide in the workers compensation scheme, due to report back mid-next year – just before the predictable wave of self-harm incidents wouldlikely occur if the government’s proposed cuts to support for psychologically injured workers are allowed to pass.

Despite calls from SIRA themselves to reform the workers compensation scheme to become ‘person-centred’, the research Statement of Work expressly prohibits researchers speaking to anyone ‘who has lived experience of an attempted or actual suicide’.

Greens NSW MP, Abigail Boyd, Chair of the Public Accountability and Works Committee, and Greens NSW spokesperson for Work Health and Safety:

“The NSW Labor Government’s proposed cuts to workers compensation entitlements for workers with serious psychological injuries will have genuinely devastating effects on thousands of injured workers across this state.

“We saw the heartbreaking and life-shattering impacts last time cuts such as these were introduced. These cuts are even more targeted towards people who are already more vulnerable by the nature of their injury, and so the impact can be expected to be even more acute and devastating.

“I cannot emphasise enough how dangerous this government’s proposed cuts will be, ripping away support from those who need it the most.

“The government and business lobby are desperate to cut off workers who have been injured as a result of their work just to save a few dollars in the short-term, rather than actually doing the hard work of reforming a system in which poor claims management, administrative inefficiencies and faulty premium calculation methodologies are driving bad outcomes for injured workers and employers alike.

“This government is proposing the blunt and lazy option of eliminating nearly an entire class of injured workers from support when they need it the most. The government’s plan to cut costs will leave injured workers and their families paying the price.”