Category: Newcastle News

I recognise the commitment and determination of those taking part in the climate change ‘Solidarity Sit Down’ in Newcastle today to highlight the Morrison government’s unconscionable lack of action on climate change.
If there ever was time to act on climate change, it is now, as we witness some of the most severe and widespread fires Australia has ever seen.
While no weather event can be attributed directly to climate change, there can be no question that it is feeding longer, more intense weather patterns and an increased likelihood of natural disasters.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about scientific reality. Climate change is real and it requires real leadership to address it.
The Morrison Government urgently needs to get over its pathological aversion to science and take meaningful action on climate change.
Regretfully, the Liberals have not only failed to deliver an energy policy and set a wholly inadequate emissions reduction target, but they’ve also set about trying to axe every mechanism put in place by the former Labor Government to assist.
Labor went to the last election with a strong plan to reduce emissions and meet Australia’s climate targets. Regretfully, we weren’t able to form Government.
While Labor remains deeply committed to real action on climate change, it’s the Morrison Government that must ensure that Australia does its share to avoid a global climate catastrophe.
I encourage students and activists to keep putting strong pressure on the Morrison Government to act in the interests of the planet and future generations, as I and my Labor colleagues will continue to do.

A man will re-appear in court today charged over child exploitation offences and the attempted sexual assault of a young girl in the Hunter region.
In June this year, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a man attempted to sexually assault a young girl known to him.
The investigation was assisted by the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NSW-JACET), which comprises of members from the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police Force.
Following extensive inquiries by the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad and NSW-JACET, detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at a home in the Hunter region about 1pm on Saturday (30 November 2019).
Shortly after the arrest, police searched two homes in the Hunter region, where detectives seized several electronic storage devices.
The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with attempt sexual intercourse with child under 10 years (DV x5), use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child porn (x2), possess/control child abuse material using carriage service, produce child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material, and possess child abuse material.
Police will allege in court that the man attempted to sexually assault the girl at a home on a number of occasions between December 2018 and June 2019.
It will be further alleged that the man produced, sent and received child abuse material online.
He was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Bail Court on Saturday where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at Cessnock Local Court today (Monday 2 December 2019).
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.

A girl has died in hospital after being found in a vehicle at Port Stephens last week.
Emergency services were called to a home at Tanilba Bay about 4.30pm on Tuesday (26 November 2019), after reports a five-year-old girl was found unresponsive inside a car parked in the driveway of the home.
The girl was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
She died early this morning (Sunday 1 December 2019).
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward after a pedestrian was killed and the vehicle involved failed to stop at Maitland last night.
About 11.30pm (Saturday 30 November 2019), emergency services were called to Flat Road, near the intersection of Paterson Road, Bolwarra, following reports of a crash.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and found a male pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.
The 62-year-old man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
The vehicle left the crash scene and was last seen travelling south on Paterson Road.
Officers from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit attended and examined the crime scene.
Investigators are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have dashcam vision or information about the vehicle involved to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

The important work of CSIRO’s flagship Energy Centre in Newcastle is being compromised by an arbitrary staffing cap.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon and Shadow Minister for Science, Employment and Industry Brendan O’Connor met with Newcastle representatives from the CSIRO Staffing Association today to discuss the issue.
“Labor is concerned that the Morrison Government’s cap on public sector staffing numbers is hurting the CSIRO and undermining its role in advancing science and innovation,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The CSIRO staff association recently made a submission to a Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry outlining the impact of the 5,193 person cap on full time staff on Australia’s scientific capability.
“The submission highlights reports of increased use of external contractors, which is putting a number of major projects at risk and is sidestepping secure local jobs.”
Ms Claydon said, “The Government’s irrational Average Staffing Level policy has capped staff numbers at 2006/7 numbers. This has essentially created a staffing freeze that is forcing CSIRO researchers to fill vacancies with external contractors at a premium price.
“Staff have told me that job vacancies are being placed on hold even if projects have private external funding.
“Not only does this mean that taxpayers are spending more to get less, this also undermines the pay and conditions of existing workers and locking a generation of STEM graduates out of long-term scientific work.”
Mr O’Connor said research and innovation like that at the CSIRO is under threat under the Morrison Government which is overseeing an overall downward trend in R&D under their watch.
“This is the world-class institution that invented wifi, plastic bank notes and Aerogard, to name just a few,” Mr O’Connor said.
“It’s foolish to shackle Australia’s top scientists from making new important breakthroughs.
“The Morrison Government has no regard for scientists and this staffing cap is a clear continuation of their war on science.”

A man missing from the Muswellbrook area has been found safe.
The 42-year-old was last seen about 5am yesterday (Friday 29 November 2019) on Hebden Road, near Lake Liddell.
About 12.50pm today (Saturday 30 November 2019), the man was found at the Lake Liddell mine.
Police would like to thank the media and public for their assistance.

An investigation is underway after two men died in a microlight aircraft crash in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 12.20pm (Saturday 30 November 2019), emergency services were called to a property on Paterson Road, Woodville, about 10km north of Maitland, following reports of an aircraft crash.
Upon arrival, a wreckage and the bodies of a 44-year-old man and a 71-year-old man were located.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District established a crime scene, which was examined by specialist forensic police.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced and as inquiries continue, anyone with information is urged to contact Maitland Police Station on (02) 4934 0311 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The Sports Aviation Federation of Australia is assisting with the investigation.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

A teenage girl has been charged following an alleged armed robbery at Charlestown overnight.
About 9pm yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2019), a female employee was preparing to close at a restaurant on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown, when a teenage girl entered the store and allegedly threatened her with a broken bottle.
The worker ran out of the store and alert another staff member in the carpark who notified police.
The girl fled the store with cash and the employee’s mobile phone.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and conducted extensive patrols of the nearby area.
A crime scene was established and forensically examined.
About 11.30pm, police spoke with a teenage girl leaving another fast food store on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown.
During a search, police allegedly located the employee’s mobile phone and a sum of cash in her possession.
The 15-year-old girl was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station.
She was charged with armed robbery and refused bail to face a children’s court today (Thursday 28 November 2019).

Two hydroponic set-ups have been uncovered during a search warrant at a Hunter home yesterday.
About 9am (Wednesday 27 November 2019), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District sectors attended a home on Warraba Road, The Branch, and spoke with a 36-year-old man.
Police executed a search warrant at the property where they allegedly located and seized more than 11kg of hydroponic cannabis, several cannabis plants, two hydroponic cannabis setups and drug paraphernalia.
It’s estimated the street value of the cannabis seized is more than $150,000.
The 36-year-old man was issued with a court attendance notice for the offences of cultivate prohibited plant, possess prohibited plant, possess prohibited drug and supply an indictable quantity of prohibited drug.
He is due to face Dungog Local Court on Wednesday 15 January 2020.

Reinforcing the Mitchell Street seawall at Stockton Beach, improving stormwater infrastructure and completing a five-megawatt solar farm are among projects to benefit from a multimillion-dollar boost to City of Newcastle’s current works program.
The latest quarterly financial update, which was presented to the elected Council last night for approval, reveals an additional $3.9 million for public works in the 2019-20 budget, with spending spread across a range of infrastructure and asset renewal programs.
Reflecting the City’s sound financial position, an $8 million operating surplus is forecast to be delivered at the end of the financial year.
“We remain on track to deliver our seventh consecutive budget surplus while continuing to invest in the infrastructure renewal and revitalisation projects required that come with the sustained population growth our City is now experiencing,” City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The past four years have seen a sustained increase in our investment in capital works, including last year’s record program of $91.9 million, which included $65.6 million on new infrastructure.
“This surpassed our previous benchmark for capital investment, and was achieved while remaining focused on being financially sustainable now and into the future,” she said.
With design of the City’s organic waste processing facility underway ahead of construction later this year, the capital works budget will grow to $84.8 million, up from $80.9 million adopted by Council in June.
Included as part of the revised spend is $1.2m for maintenance of Stockton’s Mitchell Street seawall, $2m to complete City Hall’s external restoration and $1m to finish construction of the region’s largest solar farm, which will begin operation at Summerhill Waste Management Centre before the end of the year.
Almost $1.5 million in additional expenditure is forecast for improvements to the City’s stormwater infrastructure, while local roads will also benefit with an additional $665,000 for works including road rehabilitation and footpaths.
Pedestrian infrastructure projects will be boosted by $767,000, while spending on parks and sporting facilities will increase by $741,000 to a budget of $2.2 million.
The September quarterly review forecasts a budget surplus of 2.5% of income. Helping deliver the increase in the works program is a $1.42m reduction in forecast employee costs. Recent reductions in interest rates will cost the City an expected $156,000.

Buildings, Structures and Places	$21,396,417	Stormwater	$6,923,044
Environment	$25,857,668	Strategic	$3,724,018
Fleet	$5,557,975	Transport	$4,756,671
Information Technology	$6,233,661	Roads	$10,395,078
		2019/20 works program	$84,844,534