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ADDITIONAL DISASTER SUPPORT FOR FLOOD-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Residents and businesses in nine South Australian local government areas are now able to apply for a range of assistance to help them clean up, get back to business and back into homes.

The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments today announced $126.25 million in further disaster assistance for communities hit by the devastating flooding that peaked in Renmark on Boxing Day and is subsequently impacting downriver areas.

The funding for the flood event that started in mid-November 2022 and continues to cause major issues for communities all along the Murray River, is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

A comprehensive range of assistance is available:

  • Property Assessment and Essential Services Reconnection; $10 million to assess damage to primary residential properties including structural damage, electrical infrastructure and reconnection of services.
  • Small Business Recovery Grants: $9.3 million (up to $50,000 per business) to help affected businesses get up and running again.
  • Primary Producer Recovery Grants: $45.9 million (up to $75,000 per producer) for clean-up and reinstatement of the primary producer businesses.
  • Waste Management Program: $60 million for assessment of hazardous waste, including disposal, and other waste management activity.
  • Blackwater: $800,000 to assist with clean-up of large scale fish kills.
  • Legal Assistance: $250,000 for legal assistance for affected people and businesses.

The nine local government areas eligible for funding are Alexandrina Council, Berri Barmera Council, Coorong District Council, District Council of Karoonda East Murray, District Council of Loxton Waikerie, Mid Murray Council, Murray Bridge Council, Pastoral Unincorporated Area and Renmark Paringa Council.

Further measures being provided through a separate funding process include $5 million for a range of activities relating to flood mitigation and recovery for impacted councils, and $250,000 for mentors for rural businesses and financial counselling support for families.

For information about these grants, contact the South Australian Relief hotline on 1800 302 787.

Further information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said

In this time of crisis, the people of South Australia should know that the Federal Government is standing by them ready to help wherever and whenever it is needed.

This assistance will provide invaluable support to residents, farmers and businesses to recover from this flooding disaster.

The quicker we recover, the sooner we can begin investing in mitigation to lessen the impact of events like this in the future.

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas said

We’re still witnessing these floodwaters wreak devastation along the river.

Our river communities have been united, resourceful and courageous through this event.

But we know we have a significant clean-up ahead.

Getting to work quickly will be vitally important for communities to recover and thrive.

That’s why we’ve been working extremely closely with the Commonwealth to help our communities who’ve been so united, resourceful and courageous throughout this event, to not just get back on their feet, but thrive.

I’m pleased today  to be able to announce this additional $126.25 million in funding to help them put recent events in the past, and look to the future.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said

We know it’s going to be a long road to recovery, but this new funding means that people will have access to the immediate, impactful support they need to start to clean up, repair, rebuild and recover.

The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring communities in South Australia are better prepared and can recover quicker from natural disasters.

We will continue to work very closely with the Malinauskas Government to provide assistance and support as and when it’s needed.

Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers on the Taliban’s Ban on Afghan Women Working for National and International NGOs

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union are gravely concerned that the Taliban’s reckless and dangerous order barring female employees of national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from the workplace puts at risk millions of Afghans who depend on humanitarian assistance for their survival.  We call on the Taliban to urgently reverse this decision.

Women are absolutely central to humanitarian and basic needs operations.  Unless they participate in aid delivery in Afghanistan, NGOs will be unable to reach the country’s most vulnerable people to provide food, medicine, winterization, and other materials and services they need to live.  This would also affect the humanitarian assistance provided by international organizations, as international organizations utilize NGOs to deliver such materials and services.

The Taliban continue to demonstrate their contempt for the rights, freedoms, and welfare of the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, and their disinterest in normal relations with the international community.

We support the Afghan people’s calls for girls and women to return to work, school, and university, and for women to continue to play essential roles in humanitarian and basic needs assistance delivery, and we urge the Taliban to respect the political, economic, social, and cultural rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

To this end, we are in close contact with the United Nations, who are urging, also on behalf of all international donors, that the Taliban reverse this decision immediately.  This would avoid any disruption and allow the continuation of all humanitarian operations of international and national NGOs.

NSW motorists to cash in on toll relief

Toll relief is on the way for drivers across our state with the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Toll Relief Rebate Scheme open for applications from 24 January. 
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said under the new and improved toll relief initiative, around half a million drivers will be able to claim 40 percent of their toll spend up to $750 a year. 
 
“The new Toll Relief Rebate Scheme will start putting money back into drivers’ bank accounts once they spend $375 a year on tolls,” Mr Kean said.
 
“We’ve more than doubled the number of drivers eligible for toll relief and for the first time, pensioners will be able to claim a rebate while still receiving free car registration.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the new toll relief scheme will make traveling more affordable particularly for those in West and South West Sydney.
 
“Drivers from Casula to Liverpool, Rouse Hill and Campbelltown will be the big winners, but everyone across New South Wales will have the chance to cash in on the new Toll Relief Rebate Scheme,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“This is about putting more cash into the pockets of hardworking NSW families at a time when they are feeling the pinch from cost of living pressures. 
 
“We’re making sure everyone gets the chance to use our world class motorway network which saves families precious time, gets tradies to more jobs and creates a safer journey for all.”
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the new scheme will be administered through Service NSW and payments would start flowing into bank accounts within days. 
 
“This is just one of 70 cost of living rebates on offer from the NSW Liberal and National Government, which is adding money to household budgets across the state,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Eligible customers can log into their Service NSW account, link to their toll account before lodging their toll relief rebate claim. And there will always be the option to go into, or call, a Service NSW Centre for assistance. Claims will then be paid directly into their nominated bank account. 
 
“Start the New Year right by boosting your household budget through Service NSW. You can assess your eligibility for the rebates by using the Savings Finder tool or booking an appointment with a Saving Specialist.”
 
Rebates will be backdated to 1 July 2022 and payments will start to flow from within days of applications being received.
 
For more details on the new Toll Relief Scheme please visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/new-toll-relief-scheme-faqs

Three teenagers charged following serious assault – Lake Macquarie 

Three teenagers have been charged after another teen suffered serious injuries in an alleged assault in Lake Macquarie overnight.

About 12.10am (Sunday 1 January 2023), emergency services were called to Ocean Street, Dudley, following reports of an assault.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and were told a 16-year-old boy had been struck to the head with a glass bottle, suffering serious lacerations.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter hospital in a critical condition, where he remains in an induced coma.

A crime scene was established, and police have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Two males, aged 17 and 16, were arrested nearby and taken to Belmont Police Station.

Another 17-year-old male was arrested at Belmont Police Station a short time later.

All three males have been charged with reckless grievous bodily harm in company, and reckless wounding in company, and were refused bail to appear in Children’s Court today (Sunday 1 January 2023).

Street parties and dining pump new life into NSW

Streets and public spaces across NSW are booming thanks to a $66 million Liberals and Nationals Government investment to kickstart the hospitality and events sector during and after the pandemic. 
 
The programs spanned a range of initiatives including the Alfresco Restart Package, the Streets as Shared Spaces program, Your High Street and a range of other pop-up events and legislative changes to encourage events and activations on NSW streets. 
 
A report assessing the impact of the measures found they led to more than 13,500 jobs including 2,800 hospitality workers and more than 530,000 attendees at pop-up and street activations spread across 300 events in 112 local government areas.  
 
Minister for Cities Rob Stokes said temporary and permanent measures introduced since 2020 have transformed the way we use our streets and public spaces, breathing new life into our cities and town centres. 
 
“The pandemic accelerated global trends that were already happening and we had to change too, transforming our Central Business Districts into Central Social Districts that encourage people to stay longer, and spend local,” Mr Stokes said. 
 
“That’s why we threw out the rule book, closing off NSW streets to cars and opening them up to people, creating thousands of jobs for the hospitality industry and bringing joy to millions who attended events or enjoyed a meal or a drink outside.”
 
“A good city is like a good party, the better it is the longer people want to stay which is why we’ve made many of the changes permanent, and why we’re today announcing the permanent pedestrianisation of George Street at The Rocks.” 
 
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said while the economic impacts were profound, the measures also helped make NSW cities and streets more vibrant. 
“We made these changes to support businesses during the darkest times, and we’re keeping them because they’ve made life better for many people,” Mr Dominello said. 
“We demonstrated a better way to do regulation, resulting in over 200 venues across the State getting outdoor dining approval in a matter of days. What used to take up to 50 days, was cut to 3 days so both businesses and customers can take advantage of enjoying a meal and a drink on the street.”
 
Foot traffic in The Rocks is now at 90 per cent of pre-covid levels despite fewer international tourists, and business turnover is tracking above pre-covid levels (2019) by more than 15 per cent.
 
Ahead of the pedestrianisation of George Street The Rocks becoming permanent, Placemaking NSW will run a design competition to respect the heritage significance of the streetscape.
 
It follows permanent works to improve streets and town centres across NSW cities and regions as part of the Your High Street program, including; Drummoyne,  Dulwich Hill, Fairfield, Gilgandra, Griffith, Hay, Hornsby, Kingswood, Lakemba, Lennox Head, Maitland, Maroubra, Moree, Murwillumbah, Nowra, Parramatta, Trundle, Queanbeyan and Wagga Wagga.

$6.7 million investment into the NSW coast

More than $6.7 million is being invested in restoring and preserving the NSW coastline, thanks to the Liberal and National Governments budget boost in the Coastal and Estuary Grants Program.
 
Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said that a key focus of the grants was future-proofing communities and ecosystems for climate change.
 
“Seven Coastal councils have successfully received funding for 13 different projects to better manage coastal erosion, protect wetlands and manage local estuaries,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
 
“A significant project identified for funding in this round includes a $2.3 million investment in structures at Stockton Beach to address immediate erosion risk as part of the certified Coastal Management Program,” she said.
 
“Other grants will help ensure that the ecological values of NSW coastal, wetland and littoral rainforest areas are protected, while accommodating public access, amenity and recreation where appropriate.”
 
“Projects include stabilising and revegetating dunes in the Shoalhaven area, shore bank stabilisation along the Georges River at Deepwater Park, and improving water quality and ecosystem health in the Manning River estuary.”
 
Successful Councils include: 

  • Bega Valley Shire Council
  • Canterbury-Bankstown Council
  • Lake Macquarie Council
  • Mid-Coast Council 
  • City of Newcastle 
  • Council of the City of Ryde
  • Shoalhaven City Council

The Department of Planning and Environment administers one contestable funding round for implementation grants per year. Further information regarding coastal and estuary grants is available here.

Appeal to locate missing teenage girl – Karuah 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Hunter Region.

Patrice O’Keefe, aged 13, was last seen Karuah about 10am on Tuesday (27 December 2022).

When she could not be contacted by family and friends, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified yesterday (Thursday 29 December 2022) and immediately commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to her young age.

Patrice is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build with long brown hair.

She was last seen wearing a black singlet top and blue/orange pants.

Inquiries have established that she may have been in the Newcastle area about 11pm last night (Thursday 29 December 2022).

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call Raymond Terrace Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police appeal to locate boy missing from Rutherford 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a boy missing from the state’s Hunter region.

Robert ‘Alex’ Campbell, aged 15, was last seen on Alexandra Avenue, Rutherford, about 10.30am on Sunday (25 December 2022).

When he did not return home and could not be contacted, officers from Port Stephens Hunter Police District were notified late yesterday (Thursday 29 December 2022) and commenced inquiries to locate him.

Family and police hold concerns for his welfare due to his age.

Robert is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, between 165-175cm tall, of thin build, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. 

He is known to frequent the Rutherford, Tenambit, Muswellbrook, Singleton, and Campbelltown areas.

Anyone with information about Robert’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

FIRST NATIONS DEATHS TAKING TOLL ON COMMUNITY

A First Nations man collapsed and died at Greenough Regional Prison on Tuesday afternoon, the second death of an Aboriginal person in custodial care in less than a week. 

This death follows that of a First Nations woman at Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison who had a “medical event” on December 21 and was on life support until Christmas Eve.

In the year leading up to the end of September, 106 people died in custody and 27 per cent were First Nations people.

WA Greens Senator and Yamatji-Noongar woman, Dorinda Cox said:

“First Nations communities across WA are in distress over yet another death in custody. 

“The final months of 2022 have brought so much grief and sorrow to families who’ve lost loved ones so tragically.

“Following the violent attacks on Cassius Turvey and Diane Miller, our community is now dealing with two deaths in custody over Christmas – when loved ones should be enjoying time with their families.

“We cannot continue to accept First Nations deaths in custody as unavoidable. We need to ensure that everyone in custodial care receives adequate health and mental health care, and access to support services including visits by the community when needed.

“The Commonwealth and State governments have the solutions to change these dire outcomes – they’ve had them for over thirty years.

“I call on state governments to implement all of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody report handed down in 1991, and the Commonwealth to urgently fund and implement the United Nation’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) which was ratified in 2017. 

“We cannot keep turning a blind eye and accepting these devastating outcomes for First Nations people and their families.”

WA Greens MLC, Dr Brad Pettitt said:

“These two tragic deaths in custody in short succession around Christmas time are undoubtedly devastating for the families of these relatively young people.  

“WA continues to have the highest rate of incarceration in the nation and it is time that earnest steps were taken to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission and to do more to ensure these tragedies are not repeated.”

Appeal following a serious boat crash – Lake Macquarie

Detectives from the Marine Area Command are appealing for information following a fail-to-stop boating crash on Lake Macquarie earlier this year.

About 4am on Wednesday 16 October 2022, a vessel collided at speed with another vessel – that had two fishermen on board – just off Wangi Wangi Point.

When the vessel drove away; the voices of a man and a woman could be heard onboard.

Officers were notified, and the two fishermen, aged 36 and 41, were taken to the John Hunter Hospital with serious neck, spine, ribs and shoulder blade fractures as well as serious head lacerations. The men have since been discharged.

Officers from the Marine Area Command formed Strike Force Twelfth to investigate the crash. 

The damaged fishermen’s boat was seized and forensically examined, with the results indicating that the other vessel was made of aluminium and had a blue coloured hull.

Subsequent inquiries revealed the vessel was towed by a white four-door utility, that drove along Cams Boulevard in Summerland Point, about 4.35am the same day of the incident.

As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage of a vehicle whose occupants may be able to assist with inquiries.

Marine Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Mick O’Keefe said someone in the community may have the final piece of information that is key in assisting detectives with solving this case.

“Through traditional detective work, investigators have established that they are looking for a male and female who were in a white Toyota Hilux, towing a blue bottomed aluminium boat. We believe some children may have been on their boat at the time of the incident and we hope no one was injured like the fishermen were,” Det A/Insp O’Keefe said. 

“This is an opportunity for those involved to turn themselves in to police, or expect a visit from detectives soon enough, it’s just a matter of time.

“If members of the public have any information which might assist detectives, I urge them to call Crime Stoppers or their local police station. Just like on the road, there are rules that need to be obeyed on the water to avoid reckless incidents like this.”