A man has been fined after he allegedly spat in the face of a security officer at a Central Coast hospital last week.
About 11.30pm on Thursday 9 April 2020, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District attended a home on Henry Parkes Drive, Berkeley Vale, following reports of a domestic violence related incident.
Police had been told a man had left the home and been involved in a motor vehicle crash nearby on Laguna Avenue before returning.
A 25-year-old man was detained and taken to Wyong Hospital for assessment.
While being treated, the man had to be restrained by police and security. It is alleged the man spat in the face of a 56-year-old security officer.
Following inquiries, the 25-year-old man was issued a $5000 PIN yesterday (Friday 17 April 2020), for not comply noticed direction in relation to spitting/coughing – COVID-19.
Inquiries continue.
Author: admin
Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)
Police have charged four people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 19 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:
- About 7am yesterday (Friday 17 April 2020), a 44-year-old man was detained by security after entering a residential building in Chatswood and attempting to steal mail. Officers from North Shore Police Area Command attended and located documentation, clothing, a police exhibit bag and jewellery inside the man’s backpack. The man was arrested and assessed by paramedics after he told security he was unwell and had been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital before being taken to Chatswood Police Station and checks revealed he had received a prior warning under the Ministerial Direction on Saturday 11 April 2020. The Surry Hills man was charged with enter inclosed land not prescribed premises w/o lawful excuse, larceny, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Saturday 18 April 2020).
- About 6.30pm yesterday (Friday 17 April 2020), officers from Inner West Police Area Command spoke with a 58-year-old man after observing him drinking on a bench near Newtown Railway Station. Checks revealed the Camperdown man had previously been charged with not complying under the Public Health Act on Wednesday 8 April 2020 and Friday 10 April 2020. The man was arrested and taken Newtown Police Station and charged with detention application and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today.
The other individuals charged have been highlighted in previous media releases.
Yesterday’s PINs include:
- About 5pm, officers from Mount Druitt Police Area Command attended Dawson Mall and spoke to five people consuming alcohol. Four were issued warnings while a 28-year-old man was issued a $1000 PIN after previously being warned. Officers returned to the mall just before 8pm and found a 29-year-old man consuming alcohol. He was issued a $1000 PIN after previously being warned.
- Just after 8.30pm, officers from Murray River Police District stopped an unregistered Audi on Dallinger Road, Lavington. Officers spoke to the occupants who told police they were going shopping. The passenger, a 35-year-old man, was found in possession of tattooing equipment. He was issued a $1000 PIN. The driver, a 27-year-old man, was issued traffic infringements for the unregistered and uninsured vehicle.
- Officers attached to South Coast Police District stopped a 24-year-old man riding a bicycle in a dangerous manner and without a helmet in the middle of Knapp Avenue, East Nowra. Police observed the man throw a small plastic bag onto the footpath. The man was arrested and stated he was on his way to leave the bag, allegedly containing 0.7g methylamphetamine, in a location for a friend to pick up. He was issued a $1000 PIN and a Field Court Attendance for possess prohibited drug and possess implements for the self-administer of a prohibited drug. He is due to appear at Nowra Local Court on Monday 29 June 2020.
- About 4.45pm, officers attached to Tweed/Byron Police District spoke to a man at Apex Park, Byron Bay, in the company of a group of people. The 63-year-old was on conditional bail – not to enter Byron Bay – and had also been spoken to by police on three separate occasions in the past 10 days about breaching Ministerial Directions and subsequently issued a $1,000 PIN and charged with breach of bail. He was due to appear at Lismore Local Court today (Saturday 18 April 2020).
- Officers from Wollongong Police District spoke to two men – aged 42 and 55 – after they were observed drinking alcohol in McCabe Park, Wollongong, about 10.45am. The men were each issued a $1,000 PIN.
- At 3.55pm, officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command were patrolling the Kingswood CBD when a 20-year-old man was stopped on Richmond Avenue. Police were aware the Penrith man had been issued warnings on Thursday 9 April 2020 and Tuesday 14 April 2020 and he was subsequently issued a $1,000 PIN.
- About 3am, officers attached to Blacktown Police Area Command spoke to a 34-year-old man outside a house on Prospect Highway, Seven Hills. The man had previously been warned by officers on 4 April 2020 at Surry Hills and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
- Just after midday, police from Coffs/Clarence Police District were patrolling South Grafton when they noticed a man riding a mountain bike on Vere Street without a helmet. When police spoke to the 42-year-old man he informed officers he had been visiting a friend. Police searched the man and found a small amount of cannabis in his pocket. The man was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station. He was charged with possess prohibited drug, rider not wear approved helmet and ride bike without working warning devices. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Grafton Local Court on 6 July 2020. It was also ascertained the man had been issued with a warning on 16 April 2020 by Grafton Detectives and was issued with a $1000 PIN.
- About 6.30pm, officers from Lake Illawarra Police District were patrolling when they noticed a man and woman walking along Byamee Street, Dapto. The man allegedly told police he had been at a mate’s house. Police searched the pair and will allege they located cannabis in a backpack. The 41-year-old man was arrested and charged with possess prohibited drug. He was granted bail to appear at Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 15 July 2020. He was also issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching the Public Health Act.
- About 7pm, officers from the Murray River Police District were patrolling when they noticed a man riding a bicycle on the footpath on Griffith Road, Lavington, with no helmet. When police stopped and spoke to the man it’s alleged he became aggressive and argumentative towards police. The 18-year-old man was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being in the area when he lived in Narrandera. Subsequent checks revealed the man was wanted for an aggravated break and enter and he was arrested. He was charged with aggravated break and enter and breach of bail. He was refused bail refused and appeared at Wagga Wagga Local Court today where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at the same court on Monday (20 April 2020). He was also issued with a $1000 PIN.
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.
WHO should be strengthened, not weakened
The Australian Greens have condemned US President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that the United States will withdraw critical funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and cautions the Australian government from signalling any similar action.
As the international body responsible for coordinating the world’s response to pandemics like the current COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that governments maintain their financial commitments to the organisation.
Australia has a crucial leadership role in our region in particular, to demonstrate steadfast commitment to the WHO and other international bodies. It is through the WHO and other global organisations that wealthy nations like Australia and the US can share capacity, information and resources so that countries have a fighting chance of withstanding this crisis.
Gutting the WHO of critical funding will do nothing but further cripple its ability to provide support in the fight against this lethal virus.
“As we face a global health emergency, it is essential that the WHO is properly funded and resourced to coordinate an international response. Now more than ever it is critical that we have international cooperation and a coordinated response to the pandemic.” Greens health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale said.
“In the aftermath of this crisis there will be many lessons to learn from how the world responded to the pandemic and what we can do better. This is appropriate, but if Mr Trump thinks cutting funding is the answer he is dangerously wrong. Trump is seeking to hide behind the WHO for his own disastrous response to the pandemic, which has led to thousands of unnecessary deaths.”
“The usual suspects on Scott Morrison’s backbench and some members of the Labor party have lined up to support Trump’s dangerous blame-shifting. Scott Morrison must now reject this, and commit that Australia will not reduce funding to the WHO.”
Greens International Aid and Development spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“Organisations like the WHO are critical to our global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Divisive leaders like Trump will not get us on the other side of this, our collective global community work will.
“Australia’s aid and development funding is already pitifully low. We should be looking to increase our contributions to bolster public health around the world, not reduce them.
“It’s shameful and frankly embarrassing to see the Trump-wannabes of the Liberal party step into action whenever the US president does or says anything. The prime minister must reject this bizarre and dangerous way of making policy decisions, and rule out any further cuts to Australia’s aid contributions to the WHO.
“We live in a grossly unequal world and wealthy countries like Australia have an obligation to contribute to the global response this pandemic requires. That necessarily involves continuing to fund the WHO and working to ensure a strong international effort against COVID-19.”
Greens move to disallow Government's attack on bargaining rights
When Parliament resumes at the foreshadowed May sitting, the Greens will move in the Senate to disallow the Government’s regulation shortening the notice required to change enterprise agreements, said Greens Leader and Industrial Relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt.
“The government is using a temporary emergency to make long-term changes to workers’ rights,” said Mr Bandt.
“I am worried about Liberal mission creep.
“The Australian people are prepared to give the government latitude to fight a health emergency, but this doesn’t give them license to take away rights for the long-term.
“Workers will be put under extreme pressure to agree in a day to changes that could last for years.
“There is no evidence this change is needed, especially given the high degree of co-operation witnessed during this crisis.
“People need a fair amount of time to seek advice about significant changes to their rights and the Greens will oppose this corporate power grab.
“Those of us who fought WorkChoices know the Liberals are no friend of workers. But to use the cover of a global pandemic to strip away workers’ rights is a gross new low.”
Save Education Jobs: Government Must Back Higher Ed Through New Funding Package
Australian Greens Senator and Education spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the government must provide a new funding package for higher education to save the jobs of thousands of staff.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Across the country, universities are drawing up plans to cut staff and wages. From PhD students to career academics and professional staff, higher education workers will lose their jobs as a direct result of the government’s failure to provide support during the COVID-19 crisis.
“No higher education jobs should be lost. With universities unfairly excluded from the JobKeeper wage subsidy, the government must step up immediately to provide a new funding package. Job security on campuses must be guaranteed, ensuring that all casual staff are also retained.
“Universities are some of the most casualised workplaces in the country. Staff and students are now suffering as a result.
“Universities have been starved of adequate public funding for decades. This has led to a reliance on revenue from international student enrolments, which are now greatly at risk due to the pandemic. Significant new investment, including a minimum ten per cent boost to Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding, is essential.
“Universities with large reserves should also be prioritising staff jobs in spending what money they have. At the end of the day, universities are about people. Keeping university staff on payroll should be top of every Vice-Chancellor’s agenda in managing this crisis.
“In addition to securing jobs through emergency funding, now is the time to make university and TAFE free for all so we can rebuild as a more fair and just society after this crisis,” she said.
Greed, politicking and climate change killing Murray-Darling, Keelty report shows
The latest review into the management of the Murray-Darling Basin exposes greed, politicking and climate change are killing the nation’s biggest river system, the Greens say.
Responding to the Interim Inspector-General of Murray–Darling Basin Water Resources Mick Keelty’s report, released today, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“There are no jobs on a dead river. This report shows greed and vested political interests are putting the River at risk for all users and killing the River from top to bottom.
“The importance of maintaining environmental flows for the sake of the River’s survival is confirmed in this report.
“The anti-science and anti-environment agenda fanned by people like Barnaby Joyce has created misinformation and frustration amongst the community. Family farmers have been used as political pawns, while the National Party’s corporate irrigator mates are able to keep being greedy.
“The River system is under enormous stress, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was meant to tackle the over-extraction of water from irrigation. Politics and greed have continued to hinder doing what the science and the environment needs to save the River. It’s time we got on with retuning water to the environment so the River is there into the future.
“This report proves what many of us have known for a long time – allowing the National Party to control the Water Ministry has been a recipe for disaster. They peddle lies, misinformation and have a lack of respect for the science. Morrison should take the portfolio off the National Party, and put science back in charge.”
Federal Government Guarantees Domestic Aviation Network
Qantas and Virgin Australia Groups will operate a minimum domestic network servicing the most critical metropolitan and regional routes in Australia thanks to a significant investment from the Federal Government of up to an initial $165 million.
Underwriting the cost of the network, which includes all state and territory capital cities and major regional centres such as Albury, Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Kalgoorlie, Mildura, Port Lincoln, Rockhampton, Tamworth, Townsville and Wagga Wagga, comes in addition to the more than $1 billion of Federal Government support for Australia’s aviation industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said sustaining Australia’s aviation industry is critical to protecting livelihoods and saving lives and that’s why the Government has acted again today to provide further support.
“As Australians are asked to stay home unless absolutely necessary, we are ensuring secure and affordable access for passengers who need to travel, including our essential workers such as frontline medical personnel and defence personnel, as well as supporting the movement of essential freight such as critical medicine and personal protective equipment,” Mr McCormack said.
“We know that a strong domestic aviation network is critical to Australia’s success and today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment, yet again, to maintaining connectivity during this pandemic.
“This investment will also help Australians returning from overseas, who find themselves in a different city after 14 days of mandatory quarantine, complete their journey home safely.”
This announcement complements the actions the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government has already taken to underwrite international flights to help Australians get home, as well as flights to our regional and remote communities through the $198 million Regional Airlines Network Support program announced on 28 March and the $715 million package announced on 18 March.
These arrangements will last for an initial eight weeks with a review mechanism in place, where the Government will continue to monitor the market and determine if further action is required.
We continue to support every Australian to get to the other side of this pandemic with more than $320 billion of investment, including our $130 billion JobKeeper Payment to support workers and businesses.
MORE THAN 2500 BUSINESSES APPROVED FOR GRANTS
More than 2500 small businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 have already been approved for grants of up to $10,000 in the first three days of the NSW Government’s new Small Business Support Fund.
Applications opened earlier this week, with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello, saying getting money out the door to ensure businesses could stay in business and help keep people in jobs was vital.
“This is about providing cash quickly to eligible small businesses when they are struggling. These grants could help your local cafe or corner shop during this very difficult time,” Mr Perrottet said.
The $750 million Small Business Support Fund was announced on April 3 as part of a range of Government support, and can be used to pay for unavoidable expenses such as utility bills and council rates.
Mr Dominello said successful applicants for the grants could receive the funds in as little as five days.
“It is the Service NSW way to make the process of applying for grants as painless and efficient as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
“That’s why we asked them to deliver these grants to small businesses in their hour of need.
“Businesses in highly impacted sectors can expect to have their applications processed quickly and see money in their bank accounts within five days of approval.
“Businesses outside those industry codes will be subject to a manual assessment process which may require slightly more documentation and processing time.”
Eligible businesses must meet a range of criteria including:
- Between 1-19 employees,
- A turnover of more than $75,000,
- A payroll below the threshold of $900,000, and
- Be heavily impacted by the Covid-19 shutdowns.
Businesses will be expected to demonstrate a 75 per cent decline in turnover as a result of COVID-19, relative to an equivalent period in 2019 of at least two weeks.
Applications for the grant must be received by 1 June 2020. For more information on eligibility or to submit an application please visit www.service.nsw.gov.au
REGULATORY CHANGES TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF RATEPAYERS, BUSINESSES AND COUNCILS
The NSW Government has today made a series of regulatory changes to ensure council resources continue to be focused on frontline COVID-19 response efforts and allow councils to provide financial relief to businesses and residents.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the changes acknowledge that councils are redirecting resources to ensure the delivery of essential services to their communities across the State.
“Councils are playing a vital role in supporting and protecting local communities during these unprecedented times,” Mrs Hancock said.
“The changes provide councils with the flexibility to adjust to rapidly shifting circumstances.
“Importantly, they also give ratepayers more time to pay their rates notices and allows councils to provide financial support to businesses suffering from reduced cash flows or forced closure by waiving or reducing fees.”
Amendments to local government regulations include:
- Allowing councils to delay sending out the first quarterly rates notice for 2020-21 and extend the payment deadline by one month;
- Enabling councils to immediately waive or reduce fees for services such as food premise inspections and footpath usage for COVID-19 affected businesses, without the need to provide 28 days public notice;
- Providing councils with a one-month extension to adopt their 2020-21 operational plans and budgets and submit their 2019-20 audited financial statements and annual reports. Councils will also have an extra month to submit their last quarterly budget review statement for 2019-20;
- Removing the requirement for documents to be made available for inspection at council offices, if the document is published on the council’s website or available electronically; and
- Removing the requirement for council notices to be advertised in newspapers and instead allow the relevant notice to be published on the council’s website.
“The NSW Government will continue to work with local councils to identify, develop and implement more measures to support them and their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mrs Hancock said.
Teens charged with breaching public health order after police car rammed – Liverpool
Four teens will face court today charged after a police vehicle was rammed in Sydney’s south-west yesterday.
About 7.50am (Thursday 16 April 2020), officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command were patrolling Liverpool CBD, when they saw two stolen vehicles – a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Honda Odyssey van – and followed them.
The vehicles stopped in traffic at the intersection of Orange Grove Road and Viscount Place and police approached them. The Honda allegedly rammed a police vehicle and mounted the median strip before mounting the kerb and hitting bollards in an attempt to flee.
The Honda driver, aged 17, attempted to run but was arrested nearby.
Two passengers, aged 14 and 17, were arrested in the Honda and three teens, aged 16, 14, and 17, were arrested in the Jeep.
They were all taken to Liverpool Police Station.
The 17-year-old male Honda driver was charged with drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not m/v), never licensed person drive vehicle on road, use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The 16-year-old female Jeep driver was charged with take & drive conveyance without consent of owner, driver never licensed, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The two passengers, a 14-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were charged with be carried in conveyance taken w/o consent of owner, and Not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19.
They were all refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Friday 17 April 2020).
The two additional passengers, aged 17, will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
Three officers received minor injuries when the police vehicle airbags were deployed.