Newcastle Ocean Baths will be closed for the rest of this week with challenging surf conditions and large tides making it unsafe for our staff to access the water channel between the baths and the ocean.
There is currently a large amount of sediment which washed-up from last Wednesday’s large storm event, which means the baths cannot be refilled nor pumps operate effectively.
With current forecasts not predicting favourable conditions until early next week, the baths will remain closed until it is safe for the work to be completed.
Merewether Ocean Baths will not be cleaned Thursday 5 March to allow people to use the pool in lieu of Newcastle’s closure. Signs have been erected at Newcastle Ocean Baths advising of its closure and lifeguards will also remain on duty to supervise the site and advise the community.
Author: admin
MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN FEE RELIEF FOR BUSHFIRE AFFECTED FISHERS
The NSW Government will provide more than $1 million in relief to support bushfire affected commercial fishing businesses and charter boat operators, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro and the Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall announcing a major fee waiver today.
Mr Barilaro said the bushfires had taken a severe toll on the State’s primary industries, and NSW commercial fishers were no exception.
“Our communities in Regional NSW have copped enough with devastating bushfires and the ongoing drought.”
“Commercial fishing businesses employ thousands of local residents and it is vital we keep the local economy ticking and give them a hand up during the recovery phase.”
“The recent bushfires have not only hindered access to fishing grounds due to area and road closures, there have also been limitations on fishers’ ability to get products to wholesalers, markets and cooperatives,” Mr Barilaro said.
Mr Marshall said that under this waiver, fishing business owners will not have to pay the second instalment of management charges that would have otherwise been due on 28 February 2020.
“Almost 1,200 businesses will receive a fee waiver, providing essential financial relief for those experiencing the impacts of bushfires.
“Our fishing businesses play a vital role in the economic health of coastal communities throughout NSW and this is one way the government can support the industry during such a difficult time.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Fisher’s Association Tricia Beatty said the fee waiver was welcome relief for many fishers who have been through a tough time.
“Our industry have been struggling under the pressure of the ongoing drought and the more recent impacts of fires, floods and now the coronavirus,” Ms Beatty said.
“We welcome the NSW Government’s announcement to support our industry through a fee relief to reduce the burdens we face.”
Fishers who have already paid the management charges due for that instalment will receive a credit on their account with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
Commercial fishing business owners or charter boat owners with questions regarding fee relief are encouraged to contact DPI on 1300 720 662.
BEST IN CLASS FOR NSW STUDENTS
A team of the state’s best teachers will roll out to targeted high schools to lift performance using proven and successful teaching methods.
The new ‘Best in Class’ Teaching Unit is made up of handpicked educators, chosen for being leaders and teaching experts in their respective fields.
They’ll share their classrooms skills directly with those teachers and students who need it most, while also building a new teaching package to build on existing ‘best practice’ research for NSW Schools.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell joined students to announce the teaching program.
“We’re investing millions of dollars in school infrastructure across the NSW and we are also committed to supporting students in the classroom,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The teachers selected to deliver the program stand out, and their results speak for themselves. We want to replicate these great teaching methods, and share them across all the state’s classrooms.”
HSC students will be the first to benefit from the new approach – with the Best in Class Unit beginning the job this week.
HSC results are already monitored closely as students are completing the last year of high school. Comparing these results will provide useful data to monitor the impact ‘Best in Class’ is having on school performance.
Ms Mitchell said Best in Class is a continuation of the NSW Government’s commitment to building excellence in the teaching profession.
“The Best in Class unit will effect real change – and will lift standards across the state,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We know that the biggest positive impact on students learning is the teacher standing in front of them.
“NSW has the highest entry standards for students wanting to become teachers, and now we are using very best teachers to grow the entire profession from the inside out.
“This is an exciting time for education in NSW, ‘best in class’ will allow us to help teachers deliver lessons and improved curriculum to the best of their abilities.”
MORRISON GOVERNMENT DUMPS AGED CARE PRIVATISATION PLAN
The Morrison Government has dumped the tender that would start the privatisation of aged care assessment in Australia after significant pressure from the states and in Parliament.
Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, who tabled a motion against the privatisation plan in Parliament last week, said she had met with local ACAT representatives in Newcastle who warned of the risks.
“Aged-care assessment teams (ACAT) staff are the first interaction that older Australians have with the aged-care system and a critical first step in getting a home care package or moving into residential aged care,” Ms Claydon said.
“These are important roles which are filled by qualified people who know what they’re doing. No private provider would be capable of offering the breadth of skills to assess the complex needs of hundreds of thousands of older Australians.”
Ms Claydon said privatisation would have only added to the problems in aged care.
“This backdown is a win for older Australians, their loved ones and aged care workers,” Ms Claydon said.
“If this service was sold off to the highest bidder, there would be a very real risk that the more expensive parts of the service would be shut down or indeed pushed back onto government.”
Ms Claydon said she had also been ‘gravely concerned’ about potential conflicts of interest.
“When the profit motive conflicts with service standards or the need to save public money, as they inevitably would, how could we be sure that older Australians’ interests and responsible use of public money would prevail?
“I was particularly worried that the companies that run the nursing homes could have secured the contracts to conduct these assessments. That’s like handing out licences to print publicly funded money.”
Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, who tabled a motion against the privatisation plan in Parliament last week, said she had met with local ACAT representatives in Newcastle who warned of the risks.
“Aged-care assessment teams (ACAT) staff are the first interaction that older Australians have with the aged-care system and a critical first step in getting a home care package or moving into residential aged care,” Ms Claydon said.
“These are important roles which are filled by qualified people who know what they’re doing. No private provider would be capable of offering the breadth of skills to assess the complex needs of hundreds of thousands of older Australians.”
Ms Claydon said privatisation would have only added to the problems in aged care.
“This backdown is a win for older Australians, their loved ones and aged care workers,” Ms Claydon said.
“If this service was sold off to the highest bidder, there would be a very real risk that the more expensive parts of the service would be shut down or indeed pushed back onto government.”
Ms Claydon said she had also been ‘gravely concerned’ about potential conflicts of interest.
“When the profit motive conflicts with service standards or the need to save public money, as they inevitably would, how could we be sure that older Australians’ interests and responsible use of public money would prevail?
“I was particularly worried that the companies that run the nursing homes could have secured the contracts to conduct these assessments. That’s like handing out licences to print publicly funded money.”
NEWCASTLE APPRENTICE NUMBERS PLUMMET
New local data has revealed that apprentice and trainee numbers in Newcastle are appallingly low.
We now have 1,165 fewer apprentices and trainees in Newcastle than we did when the Liberals came to power. That means we have lost almost a third of the 3,500 apprentices we had in 2013.
This leaves Newcastle, like the rest of the country, desperately short of critical trades that are vital to the healthy functioning of our regional economy.
The Morrison government has robbed Australians of employment opportunities and forced the country into a tradie crisis by ripping $3 billion out of vocational training and education.
Nearly two million Australians are out of work and employers are crying out for skilled staff.
The Liberals like to brag about their economic credentials, yet they starve the very sector that delivers the skilled staff that we need to grow the economy and stem unemployment.
Investment in skills, education, training is Economics 101 if you want to drive economic growth and maintain a high standard of living. But all the Liberals know is to cut, cut, cut.
By locking Australians out of education and training, the Liberals are locking Australians out of jobs.
The Morrison Liberal government is a do-nothing government with no agenda for jobs, training or a better Australia.
We now have 1,165 fewer apprentices and trainees in Newcastle than we did when the Liberals came to power. That means we have lost almost a third of the 3,500 apprentices we had in 2013.
This leaves Newcastle, like the rest of the country, desperately short of critical trades that are vital to the healthy functioning of our regional economy.
The Morrison government has robbed Australians of employment opportunities and forced the country into a tradie crisis by ripping $3 billion out of vocational training and education.
Nearly two million Australians are out of work and employers are crying out for skilled staff.
The Liberals like to brag about their economic credentials, yet they starve the very sector that delivers the skilled staff that we need to grow the economy and stem unemployment.
Investment in skills, education, training is Economics 101 if you want to drive economic growth and maintain a high standard of living. But all the Liberals know is to cut, cut, cut.
By locking Australians out of education and training, the Liberals are locking Australians out of jobs.
The Morrison Liberal government is a do-nothing government with no agenda for jobs, training or a better Australia.
Former foster carer charged over alleged indecent assaults of young girl
A former foster carer has been charged following an investigation into the alleged indecent assaults of a girl in the Newcastle region.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a young girl had been indecently assaulted by a man while she was in his care.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 42-year-old man at a home on the Central Coast just before 8am on Wednesday 19 February 2020.
He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with aggravated indecent assault- victim under authority of offender (x4) and commit act of indecency with person under 16 years.
Police will allege in court that the man indecently assaulted the girl – then aged nine – on several occasions while she was in his care in 2017.
The man was refused bail to appear at Wyong Local Court on 19 February 2020 where he was formally refused bail to re-appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 4 March 2020).
MORRISON'S FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER SPORTS RORTS SCANDAL, ANAO REVELATIONS SHOW
Following revelations from the National Audit Office in Senate Estimates,Greens Senator Janet Rice has condemned the Morrison government for their corrupt behaviour and for meddling with the list of sports projects funding hours after the Federal election was called.
Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for Sport said:
“Morrison is absolutely up to his neck in this scandal and his denials are not cutting it with the Senate or the Australian people. People are fed-up with this government thinking the rules don’t apply to them.
“Last night in Estimates, we learnt from the ANAO that the Coalition were still changing what projects were to be funded under the community sports grants and modifying the spreadsheet on the day the election was called, more than four hours after the government put into caretaker mode.
“These representations made by the Prime Minister’s office changed the allocation and amounts of grant funds sports clubs received. The updates resulted in one club being removed and likely missing out on funding, and nine new or amended applications rammed in at the last minute.
“These new grants were given to clubs and organisations that had put in late applications after being invited to do so by the government
“With revelations like this coming out almost daily, it’s crystal clear the Morrison government is actively subverting democracy with this cover up. The public has a right to know how their money is being spent.
“How many more scandals need to break before we get a federal anti-corruption watchdog with teeth?
“The Greens bill to establish a national integrity commission has already passed the Senate. If Scott Morrison was serious about integrity and honesty, he could bring this bill to a House vote now.”
Senate Estimates reveal Australia not on track for Paris climate targets: Bandt
The climate crisis is heating Australia faster than other nations and answers to Greens questions at Senate Estimates today confirm Australia will warm by ‘closer to 4 degrees’, not the 2 degrees agreed to in the Paris Agreement on climate change, with Scott Morrison marching us on a path towards death.
Under questioning by Senator Larissa Waters, the Bureau of Meteorology indicated that Australia has warmed by 1.4C from pre-industrial temperatures, 0.3C more than the global average, and that Australians will suffer through warming that is “closer to 4C” – over double the maximum target temperatures set out in the Paris Agreement and a global temperature at which scientists estimate only a billion people may survive on the planet.
Estimates also revealed that the government is undertaking no planning for the current 4 degrees scenario, with the Bureau also revealing they had not been approached by any Federal Minister or Department to provide advice about preparing for current policy settings.
Greens Leader and Climate Emergency Spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, said the questioning demonstrated that our government is woefully underprepared for the climate crisis.
Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Answers at Senate Estimates have confirmed that we are not on track to meet Paris targets and our country is set to burn.
“Our government is marching us on a path towards death. Australia will be one of the hardest countries hit by the climate crisis, but our government clearly couldn’t care less.
“The science is in. Not only is Australia one of the worst contributors to the climate crisis, we’re also going to be one of its worst victims.
“Scott Morrison is failing to seek expert advice about the impacts of his climate policies. He is developing no plans for agriculture, tourism, and health in a four degree scorched world.
“Australia saw this horrific bushfire season with just over one degree of warming. We’re hurtling towards four degrees and it’s only going to get worse from here”
Australian Greens Co-Deputy Leader Larissa Waters said:
“Four degrees of global warming will transform our society and environment, yet no government agency or government minister has asked for a briefing so they can plan for this new climate change-affected reality.
“This is our future burning and our government is burying its head in the sand rather than preparing for a new reality. We lose our precious Great Barrier Reef and the 63,000 tourism jobs that rely on it at only two degrees of global warming.
“We need climate action now, not delaying for decades to come.”
Under questioning by Senator Larissa Waters, the Bureau of Meteorology indicated that Australia has warmed by 1.4C from pre-industrial temperatures, 0.3C more than the global average, and that Australians will suffer through warming that is “closer to 4C” – over double the maximum target temperatures set out in the Paris Agreement and a global temperature at which scientists estimate only a billion people may survive on the planet.
Estimates also revealed that the government is undertaking no planning for the current 4 degrees scenario, with the Bureau also revealing they had not been approached by any Federal Minister or Department to provide advice about preparing for current policy settings.
Greens Leader and Climate Emergency Spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, said the questioning demonstrated that our government is woefully underprepared for the climate crisis.
Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Answers at Senate Estimates have confirmed that we are not on track to meet Paris targets and our country is set to burn.
“Our government is marching us on a path towards death. Australia will be one of the hardest countries hit by the climate crisis, but our government clearly couldn’t care less.
“The science is in. Not only is Australia one of the worst contributors to the climate crisis, we’re also going to be one of its worst victims.
“Scott Morrison is failing to seek expert advice about the impacts of his climate policies. He is developing no plans for agriculture, tourism, and health in a four degree scorched world.
“Australia saw this horrific bushfire season with just over one degree of warming. We’re hurtling towards four degrees and it’s only going to get worse from here”
Australian Greens Co-Deputy Leader Larissa Waters said:
“Four degrees of global warming will transform our society and environment, yet no government agency or government minister has asked for a briefing so they can plan for this new climate change-affected reality.
“This is our future burning and our government is burying its head in the sand rather than preparing for a new reality. We lose our precious Great Barrier Reef and the 63,000 tourism jobs that rely on it at only two degrees of global warming.
“We need climate action now, not delaying for decades to come.”
Private School Favouritism Confirmed With Broad Slush Fund Guidelines & New Bill
Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Education spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has said that private schools will be able to spend the $1.2 billion ‘Choice and Affordability’ slush fund with enormous discretion. Flexible guidelines for the fund have been released as parliament debates handing out a further $3.4 billion for private schools.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Private schools will have enormous freedom to spend this public money on practically whatever they want. Meanwhile, public schools continue to suffer without having their basic needs met.
“This latest handout reflects the Liberal government’s obsession with giving out cash to already over-funded private schools. The Greens have warned about this from the start.
“Now the Government has a bill before parliament that would gift a further $3.4 billion to private schools. I urge the Opposition and crossbench to oppose this bill and stop the handouts and special deals.
“It’s way past time to prioritise public school funding and stand up to the private school lobbies.”
Today's rate cut lays the foundation for a Green New Deal: Whish-Wilson, Bandt
Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, and leader, Adam Bandt MP, called on the government to respond to today’s interest rate cut with stimulus spending, including for transformative infrastructure.
Senator Whish-Wilson said “this government must overcome seven years of surplus mania.
“We have the triple whammy of COVID-19, secular stagnation and a climate emergency, including recent bushfires.
“The government must use the latest record low interest rates and undertake stimulus spending.
“There’s no point achieving a surplus if the economy is on life support.
“I expect to see a conversion on the road to Damascus.
“Without government action the cheapest money ever will continue flow into ever higher house prices and other unproductive speculation.
Adam Bandt said the Greens have a plan to stave off a recession and transition to a clean energy future.
“We’re heading towards a cliff but Scott Morrison is refusing to grab the steering wheel.
“A looming recession means we need to stimulate the economy and there’s never been a cheaper time to do it.
“The Green New Deal means tackling the economic and inequality crises by lifting Newstart and Youth Allowance, increasing public sector wages by 4% and investing $6b to extend the electricity grid to Renewable Energy Zones.
“The only thing stopping the government from putting the economy back into gear is their own ‘surplus first’ rhetoric.
“Government needs to act now to stave off a recession or the public will never forgive them.