The Prime Minister must address the national crisis of women’s death by violence with a $5 billion investment in domestic violence response and full implementation of recommendations from previous inquiries, say the Greens.
Greens Senate Leader and spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters, said, “The Prime Minister stood in parliament this week and said “the system” has failed Hannah Clarke, he must take responsibility for ending this crisis in deaths from violence.
“The Prime Minister has the purse strings to the system and can fix it.
“It’s time the Prime Minister puts words into action with additional funding for prevention and frontline services so no domestic violence survivor seeking help is ever turned away.
“Women’s services keep warning of the urgent need for more funding for the Family Court, prevention and early intervention programs, specialist legal and support services, crisis accommodation and housing support to improve the family law system.
“We must listen to what these front line services say will make a difference, calls for more inquiries are not what the sector is asking for.
“The truth is any new inquiry into domestic and family violence is probably going to conclude what all the others have already recommended: more funding and resources for prevention and more funding and resources for crisis and support services.
“The Greens won’t stand in the way of another inquiry but the Government has form ignoring domestic violence inquiry recommendations and this can’t be another excuse for delaying urgently needed funding.
“The existing family law inquiry will have its potential effectiveness undermined if witnesses don’t think they’ll get a fair hearing, so the committee must be depoliticised by removing Pauline Hanson as deputy chair after her remarks.
“I’ve written to committee members asking for Hanson’s removal as deputy chair, after the Government refused to answer whether they will remove her, and I’ll pursue this through the committee.
“This year nine women have lost their lives to violence.The government needs to stump up the funds and fix this crisis,” she said.
Background
Senator Waters’ motion in the Federal Senate today:
Senator Waters: To move—that the Senate— (a)notes that:
(i)in his statement to Parliament regarding the murders of Ms Hannah Clarke and her children on 24 February 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “We must reflect on how and where the system failed Hannah and her children, as it has failed so many others. It’s so frustrating. It’s so devastating”, and
(ii)women’s services have consistently identified the need for more funding for the Family Court, prevention and early intervention programs, specialist legal and support services, crisis accommodation and housing support to improve the family law system; and(b)calls on the Federal Government to adequately fund domestic, family and sexual violence and crisis housing services to ensure that all women and children seeking safety can access these services when and where they need them.
Author: admin
Council gives outdoor dining fees the chop
Newcastle’s restaurants and cafes will no longer pay fees for outdoor dining after Council scrapped the charges right across the city last night.
Aimed at encouraging more outdoor dining and activating commercial centres, the amendment to the City’s Outdoor Trading Policy will save inner-city businesses $115 a year for every square metre they host patrons outdoors, and $65/sqm for businesses elsewhere in Newcastle.
“Waiving outdoor trading fees will hopefully encourage cafes, restaurants and other eateries to expand trading onto footpaths,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“We hope this will give the local dining scene and surrounding businesses a boost.
“The City is doing more than its fair share to support businesses amid major changes to the city and the challenges posed by online and digital competitors to traditional businesses. Whether it be scrapping fees, offering rate relief or making better use of business rates through grants programs, we are doing all we can as a local government while remaining financially sustainable.
“At current outdoor trading levels, small businesses will save a total of around $130,000 a year, money they will no doubt invest back into their businesses to making their offerings even more appealing to customers.”
The City issued 129 approvals for people or organisations to trade outdoors in 2018/2019, drawing $129,421 in revenue.
Happy customers: Ground Floor cafe owners Jordan Mizrahi and Alicen Lewis
The abolition of fees amounts to a substantial saving for restaurateurs and couple Jordan Mizrahi and Alicen Lewis, who own Ground Floor Café on Hunter Street and the Basement bar on Market Street in Newcastle.
“This is very rewarding for businesses and very welcome as we will save around $4,000 across the two businesses,” Mizrahi, 33, said.
“We will spend it on improving the outdoor area by buying new tables and chairs to make it more appealing to customers.”
The fees will be scrapped from 1 July after Council voted to scrap them at last night’s ordinary meeting.
This follows a recommendation in the 2019 NSW Outdoor Dining Policy by the State’s Small Business Commissioner to waive Council or State Government fees for businesses seeking a permit to trade outside.
A notice of motion supported by council at its August 2019 meeting – to receive a report on the NSW Outdoor Dining Policy – resulted in last night’s amendment to the City’s 2018 Outdoor Trading Policy.
Fees for the installation of permanent footpath markers indicating outdoor trading areas will remain in place.
This is a one-off cost of $170 for new applicants hoping to open areas not previously approved for dining.
Council update Tuesday 25 February 2020
Lord Mayoral Minutes
StudyNSW website update
A Lord Mayoral Minute to write, in partnership with the University of Newcastle, to the NSW Government Minister responsible for the StudyNSW website requesting promotion of regional cities like Newcastle as study destinations, was supported.
National Communciations Charter: A unified approach to mental health and suicide prevention
A Lord Mayoral Minute to sign Everymind’s National Communications Charter and take a leadership role on removing the stigma of mental illness and suicide, both for our staff and across the broader community, was supported.
Stockton Beach erosion natural disaster update
A Lord Mayoral Minute commending the Stockton community and committing to a range of actions to help it endure strains posed by ongoing erosion issues was supported.
Audit and Risk Committee 2018/19 Annual Report
Council voted to receive its Audit and Risk Committee’s Annual Report for the 2018/2019 financial year.
Adoption of outdoor trading policy
Council resolved to abolish outdoor trading fees across the city to encourage more outdoor dining. Aimed at encouraging more outdoor dining and activating commercial centres, the amendment to the City’s Outdoor Trading Policy will save inner-city businesses $115 a year for every square metre they host patrons in outdoors, and $65/sqm for businesses elsewhere in Newcastle.
Newcastle and Merewether ocean baths expressions of interest update
Council resolved to prepare concept-design plans for the upgrade of Newcastle and Merewether ocean baths and investigate funding sources following an unsuccessful expression of interest process to find an investment partner.
Janet Street, Jesmond – proposed upgrade to existing pedestrian crossing
The City will raise a pedestrian crossing on Janet Street, Jesmond, east of Algie Street, and extend the kerb to increase public safety.
Dissolution of community facilities s355 committees
Council resolved to formally dissolve the Carrington Community Centre and Henderson Park Hall committees and formally acknowledge the contributions made by their volunteer members after both groups voluntarily stood down recently.
Live music strategy update
Council received an update on the implementation of the Live Music Strategy 2019-2023. Following extensive research and engagement with both music industry stakeholders and wider community, the City has captured data and feedback that can be summarised under five key themes for which actions can be taken to improve the live music sector: venue management and safety, promotion, development and diversification of the music sector, conflict mitigation between live music venues and surrounding communities and definition, awareness of and expectation management of music precincts.
Six-Monthly Performance Report on the 2018-2022 Delivery Program (our budget 2019/20)
Council received the Six-Monthly Performance Report on the 2018-2022 Delivery Program.
Adoption of the western corridor section 7.11 local contributions plan
Council adopted the Western Corridor Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2013
Tabling of pecuniary interest returns – 1 November 2019 to 31 January 2020
Council noted the tabling of pecuniary interest returns by the CEO.
Council Chambers – City Hall
City Hall’s Council Chambers will be opened to the public for commercial hire under a tiered pricing system that encourages both the private sector and community groups to utilise the historic facility.
Quarterly budget review – December
Council received the December Quarterly Budget Review Statement in which our works program for the 2019/20 financial year has been increased to $99.6 million from around $85 million, with our forecasted budget surplus reduced by $3.8 million to $4.1 million.
Executive monthly performance
Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for January 2020
Notices of Motion
Ocean baths redevelopment update
A Notice of Motion noting that a Community Reference Group will now be established to inform the upgrade of Newcastle Ocean Baths was supported.
Electric waste management vehicles
Another Notice of Motion, to receive a report on conversion of the City’s waste management vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, was supported.
NSW bushfire emergency response
A third Notice of Motion, to help neighbouring councils affected by recent bush fires with plant equipment and staff hours, was supported.
Community feedback flows for Newcastle Ocean Baths revitalisation
Thousands of Novocastrians have been involved in community engagement on revitalisation of Newcastle Ocean Baths, with consultation forming an integral part of the City of Newcastle’s concept-design phase.
The City has committed to funding the restoration of the Newcastle Oceans Baths and is determined to see the facility become an asset the community can be proud of, while also ensuring they remain a public asset with free entry to swim all year round.
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“Not only have we reached out to the wider community through our online ideas wall which has received more than 5,000 page visits and 890 ideas entries, we have also conducted more than 200 face-to-face interviews and 900 telephone polls to better understand our community’s vision for how this site will look and be used,” City of Newcastle Community Engagement Coordinator Jamie Ferguson said.
“Opening up the conversation to all people in the community has been extremely beneficial and has resulted in a breadth of ideas and concepts to support future improvements. This diversity of views brings better outcomes for current and future users.”
Some of the ideas received to date include shade structures, a community space available for hire, health and wellbeing facilities such as a gym, seating and change room upgrades and a kiosk or restaurant.
Any suggestion that plans for the future use of the site are predetermined is false.
Meanwhile, community consultation will be maintained through a Community Reference Group (CRG) before information sessions and a public exhibition period to present concept plans to the broader community. Councillors will then review and approve any restoration.
“We want to ensure this upgrade does justice to the heritage of this site and that our maintenance and upgrade program protects the site for another 50 years,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The City of Newcastle seeks to form a Community Reference Group which has 50 percent stakeholder and user-group representation and 50 per cent of members selected from the broader community via an expressions of interest process.
“We have received more than 80 applications from members of the public wanting to be a part of Community Reference Group so far, which is great to see. Our aim is to have people from all around Newcastle and from different walks of life forming this group.”
Expressions of interest for the Newcastle Ocean Baths CRG close on Thursday 27 February.
City provides plan for reopening of Lexie’s café
The City of Newcastle and Lexie’s Cafe are working on a plan to reopen the much-loved Stockton cafe. The process to reopen the café will first require securing insurance for the building leased to Lexie’s Cafe. Prior to this necessary step, Lexie’s Café has committed to the development of a Management Plan.
The City of Newcastle and Lexie’s have also discussed establishing a temporary café in Stockton, beside the Stockton Ferry Terminal, while the necessary work is done to get Lexie’s reopened at its traditional Mitchell Street home.
The Lexie’s Café building was closed following the results of an independent risk assessment, which determined it was at imminent risk of a one-in-two-year storm event.
Following the recent Natural Disaster weather event, a Coastal Risk Assessment Review determined that only a bare 70 cubic metres of sand was left as a buffer in front of the building leased to the café.
Lexie’s Cafe, which was already operating on a month-to-month lease, was indefinitely closed a week ago after a review found that, based on the current erosion scarp location, the building was now within the zone of wave impact, and therefore at risk, in a one-in-two year storm event.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a meeting today between the leasee and City of Newcastle was positive with both parties agreeing to work together on a solution for re-opening Lexie’s Café.
“While we would have loved for the Lexie’s Café to continue trading at Stockton Beach as it has for many years, once City of Newcastle officers were presented with the Coastal Risk Assessment Review, the responsible action was to act immediately,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle is exploring all available options to secure insurance for the building. While that process is underway, I’ve asked for the construction of a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal, away from the erosion threat, as an interim measure.
“There are many hoops we need to get through, but we have made it clear to Lexie’s management that we want to work together towards a solution for Lexie’s that will protect local jobs and safeguard the local economy.
“We know that Lexie’s attracts many visitors and tourists to Stockton, just as the nearby Stockton Holiday Park does.”
Lexie’s Café owner Nick Sovechles said today’s meeting had been a positive step forward in re-establishing the much-loved café.
“While reopening Lexie’s remains our preferred option, we understand that the issue of securing insurance for the building must first be resolved. In the meantime, we will work with City of Newcastle on options including a temporary café beside the Stockton Ferry Wharf,” he said.
“What is clear is that the Stockton community cannot take many more financial hits. It needs commercial ventures that attract people to Stockton, and a café near the very popular Children’s Active Play Hub is one way of doing that.
“What is equally clear is that we need the State Government to support City of Newcastle in its development of a Coastal Management Program so that come 30 June, our community has a long-term solution to the erosion of Stockton Beach.”
Background:
An independent engineering report stated that the building is at significant risk from a one-in-two-year storm event. To give some context, a typical risk assessment is based on a one-in-100-year storm event.
The City of Newcastle is unable to secure insurance on the Mitchell Street building, which leaves both the City and ratepayers liable should the building fail without warning.
The City has agreed to commence a nation-wide search for an insurer willing to provide coverage for the building.
This combined, with a Management Plan supported by Lexie’s management, would likely allow the café to reopen in its existing location while a permanent solution to the coastal erosion is determined and delivered.
In the meantime, City of Newcastle will construct a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal. The location is ideal given more than 50,000 passengers a month use the ferry.
Thousands more people use the sporting facilities at Griffith Park each Saturday morning including the Stockton Parkrun. The incredibly popular Stockton Active Play Hub also attracts a ready-made market of café users seven days a week. The location of the nearby carpark and toilets will also help the commercial success of the cafe.
Typically, City of Newcastle would conduct an expression of interest for the operation of the café.
However, in light of the unfortunate decision to close Lexie’s, the City will waive this requirement.
If City of Newcastle is able to re-open Lexie’s in its existing location, the café at the Ferry Terminal will be re-evaluated as part of a review of the Park Plan of Management.
The City of Newcastle and Lexie’s have also discussed establishing a temporary café in Stockton, beside the Stockton Ferry Terminal, while the necessary work is done to get Lexie’s reopened at its traditional Mitchell Street home.
The Lexie’s Café building was closed following the results of an independent risk assessment, which determined it was at imminent risk of a one-in-two-year storm event.
Following the recent Natural Disaster weather event, a Coastal Risk Assessment Review determined that only a bare 70 cubic metres of sand was left as a buffer in front of the building leased to the café.
Lexie’s Cafe, which was already operating on a month-to-month lease, was indefinitely closed a week ago after a review found that, based on the current erosion scarp location, the building was now within the zone of wave impact, and therefore at risk, in a one-in-two year storm event.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a meeting today between the leasee and City of Newcastle was positive with both parties agreeing to work together on a solution for re-opening Lexie’s Café.
“While we would have loved for the Lexie’s Café to continue trading at Stockton Beach as it has for many years, once City of Newcastle officers were presented with the Coastal Risk Assessment Review, the responsible action was to act immediately,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle is exploring all available options to secure insurance for the building. While that process is underway, I’ve asked for the construction of a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal, away from the erosion threat, as an interim measure.
“There are many hoops we need to get through, but we have made it clear to Lexie’s management that we want to work together towards a solution for Lexie’s that will protect local jobs and safeguard the local economy.
“We know that Lexie’s attracts many visitors and tourists to Stockton, just as the nearby Stockton Holiday Park does.”
Lexie’s Café owner Nick Sovechles said today’s meeting had been a positive step forward in re-establishing the much-loved café.
“While reopening Lexie’s remains our preferred option, we understand that the issue of securing insurance for the building must first be resolved. In the meantime, we will work with City of Newcastle on options including a temporary café beside the Stockton Ferry Wharf,” he said.
“What is clear is that the Stockton community cannot take many more financial hits. It needs commercial ventures that attract people to Stockton, and a café near the very popular Children’s Active Play Hub is one way of doing that.
“What is equally clear is that we need the State Government to support City of Newcastle in its development of a Coastal Management Program so that come 30 June, our community has a long-term solution to the erosion of Stockton Beach.”
Background:
An independent engineering report stated that the building is at significant risk from a one-in-two-year storm event. To give some context, a typical risk assessment is based on a one-in-100-year storm event.
The City of Newcastle is unable to secure insurance on the Mitchell Street building, which leaves both the City and ratepayers liable should the building fail without warning.
The City has agreed to commence a nation-wide search for an insurer willing to provide coverage for the building.
This combined, with a Management Plan supported by Lexie’s management, would likely allow the café to reopen in its existing location while a permanent solution to the coastal erosion is determined and delivered.
In the meantime, City of Newcastle will construct a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal. The location is ideal given more than 50,000 passengers a month use the ferry.
Thousands more people use the sporting facilities at Griffith Park each Saturday morning including the Stockton Parkrun. The incredibly popular Stockton Active Play Hub also attracts a ready-made market of café users seven days a week. The location of the nearby carpark and toilets will also help the commercial success of the cafe.
Typically, City of Newcastle would conduct an expression of interest for the operation of the café.
However, in light of the unfortunate decision to close Lexie’s, the City will waive this requirement.
If City of Newcastle is able to re-open Lexie’s in its existing location, the café at the Ferry Terminal will be re-evaluated as part of a review of the Park Plan of Management.
Greens Bill bans all coal mines in Galilee Basin
Greens Senate Leader Senator Larissa Waters has today introduced a bill in the Senate to ban thermal coal mines in the Galilee Basin, effectively outlawing the Adani mine and Clive Palmer’s proposed coal mine.
She said opening up the Galilee Basin for thermal coal mining was a carbon bomb that would push global warming to unsafe levels and kill off the Great Barrier Reef.
“The Galilee Basin is a carbon bomb and in reality the science demands we don’t open up a single new coal mine,” Senator Waters said.
“We need to keep that Galilee coal in the ground and today I have a bill that will do just that.
“If the Galilee Basin were to be mined and it was a country, it would be the seventh largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.
“Australia’s emissions continue to rise and millions of hectares of the country were burnt over Summer due to climate-fuelled bushfires. We desperately need a climate plan and that climate plan means getting out of thermal coal.
“We cannot afford to open up a new coal basin right when the rest of the world is embracing renewable energy and is transitioning towards an economy that can support workers and keep the planet liveable.
“It’s time we had a real jobs plan for Queenslanders, not fake promises of coal mines that we hope will never eventuate otherwise our climate is cooked.
“We need a genuine transition plan that supports coal-affected communities, re-trains them where that’s necessary and oft times it won’t be as those skills are transferable to other industries, especially clean energy or mine rehabilitation.
“Big coal is very generous in their donations to both the old parties, holding back action on climate change and renewable energy in this country for years.
“We must transition out of dirty polluting fossil fuels and towards the clean, jobs-generating export market future of renewable energy,” she said.
'Climate Trigger' laws off to Senate Inquiry
Debate commenced in the Senate today on the Greens ‘Climate Trigger’ Bill which would require climate impacts and carbon emissions to be assessed before large-scale projects are given environmental approval.
The Bill will now go to the Senate Environment and Communications Committee for consideration through public hearings and written submissions.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who introduced the Bill, said:
“The Climate Trigger Bill will ensure big projects like new coal mines, oil and gas drilling and large-scale land clearing are assess for the pollution they make before being given approval.
“Our climate is on the brink of collapse, as we continue to burn and mine coal, oil and gas, our ecosystem is crumbling
“To reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050 we need to act now. We need to put in place new environment laws that ensure major coal, oil & gas projects are assessed for their impact on climate change.
“There’s no point committing to reducing pollution, while giving the green light to new polluting projects.
“These new laws are a common sense, reasonable step towards getting this country on the right track for dealing with climate change.
“The bill will now go to inquiry and it will be open to the community, organisations, experts and business to feed back their advice and make submissions on the proposed laws.”
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2020, Explanatory Memorandum and Second Reading speech can be found here.
Greens move to cap political donations
The Greens will move to get big money out of politics this week by introducing a bill to cap donations to political parties at $1000 per year and to ban all party political donations from dirty industries buying influence: the mining, banking, gambling, alcohol and property industries.
Greens Senate Leader and spokesperson on democracy, Senator Larissa Waters, said the Greens bill could once and for all remove the influence of big money and start restoring integrity into our parliament.
“The community wants its democracy back. They’re sick of their interests being sold out to the highest bidder,” she said.
“Opposition leader Anthony Albanese yesterday for the first time showed support for the long-held Greens policy of capping political donations.
“Perhaps Albo realised the corrosive impact of big money on politics now Clive Palmer lost the election for Labor.
“Nonetheless, we welcome his support but donations caps must be meaningful and low.
“Democracy needs a meaningful donations cap of $1000 a year for all donors – individuals, unions and corporates – and a complete ban on donations from industries with a history of buying policy outcomes, like the mining, banking, gambling, alcohol and property industries.
“Massive donations to the old political parties have sold out community interests.
“The major parties have taken at least $1 million from the fossil fuel industry in the past year alone, making a total of $9.3 million that the fossil fuel giants have donated to the Labor and Liberal/National parties since 2012.
“Trust in politics is at an all time low and the best way to fix this is to stop selling our democracy to the highest bidder.
“With support from Labor and the crossbench, this bill could pass the Senate and pressure the Government to finally act,” she said.
Greens response to Norwegian oil giant Equinor's announcment it's scrapping plans to drill in the Great Australian Bight
Senator for South Australia and Greens Environment Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“This is a huge win for the community, the environment and SA’s tourism and fishing industries. It is good for the planet and jobs.
“The community who cherish our pristine coastline, the tourism industry that depends on it, and the fishing industry that relies on clean waters have all fought so hard against these environment-destroying plans. Congratulations goes to them.
“They have proven there was no social licence for an international oil giant to drill in our waters, and that people power can win.
“South Australians love our gorgeous Bight and we want it protected for future generations and the rest of the world to come and experience.
“What we need now is World Heritage protection. The Greens’ Bill for World Heritage Listing would give the Bight the protection it needs and deserves from any other oil and gas companies proposing to put it at risk. I call on all other Members of Parliament to back it.
“This decision also shows this is the beginning of the end of fossil fuels. Opening a new fossil fuel basin in the middle of our ocean was always madness. Moving to net zero emissions by 2050 means we must reduce pollution now, not give the green light to new polluting projects.”
WORLD LEADING SPATIAL DIGITAL TWIN LAUNCHED IN NSW
Urban planning and infrastructure across Western Sydney will be transformed, with the NSW Government today launching one of the world’s largest Spatial Digital Twins.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the NSW Spatial Digital Twin, delivered in partnership with CSIRO’s Data61, will provide 3D and 4D digital spatial data and models of our built and natural environments, that will improve planning and community engagement.
“The Spatial Digital Twin will allow us to better plan infrastructure, precincts and communities by providing real-time information and visualisation of buildings, roads, hospitals, schools and libraries, even before construction begins,” Mr Dominello said.
“A picture paints a thousand words – being able to visualise a project before it starts means we can plan for and predict future outcomes. The interactive tool includes 22 million trees with height and canopy attributes, almost 20,000km of 3D roads, and 7,000 3D strata plans and 546,206 buildings.
“Western Sydney is an economic powerhouse with a pipeline of projects underway including the aerotropolis. This new tool will be a game changer for all stakeholders by enabling projects to be digitally planned before shovels hit the ground.”
The digital workbench will allow all parties to visualise both historical data whilst also preparing for future infrastructure by using above and below ground modelling from data obtained through water, energy and telco utilities.
The Spatial Digital Twin will initially support the Western Sydney City Deal covering the councils of – Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly.
It will continue to be developed in collaboration with local, state and federal government agencies and industry partners to expand its capacity beyond just Western Sydney.
To access the Digital Twin or for more information go to www.spatial.nsw.gov.au/what_we_do/projects/digital_twin