Australian Greens Senator For NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has visited the Port Stephens area and heard first hand from local residents about their concerns over multiple threats in the Williamtown, Saltash and Bobs Farm areas, including PFAS contamination and a proposed massive increase in sand mining.
On the PFAS contamination issue, Senator Faruqi said:
“Residents are sick and tired of having to fight the federal government for compensation for the pollution of their land and water by the Department of Defence. They have been fighting a David versus Goliath battle for years.
“I’m concerned to hear that there has been no ‘off-base’ clean up and remediation of contaminated water and soil, especially in the drains.
“I sat on the Senate Inquiry into the issue and I strongly believe that there needs to be a proper compensation package. Importantly it must include buybacks of properties that have been significantly affected.
“The Federal Government caused the PFAS pollution so they must take full responsibility for it. The community has waited long enough. Communities have suffered enough. It’s time to take concrete action to help them. And it’s time concrete action is taken now.
On the proposed sand mine in Bobs Farm, Senator Faruqi said:
“The proposal for a huge new sand mine at Bobs Farm is very concerning and has the potential to impact on the water supply for nearby farms and will involve significant clearing of bushland. Parents at the nearby school are really worried about the pollution from the mining as well as the nearly 200 truck movements a day right past the school.
“This project clearly doesn’t have community support and has significant environmental risks. I’ll be making a submission opposing the proposal” she concluded.
Author: admin
Man charged over the alleged misappropriation of NSW RSL funds
A former Returned Services League (RSL) NSW State President has been charged with fraud following an investigation by the Financial Crimes Squad.
In December 2016, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad established Strike Force Whitbread to investigate reports of the misappropriation of funds within the NSW RSL.
Strike force detectives obtained large volumes of documentation early in the investigation, which have undergone forensic accounting analysis.
Following extensive inquiries, police met with a 70-year-old man at Armidale Police Station about 9am today (Wednesday 23 January 2019).
He was charged by way of a Future Court Attendance Notice for two counts of dishonestly obtain a financial advantage or cause disadvantage by deception.
The man is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 7 March 2019.
LABOR’S PLAN TO IMPROVE CAIRNS HOSPITAL ED
A Shorten Labor Government will deliver better emergency care for the people of Cairns by investing in a major redevelopment of the Cairns Hospital Emergency Department.
A recent review of the hospital called for a number of high priority improvements to the emergency department while a more substantial expansion is planned.
Labor will invest $15 million to deliver these improvements as part of our Fair Go Action Plan to protect Medicare and fix our hospitals.
This commitment comes on top of our promise to put $60 million towards a new dedicated training facility at Cairns Hospital, which will help attract and retain health workers in Far North Queensland.
The new facility will help address the critical health workforce shortage that risks undermining the quality of health care in this region.
But that is a longer-term project.
The Emergency Department redevelopment is something we can deliver in the next 12 to 24 months – delivering tangible health benefits to this community.
The redevelopment will improve safety for patients and staff alike and bring down wait times.
It will include:
- An increase in adult short stay capacity from 8 to 16 adult beds
- A 4-bed pediatric short stay unit
- Improvements to resuscitation bays and trauma treatment spaces
- Front of house improvements to provide dedicated space for ambulance offload
- And better telehealth facilities.
Population growth has made Cairns Hospital Emergency Department one of the busiest in Queensland, with activity going up by 4 per cent each year. In 2017-18 the number of presentations exceeded 70,000 for the first time.
That’s why we have to invest now in this hospital.
Labor believes Australian should get the best quality health care whenever they need it – no matter if you live in downtown Brisbane or Far North Queensland.
That’s why the last federal Labor Government invested $12m in Cairns Hospital through our Health and Hospitals Fund.
The Liberals on the other hand just cut and cut and cut from health. As Treasurer, Scott Morrison cut from health and hospitals in every Budget he authored.
His government has cut $7.2 million from Cairns Hospital under the current 2017 to 2020 funding agreement.
That’s equivalent to 20 nurses, or 11,000 emergency department visits, or 17,500 outpatient appointments. And it’s part of a $160m cut to Queensland hospitals and a $715m cut nationwide.
Now Morrison is trying to lock in those cuts for another five years – a dud deal that the Queensland Labor Government is resisting.
Labor will reverse the Liberal cuts with our $2.8 billion Better Hospitals Fund, which we will use to fund projects like this one.
Only Labor can be trusted to fix Queensland’s hospitals.
ROCKHAMPTON RING ROAD A CERTAINTY UNDER LABOR
A Shorten Labor Government will unlock productivity and jobs growth in Central Queensland by investing $800 million to build the Rockhampton Ring Road in partnership with the State Labor Government.
This is a transformative project which will support around 780 direct jobs during its delivery, ease congestion on the Bruce Highway, and make Rockhampton as even better place to live, work and raise a family.
The Ring Road will run from the Yeppen Roundabout, along the western side of the airport to a third bridge crossing before reconnecting with the existing highway at Parkhurst – see attached map.
It will take thousands of trucks a day out of the CBD and off suburban streets, both speeding up the movement of freight along the east coast as well as improving safety for local residents.
Importantly, investments such as this are a critical component of a serious decentralisation policy because they provide regional centres with the infrastructure and services they need to grow and prosper.
This commitment follows yesterday’s announcement that a Shorten Labor Government will boost local jobs by ensuring more government contracts and major projects such as the Ring Road are delivered by local businesses employing local workers.
It was the former Federal Labor Government that first began investigating the planning for the Rockhampton Ring Road when we commissioned the Fitzroy River Floodplain and Road Planning Study in June 2009.
The study, completed in 2011, backed the project.
But after nearly two full terms as the LNP MP for Capricornia Michelle Landry has been unable to advance the Ring Road.
A Shorten Labor Government will deliver the project, not just talk about it.
When it comes to the Bruce Highway, the LNP’s record is one of cuts and broken promises.
Indeed, according to figures released by its own Infrastructure Department, the Morrison LNP Government will slash Federal investment in the highway over the next three years by $700 million if it wins the coming election.
Federal Labor’s commitment to the Rockhampton Ring Road builds on our strong track record of delivering for Central Queensland the last time we were in office. This including the major Yeppen Floodplain project which upgraded the Bruce Highway to prevent Rockhampton being cut off from the south, even during a one in 100-year flooding event.
This is a transformative project which will support around 780 direct jobs during its delivery, ease congestion on the Bruce Highway, and make Rockhampton as even better place to live, work and raise a family.
The Ring Road will run from the Yeppen Roundabout, along the western side of the airport to a third bridge crossing before reconnecting with the existing highway at Parkhurst – see attached map.
It will take thousands of trucks a day out of the CBD and off suburban streets, both speeding up the movement of freight along the east coast as well as improving safety for local residents.
Importantly, investments such as this are a critical component of a serious decentralisation policy because they provide regional centres with the infrastructure and services they need to grow and prosper.
This commitment follows yesterday’s announcement that a Shorten Labor Government will boost local jobs by ensuring more government contracts and major projects such as the Ring Road are delivered by local businesses employing local workers.
It was the former Federal Labor Government that first began investigating the planning for the Rockhampton Ring Road when we commissioned the Fitzroy River Floodplain and Road Planning Study in June 2009.
The study, completed in 2011, backed the project.
But after nearly two full terms as the LNP MP for Capricornia Michelle Landry has been unable to advance the Ring Road.
A Shorten Labor Government will deliver the project, not just talk about it.
When it comes to the Bruce Highway, the LNP’s record is one of cuts and broken promises.
Indeed, according to figures released by its own Infrastructure Department, the Morrison LNP Government will slash Federal investment in the highway over the next three years by $700 million if it wins the coming election.
Federal Labor’s commitment to the Rockhampton Ring Road builds on our strong track record of delivering for Central Queensland the last time we were in office. This including the major Yeppen Floodplain project which upgraded the Bruce Highway to prevent Rockhampton being cut off from the south, even during a one in 100-year flooding event.
LABOR’S NATIONAL HYDROGEN PLAN
A Shorten Labor Government will deliver a $1 billion National Hydrogen Plan to create new blue-collar jobs, support new businesses and supercharge Australia’s renewable energy industry.
Hydrogen is an emerging industry that has huge potential to deliver significant economic, employment, energy and environmental benefits for Australia.
Hydrogen gas is an energy source that can be produced through the process of electrolysis using renewable energy, meaning it can leverage Australia’s world-class renewable energy to make much cleaner hydrogen competitively.
Developing a hydrogen industry will deliver new opportunities for manufacturing, transport and electricity generation.
As the global demand for hydrogen surges to an expected $215 billion market by 2022, Australia is uniquely placed to benefit from the development of this new, job-generating industry.
Analysis by ACIL Allen projects that hydrogen exports alone could be worth $10 billion in 20 years, and create 16,000 new blue-collar jobs – mainly in regional areas.
Most of the benefits of hydrogen development will be in regional Australia. For example, the deep sea water ports of Gladstone and Newcastle are well placed to support a hydrogen export industry.
While benefiting the nation as a whole, regional Queensland will be the big winner from Labor’s plan.
Labor is taking a hands-on approach to supporting the new jobs and industries Queensland needs for the future.
We want regional Queenslanders to have good, secure blue-collar jobs for the future in existing and new industries.
Hydrogen can be the next great energy industry for Australia – and Labor has a plan to make it happen.
Labor’s six-point plan for hydrogen will:
1. Allocate $1 billion of funding from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support clean hydrogen development, from Labor’s commitment to double CEFC’s capital by $10 billion.
2. Invest up to $90 million of unallocated funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to support research, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment of hydrogen technologies.
3. Establish a $10 million ARENA funding round for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure around the nation, from within ARENA’s unallocated funding.
4. Invest $40 million of unallocated funding from the CEFC Clean Energy Innovation Fund to target hydrogen technologies and businesses that have passed the research and development stage.
5. Implement regulatory reforms that will help the industry develop and prosper, including reforms to support the use of existing gas pipelines for hydrogen, reforms to support the shipping of hydrogen, reforms to better support the storage of CO2 from blue and brown hydrogen production, as well as other reforms to support hydrogen use and production.
6. Establish the National Hydrogen Innovation Hub in Gladstone with an initial investment of $3 million. This will kick-start early commercialisation of hydrogen technologies, provide a hub for investment and research agencies, and provide opportunities to leverage LNG infrastructure to support hydrogen exports.
A Shorten Labor Government will make Gladstone the hydrogen capital of Australia.
Hydrogen means more investment in Australia, more exports from Australia, and more blue-collar jobs for Australia.
Australia has everything to gain from the global transition to more renewable energy. But to secure the new industries and jobs it will deliver, we need a government that has a plan to foster and grow the industries of the future.
That is exactly what Labor’s National Hydrogen Plan will deliver.
Further information on Labor’s National Hydrogen Plan can be found here.
Hydrogen is an emerging industry that has huge potential to deliver significant economic, employment, energy and environmental benefits for Australia.
Hydrogen gas is an energy source that can be produced through the process of electrolysis using renewable energy, meaning it can leverage Australia’s world-class renewable energy to make much cleaner hydrogen competitively.
Developing a hydrogen industry will deliver new opportunities for manufacturing, transport and electricity generation.
As the global demand for hydrogen surges to an expected $215 billion market by 2022, Australia is uniquely placed to benefit from the development of this new, job-generating industry.
Analysis by ACIL Allen projects that hydrogen exports alone could be worth $10 billion in 20 years, and create 16,000 new blue-collar jobs – mainly in regional areas.
Most of the benefits of hydrogen development will be in regional Australia. For example, the deep sea water ports of Gladstone and Newcastle are well placed to support a hydrogen export industry.
While benefiting the nation as a whole, regional Queensland will be the big winner from Labor’s plan.
Labor is taking a hands-on approach to supporting the new jobs and industries Queensland needs for the future.
We want regional Queenslanders to have good, secure blue-collar jobs for the future in existing and new industries.
Hydrogen can be the next great energy industry for Australia – and Labor has a plan to make it happen.
Labor’s six-point plan for hydrogen will:
1. Allocate $1 billion of funding from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support clean hydrogen development, from Labor’s commitment to double CEFC’s capital by $10 billion.
2. Invest up to $90 million of unallocated funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to support research, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment of hydrogen technologies.
3. Establish a $10 million ARENA funding round for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure around the nation, from within ARENA’s unallocated funding.
4. Invest $40 million of unallocated funding from the CEFC Clean Energy Innovation Fund to target hydrogen technologies and businesses that have passed the research and development stage.
5. Implement regulatory reforms that will help the industry develop and prosper, including reforms to support the use of existing gas pipelines for hydrogen, reforms to support the shipping of hydrogen, reforms to better support the storage of CO2 from blue and brown hydrogen production, as well as other reforms to support hydrogen use and production.
6. Establish the National Hydrogen Innovation Hub in Gladstone with an initial investment of $3 million. This will kick-start early commercialisation of hydrogen technologies, provide a hub for investment and research agencies, and provide opportunities to leverage LNG infrastructure to support hydrogen exports.
A Shorten Labor Government will make Gladstone the hydrogen capital of Australia.
Hydrogen means more investment in Australia, more exports from Australia, and more blue-collar jobs for Australia.
Australia has everything to gain from the global transition to more renewable energy. But to secure the new industries and jobs it will deliver, we need a government that has a plan to foster and grow the industries of the future.
That is exactly what Labor’s National Hydrogen Plan will deliver.
Further information on Labor’s National Hydrogen Plan can be found here.
Hands off our environmental laws, Greens tell Mining lobby
The Liberal National Government must reject the advice of the self-serving Mining Lobby pushing for changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the Greens say.
“The Environment Minister must stand up for environmental protections, not fall to her mates in the mining industry,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“It’s almost laughable that the Minister for the Environment would even consider the ‘advice’ of the mining industry in drafting new laws to protect the environment, sadly however this is no laughing matter. Our environment is under constant threat because the mining industry continues to push for more coal, more gas, more oil drilling and now they want nuclear.
“The only thing the Minerals Council seem to want to protect are the profits of the mining industry, at the cost of Australia’s environment and a safe climate.
“Nuclear energy is an old technology that Australia has outgrown. We are moving toward a renewable energy future. It’s happening, it’s here and we shouldn’t be looking back.
“We need stronger environmental laws that continue the ban on nuclear energy, and protect our natural world from big corporate interests.
“Adani is pressing ahead with its plans to open a mammoth coal mine with little regard to critically endangered black-throated finch populations. There are cases for strengthening our environmental laws all around the country, in part to pull the mining industry into line.”
“Calls to relax our environmental laws from the mining sector should be ignored by this Government if they are serious about ‘improving’ environmental protections.”
David Littleproud has missed the boat on the MDB crisis
The Liberal National Government must stand up to greedy corporate irrigators and the cotton industry by stopping them from taking more than their fair share, and support a Royal Commission, the Greens say.
“Fish are dying because there is not enough water in the River. Until the Water Minister David Littleproud lifts the freeze on water buy backs to restore environmental flows, the Liberal National Government is culpable of hanging the Murray Darling out to dry. We know it is the most economically efficient and environmentally effective way to restore life to the ailing River system,” Greens water and environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“This late-in-the-piece announcement from the Water Minister just confirms this government is content to sit on its hands, because scientists have already told us what the problem is. What we need is a comprehensive probe into the greed and corruption that have left the Basin in collapse. Until that happens the rivers are destined to suffer.
“It will be my first order of business to establish a Royal Commission when parliament resumes next month. It is time political parties came together to support communities crying out for a Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin.”
Man charged over alleged carjacking – Cooks Hill
Police have charged a man over an alleged carjacking in Newcastle last night.
About 8:20pm (Monday 21 January 2019), a couple were driving a Mercedes sedan on Darby Street, Cooks Hill, when an object was allegedly thrown at their car.
The driver, a 24-year-old man, stopped the car to inspect the damage and to speak to a man who allegedly threw the object.
The man fled, and the driver of the Mercedes chased him on foot.
As this occurred, the man’s female passenger, also aged 24, got into the driver’s seat of the Mercedes and waited for him.
The man being chased ran through nearby units, before doubling back and allegedly forcing the woman from the car and driving off.
No one was injured during the incident.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and established a crime scene.
Following inquires, officers arrested a 32-year-old man at a nearby location.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with unlawfully take/drive vessel with person in/on it and aggravated enter dwelling without knowing people.
The man, from Waratah West, was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.
Fortune teller charged over alleged sexual assault of teenaged girl
A man, who purports to be a fortune teller, will face court today charged over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in Sydney’s south west at the weekend.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation on Sunday (20 January 2019) after receiving reports a 14-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by an unknown man earlier in the day.
With the assistance of interpreters, investigators spoke with a 31-year-old man at a business on Macquarie Street, Liverpool, before executing a crime scene warrant.
About 6pm yesterday (Monday 21 January 2019), investigators were alerted by the Australian Federal Police that the man was at Sydney International Airport and attempting to board a plane to Singapore.
The man was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of intentionally sexually touch child under 16 years of age, and three counts of aggravated sexual assault-victim under the age of 16 years.
Police will allege in court that the man approached the girl and offered her free fortune telling services before sexually assaulting her in the business premises.
The man, who is an Indian National, was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Tuesday 22 January 2019).
Inquiries are continuing.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
$300 MILLION BOOST TO WESTERN SYDNEY ROAD UPGRADES
Western Sydney drivers will soon see shovels in the ground on more than $300 million worth of road upgrades to ease congestion and improve safety along major arterial roads in Prospect and Kellyville.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government today announced it will duplicate both the Prospect Highway between Reservoir Road at Prospect and St Martins Crescent at Blacktown and Memorial Avenue between Old Windsor Road and Windsor Road at Kellyville.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said work on the two major upgrades is now underway with the Government to start procurement on both projects immediately and construction to begin this year.
“Around 35,000 vehicles currently use the Prospect Highway each day, including around 5000 heavy vehicles, so it is great to see work will soon start on this important project,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Once complete the upgraded three kilometre section of the Prospect Highway will be widened to a four-lane divided road improving safety and travel times. The work will include upgrades to bridges across the M4 and Great Western Highway, and the on and off ramps to the M4.”
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is also building for future generations by upgrading Memorial Avenue in Kellyville.
“On Memorial Avenue work will be carried out to upgrade the existing 2.2 kilometre road to a four-lane divided road, with shared pedestrian and cyclist paths to be built on both sides of the road,” Mr Ayres said.
“This investment in Prospect Highway and Memorial Avenue will allow people to spend less time in traffic and more time at home and it is only being delivered because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals.”
Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor and Member for Baulkham Hills David Elliott have both welcomed the significant investment in roads in their electorates.
“The duplication of the Prospect Highway will make a huge difference to the lives of drivers who travel along this major road corridor each day,” Mr Taylor said.
“The upgrade of Memorial Avenue is a crucial project for the future of Kellyville and I can’t wait to see construction underway,” Mr Elliott said.