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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s integrity lies in tatters today with revelations he was briefed in detail about criminal and gangland links to the CFMEU more than 10 years ago.

The Albanese Government has continually told the Australian people that it only learnt of the criminal infiltration and corrupt behaviour of the CFMEU when it was reported recently in the media.

This claim is completely undermined by the revelations in The Australian newspaper.

Mr Albanese needs to look the Australian people in the eye and tell them the truth.

He should admit he’s known about the criminal links and other behaviour within the CFMEU for many years.

Mr Albanese should explain in detail what he did with the information provided to him in 2014. He should explain what follow up action, if any, he took.

He should admit who he passed the information onto and whether he continued to pursue the issue. It appears Mr Albanese buried his head in the sand.

The Prime Minister should explain why the Australian Labor Party continued to take millions of dollars of donations from the CFMEU while knowing about their criminal connections.

Mr Albanese should explain why in 2016 the Labor Party fought every step of the way against the introduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Registered Organisations Commission.

Mr Albanese is still fighting against legislation introduced in this Parliament by the Coalition to re-establish the ABCC and also ensure integrity in the construction industry by keeping criminals out of it.

Mr Albanese should immediately support this legislation.

Construction of the Blayney Multipurpose Service (MPS) redevelopment will soon get underway following the appointment of the building contractor to deliver the project, which will enhance access to healthcare for the local community.  

The Blayney MPS redevelopment project is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $297 million Multipurpose Service Program to deliver health facilities across rural and remote communities.   

The new facility will be built on the existing Osman Street site and will have more inpatient beds, increased chair-based services and room for future expansion.      

Taylor Construction has been engaged following a competitive tender process to build the new Blayney Multipurpose Service, which will deliver a new purpose-built and modern facility to improve health and aged care services for the people of Blayney.  

Taylor Construction is an experienced contractor in the health sector, with recent projects including the Campbelltown Hospital Redevelopment, Freshwater Mental Health Unit within the Long Bay correctional complex, and Bathurst Hospital MRI Imaging Department Extension.  

Taylor Construction will reach out to the local community including trades, businesses, and suppliers about opportunities to be involved in construction for the redevelopment.   

The contractor has been working closely with the Health Infrastructure, Western NSW Local Health District, Blayney MPS staff, residents and their families, and the local community to finalise the design.  

Features of the new MPS include: 

• Residential aged care wing, all with single rooms and bathrooms 
• Increase in number of inpatient unit beds 
• Increase in ambulatory care treatment chairs 
• Increase in HealthOne rooms 
• One main entry to replace the three existing entries 
• Enhanced courtyards and outdoor spaces  

A construction timeline will be confirmed once planning for the build progresses, with the community to be kept updated.    

For more information about the Blayney MPS Redevelopment please visit mps.health.nsw.gov.au or email HI-BlayneyMPSRedevelopment@health.nsw.gov.au.    

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:  

“The appointment of the building contractor is a significant milestone in the delivery of this project, which will ensure the Blayney community have access to improved health facilities, now and into the future.” 

“This new facility will have more treatment spaces, a residential aged care wing with single rooms and scope to expand in the future to meet the needs of the Blayney community.”

Labor Spokesperson for Bathurst Stephen Lawrence:  

“This progress means the community of Blayney are now closer to getting a new state of the art healthcare facility.”

“Not only will this result in a great healthcare facility, this will create new training and job opportunities throughout construction, which also provides a significant boost to the local economy.”  

City of Newcastle is amplifying the voices and actions of the next generation to drive local climate solutions, by awarding a total of $75,000 for 12 innovative, youth-led climate action projects.

Ranging from leadership training and mentoring, a youth climate action summit, upcycling and recycling programs and multi-media climate action projects, the funded initiatives are all designed to foster a resilient and climate-conscious community.

(l-r) Isabelle Huber of Hunter Intrepid Landcare with Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.

The funding is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund, which selected City of Newcastle to deliver the youth-led program as part of its global initiative.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes highlighted the significance of this funding and the impact the local projects can have on the community.

“As one of only three Australian cities to receive this funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Newcastle is leading by example in its efforts to engage young people in designing and delivering climate solutions and ensuring their voices and priorities are at the forefront of the city’s climate strategy,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We are incredibly proud to support such a diverse range of youth-led projects, which are not only addressing immediate environmental challenges but also building a stronger, more resilient community for the future.”

Among the recipients is Hunter Intrepid Landcare, who have received funding to host two activities aimed at building climate resilience among young people in the region.  

The group, which caters specifically to individuals aged 18-35, will use the grant to alleviate climate anxiety through practical, nature-focused initiatives. 

This includes a workshop led by local herbalist Pat Collins at Fletcher on 23 November, which will focus on identifying edible plants, particularly those commonly considered weeds.  

The workshop is designed to help participants build a deeper connection with nature, fostering a sense of self-sufficiency and respect for the environment. 

The second activity will be a coastal community clean-up, not only benefiting the environment but also promoting social connectedness among like-minded individuals. 

One of the coordinators of Hunter Intrepid Landcare, Kate Mannell, said the grant would help them reach more young people through this project. 

“This funding from City of Newcastle is crucial for us as an entirely volunteer-run group. It allows us to bring our vision to life by providing young people with the tools and knowledge they need to feel empowered and resilient in the face of climate change,” Miss Mannell said. 

“Our goal at Hunter Intrepid Landcare is to create opportunities for young people to connect with nature and each other in meaningful ways. By addressing climate anxiety and building resilience, we hope to inspire the next generation to take action and lead sustainable lives.” 

Other projects funded under this round include Lambton High School, which will enhance student skills and engagement with solar energy and electric vehicle technologies at the upcoming mini-EV festival in November. 

Surfers for Climate will organise a Youth Climate Leaders’ Summit to empower young people to take proactive steps in environmental advocacy, while not-for-profit organisation The Purple Card Project will host a youth-led clothes swap and repair event, promoting sustainable fashion and reducing textile waste. 

Upcycle Newcastle will mentor young people in sustainable practices through upcycling, while Music Therapy Australia will support young Novocastrians to produce music videos exploring themes of climate action and sustainability. 

An expansion of the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) model in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven will provide more women and families with access to midwifery continuity of care. 

In exciting news for the community, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has announced the establishment of a new MGP service in the Shoalhaven region, as well as the expansion of Wollongong MGP.

Under the MGP model, women receive care from a known primary midwife throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth, and up to two weeks after birth. MGP midwives work as part of a small team to ensure support and backup arrangements are in place, as needed.

Commencing in August, the additional four-midwife Shoalhaven MGP team will have capacity to care for up to 134 women a year.

In Wollongong, the expansion of MGP with the creation of a new MGP team of five midwives, will significantly increase the number of women able to access the program each year. In addition, Wollongong MGP will be further bolstered by the rotation of two new-graduate midwife positions into the model.

A review of the criteria for MGP is also enabling more women with higher-level care needs to access the service, where clinically appropriate, or to stay in the program if they develop risk factors during pregnancy.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We want all women in NSW to have access to respectful, evidence-based maternity care.”

“We have listened to the feedback that women want greater access to midwifery continuity of care, and I am really proud of the work Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District has undertaken to enable the expansion of its Midwifery Group Practice service.”

“The collaboration between the Local Health District, local maternity consumer groups and the community ensures we can deliver the best possible care for women, their babies and their families.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:

“It’s fantastic that the Local Health District is deeply committed to improving maternity services in the region so that women, their babies and their families can have the best possible birthing experience.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler:

“It’s terrific to see this valued model of maternity care is now available for more women and families in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region.”

“I’d like to acknowledge the members of the Shoalhaven Maternity Consumer Advisory Committee who have supported the development of the Shoalhaven Midwifery Group Practice.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“This Government is committed to working with staff and patients to ensure that maternity care best meets the needs of our community.”

“The Wollongong Midwifery Group Practice model has had great success in the last 20 years, and its expansion has been advocated for by Better Births Illawarra and parents who have used it. It’s fantastic that it will be expanded to offer support to many more families each year.”

ISLHD Chief Executive Margot Mains:

“We have listened to, and learned from, the experiences of local women and families, including those raised during the birth trauma inquiry.”

“A lot of work has been happening behind the scenes over the past 12 months. We ramped up our efforts in a number of areas, with a particular focus on increasing access to midwifery continuity of care models.”

“I would like to thank the many staff, consumers and advocacy groups who have worked to deliver these positive changes.”

An additional 125 paramedics are now working across NSW, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s election commitment to boost the regional workforce by 500 paramedics over four years.

This is a significant increase for regional areas and will further assist NSW Ambulance in providing world-class emergency and mobile healthcare across the state.

The first cohort of additional paramedics have joined teams at the following locations:

• Ballina Station
• Lismore Station
• Lithgow Station
• Mudgee Station
• Goulburn Station
• Broken Hill Station
• Bathurst Station
• Parkes Station
• Port Macquarie Station
• South West Rocks Station
• Tottenham Station
• Kangaroo Valley Station
• Bomaderry (Nowra) Education

This workforce boost is part of the $1.76 billion Strategic Workforce and Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) Program, which is delivering up to 2,500 staff across NSW, 30 new stations and hundreds more ambulances over the coming years.

This major workforce boost delivers better health outcomes for patients and their families, while also providing more support to our existing NSW Ambulance staff in the bush.

The Minns Labor Government will continue to roll out the additional 500 paramedics over a four year period, with future locations to be determined through consultation between NSW Ambulance, the Health Services Union, local communities and health staff about the needs and resourcing in their area.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“The addition of these highly skilled paramedics in the bush will help drive better health outcomes for patients and their families, while also providing more support to our current NSW Ambulance staff across the state.

“We are dedicated to boosting healthcare staffing levels across the state, which will ensure we continue to meet the needs of our community by providing high-quality medical care.

“By funding the 125 additional full-time paramedics, the NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen our health workforce in the bush.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:

“This significant increase to the paramedic workforce across the state will boost NSW Ambulance’s capacity to provide high quality care to patients across NSW.

“As demand for services continues to grow, we remain committed to providing world class emergency and mobile health care to the NSW community.

“All our paramedics share a commitment to excellence in serving their communities all over NSW.”

NSW public school students will have more time learning from the state’s expert teachers from next year as the Minns Labor Government works to rebuild the public education system and lift educational outcomes for hundreds of thousands of students.

Hundreds of deputy principals, assistant principals and head teachers will be resuming teaching in classrooms, following a review.

From next year, teachers in additional deputy principal positions in all but the state’s most complex settings will be expected to teach between 2 and 2.5 days a week, while additional head teachers and assistant principals are expected to be in the classroom 3.5 to 4 days a week.

The move will amount to an estimated extra 237,000 hours taught in the state’s public schools every year.

The decision is designed to correct the inequity in teaching time of executive teachers created on ad hoc basis under the Liberals and Nationals’ Local Schools, Local Decisions policy.

Despite 10,000 merged or cancelled classes in NSW public schools each day, the former government created thousands of extra executive teachers, taking them out of the classroom as student outcomes fell.

A Department of Education review into executive teachers last year found 1500 executive teachers were not teaching timetabled classes at all, while a further 2400 were teaching fewer hours than required.

Since coming to office, the NSW Labor Government has tackled head on the teacher shortage crisis it inherited from the former government.

At the beginning of this year teacher vacancies fell by 20 per cent as the Labor government’s record pay rise for teachers – delivered last year – plus a range of effective recruitment measures deliver progress.

The Department of Education will continue to work with the NSW Teachers Federation to ensure teaching time, wherever possible for executive teachers across the system, is in line with their industrial agreements.  

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The former Liberal government took some of our most experienced teachers off class at a time when we had a chronic teacher shortage.

“We are correcting that by bringing them back into the classroom where their experience and knowledge is needed the most.

“The historic pay rise delivered to teachers last year as well as our decision to make thousands of teachers permanent members of staff is helping to turn the system around, but our students have been missing out on being taught by some of our expert teachers.

“We have a lot of work to do to improve the declining educational outcomes left by the Liberals and Nationals, and we can’t afford to have our teachers with the greatest expertise off class.”

A man remains before the courts following an alleged assault in Newcastle yesterday.

About 2.10pm (Friday 16 August 2024), emergency services were called to an apartment on Nobbys Road, Newcastle East, following reports of a concern for welfare.

Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District arrived and located an 18-year-old man who had allegedly stabbed another man, aged 46.

Police intervened and arrested the younger man.

The injured man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

The younger man was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with reckless wounding.

He was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 17 August 2024), where he was granted conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 27 August 2024.

Initial inquiries have led police to believe the two men are known to each other.

A man has been issued with a Future Court Attendance notice following a jet ski crash at Newcastle earlier this month.

About 7:30am on Saturday 10 August 2024, patrolling officers attached to Newcastle City Police District located a man with injuries following a jet ski crash at Dixon Park.

The 71-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital with a severe laceration to his shoulder. He was later released.

Following inquiries, a 36-year-old man was charged with operate recreational vessel negligently.

He was given a Future Court Attendance Notice to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 3 October 2024.

Five teenagers have been arrested and two charged following a pursuit in the Hunter Valley region yesterday.

About 7.30am (Saturday 3 August 2024), police were called to New England Highway, Branxton, following reports two vehicles were allegedly driving in a dangerous manner at a rest stop off the highway.

Checks revealed the vehicles were allegedly stolen.

On arrival, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District located a white Toyota sedan well alight. Officers attempted to stop the second vehicle – a black Nissan SUV – before a pursuit was initiated.

Fire and Rescue NSW officers attended and extinguished the fire.

The pursuit continued north along the New England Highway; however, was terminated due to safety concerns.

Following inquiries, about 8.25am, police located the SUV unattended on Thomas Mitchell Drive, Muswellbrook.

A perimeter was established and officers commenced a search of the surrounding area, with assistance from PolAir and the Dog Squad.

A short time later, police located and arrested five teenage boys – one aged 16, two aged 15 and two aged 14 – and they were taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.

Two boys – aged 16 and 15 – were charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner

They were granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Wednesday 28 August 2024.

The other three teenagers were released with a formal caution.

Parents in southwest Sydney will get better hearing support for their children, thanks to the delivery of an Albanese Government election commitment to help fund the opening of The Shepherd Centre in Oran Park.

The Shepherd Centre in Oran Park was officially opened today to help children with hearing loss develop their listening, spoken language, literacy, and social skills.

The opening of the centre means that children with hearing loss will receive the specialist hearing support required to complete school with the spoken language and the skills they need to reach their potential and thrive.

The new centre at Oran Park delivers on a key election commitment by the Albanese Government for the people of southwest Sydney.

The Government provided $2.4 million so the centre could meet the unmet demand in the rapidly growing southwest Sydney area. The Centre is expected to support more than 2,500 children with a hearing loss, and their families.

The Shepherd Centre has been in operation for more than 50 years, and has service centres in NSW, the ACT and Tasmania.

The $2.4 million provided to help fund the Oran Park centre was part of a larger $6.5 million provided to help The Shepherd Centre open two other facilities in Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania. These will be the first facilities in Tasmania to provide comprehensive on-the-ground support of this kind for children with hearing loss.

The organisation supports more than 900 families through their physical centres as well as through telehealth for families living in rural and regional areas.

The Centre’s HearHub platform also received $1.2 million in Government funding to support health professionals to work with children in Australia as well as export its services to children with hearing loss all over the world.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

“Children with hearing loss deserve the best possible start in life and the best possible care and support.

“Opening this state-of-the-art facility here in southwest Sydney will be life-changing for these children.”

Minister for Health, Mark Butler

“Over many decades the Shepherd Centre has proved time and again that their work is making a real difference to children with hearing loss and their families.

“Today the Albanese Government delivers on an election commitment to the people of southwest Sydney, with $2.5 million in Commonwealth funding to help open The Shepherd Centre in Oran Park.

“Making sure all Australian children with hearing difficulties can learn to listen and speak will open the doors to a world of choice in life and opportunity.”

Member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander

“Today is a great day for children with hearing loss in southwest Sydney.

“It is wonderful that children in Macarthur with hearing loss can now access world’s best practice care on their doorstep.

“I have worked with The Shepherd Centre for over half a century, and I am extremely grateful for the care they have given to my patients and the fact that we now have The Shepherd Centre in Macarthur delivering services to young families is fantastic!”