Category: Newcastle News

Victims of immoral or illegal conduct by financial services institutions are invited to tell their stories at a banking roundtable in Newcastle on Friday.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said she called the roundtable to shine a light on how the misconduct of banks and big finance is affecting people in the Newcastle-Hunter region.
“I’m aware of a number of shocking cases of misconduct that have had dire impacts on people and their families in our community,” Ms Claydon said.
“The roundtable will bring together banking victims and representatives from community organisations who see the impacts of banking misconduct in their work every day.”
Ms Claydon said she expected stories from the roundtable would help support the case for the Banking Royal Commission to visit regional communities like Newcastle.
“The Banking Royal Commission is doing great work bringing shocking evidence of appalling misconduct to light – from fees for no service, to predatory lending, contempt for regulators and straight-up breaches of the law,” Ms Claydon said.
“But the Commission has only been able to hear evidence from 27 victims, despite receiving over 9,000 submissions. This isn’t good enough. Australians right across the country deserve their chance to be heard.”
Ms Claydon said Morrison Government had repeatedly tried to block or diminish the scope of the Banking Royal Commission.
“Scott Morrison never wanted this Royal Commission. He ran a protection racket for the big banks for 600 days and voted against it 26 times. He called it a ‘populist whinge’ and a ‘reckless distraction’. And then he spent his last year as Treasurer trying to reward the big banks with a $17 billion tax cut.
“Labor called for this Royal Commission, Labor fought for this Royal Commission, Labor will allow victims to have their say, and Labor will work day and night to protect Australian businesses and consumers from this appalling misconduct.”

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has seconded Shadow Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese’s push to again get high speed rail off the ground.
Ms Claydon said Newcastle was one of the cities that stood to benefit the most from an east coast high speed rail connection.
“High speed rail has the potential to be an absolute game changer for Newcastle,” Ms Claydon said.
“It will revolutionise travel, create a wealth of jobs and turbocharge the local economy.”
Ms Claydon said it is the fifth time Labor has introduced the Bill to the Parliament because the Government refused to schedule previous bills for debate.
“This Bill would re-establish the High Speed Rail Authority so it can get on with the critical work of planning and securing the land for the rail corridor before it’s built out by urban sprawl,” Ms Claydon said.
“A study done by the former Labor Government showed that high speed rail would return $2.50 for every $1 invested, but we need to get moving on it quickly.”
Ms Claydon said the Abbott Government scrapped the High Speed Rail Planning Authority when it came to power, and no progress has been made under Malcolm Turnbull or Scott Morrison.
“To date, the Liberals have shown a staggering lack of vision about Australia’s future infrastructure needs,” Ms Claydon said.
“The Government says it supports high speed rail but blocks any actual opportunity for progress, but this legislation offers a chance to turn things around.
“We need to heed Infrastructure Australia’s warning about moving fast or we’ll add hundreds of millions to the cost of securing the corridor.
“The Government is on notice. It’s time they stepped up to put the national interest above their own internal chaos.”

Two officers were allegedly assaulted after arresting a teenager who was wanted on an outstanding warrant in the Hunter region overnight.
About 12.45am (Tuesday 23 October 2018), police from Hunter Valley Police District attended a home on Fourth Street, Weston, after reports a teenager wanted on an outstanding warrant was at the property.
On arrival, they found a 16-year-old boy inside, who attempted to flee.
It’s alleged two senior constables stopped him and as they attempted to arrest him, a struggle ensued.
Neighbouring residents intervened, and it’s alleged both officers were assaulted – one was struck several times in the head and body.
As police attempted to restrain the teenager, he was tasered and OC spray was deployed.
It’s further alleged residents continued to intervene and one of the senior constables drew his taser until additional police arrived at the scene.
The boy was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with the outstanding warrant, resist officer in execution of duty, assault police officer in execution of duty cause aggravated bodily harm, possess prohibited drug, and possession of equipment for administering prohibited drugs.
He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Tuesday 23 October 2018), where he was refused bail again to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 13 November 2018.

A man has been charged with a number of offences including assault after police were called to a hotel in Wickham yesterday.
About 7.35pm (Monday 22 October 2018), officers from Newcastle City were called to a hotel on Maitland Road following reports of an assault.
On arrival officers were told a 47-year-old man allegedly threatened a female staff member after he was asked to leave due to his level of intoxication.
It’s alleged the man punched a male patron before throwing a schooner glass towards him causing it to smash on the ground.
The patron suffered minor injuries – not from the glass – and didn’t require medical treatment.
Police arrested the man and during a search officers allegedly located a large amount of money and a billiard ball wrapped within a sock.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with intimidation, common assault, goods in custody suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained and custody of an offensive implement in a public place.
He was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 23 October 2018).

City of Newcastle has secured the NSW Waratahs first ever official Super Rugby match at McDonald Jones Stadium in March next year.
The announcement breaks new ground for both the 2014 Super Rugby champions and City of Newcastle, with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes confirming next year’s fixture would be the first time the State team has taken a home game to a destination outside of Sydney.

^{NSW Waratahs Assistant Coach Chris Whitaker and CEO Andrew Hore with Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at McDonald Jones Stadium}
“This is a major coup for Newcastle so to be standing here at McDonald Jones Stadium today to welcome this foundation State team to our city is just incredible,” the Lord Mayor said after the City secured the NSW Waratahs’ historic game as part of a joint bid with Venues NSW.
“We’re proud to be the inaugural beneficiaries of the NSW Waratahs’ first foray outside of Sydney, particularly for a competition which has now achieved true international status with the addition of Japanese and Argentinean teams.”

The NSW Waratahs have played pre-season matches outside of Sydney, but the 29 March fixture against the Japan Sunwolves will be the first home game ever staged outside of the harbour city during the regular season.
“Securing the NSW Waratahs is just the latest major sporting team or event Newcastle has secured over the past year,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’ve just had the Australian netball team play a test against England. The Matildas game vs Chile is early next month, and of course final preparations are under way for November’s Supercars race. Next month we will learn if Newcastle will be the 2021 host city for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“Our ability to continually attract some of the country’s best live sporting and entertainment events shows just how committed we are to making our city the best it can possibly be.
“We look forward to working with the NSW Waratahs, Venues NSW and McDonald Jones Stadium to host this event next year in the hope that it will become a permanent fixture from 2020 onwards.”
^{NSW Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes at McDonald Jones Stadium}

Budding innovators and entrepreneurs can upload their own forward-thinking into Newcastle’s future economy through a series of upcoming Smart City engagement activities.
Part of Smart Move Newcastle and a collaboration between Eighteen04 and the City of Newcastle, a series of events aim to encourage local innovation and nurture future industries.
City of Newcastle is encouraging start-ups and tech innovators to:

• Come and hang out in the City for three days and join our Urban Internet of Things* (IoT) Hackathon, between 25-27 October to help develop solutions to common safety, waste and amenity concerns in urban environments; and
• Be a part of our Online Mobility Challenge – 27 September to 27 November – to generate new ideas around using data to encourage electric vehicle usage and other transport options.

“Scores of start-ups, emerging businesses and student ventures in Newcastle will take part in and benefit from a variety of competitive innovation challenges,” Chair of Eighteen04 Gunilla Burrowes said.
“The events will also provide a great opportunity to showcase Newcastle’s excellent smart city infrastructure and platforms to a national and international audience.”
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the start-up engagement program would further confirm Newcastle as a smart city leader.
“Our vision is to be a smart, liveable and sustainable global city by 2030,” the Lord Mayor said.
“While we talk a lot about smart technology and infrastructure, smart cities are first and foremost about people.
“These fantastic hands-on engagement challenges will nurture innovation locally and show how innovation and technology can help solve urban problems and make life easier.”
“With integrated smart poles, sensor networks and data analytics platforms coming on line, we have an exceptional environment for entrepreneurial businesses large and small,” the Lord Mayor added.
“We have the capacity and are attracting the talent to develop the next generation of Smart City solutions right here in Newcastle to address challenges that many cities are facing.”
The program is part of the $13m Smart Moves Newcastle project, which received $5m through the Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs program last year.
Through Smart Moves Newcastle, the City is partnering with a consortium of technology businesses to provide an integrated network for transport, energy and digital infrastructure to transform the city into a ‘living lab’.
An Energy Demonstration Project in December will also showcase emerging energy-saving and monitoring technologies in the retail market, with more details to come.

Saturday evening’s Professional Bull Riders ( PBR) Monster Energy Tour: Dubbo Invitational, concluded in dramatic fashion, coming down to the wire as current Australian #4 Cody Heffernan clinched victory with a rousing 89-point ride on the final buck off of the night.
Taking place at Dubbo Showgrounds in PBR’s new state-of-the-art mobile stadium before a capacity crowd, the event attracted 22 of the nation’s top riders, including the top five riders on the current Australian Standings.
Heffernan’s picture perfect final ride upon TNR’s Call Me Joe saw him narrowly pip current Australian #1 Aaron Kleier to the Dubbo Invitational title – solidifying Heffernan as a serious 2018  title contender with only one event left until the PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville on November 23 & 24.
The Dubbo Invitational also attracted some of the best bulls in the sport, with superstar bovines wowing local audiences including the likes of TnR’s ‘Call Me Joe’, John Gill and Sons’ ‘High Flying Akubra’, Hempenstall’s ‘Doorman’ and Kasper’s ‘Villain’.
With the win, Singleton (NSW)-born Heffernan sent this year’s title race into overdrive. The slimmest of margins now separates Heffernan and Rankings #3 Fraser Babbington, with both riders also within striking distance of #1 Aaron Kleier  and #2 Cliff Richardson.
The PBRA now heads to Tamworth for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour: Iron Cowboy on November 17, before the PBR Grand Finals in Townsville on November 23-24.
Nineteen years after the PBR began staging events in Townsville, the Grand Finals will bring twenty-two of the country’s best bull riders, along with international stars and champion bulls, to Townsville for a head-to-head battle that will decide the National Champion and Stock Contractor of the Year titles.
“As with previous years, we’re expecting the 2018 title battle to attract diehard PBR fans from all over Australia.It is anybody’s title this year, and with four more events to go, and the bonus points on offer at the Grand Finals, fans can expect a very tight battle,” says PBR Australia General Manager, Glen Young.
 

Detectives investigating a report a teenage girl was sexually assaulted in the Hunter region last week have confirmed the incident did not occur.
Police were told a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by an unknown man in bushland after getting off a bus on the Pacific Highway near South Street, Windale, about 3.30pm last Wednesday (17 October 2018).
The matter was reported to officers from Lake Macquarie Police District, who launched an investigation with the assistance of detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
Following extensive investigations, including forensic examinations and speaking with a number of people, detectives have confirmed that the report was false.
The girl has been spoken to by police and offered support services.
Police would like to thank the community and media for their assistance with this matter.

City of Newcastle has taken out top honours for its work on the climate change frontline, at the inaugural Cities Power Partner Summit Awards.
The City took home the Cities Power Partnership Energy Efficiency Achievement award for the Newcastle Museum Energy Upgrade Project, which upgraded lighting in several sections of the building to maximise energy efficiency, saving thousands on power bills, in addition to a installing a 100kW solar panel.

The awards, held Thursday 18 October in Kiama NSW as part of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership National Summit, recognised the unsung work of climate heroes in local governments across the country, who are quietly transforming Australia’s energy landscape.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city was thrilled to be recognised as energy efficiency leaders within Australia.
“This project is one that continues to build on our long track record of acting to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions,” the Lord Mayor said. “We have undertaken energy-efficiency upgrades at social, cultural and recreational facilities that Newcastle residents use every day, as well as council operational buildings.
“Newcastle Museum, as a key cultural facility and tourist attraction, was a prime site for an energy efficient upgrade, which is helping the council save money on electricity bills, reducing ongoing operational costs for this heritage site. We’re also undertaking significant street lighting upgrades for energy savings powering towards council’s goal to have 30% of its electricity generated from low-carbon sources by 2020.”
Alix Pearce, director of the Cities Power Partnership, Australia’s largest local government climate alliance, said that the range of climate solutions coming out of Australia’s councils was staggering.
“The local climate solutions on display at these awards are tangible proof that Australian communities are rising up to meet the challenges of climate change,” she said.
“From supporting local schools to save thousands on their power bills through solar energy through to developing Australia’s largest floating solar farm, Cities Power Partnership councils are leading the way with practical local climate solutions.”
“These local heroes are stepping up and getting the job done, in the face of continuing Federal climate inaction. It’s time to celebrate these quiet achievers, who are working at the climate frontline and helping their communities to drive down local greenhouse gas pollution.”
The Cities Power Partnership Awards celebrated outstanding work from local governments in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and community advocacy, as well as individual climate champion awards.
FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
Renewable Energy Achievement Award
Winner: Solar my School – Three Council Program from Randwick, Waverley & Woollahra Councils (New South Wales)
Energy Efficiency Achievement
Winner: Newcastle Museum Energy upgrade – City of Newcastle (New South Wales)
Sustainable Transport Achievement Award
Winner: Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan 2018-21 – ACT Government
Community Engagement Achievement Award
Winner: Floating solar farm – Lismore City Council (New South Wales)
Knowledge Sharing Award
Winner: South East NSW Councils buddy group (New South Wales)
CPP Ambassador Award
Winner: Clr Ken Keith, Mayor, Parkes Shire Council (New South Wales)
The Cities Power Partnership is a free national program created by the Climate Council that
celebrates and accelerates the pollution reduction and clean energy successes of Australia in
towns and cities.

City of Newcastle has taken out top honours for its work on the climate change frontline, at the inaugural Cities Power Partner Summit Awards.
The City took home the Cities Power Partnership Energy Efficiency Achievement award for the Newcastle Museum Energy Upgrade Project, which upgraded lighting in several sections of the building to maximise energy efficiency, saving thousands on power bills, in addition to a installing a 100kW solar panel.

The awards, held Thursday 18 October in Kiama NSW as part of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership National Summit, recognised the unsung work of climate heroes in local governments across the country, who are quietly transforming Australia’s energy landscape.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city was thrilled to be recognised as energy efficiency leaders within Australia.
“This project is one that continues to build on our long track record of acting to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions,” the Lord Mayor said. “We have undertaken energy-efficiency upgrades at social, cultural and recreational facilities that Newcastle residents use every day, as well as council operational buildings.
“Newcastle Museum, as a key cultural facility and tourist attraction, was a prime site for an energy efficient upgrade, which is helping the council save money on electricity bills, reducing ongoing operational costs for this heritage site. We’re also undertaking significant street lighting upgrades for energy savings powering towards council’s goal to have 30% of its electricity generated from low-carbon sources by 2020.”
Alix Pearce, director of the Cities Power Partnership, Australia’s largest local government climate alliance, said that the range of climate solutions coming out of Australia’s councils was staggering.
“The local climate solutions on display at these awards are tangible proof that Australian communities are rising up to meet the challenges of climate change,” she said.
“From supporting local schools to save thousands on their power bills through solar energy through to developing Australia’s largest floating solar farm, Cities Power Partnership councils are leading the way with practical local climate solutions.”
“These local heroes are stepping up and getting the job done, in the face of continuing Federal climate inaction. It’s time to celebrate these quiet achievers, who are working at the climate frontline and helping their communities to drive down local greenhouse gas pollution.”
The Cities Power Partnership Awards celebrated outstanding work from local governments in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and community advocacy, as well as individual climate champion awards.
FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
Renewable Energy Achievement Award
Winner: Solar my School – Three Council Program from Randwick, Waverley & Woollahra Councils (New South Wales)
Energy Efficiency Achievement
Winner: Newcastle Museum Energy upgrade – City of Newcastle (New South Wales)
Sustainable Transport Achievement Award
Winner: Transition to Zero Emissions Vehicles Action Plan 2018-21 – ACT Government
Community Engagement Achievement Award
Winner: Floating solar farm – Lismore City Council (New South Wales)
Knowledge Sharing Award
Winner: South East NSW Councils buddy group (New South Wales)
CPP Ambassador Award
Winner: Clr Ken Keith, Mayor, Parkes Shire Council (New South Wales)
The Cities Power Partnership is a free national program created by the Climate Council that
celebrates and accelerates the pollution reduction and clean energy successes of Australia in
towns and cities.