Category: NSW News

Police have charged a man after a girl was allegedly sexually assaulted on the state’s south coast.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a 14-year-old girl was sexually and indecently assaulted by a man known to her.
Following inquiries, a 35-year-old man was arrested at a home in Sydney’s west on Friday (9 November 2018).
He was taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with indecent assault person under 16 years of age, and have sexual intercourse with person >=14 & <16 years.
Police will allege in court that the man groomed the girl through an online messaging application and sexually and indecently assaulted her at a home on the state’s south coast between Friday 31 August 2018 and Sunday 9 September 2018.
The man was refused bail and appeared before Penrith Local Court on Friday 9 November 2018, where he was refused bail to appear before Bega Local Court on Tuesday 27 November 2018.
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.

NSW Labor today committed to build a new public high school at Pottsville.
The announcement was made by NSW Labor Opposition leader Luke Foley and Country Labor candidate for the Tweed, Craig Elliot on the State’s North Coast.
Labor’s action is in stark contrast with the Berejiklian Government’s failure to support the construction of a local high school in Pottsville.  The community has been calling for a high school for more than a decade due to population growth in the area.
Pottsville Beach Public School is bursting at the seams and it is expected to have up to 1,000 students.
Currently, there are more than 750 secondary students who have to travel for at least 30 minutes each way by bus north to Kingscliff High School and another 100 schoolchildren are forced to travel to other district government high schools such as Murwillumbah High School.
A parcel of land has been set aside for a school with the support of the local Tweed Shire Council, but the State Government has refused to purchase the land.
Construction would begin in the first term of a Foley Labor Government. NSW Labor has allocated $40 million for the high school. – The Berejiklian Government has the wrong priorities – preferring to splurge on Sydney stadiums rather than fund schools and hospitals in rural and regional NSW.
Tweed National MP Geoff Provest promised to build a Pottsville high school in 2007, but after 11 years, he has failed to deliver  and now he just ignores the community, claiming that there is no need for a  new high school in what is a rapidly growing area of the State’s North Coast
Quotes attributable to NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley MP
“Make no mistake, NSW Labor and Craig Elliot will build a high school at Pottsville.”
“The case is clear. Pottsville needs a high school and only a NSW Labor Government will build it.” 
“The Nationals have the wrong priorities. They want to splurge billions on stadiums in Sydney rather than investing in schools and hospitals.”
Quotes attributable to Country Labor candidate for the Tweed – Craig Elliot
“I’m out listening and talking to locals every day and the calls for a public high school for Pottsville are growing louder and louder.
“Pottsville has a huge number of young families and locals are sick of having their needs ignored by the National Party.
“It is unfair for their children to spend countless hours a week on the bus going to other high schools when there is a clear need for a high school at Pottsville.”

The Commonwealth and NSW Governments have committed up to $30 million for the Wilcannia Weir upgrade.
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said first a business case would be put together to select the best location.
“We’ve got the money sitting in the bank and this business case will make sure it’s well spent,” Minister Littleproud said.
“The weir is an important place for local Aboriginal communities and cultural gatherings.
“This is one part of the Coalition Government’s commitments under the May 7 agreement with the opposition to improve outcomes for indigenous Basin communities.”
NSW Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair said he was committed to seeing this project come to fruition.
“The NSW Government previously prepared a scoping study and business case to replace Wilcannia Weir, which suggested a new weir be built 5.2km downstream,” Mr Blair said.
“These studies will form the basis of the final investigations, including the consultations on the original business case which identified that the communities preferred option was a weir built downstream of the existing structure. ​
“This project goes beyond just providing drinking water, this Weir is a place for the Wilcannia community to swim, fish and celebrate the cultural traditions it holds dear.
“I know this project has taken some time but we didn’t give up, we said we would keep going until we could deliver the funding and today I am happy to say we hold true to that commitment.
“We expect that the preferred location and design of the weir to be confirmed by mid next year, with construction expected by the end of 2019.”
Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the development will bolster the local community.
“Locals have been calling for a new weir for decades and we’re determined to see it through,” Mr Coulton said.
“A new weir will secure the community’s future so locals can keep enjoying the Wilcannia life.”
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries said he started this work as Minister for Western NSW five years ago with the then Member for Murray-Darling John Williams.
“We met with representatives of the community on the banks of the Darling River in 2013, at ‘Cemetery Rocks’, downstream of the Wilcannia township,” Mr Humphries said.
“The good work of the community will see a weir pool built to meet the current needs of the community and future opportunities for the region.”
Funding for Wilcannia Weir is drawn from the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program, a national program investing in rural water use, management and efficiency.
Fast Facts:

• Both Commonwealth and NSW Governments have committed up to $15 million each for a new weir
• $150,000 will be spent to build a business case for the preferred site of the new weir
• The weir upgrade is part of the Federal Coalition Government’s agreement with the opposition to improve outcomes for Aboriginal communities in the Basin.​

The NSW Police Force are leading the national conversation on policing domestic-violence related incidents with the launch of the inaugural Australasian Police Domestic Violence Forum.
On Tuesday (13 November 2018), representatives from the NSW Police Force will be joined by international guests from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, to continue the conversation around domestic and family violence.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller APM, will open the three-day forum and says the initiative is designed to address the changing landscape of policing incidents of domestic and family violence.
“The aim of the forum is to provide an opportunity for police across Australia, New Zealand and abroad, to have a frank and open conversation about the challenges officers face when they respond to a domestic-related incident,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“Domestic and family violence is a crime that does not discriminate, and with the assistance of local and international partners, we are continuing to improve policing to protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice.”
NSW Police Corporate Sponsor for Domestic and Family Violence, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jones APM, said officers see first hand the effect domestic violence incidents have on families every day.
“Unfortunately, it is a crime that continues to dominate police time, with officers responding to more than 126,000 domestic-related incidents over the last 12 months,” said Assistant Commissioner Jones.
“The inaugural Australasian Police Domestic Violence Forum will allow us to continue the conversation into the most effective way of policing such crimes.
“With White Ribbon Day around the corner it is a timely reminder for everyone to never underestimate the significant role you can play in addressing domestic and family violence; what you know could save someone’s life,” said Assistant Commissioner Jones.
The forum will run from Tuesday (13 November 2018) until Thursday (15 November 2018), in the lead up to the annual White Ribbon campaign.
White Ribbon Day (Friday 23 November 2018), also makes the start of 16 Days of Activism – an international campaign calling for an end to violence against women, concluding with International Human Rights Day on Monday 10 December 2018.

As summer approaches, a new police jet ski squadron will be out in force to prioritise and improve marine safety across the state’s waterways.
The NSW Police Marine Area Commander, Superintendent Mark Hutchings, was joined today (Thursday 8 November 2018) by Minister for Police Troy Grant, and NSW Maritime Services, to unveil 14 new jet skis which will be used by the new Marine Enforcement Team (MET).
The MET is a dedicated mobile response unit that will be deployed to reduce marine-related crime and ensure safer waterways across NSW.
The team will be comprised of officers from the Marine Area Command and will be primarily located within the Sydney Metropolitan area, as well as Newcastle and Port Stephens, during the boating season.
The MET will also have capabilities to deploy into waterways across the state when required.
Marine Area Commander Superintendent Mark Hutchings said the Marine Enforcement Team is an additional resource that will allow officers to focus on proactive policing.
“With summer only a few weeks away, and the hot weather already here, these new jet skis will boost the capability of officers to target those that commit dangerous or anti-social activity on our waterways,” said Supt Hutchings.
“The Marine Enforcement Team is a specialist unit within the Marine Area Command and will be conducting regular, planned and high-visibility police operations throughout the warmer months.
“Police will be on the water throughout the season to enforce maritime laws, conduct random breath and drug tests, carry out safety checks on vessels, check boat licences, and ensure any other jet ski riders enjoy the sport safely,” Supt Hutchings said.
Minister for Police Troy Grant said people should be able to head out on NSW waterways and enjoy their day without hoons and trouble makers causing problems; that is why the NSW Government has invested more than $140,000 in 14 new jet skis for the Marine Area Command.
“With Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year around the corner, the jet ski squad will be launching major enforcement and crowd control operations during the busiest period on our waterways,” said Mr Grant.
“The versatility of the jet ski team will also greatly enhance the Marine Area Command’s ability to rapidly respond and deploy to incidents on the water and contain anti-social and dangerous behaviour.”
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said the additional funding would allow Police to continue their proactive approach to targeting anti-social behaviour on our waterways.
“The number of jet ski registrations continues to grow at around 10 per cent per year which represents the fastest growing segment of the industry,” Mrs Pavey said.
“While the vast majority of riders use their craft in a responsible manner, personal watercraft continue to be over represented in serious injuries and complaints as a result of dangerous use and anti-social behaviour.”
Executive Director of Maritime Services Angus Mitchell said additional jet skis would help complement Roads and Maritime Boating Safety Officers with patrolling NSW waterways.
“In the last two years it has been a whole government approach when it comes to improving waterway safety. This has included co-location in many areas, joint patrols, sharing of assets and sharing of intelligence.”
Throughout the warmer months, police will be focusing on safe and responsible boating, and monitoring any reckless or dangerous behaviour taking place on or near the water.
The NSW Police Force will continue to work with a variety of agencies including Transport for NSW throughout the summer months to develop and implement strategies that will reduce risk to the community.

NSW winemakers will have tourists knocking down their cellar doors thanks to a $2 million marketing campaign.
Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said the Commonwealth and state governments had both invested $1 million each to back the NSW wine industry.
“Good food and wine is meant to be shared, and that’s exactly what this will do,” Minister Littleproud said.
“New South Wales winemakers are among the world’s best and the world should know about it.
“We’re backing NSW winemakers so they can host more foreign tourists in their top-notch wine regions.
“The NSW Wine Industry Association will put the money into marketing around the world to get the word out.
“Visitors from China and the United States are at the top of our list. We want them to know we’ve thrown the cellar doors open for them.
“It’s not just the wineries that benefit – tourists also visit local attractions and spend money in the surrounding towns boosting regional economies.
“NSW wine shouldn’t be kept secret – let’s get the word out and the tourists in!”
The $5 million International Wine Tourism State Grants provide state wine associations with funding for international wine tourism research, planning and implementation activities and is part of the Coalition Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.
Wine Australia Export Report highlights for the 12 months ending 30 June 2018:

• The highest export growth in 15 years: wine exports grew by 20% to $2.76 billion
• Record export volume: 10% growth to 852 million litres, or 95 million 9 litre cases
• The average value of exported wine increased by 9% to $3.24/litre
• Average value of bottled wine increased 19% to $2.2 billion. Volume increased 8% to 376 million litres.​

A man has been injured after being bitten by a shark on the NSW North Coast.
About 6.45am (Wednesday 7 November 2018), a 43-year-old local man was surfing at Shelley Beach, Ballina, when he was bitten on the left calf by a shark.
He brought himself to shore and was given first aid by his friends. The man then attended Ballina Hospital for treatment.
The injury is not life threatening.
Officers from Richmond Police District attended the beach and liaised with Surf Life Saving NSW. Jet skis and a drone have been deployed to survey the area.
Shelley Beach and surrounding beaches have been closed for 24 hours.
Officers seized the surf board and are liaising with Department of Primary Industries to identify the species.
Beachgoers are urged to follow safety advice, by visiting the Department of Primary Industry’s website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/sharks and the SharkSmart app.