March 2023 – Page 12

Customers are paying less for their electricity network costs

Households and business customers are paying less for their electricity network charges today compared to pre-privatisation, according to new analysis of Australian Energy Regulator data.

Electricity network charges are $251 lower today compared to 2015 for the average household and $1,769 lower for the average small business.

Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the new analysis was proof the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s record of strong financial management was delivering for consumers.

“Network charges have fallen by 26 per cent for the average household and 49 per cent for the average small business since the long-term lease of Ausgrid and Endeavour,” Mr Kean said.

“Chris Minns has been lying to the people of NSW, and now his grubby scare campaign that asset recycling raises customer bills is taking on water when you look at the cold hard facts. The Liberal and Nationals Government has ruled out future privatisation, yet NSW Laborcontinues with this shameful scare campaign.”

This is backed up by a 2013 Commonwealth Productivity Commission report on electricity networks, which stated, “[t]here is no evidence that the productivity, reliability, quality or cost performance of private sector electricity network businesses is worse than their public sector equivalents. To the contrary, the evidence in Australia and internationally suggests that such private sector enterprises are more efficient.”

More recently, the Grattan Institute’s 2018 Down to the Wire report highlighted that

“[e]vidence over the past decade shows that publicly-owned network businesses have not been as efficient as privately-owned businesses, increasing costs for consumers.”

In December last year, Opposition Leader Chris Minns signalled his plans to nationalise the NSW electricity grid.

Mr Kean said Labor’s plan for greater government intervention in the energy market is the biggest risk facing NSW when it comes to electricity reliability and affordability over the next decade.

“Our nation-leading Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap is driving $32 billion of private investment into the State’s electricity system, which is the best way to deliver affordable and reliable energy,” Mr Kean said.

“But Chris Minns’ ideological vendetta against private investment in the NSW electricity system risks driving away that capital, threatening our energy security and leaving households paying more.

“By his own admission, Chris Minns’ proposed government energy bureaucracy won’t deliver households any savings for seven years.

“Only the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has a long-term economic plan to build infrastructure, create jobs and provide energy rebate support for households.

“It would be a disaster for energy bills if NSW Labor get their way with nationalising our electricity sector, and would threaten to undo much of the network savings that have been achieved over the past six years.”

Source: Australian Energy Regulator, Office of Energy and Climate Change (NSW)

Funding boost to help protect seniors from scams

Older people across NSW will be better protected from scams, as part of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s comprehensive plan to support seniors.

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will provide an additional $2 million to double funding for the Tech Savvy Seniors Program, with a focus on boosting scam-awareness and enhancing training for Service NSW staff who interact with older customers.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this additional support for digital education and training builds on the Liberal and Nationals strong record of delivery for seniors living in NSW.

“We will ensure more seniors have access to scam-awareness training and that customer service representatives can better support them when they need to access government services,” Premier Perrottet said.

“This funding boost is about ensuring elderly people have the support they need when using technology in our rapidly changing digital world and that our government services are the most accessible in the country.

“Better protecting the elderly from scams builds on the Liberal and Nationals comprehensive plan to support the growing number of seniors in NSW through dozens of rebates and thousands of discounts through the NSW Seniors Card.

“Whether it’s the Senior Savers Card, Pensioner Water Rebate, Gold Opal Card or the Seniors Energy Rebate, the Liberal and Nationals will continue to help relieve household budgets and back seniors across NSW.”

Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to ensuring that our older Australians feel safe, protected, and included.

“When our society changes, we need to make sure everyone, especially our seniors, are not left behind, and our plan will ensure that doesn’t happen,” Mr Coure said.

“That is why we launched the Tech Savvy Seniors Program ten years ago, and by expanding it, we will ensure more seniors can access what they need to stay active and protected in our increasingly digital world.”

The Tech Savvy Seniors Program provides free and low-cost classes to seniors to help build their skills and confidence when engaging with the digital world, and is part of a raft of initiatives and programs to help keep seniors socially active, safe and resilient.

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s comprehensive plan to support the growing number of seniors in NSW includes our:

– Seniors Card and Seniors Savers Card, which give almost 1.9 million older people in NSW access to discounts at more than 6,600 businesses, travel, entertainment, and professional services;

– Regional Seniors Travel Card, a prepaid $250 card which helps regional seniors with the cost of travel;

– Gold Opal Card which gives seniors in NSW unlimited travel for no more than $2.50 a day;

– NSW Seniors Energy Rebate which is available to self-funded retirees to help cover the cost of electricity, up to $200; and,

– Dozens of savings measures that are available through the Service NSW Savings Finder Program, including 67 rebates for eligible pensioners and 39 rebates for eligible self-funded retirees.

The number of seniors in NSW is expected to grow from 1.9 million today to more than 2.4 million by 2031.

Seniors can go to the NSW Savings Finder Program homepage to find out more on how they can save.

Man allegedly detained in vehicle; three charged – Wallsend

Raptor North officers have charged three people after a man was allegedly detained and threatened in Newcastle last month.

About 1am on Thursday 16 February 2023, a 31-year-old man arrived at the carpark of a fast food restaurant on Cowper Street, Wallsend, and met with a 29-year-old man known to him.

A short time later, another man entered his vehicle and allegedly threatened the older man with a knife.

He demanded cash before the 31-year-old man was able to escape the vehicle.

The armed man then left the car and drove from the scene in a separate vehicle.

The older man returned to his vehicle and later reported the incident to Newcastle City Police District, with the matter being referred to officers from the State Crime Command’s Raptor North.

Following extensive inquiries, Raptor North police arrested a 32-year-old man on the Esplanade, Speers Point, about 1.40pm yesterday.

Police then executed three search warrants at homes in Speers Point, Adamstown, and Macquarie Hills, from 2pm yesterday (Thursday 9 March 2023), where they seized about $25,000 cash, steroids, mobile phones, knuckle dusters, and suspected fraudulent documents.

A 29-year-old man was arrested at Macquarie Hills and a 34-year-old woman was arrested at Adamstown.

All three were taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and deal with the proceeds of crime.

They were all refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court later today (Friday 10 March 2023).

BANKERS DONATE THEIR WAY OUT OF FINES

The Government’s decision to drop provisions for million dollar fines for bankers who cheat their customers shows the major banks have bought a political outcome through donations to the Labor Party, the Greens say.

“Labor is trying to create a financial accountability regime that does not hold bankers accountable,” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“This is contrary to the agreement they struck with the Greens, and it shows that the banks have bought an outcome with $400,000 in donations to the Labor Party in the lead up to the 2022 election.”

“Clearly Labor cares more about donations than they do about integrity.”

“Late last year, Minister Jones used the fig leaf of small mutuals and customer owned banks as an excuse for reneging on their deal.”

“But now we learned that was just more nonsense and they have no intention to fine any bankers at all.”

“The Greens will be moving amendments in the House and the Senate to include civil penalties of up to $1.1 million for executives who breach their accountability obligations.”

Donations to the ALP in the 2021-22 Financial Year:

Westpac: $115,000
ANZ:$ 50,000
CBA:$ 80,400
NAB:$ 60,500
Macquarie: $96,000

LABOR ABANDONS REFUGEES IN NAURU AND PNG

The Greens have condemned the Labor Party for betraying refugees and people seeking asylum trapped in Nauru and PNG, after voting against the Greens’ legislation to evacuate them to safety in Australia.

“Today’s vote is a shameful abdication of moral responsibility by the Labor Party,” said Greens Immigration and Citizenship Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim.

“Labor’s decision to oppose this bill, which is consistent with their own policy, shows that they are more interested in playing politics than in saving lives.”

“They have let down the refugees they exiled a decade ago and shown themselves to be morally bankrupt.”

“The Greens will not rest until all refugees and people seeking asylum are brought to safety in Australia.

“We urge the Labor Party to join us in this mission and take responsibility for the humanitarian crisis they helped create.”

STATUS OF WOMEN REPORT CARD: FAILING WITH FLYING COLOURS

The Greens note today’s announcement of Status of Women Report Card, but a mere distillation of existing data is inadequate, we need actions and funding to improve women’s lives. We also need new data gathered on unmet demand for women’s safety services and a real time count of women killed by domestic violence.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“A report card is an inadequate response from the government, when they have the power to fund programs that would actually improve women’s lives.

“The women’s safety sector has repeatedly called for a $1B per year investment to ensure funding meets demand. The Government’s October budget response was nowhere near this amount, leaving frontline services about $700m short.

“A woman is still murdered each week in this country. Real time data on that tragic national statistic – treated with the prominence that the road toll is treated – would force us to face the reality of family and domestic violence.

“Women on low wages or income support are especially vulnerable without the resources to escape violent situations. Yet this government persists with the cruelty of keeping income support payments like JobSeeker below the poverty line, and has the audacity to cry poor while dishing out hundreds of billions in tax cuts and investment property perks for the rich.

“Earlier this week they had the chance to amend their Paid Parental Leave bill and pay super on paid parental leave, costed by the government at $200 million, they chose not to.

“Accountability on the status of women is welcome, but actions to improve women’s lives would be better than a mere distillation of all the data we already know.”

LABOR TOO GUTLESS TO SUPPORT OWN POLICY

Labor’s decision to oppose Greens legislation to evacuate refugees and people seeking asylum to safety in Australia – despite the bill being consistent with ALP policy – is an abject moral failure, the Greens say.

“Labor’s decision to oppose the Bill is devastating for the people still trapped in PNG and Nauru,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Labor has put its flawed political calculus above the lives of refugees it sent into exile a decade ago.”

“This Bill is entirely consistent with the policy Labor took to the last election. For Labor not to vote for it is an abject moral failure and a rejection of the values of its voters.”

“Labor has a moral responsibility to end this humanitarian crisis.”

“They sent people to Nauru and Manus Island in the first place, and ten years later around 150 people still remain in limbo.”

“We have worked in good faith to find a way through for the toxic refugee politics that the two major parties have created.”

“The only barrier to this solution is now the courage of Labor MPs and Senators.”

Inspiring humanitarian receives Key to the City on International Women’s Day

An award-winning screenwriter and humanitarian has received a Key to the City of Newcastle after a compelling keynote speech at the annual Lord Mayor’s International Women’s Day Morning Tea at City Hall.

From her Newcastle home, Vanessa Alexander helped more than 100 Afghan women and their families at risk of retribution from the Taliban out of Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul in August 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifty-six of these refugees are now living in or around Newcastle, 32 are in Ireland with the support of Ms Alexander’s sister, Elise, while others have resettled in Brazil and the US.

Some of the people pivotal to this mission joined Ms Alexander and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes for a panel discussion, facilitated by Councillor Carol Duncan, including: Darwish Ahmadzai, who helped hundreds of women and children flee; Richelle Aiken, head of Friends of Refugees Newcastle; Megan Smith, Director at Prosperity Advisers, who helped find local jobs for women; and Tooba Azami, a female Afghan doctor who sought refuge in Newcastle on an emergency visa.

In addition to this, Ms Alexander is a writer and producer, best known for her work on Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix) and The Great (Hulu). For The Great, she was nominated for Best Comedy and Best New Series at the Writers Guild of America Awards in 2021. The same year, she went on to co-executive produce Valhalla from her bedroom in Newcastle during lockdown while home-schooling three children.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Ms Alexander exemplified the attributes of an ambassador for the city and embodied the spirit of the 2023 International Women’s Day theme, Embrace Equity.

“After the fall of Kabul, Vanessa was inspired to organise a group of local women to coordinate urgent and meaningful assistance for vulnerable Afghans, linking a global network of contacts via WhatsApp,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Hers is an incredible story of courage and hope, and I am proud to induct Ms Alexander as a City of Newcastle ambassador and give worthy recognition to her wonderful work with a Key to the City.”

Captivating a packed Concert Hall, Ms Alexander said she was honoured to accept the award for and on behalf of those who had helped coordinate support.

“Some of those people join us today on the panel. Darwish helped over 300 women and children to safety, and it inspired me to set up a Dungog Refugee support group who helped me secure Darwish a job and housing there. Richelle established Friends of Refugees Newcastle and provided support to the first 25 refugees who arrived, including housing Tooba and her brothers. Erin Beard, a social worker, was the other half of this mighty effort. Megan, together with Richelle, Rosanna Fuller and Lisa Toohey, helped me relocate a young female accountant by giving her and funding her skilled visa,” Ms Alexander said.

“While I was personally involved in helping close to 100 Afghan women and their families, the ripple effect was manyfold as hundreds more received crisis support through the network Darwish and I established with the Canberra based woman’s activist, Susan Hutchison.”

The morning tea raised $3,200 through a raffle and online donations for Ms Alexander’s chosen beneficiary, refugee support service Talent Beyond Boundaries, adding to the $1,800 raised in 2022 for suicide prevention charity R U OK? and $3,100 for domestic violence organisation Got Your Back Sista in 2021.

Supercars fun starts with free community events on offer

There will be plenty of options to soak up the atmosphere of the Newcastle 500 outside of the racing precinct, with City of Newcastle supporting a series of fun, free events this weekend.

Racing fans can kick off their experience with the ultimate Supercars signing session at Gregson Park in Hamilton from 4.30pm to 7pm tomorrow, Thursday 9 March.

Get there early and check out the pristine display of cars from Newy Car Club while the younger members of the family have fun behind the wheel on the free mechanical car ride before all 25 drivers from the Newcastle 500 arrive for the official autograph session at 5pm.

Make a night of it by grabbing a bite to eat from the food trucks on site or picking up a tasty takeaway meal from nearby Beaumont Street before settling in for an evening picnic amongst the buzz.

Car enthusiasts can check out some of Newcastle’s coolest cars with another display from Newy Car Club members at Newcastle Museum forecourt from 8.30am to 5pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The enviable display will have something for everyone to ogle, from the high end luxury of an Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ferrari to the classic appeal of a Holden HSV R8 and Ford GT500 Mustang among others.

Family fun will also be on offer in Civic Park from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, with free activities for all ages. Gets hands-on with the toddler messy play stations, race your mates on the jumbo slide, get colourful with free face painting, partake in fun interactive workshops including a community mural wall and enjoy some special performances and live music each day.

Keep track of all the details across the weekend by visiting whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/the-fun-starts-here

Funding boost for research into deadly cancers affecting women

A re-elected NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will shine a spotlight on deadly cancers affecting women by providing $7 million in research grants for ovarian and other gynaecological cancers.

This will include the provision of a $5 million Translational Research Grant and four $500,000 fellowships to support research and pave the way for future improvements to treatments.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this will help shine a spotlight on two of the most deadly cancers affecting women.

“We want to give women affected by these terrible diseases, which often have very poor prognoses, the best chance of survival,” Mr Perrottet said.

“These grants are important in enabling the very best researchers to continue their work to help improve survival rates for these awful cancers.

“The better we can understand these deadly diseases, the better we can tailor treatments for women and improve their chances of being able to overcome them.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said gynaecological cancers vary in prevalence and can have very poor prognoses.

“For ovarian cancer specifically, just over half (51 per cent) of women diagnosed will not survive five years. This is a tragic statistic we need to turn around and by investing in research we can try to achieve this,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Translational research helps us understand how innovations may work in the real world and on a large scale and aims to quickly bring these new ideas from benchtop to bedside and improve outcomes for patients.”

Minister for Women and Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the $7 million in additional funding will bring new hope for women suffering from cancers of the female reproductive system.

“Fellowships fund researchers to continue their important work at an early-middle stage of their career, ensuring we maintain a pipeline of world-class researchers right here in NSW,” Mrs Taylor said.

“By investing in early-mid career researchers with a focus on gynaecological cancers, we aim to accelerate the journey toward potential new treatments and interventions for these deadly women’s cancers.”

Gynaecological cancers include ovarian cancer, uterine or endometrial cancer, cancer of the fallopian tubes, primary peritoneal cancer, cervical cancer and vaginal cancer.