May 2024 – Page 23

Collarenebri paves the way forward with Roads to Home

The Aboriginal community at Collarenebri is partnering with the NSW Government on more than $1.8 million in infrastructure upgrades to provide social, economic and employment benefits for the area.

The Roads to Home program in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is working with Collarenebri Local Aboriginal Land Council to upgrade The Walli village.

The NSW Government has committed a total of $173.8 million under Roads to Home to support infrastructure upgrades in 34 Aboriginal communities across the state, including $1.8 million at The Walli.

The Walli project, which is being managed by Collarenebri LALC, is now underway and will include upgrades of roads and gutters, stormwater drainage, house fencing, a community shed, and landscaping, as well as installation of driveways and concrete footpaths.

There will also be upgrades to sewer, water and electrical infrastructure and the Telstra network. Erosion and sediment control work is also planned.

Aboriginal company Haroca Civil Plant & Mining has been contracted by Collarenebri LALC to undertake the infrastructure work and will be employing six members of the local community on the project, creating job and training opportunities.

Currently there are nine homes at The Walli on one lot owned by Collarenebri LALC, but the Roads to Home project will include subdivision and zoning changes to give addresses to individual homes to make it easier for residents to access municipal services and for utilities and emergency service providers to find them, as well as create home ownership opportunities.

Collarenebri Local Aboriginal Land Council Chair Roslyn McGregor said:

“The Walli means camping place in Gamilaroi. This is a proud community but currently the infrastructure is in bad shape. The roads are worn with potholes that fill with stagnant water after rain and impact vehicles and road safety, and there are no footpaths and not much street lighting.

“We have seen the work at other Roads to Home projects and the huge difference it can make. What is also important is it is giving Aboriginal community members a say in infrastructure upgrades and planning changes.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Roads to Home is a grassroots program that empowers Aboriginal communities to make decisions about infrastructure upgrades to enhance quality of life and improve access to services, including waste collection, postal delivery, emergency access and community transport.

“Significant benefits can be created for communities when they have fit-for-purpose infrastructure, and this project will support social, employment and training benefits for local Aboriginal residents.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“Roads to Home is a wonderful example of ensuring Aboriginal people and communities are in the driver’s seat when it comes to making decisions that impact their lives. The community of Collarenebri has identified issues that, when resolved, will provide real benefits to the community’s quality of life.

“The program’s focus on creating training and job opportunities will also have an important, long-lasting impact on the community of Collarenebri, which is essential as we work towards closing the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“This investment is great news because it will improve essential infrastructure and support a better quality of life for the residents of The Walli.

“Roads to Home is correcting an historic injustice, where Aboriginal communities on former missions and reserves were left without the types of infrastructure other communities take for granted.

“This will go a long way toward improving quality of life for this community.”

Retired teachers return to classrooms as part of initiative to address shortage

Close to 150 former teachers are poised to return to public school classrooms this term, after accepting an offer as part of the Teachers Re-Engage initiative, aimed at arresting the teacher shortage crisis that gripped schools under the former Liberal National Government.

The progress comes after the NSW Government last year removed the public sector wage gap and gave teachers the largest pay rise in decades, while taking steps to reduce the burden of admin work that piled up under the former government.

Vacancies dropped by 20% at the start of the 2024 school year compared with the same time last year, but there is still work to do.

Since November 2023, the NSW Department of Education has contacted more than 1500 teachers who quit their jobs in the past 5 years to ask them to consider returning.

More than 260 have expressed interest in returning to service, with 145 now linked with schools to perform casual and temporary work in more than 600 schools across the state. Around 60% of the returning teachers are coming out of retirement. Both the pay increase and workload reduction have been cited as motivations for returning.

The department has simplified the re-employment process for these teachers by providing support for attaining accreditation, approval to teach, and a Working with Children Check.

Teachers re-engaged under the program will add to the department’s pool of qualified teachers who can cover gaps due to absences in schools, relieving pressure on other teachers and principals and reducing the amount of merged and cancelled classes in NSW schools.

Other employment options are also available to the cohort, including permanent teaching positions and working as small group tutors.

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

“We are doing everything we can to get more teachers in classrooms and Teachers Re-engage is part of our laser focus on reversing the teacher shortage that built up under the Liberals and Nationals.

“NSW started the new school year with a 20% drop in the number of teacher vacancies, compared to the same time last year, but there is a long way to go.

“It’s wonderful to see the passion for teaching reignited among hundreds of experienced educators who thought they had taught their last lesson – but thanks to changes being made by the Labor Government, have decided to return.

“Ensuring every class has a qualified teacher in front of it is vital to improving student outcomes, which declined under the Liberals and Nationals.”

The futility of pro-Palestine protests by ‘useful idiots’

‘Useful idiots’ is one of the kinder terms to describe the gullible morons now camping out in Australian university campuses and spewing hatred ‘in solidarity with Palestine’.

You’ve got to hand it to the propagandists working for the terrorist group Hamas. They’ve tapped in to the essential anti-Semitism of the West’s political left and have successfully manipulated many thousands of really, REALLY stupid university students to do their bidding.

The terrorists are laughing at how easily these adherents to neo-Marxist identity and victimhood politics have been led by the nose like so many draft animals into supporting a terrorist group that would happily murder all of them. They’re laughing at the weakness of virtue-signalling governments – like those under Anthony Albanese or Joe Biden – who allow the excesses of these hypocritical protesters to go unchecked and unchallenged.

It’s no laughing matter for Jewish Australians, however. They’ve been abused, assaulted and attacked not for any support they might have for Israel’s defence against terrorism, but only and solely because they’re Jews. Australia in 2024 is starting to resemble Nazi Germany in 1934 thanks to the hateful ideology of fundamentalist Islam, the fools manipulated into supporting it, and the moral leadership vacuum left by the worst Prime Minister since Whitlam.

Preachers of this ideology publicly advocate the genocide of Jews – which is a crime in Australia – but are never held to account let alone brought before the authorities. The ideology has directly led to Australian teenagers committing horrific crimes in recent weeks, in both Sydney and Perth. Yet it is allowed to flourish among communities that have brought this hatred to our shores.

Pauline Hanson has been sounding the alarm for years about allowing people with this ideology to come and live in Australia. They should never have been allowed to come here. The ideology is completely incompatible with Australian values of religious tolerance, secular government and freedom of speech. There is no place for such an ideology here.

Australia’s universities could have ended these ridiculous protests quite easily: by saying an unequivocal ‘no’ – a word many of these privileged idiots have probably never been told – to the protesters’ demands and expelling students who did not disperse at the university’s direction. Sadly, the faculties of these universities have been thoroughly infiltrated by the same ideology poisoning the weak minds of the morons protesting.

What’s worse is that these vile protests are taking attention away from the issues impacting every Australian – which is handy for Albanese but not the Australian people. These useful idiots are not creating a single job, building a single new home or providing a single cent of support for a family on the brink of homelessness.

No, it’s all about them and a conflict taking place more than 12,000km away – a conflict over which Australia cannot possibly have any meaningful influence. That’s the real joke on these morons: all of these protests ‘in solidarity with Palestine’ will amount to precisely nothing as Israel continues to hunt down the sadistic killers of Hamas in defence of its people.

$519 million boost to help farmers mitigate impacts of drought

The Albanese Labor Government will invest a record $519.1 million in Future Drought Fund programs to help farmers and regional communities prepare for the next drought and build climate resilience.

The previous Fund under the Morrison Government did not acknowledge climate change as a driver of longer and more severe droughts. Today we have fixed this.

Labor has restructured the Fund and its objectives to get better results for farming families and communities and will provide record funding for it in next week’s Budget.

Farmers are on the frontline of climate change and the Albanese Government has listened to what they need.

This Fund will provide:

Better tools for farmers to help mitigate the impact of drought on their farms.
Strategies for local communities to prepare for and manage risks through drought.
Increased investment in the existing network of drought hubs.

The programs will start to become available from 1 July 2024.

Communities can find out more by reaching out to the Department of Agriculture online or by phone.

Today’s announcement is in response to the recent Productivity Commission review, last year’s National Drought Forum, and extensive consultation with stakeholders.

Improving the sustainability of the agricultural sector is a key priority for the sector and the Albanese Government and this investment today responds to the increasing risk climate change is posing to rural and regional communities.

Examples of programs included in the Fund:

$235 million to extend the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs, the Future Drought Fund Communities program and the next phase of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
$137.4 million to extend and improve the existing Farm Business Resilience and Climate Services for Agriculture programs, and the new Scaling Success Program. The Farm Business Resilience program has already helped thousands of farmers with business planning, coaching, and financial literacy training.
$120.3 million for programs that trial innovative solutions to build long-term resilience to drought and climate risks.
Expansion of the Long Term Trials Program, roll out of the revised Resilient Landscapes Program, and implementation of a new Innovation Challenges Pilot to drive the uptake of evidence-based, innovative practices, approaches and technologies.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“It’s vital that we support Australian farmers and producers to be prepared for more severe weather impacts.

“That is why we’re investing hundreds of millions more in the agricultural sector and regional communities to plan and prepare for drought through the Future Drought Fund.

“By doing the work now our rural and regional communities are not just reacting to events as they unfold, but will have considered plans to make them more resilient to climate change.”

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt

“Every morning when farmers around the country wake up, put their boots on and go to work, they are one day closer to the next drought.

“We are already seeing very dry conditions in Western Australia and some parts of Tasmania.

“Time is of the essence when it comes to planning for drought, that’s why we’re investing heavily now in a new and improved Future Drought Fund.

“We’re helping farmers across the country develop business plans to manage diversification in a changing climate, we’re helping regional communities manage drought and other climate risks, and helping individuals get leadership training and mentoring.

“I’ve seen firsthand the great work under the FDF, like trialling new, drought-resistant livestock feed and connecting farmers with the latest scientific advice on reducing drought impacts.

“Our commitment of nearly $520 million from the FDF supports farmers and farming communities to take steps ahead of time.

“This not only empowers farmers and communities but makes them more self-reliant when drought hits.”

Generational investment in Australia’s resources to deliver a Future Made in Australia

The Albanese Government will deliver a generational investment to find new deposits of minerals and sources of energy to help build a Future Made in Australia, as part of a big focus on resources in next week’s Budget.

The Budget will show that the Government will invest $566.1 million over ten years from 2024-25 to deliver data, maps and other tools for use by the resources industry that will point the way to new discoveries, power our economy and commit to the full mapping of Australia over the next generation.

We’ll deploy Australia’s top geoscientists to fully map Australian resources that will power our future, help us make more here at home, and create good secure jobs now and for the next generation.

The landmark long-term investment, led by Geoscience Australia, underscores the Government’s plan to put the resources industry at the heart of its Future Made in Australia policy.

Through this program, regional communities, farmers and First Nations peoples will be supported to manage their land and water resources, and be more fully informed about potential mining projects.

The funding means Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity (RAP) will be fully funded for 35 years – setting our resources industry up for decades of exploration and future economy-making discoveries.

For the first time RAP will map offshore areas of Australia as well, pointing the way for sites for carbon capture and storage, as well as possible sites for clean hydrogen projects.

It will provide a deeper understanding of the resource potential of our regions by mapping out all of Australia’s groundwater systems, supporting climate resilience, our agricultural sector, and water security for communities and the environment.

Geoscience Australia’s precompetitive data program has already led to major discoveries – including deposits of the critical minerals and rare earths needed to build clean energy technologies to get to net zero.

Precompetitive geoscience is the key to the strength of Australia’s resources sector, with Deloitte Access Economics finding that existing public precompetitive geoscience was estimated to have supported $76 billion of value added to the Australian economy and 80,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2021-2022 alone.

Australian precompetitive geoscience has helped stimulate an unprecedented level of exploration activity, with 65 companies exploring across 569 tenements, covering over 290,000 square kilometres of Australia.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

“There is no nation on earth better placed than Australia to achieve our goal of moving toward a clean energy future.

“This investment highlights my Government’s commitment to building a secure and sustainable future for all Australians. By investing significantly in geoscience, we can boost our progress towards net zero.”

Minister for Resources, Madeleine King

“The road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector.

“This funding will ensure we can draw the map for our resources companies to find the minerals we need to drive our economy and build the technology we need to reduce emissions.

“The Albanese Government has put the resources industry at the heart of its policy making because it knows a strong resources sector means a strong Australia.

“Geoscience Australia is a world-leading scientific institution that all Australians should be proud of, and this funding will be an unprecedented investment in our geoscience capability.”

Investing in a better future for WA

The Albanese Government is making critical investments in Western Australian infrastructure, cementing the state’s future growth.

In the 2024–25 Budget, we are committing $33.5 million towards planning works to support the development of Westport.

The Westport project is the linchpin for future trade growth in Western Australia.

It includes planning a new port and the connected road, rail and logistics operations required to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana.

The Commonwealth’s commitment to the Westport project as part of the 2024-25 Budget will progress planning that is critical to facilitate construction of Westport, including:

Upgrading Anketell Road West
Kwinana Freeway widening
Roe Highway widening
Freight rail duplication and level crossing removal.

We have been working closely with the Cook Government to deliver a port that meets the latest global standards of technology, sustainability and efficiency while building in the capacity for change and innovation.

The Albanese Government’s $33.5 million investment will match the state’s contribution, taking the total investment for this planning phase to $67 million.

This project builds on what we and the Cook Government are already delivering in Western Australia including METRONET, the Tonkin Highway corridor and the Outback Way.

Where the previous Morrison Government had a deluge of press releases with a drought of delivery, the Albanese Government is ensuring that projects are properly scoped, designed and costed so they can actually be completed.

We are getting on with delivering a better future for all Australians, one made in Australia that builds economic opportunity and thriving communities.

We will have more to say about infrastructure spending in Western Australia at Budget time.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We are committed to building a Future Made in Australia and this project is an example of how we are doing that.

“Western Australia is the economic engine room of Australia, and this Port will be a critical hub.

“We are pleased to work with the Cook Government to deliver this project.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“We are working for all Australians to deliver significant infrastructure that increases opportunities and connections, builds communities and improves safety.

“The hard work we undertook to clean up the mess in the infrastructure pipeline means there is room to deal with ongoing cost pressures and plan for future projects.”

Fatal crash – Lake Macquarie PD

A man has died following a single vehicle crash in the Lake Macquarie area.

About 1:20am on Wednesday 8 May 2024, emergency services were called to the Pacific Motorway at Cooranbong, following reports a single vehicle crash.

The male driver died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

A crime scene has been established and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Teens charged over alleged carjacking – Wallsend

Three teenagers have been charged over an alleged carjacking in the state’s Hunter Region.

About 3.20am on Saturday 4 May 2024, officers attached Newcastle Police District were conducting patrols of Jesmond, when they attempted to stop a Suzuki Vitara on Newcastle Road.

When the Suzuki allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.

Road spikes were deployed and the vehicle stopped on Longworth Avenue, Wallsend, before three boys ran from the vehicle.

The boys – aged 13, 14, and 15 – were located a short time later and arrested before being taken to Waratah Police Station. They were later released to be dealt with under Young Offenders Act.

Following further inquiries, police established the Suzuki was stolen from the carpark of a shopping centre on Tyrell Street, Wallsend, after the driver, a 51-year-old woman was threatened with a knife.

The 15 and 14-year-olds were re-arrested yesterday (Tuesday 7 May 2024) and taken to Waratah Police Station where they were charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and robbery in company.

Both have been granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday 3 June 2024.

About 10am today (Wednesday 8 May 2024), the 13-year-old boy was re-arrested at Waratah Police Station.

He was also charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon and robbery in company and granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday 27 May 2024.

Community invited to help update shared vision for Newcastle

City of Newcastle is inviting the community to have a say on its ambitious long-term vision for Newcastle.

The Community Strategic Plan, Newcastle 2040, was adopted by Council in 2022 following extensive community consultation, providing a vision to guide and inform City of Newcastle’s strategies and projects for the next 10 years and beyond.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was reviewing the plan as part of its commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for locals to have their say on the future of the city.

“Our Community Strategic Plan, Newcastle 2040, was developed thanks to feedback from more than 5,400 Novocastrians who shared their thoughts on what we need to do to make Newcastle a liveable, sustainable, inclusive global city,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Since adopting Newcastle 2040 in April 2022, we’ve been working to deliver our strategies and projects in alignment with the aspirations of the Newcastle community.

“We’re helping to create a more liveable city through local centre upgrades, enhanced safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as investment in sporting infrastructure, playgrounds, roads, and stormwater drainage.

“Newcastle is also becoming more sustainable thanks to our efforts to act on climate change to achieve net zero emissions.

“Now we want to again hear from our community as we review our Community Strategic Plan, to ensure that we are on track towards achieving our vision and have a clear plan for how we will get there.”

Residents and interested stakeholders can provide feedback before 5 July by completing a community survey online or by speaking to City of Newcastle staff at a range of pop-up events to be held across the city throughout May and June.

For more information including pop-up event dates and locations visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay.

City of Newcastle welcomes its newest citizens home

City of Newcastle welcomed more than 160 new citizens from 41 countries today to take the pledge of commitment to Australia alongside family, friends and dignitaries.

Hailing from every corner of the world, from Afghanistan to Cyprus, Kenya and the USA, Newcastle’s newest citizens were treated to performances by the Deadly Callaghan Yidaki Group and The Grainery Church before receiving their citizenship certificates at the iconic City Hall.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Frank Bynon at City Hall

Among the new Australians was businessman and philanthropist Frank Bynon, originally of South London, who after 50 years down under took the pledge.

“It was on New Year’s Eve in 1973 when a friend and I decided to scrape together the airfare to move to Australia,” Mr Bynon said.

“We arrived in Perth after a long flight that included six stops and soon found labouring work in Sydney, Townsville and Melbourne thanks to the generosity of strangers. That first pay cheque of $900 felt incredible because back then a beer only cost eight cents!

“I met my wife Jan soon after I arrived in Sydney and we moved up to Newcastle where we had our family. In the mid-90s I started my business in industrial service and supplies, which has since expanded throughout New South Wales and Queensland.

“Over the years Jan and I have supported charities in our community that mean a lot to us, which has been a great privilege.

“Now 50 years, three kids and 10 grandkids later, there is no place like Newcastle, and I’m very proud to officially become an Australian and call ‘Newy’ home.”

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the citizenship ceremony is one of the most important days of the year for new citizens and their families and she loves sharing in the celebrations.

“Newcastle is a diverse and inclusive community that embraces new citizens from all cultures and backgrounds,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We have a long and proud history as a welcoming city with 15 per cent of our residents born overseas and 134 languages other than English are spoken at home.

“City of Newcastle has gained almost 180 new Australian citizens already this year and today’s cohort takes it to more than 340.”

Today’s ceremony featured a didgeridoo and dance performance by the Deadly Callaghan Yidaki group led by Alex Nean from Gamilaroi country. An Acknowledgement of Country was provided by his daughter Kyara Nean, also from Gamilaroi country.

Layla Rose Schillert and Stuart Brown from the Grainery Church sang the Australian National Anthem and were joined by Klaye Sanders to perform ‘I Am Australian’.

City of Newcastle’s next citizenship ceremony will be held in September 2024 at City Hall.