Month: December 2024

Appeal to locate man missing – Newcastle City PD

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Newcastle area.

Boguslaw Klukowski – also known as Bob – aged 73, was last seen in Mayfield, about 12.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 25 December 2024).

When he could not be located or contacted, officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate him.

Family and police hold concerns for his welfare due to living with a number of medical conditions.

bob is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall and medium build.

He was last seen wearing navy blue suit with dark top and black shoes.

Bob is known to frequent the Mayfield, Adamstown and Waratah areas.

Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Appointment of High Commissioners and Ambassadors

Today I announce appointments of five highly qualified individuals to lead Australian posts in Addis Ababa, Brunei, Dhaka, Jakarta and Nauru.

Our diplomats are the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world and these appointments strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and its prosecution of our national interests around the globe.

I am pleased to announce the following appointments:

I thank the outgoing high commissioners and ambassadors for their contributions to advancing Australia’s national interests.

Reports of an Australian citizen detained by Russia

The Australian Government is making representations to the Russian Government.

We urge the Russian Government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war.

Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is and confirming his wellbeing.

We are providing consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family.

I reiterate the Government’s clear advice to all Australians – do not travel to Ukraine.

Parramatta light rail

PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL OPENS AS THE MINNS LABOR GOVERNMENT CELEBRATES WHAT THEY COULD NEVER DREAM OF DELIVERING

The NSW Opposition has welcomed the opening of the Parramatta Light Rail today—a transformative project that stands as yet another milestone planned, funded, and started by the former Liberals and Nationals Government. While the Minns Labor Government is eager to cut ribbons, they have made an art form out of celebrating infrastructure they never paid for, planned, or accounted for.
 
Connecting Parramatta’s CBD with key destinations like the Westmead Health Precinct, Parramatta River, and Carlingford, the light rail’s 16 stops provide reliable and sustainable transport for Western Sydney. But as Labor takes credit for the hard work of others, the real question looms that come 2027, when these completed projects run dry, what will this government have to show for it?
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, Natalie Ward said the Parramatta Light Rail is a proud achievement of the Liberals and Nationals Government—a vision we planned, paid for, and kicked off for Western Sydney.
 
“While Labor enjoys the photo ops, they’ve contributed nothing to this project or any meaningful infrastructure in this region,” Ms Ward said.
 
By the time we reach the next election, the Minns Labor Government will have spent four years cutting ribbons for someone else’s work. When these projects run out, what’s their plan? Western Sydney deserves better than a government that clings to borrowed glory.
 
Member for Epping, Monica Tudehope said this new light rail is transformative for my community, offering fast, efficient, and direct access to Parramatta’s CBD.
 
“It’s the kind of infrastructure that drives growth, creates jobs, and makes daily life easier for families and businesses. But the Minns Labor Government didn’t plan it, they didn’t fund it, and they have no credible pipeline of projects to meet the needs of Western Sydney’s growing population,” Ms Tudehope said.
 
The Parramatta Light Rail joins a list of transformational infrastructure delivered by the former Liberals and Nationals Government, including the Sydney Metro West and CommBank Stadium. These projects were the product of forward-thinking leadership and real investment in Western Sydney—not the empty promises and spin that define the current government.
 
NSW is worse off under the Minns Labor Government.

Christmas 2024

I want to wish every Australian a very merry Christmas.

For so many, this can be a chance for a well-earned break, spending time with family and catching up with friends, and creating beautiful new memories with those that we love.

For Christians, of course, this is a holy celebration.

For all of us, it is a season of generosity and kindness.

I want to say thank you to our medical workers and emergency personnel, our charity and hospitality workers and those serving in the Australian Defence Force here and overseas – everyone who has given up their Christmas to help others in our community.

You do so much to make this time of celebration and reflection possible.

Of course, the festive season isn’t easy for everyone, such as for the people of Darwin, who, for this year, I’ll be spending time with, commemorating 50 years since Cyclone Tracy devastated Australia’s most northern capital.

I do want to wish everyone the very best and a peaceful and joyful

Appeal to locate man missing from Boolaroo

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Boolaroo, about 20kms west of Newcastle.

Allan Fielding, aged 83, was last seen on Guest Street, Boolaroo, about 11.50am today (Monday 23 December 2024).

When he could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and commenced an investigation into his whereabouts.

Family and police hold concerns for his welfare as he lives with dementia.

Allan is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build, grey/white hair and unshaven. He has a large tattoo of popeye on his outer left forearm.

He was last seen wearing dark grey shorts, blue striped shirt and blue shoes.

Allan may be driving a white 2019 Subaru Impreza with NSW registration plates CS11EE.

He is known to frequent the Boolaroo, Cardiff and Valentine areas.

Body found in search for missing man – Cardiff South

A body has been found in the search for a 37-year-old man reported missing to officers at Lake Macquarie Police District

The body is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be that of the 37-year-old man.

Initial inquiries suggest the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

Police will prepare a report for the information of the coroner.

Man charged with animal cruelty – Singleton

A man has been charged with animal cruelty offences alleged to have occurred in the Hunter region. 

On Tuesday 8 October 2024, 98 dead kangaroos were found on Commonwealth land, along with an ammunition box and two cartridges.

These items were seized as officers from Hunter Valley Police District Rural Crime Prevention Team (RCPT) investigators commenced an investigation into the incident.

Following inquiries, officers attached to the Hunter Valley PD Rural Crime Prevention Team – assisted by officers from Port Stephens-Hunter PD – executed a Commonwealth Search Warrant about 8am Friday (20 December 2024), at a property in Williamtown.

Three firearms were seized from the Williamtown property and a 43-year-old man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with six offences,

  • Commit an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal
  • Discharge firearm upon/over Commonwealth prohibited area
  • Trespass onto commonwealth land
  • Not keep firearm safely – not pistol/prohibited firearm
  • Harm or attempt to harm a protected animal, and
  • Holder of Category A or B licence not have approved storage.

Police have since seized a number of firearms from a second Hunter region property. A Firearms Suspension Notice has been issued.

The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 13 January 2025.

Additional assistance in response to Vanuatu earthquake

The Australian Government will provide an additional $5 million in practical humanitarian assistance to the people of Vanuatu, following Tuesday’s tragic earthquake.

This support builds on the Australian Government’s initial $2 million package and will assist the next phase of the Vanuatu Government’s emergency response.

It includes $2.5 million for medical care for those injured, and to supply water, sanitation and hygiene products and services.

Assistance will also be directed to NGOs through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) consortium to address the distinct needs of vulnerable community members and to the Australian Red Cross, who in partnership with the Vanuatu Red Cross will deliver services and supplies including shelter, first aid and non-food items.

An Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT), with 16 members will depart tomorrow. They will continue to support local health services to address critical injuries. The team has been drawn from across Australia, and we thank them for their contribution, especially over Christmas.

The 64-member Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which has been assisting with search and rescue efforts, and the six-person AUSMAT team that were deployed on Wednesday will return to Australia tomorrow.

The Royal Australian Air Force will conduct two further flights to Port Vila today. Commercial flights are now resuming.

Australians should be proud of the emergency rescue and medical teams that deployed less than 24 hours after the earthquake. We are grateful to all of those involved in Australia’s response for their work.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is continuing to provide consular assistance where needed to Australians present in the affected region.

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian Government 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre (+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 in Australia).

Ministerial Direction 111 removes the worst of MD 107 but implements international student caps by stealth

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Higher Education, has reacted to Labor’s replacement of Ministerial Direction 107 with Ministerial Direction 111. 

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“Finally, the worst of MD107 which was throttling the tertiary education sector, is gone but Labor is using the same flawed international student caps that were thoroughly rejected by the Senate and the sector for their new MD111. This shows that the heart of the issue remains unchanged.

“This might be a small reprieve for a sector that has been crushed for too long, but implementing international student caps by stealth through a ministerial direction is sneaky and does not tackle the issues universities face.

“Labor continues to dog whistle and blame international students and migrants for the housing crisis they did not cause. The Albanese government should be ashamed of competing with Dutton’s Coalition in the terrible race to see who wins on punching down on migrants the hardest.”