Police will get tough new powers to search the homes and vehicles of convicted drug dealers, under a pilot program to be introduced by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today that the introduction of Drug Supply Prohibition Orders will help the NSW Police Force smash organised crime gangs who prey on young people, in particular, and profit from the large-scale supply of illegal drugs in NSW.
Following consultation with the NSW Police Force, the pilot program will operate across four police commands – Bankstown Police Area Command, Coffs-Clarence Police District, Hunter Valley Police District, and Orana Mid-Western Police District.
“Community safety is the highest priority of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government, and I want convicted drug dealers to know that they will have nowhere to hide if they want to prey on, and profit from, the people of NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“These new powers will assist our brave police men and women, including the 1500 additional police that a Liberals & Nationals Government will deliver over the next four years – the single biggest increase to the Force in more than three decades.”
“We have also established a powerful Special Commission of Inquiry into ice and related drugs because we want every option on the table to bolster our existing efforts to combat the evolving threat of dangerous illegal drugs – and to get help for those who need it.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has praised the efforts of National party candidate for Dubbo Dugald Saunders for his relentless campaign to introduce these new powers.
“Drug addiction and ice have become a major issue in parts of regional NSW, and police need every measure available to combat them.”
“Too often, police know who is responsible for dealing these drugs but don’t always have the capacity to shut them down – these new powers will help overcome that,” Mr Barilaro said.
A court issued Drug Supply Prohibition Order will give police the power to search the homes, vehicles and person of convicted drug dealers at any time without a warrant, if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that there is evidence of drug-related crime.
An order will ensure that police are able to specifically target convicted drug dealers who are considered likely to continue to engage in drug supply, without having to apply for multiple court warrants, helping to ensure that convicted drug dealers are held to account if they continue to engage in drug-related crime.
Minister for Police Troy Grant said this was another example of the Liberals & Nationals Government taking strong action to protect our communities from the scourge of drugs.
“As a former police officer, I’ve seen the harsh reality of illegal drugs in our communities, and I’m confident that these orders will help our police take the fight to drug dealers, and show them that we will not tolerate having this filth on our streets,” Mr Grant said.
“At the same time, we’re boosting police resources to enforce these powers and crack down on organised crime gangs, which includes more Region Enforcement Squads as well as specialist police for Raptor Units.”
Drug Supply Prohibition Orders will initially operate as a two-year pilot program, after which the results will be assessed to inform the future operation of the new powers. Orders made will remain in force for the duration of the pilot program and will allow police to search a person or their property for prohibited drugs, drug pre-cursors, drug paraphernalia or equipment for drug manufacture, or other evidence of drug supply or manufacture.
An application for an order may be made in relation to any person convicted of a serious drug offence, such as supply or manufacture of an indictable quantity, in the past ten years. Consistent with the exercise of any police power, Drug Supply Prohibition Orders will be subject to oversight by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Greens push environmental protection as top priority for next Government
The Australian Greens are committed to real protection and restoration of our environment, backed up by solid investment and a plan to make Australia a climate hero, not a climate villain.
“The environment has been ignored by successive governments. We are seeing mass species extinction, habitat loss and the degradation of our national landscape and waterways. It is time to give the environment the protection and value it deserves,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“We have listened to the advice of The Australian Panel of Experts on Environmental Law (APEEL) to develop new laws that will protect and restore the environment. While the Labor Party has signalled support for strengthening our environmental laws, a strong Greens presence in the next Senate will hold them to implementing APEELs blueprint.
“We have a plan for a cleaner, healthier planet. We will create a tough, independent environmental watchdog that can enforce a new generation of laws. Our Environmental Protection Authority will be a cop-on-the-beat, enforcing real consequences for corporations that put communities and our environment at risk. An independent Environment Commission will tell us where money should be spent, how much we need and whether it’s working.
“Too often our natural world is exploited. In just the last few months we have seen the Murray Darling in collapse with unprecedented fish kills, the world’s first climate related extinction here in Australia, protected wetlands up for sale and threatened birds exported to dodgy collectors. There is little consideration given to protecting and preserving nature by a Liberal Government that gives more in fuel subsidies to the mining industry than they spend on the environment.
“With a Labor Government the most likely outcome of the next election, it is vital we have a strong Greens team in the Senate to make sure protecting the environment is prioritised both in law and funding. We will always stand up to the fossil fuels lobby, corporate irrigators and keep up the fight to end new coal, oil and gas projects.
“Our care for the environment should be based on facts, not the whims of the government of the day. We need to get down to the business of restoring ecosystems, addressing climate breakdown and making sure we leave a thriving planet. We are living with the effects of climate change right here and now, this is about our children as much as future generations. We cannot continue down our current path if our planet is to survive.
“We have a plan, because we know we can be the generation that saves the planet.”
A tough new environment watchdog
The Greens will introduce a new generation of environmental laws overseen by an independent regulatory body with real power to enforce environmental laws.
The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is a relic of the Howard era. We need a new generation of environmental laws that actually protect our shared natural resources, our wild places and our threatened species.
The Greens will provide real protection for our animals, land, air and water with a national Environmetal Protection Authority with real teeth to enforce the law and provide independent expert advice, at arm’s length from the influence of politicians and the big business lobby.
Backing this Authority, the Greens’ new environmental laws would expand federal responsibility for:
• National parks and reserves, including critical habitats, climate refugees and national biodiversity hotspots;
• Vulnerable ecological communities;
• Impacts from land clearing;
• Greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution;
• Water resources (including rivers, wetlands and aquifers);
• Ecosystems and wetlands of national significance;
• Invasive species.
These new laws will also allow increased community access to justice by implementing “open standing” for people and communities to challenge environmentally damaging decisions in court, without risking huge costs in public interest cases.
NEW ZEALAND’S SILVER FERN TO BE DISPLAYED ON THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
The Silver Fern of New Zealand will be displayed on the Sydney Opera House tonight in a symbol of solidarity, support and respect for the people of New Zealand.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the illumination will demonstrate NSW’s deep sense of unity and compassion towards everyone affected by the attacks in Christchurch.
“We feel the loss in Christchurch especially deeply given the closeness of our two countries. It is as though this has occurred on our own soil,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Not only are New Zealanders our close friends and often family, but we share the same proud values of freedom, diversity and democracy.
“Our thoughts, prayers and love continue to go out to all those impacted by the tragic events in Christchurch – particularly our Muslim community, here in NSW and New Zealand.
“An attack on one section of the community is an attack on us all.”
The illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails will begin from 8.30pm.
Christchurch Highlights Role Of Politicians & Media In Spreading Islamophobia & Hate
Australian Greens Senator, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to the Christchurch terrorist attack. Senator Faruqi is Australia’s first Muslim woman senator.
Senator Faruqi said:
“What happened in Christchurch is deeply devastating and terribly distressing.
“I am heartbroken and quite frankly scared. First and foremost we are grieving and our thoughts are with the friends and families of the victims who have been brutally killed by a white supremacist terrorist from Australia.
“As far as I am concerned, some politicians have been openly inciting hate, division and Islamophobia. Some in the media, rather than scrutinising these politicians, have been amplifying their message.
“We have been saying for years that politicians – including One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Liberals like George Christensen and Peter Dutton – have been stoking the fires of hate and division. Other politicians have stood by and allowed this to happen, and even hoped that anti-migrant and anti-Muslim sentiment would win them votes.
“Senator Fraser Anning is a disgraceful Merchant of Hate. His statement blaming the victims for this white-supremacist terrorist attack was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen.
“Fraser Anning does not deserve to be in the Senate. The Labor and Liberal parties should have joined the Greens when we moved to censure him after his disgusting first speech where he called for a White Australia Policy and a ban on Muslim migration.
“Australian politicians need to understand that demonising Muslims and encouraging division has consequences. When they encourage hate, they are quite literally playing games with our lives.
“There are now serious questions about whether Australian Governments have focused enough on far-right extremism and taken this threat seriously. For years, I and many other Muslim Australians have been receiving threats of death and violence that haven’t been taken seriously. The Government must start listening to what we have been saying and pledge to tackle right wing extremism.”
LABOR WILL SHUT DEVELOPERS' SPOT REZONING BACKDOOR
Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp has said that a Daley Labor Government will end the Liberals’ backdoor spot rezoning process for developers which has hijacked the planning system in Newcastle and NSW.
This will stop developers going to the state government to seek a site-specific amendment to a council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP). LEPs set zoning controls across local council areas, determining what type of development can take place.
Spot rezoning, also known as a Pre-Gateway or Rezoning review, was introduced by the Liberals and Nationals in 2012 as a developer-friendly backdoor. This has allowed non-conforming development proposals to proceed without the consent of councils and local communities.
In 2014, increased planning controls for UrbanGrowth-GPT’s Newcastle East End development were forced upon the community by the former Planning Minister, Pru Goward setting the maximum building height for the project at a massive 20 stories, with the stroke of a pen.
After pressure and objection from the community, Mr Crakanthorp and Council, the NSW government were forced to revert the building heights back to their original levels.
Labor will end this dodgy process.
“Communities across Newcastle have been bypassed by a planning system and a Government which is entirely beholden to the interests of big developers.
“Communities deserve certainty that when zoning rules are set, they will be left alone and not tinkered with by developers who run off to the state government.”
“Labor will maintain existing processes for critical infrastructure. Councils will still be able to make an application to amend their own LEP in line with current practice.”
“It is time to end the overdevelopment madness and restore sanity to the planning system in NSW.”
PUSH TO RECOGNISE NEWCASTLE AS FIRST ‘MUSIC COMMUNITY’
Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy, John Graham and State Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp have today met with the Newcastle Live Music Taskforce and local musicians from across the city to announce Labor’s support for the local music scene.
The Newcastle Live Music Taskforce will push for Newcastle to be the first place in the state to achieve the new ‘music community’ designation under this plan.
Under the NSW Liberals and Nationals, venues are closing across NSW, funding for the industry has been stagnant at $4 million over the last 4 years compared to $27 million in Victoria over the same period, and the Government has declared war on music festivals.
Labor’s plan for the music sector which includes:
- Establishing a “Music Community” designation to recognise communities that have a strong music sector and value music. Labor will develop formal guidelines and a threshold to achieve the Music Community designation, and then work with local councils to support and promote these communities, including in Newcastle.
- An increase in total funding for contemporary music from under $4 million over the last four years of Liberal and National Government to $35 million.
- Direct support for artists to record and tour, including internationally through a new $1.3 million “Music Passport” program; and regionally and nationally through a new $5.1 million “Band aid” program.
- Invest $4 million in supporting music festivals across NSW. Labor will also streamline the licensing process for music festivals and allow organisers with an established record to obtain multi-year approvals for festivals.
- Rebuilding the suburban and regional touring circuit in NSW, with $1.3 million to support an “On the Road Again” program to take music industry promoters and booking agents on tour to regional venues and provide a substantial funding boost to the ‘Live and Local’ program.
- Labor will work with the music industry to develop mentoring programs for music education at school. As part of this program, Labor will trial the purchase of musical instruments for ten schools in Western Sydney or rural and regional NSW.
- Labor will formally review the provision of music education in NSW on coming to Government.
Labor will also launch a new youth music organisation, which will work with Music NSW to support young artists and promoters get a start in the industry.
Labor’s plan to stop the Liberal Party’s war on live music comes on the heels of measures already announced to save live music in NSW including implementing the Parliamentary Music Inquiry’s 60 recommendations, and implementing measures to improve conditions for music venues.
“Labor wants to keep venues open, and keep musicians in work. We want to see a thriving music community in Newcastle.”
“The measures that we have announced will help the NSW music scene reach its potential.”
“I am committed to re-building our music industry.”
“The Live Music Taskforce has worked hard over the last 12 months getting the Live Music Inquiry here and seeing the results of that input through the inquiry recommendations.”
“Based on that work we want Newcastle to be the first community in NSW to be designated a ‘music community’ under this new plan.”
LINDA HUGHES NAMES AS 2019 WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp, has announced Linda Hughes as the 2019 Newcastle Local Woman of the Year.
Linda is dedicated to working towards a socially just and inclusive society where people with disability are included as active and valued citizens. She is an advocate, consultant, board member, mentor, presenter, parent and the co-founder and director of Mind the Gap Disability Matters.
Linda was inspired to establish the not-for- profit group by her son, who himself has a disability, with the vision that each person with a disability should be able to self-direct their support and live their life as they choose. She co-founded the group with Catherin Mahony and they have now assisted several hundred people in the Newcastle and Hunter region to achieve their goals and aspirations.
Linda has made a huge contribution to Newcastle in the disability community. Ms Hughes and Ms Mahony, were also integral in establishing Community Disability Alliance Hunter where she continues on as a member and volunteer peer mentor.
She is a life member of The Institute for Family Advocacy and Leadership Development which is an independent, impartial advocacy organisation that supports families across New South Wales to promote and defend the rights and interest of people with developmental disability. She has also served as a member on Newcastle City Council’s Access Advisory Committee.
In addition to this amazing contribution, she is also an active member of Nobbys Surf Club.
The Woman of the Year Awards showcase inspirational stories of dedication and extraordinary achievement by formally recognising and celebrating the outstanding contributions and achievements of women in NSW. The Awards are run by Women NSW.
“Linda is an inspirational woman who fights for equality and social justice. She goes above and beyond in her pursuit for people with a disability to take their rightful place as active and valued citizens.”
“I am so proud to have Linda as our 2019 Newcastle Local Woman of the Year. “
“Linda embodies the elements of social justice and equality for all. She not only runs a not- for- profit organisation to assist people with disabilities, she then goes on to volunteer more of her time speaking at conferences and contributing to design consultations.”
Sharon Claydon – CLIMATE ACTION WELCOMED
I welcome the engagement of young Novocastrians in today’s student strike for real action on climate change. I look forward to meeting student representatives and hearing their concerns directly.
These students should be congratulated for getting active on the issues that matter. If more young people engaged in the political process, the Liberal Government mightn’t be so cavalier in selling out their future and the future of our planet.
In the last five years, the Liberal Government has not only failed to deliver any energy policy, but they’ve also tried to dismantle every mechanism Australia has to reduce emissions and stem climate change.
Under the former Labor Government, emissions dropped by more than 10 per cent, but since the Liberals took over, they’ve risen year-on-year with no end in sight.
Only a Shorten Labor Government will take real action on climate change, and reduce carbon pollution in line with our plan for a minimum of 50 per cent renewables by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. We will also invest $10 billion in renewable energy projects and deliver rebates of $2,000 for households to buy energy-saving battery systems.
Labor’s plan sets a floor on renewables but I have every confidence our suite of strong climate policies and huge investment in renewables will ensure we overshoot this target significantly.
Renewables are already an attractive and affordable energy option, but Labor’s massive investment will reduce prices even further, making new fossil fuel investment increasingly unviable.
This will catapult Australia into a new age of renewable energy which will reduce emissions, lower power prices and create tens of thousands of new jobs.
With the global rise in renewables, coal will fall, and this will have an enormous impact on communities in our region. That’s why Labor also focusses on affected communities – establishing a just transition authority to ensure no worker gets left behind.
CONGESTION BUSTING TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP DRIVERS MOVING
Smart technology is at the heart of a congestion busting package which will be rolled out under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government to keep drivers moving on the State’s motorways and city streets.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced another $695 million in congestion busting measures, which are only possible because of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management.
The measures include:
- $400 million to install intelligent traffic lights at 500 intersections across Sydney and in centres such as Wollongong and Newcastle. These lights are able to read the flow of the traffic and change from red to green to clear traffic queues, reducing the number of stops in traffic by up to 15 per cent.
- $200 million to upgrade major motorways, including the M1 between Gosford and Sydney, into smart motorways by using technology that automatically adjusts speed on the roads and controls vehicles entering the motorway, to smooth traffic flow and increase capacity.
- $95 million to trial digital parking and clearway signage. This is about reducing the number of parking and clearway signs and replacing them with one digital sign which shows the restrictions which apply at that time of day, removing any confusion for drivers.
“We are making this investment in new congestion busting technology at the same time we are upgrading roads and building new motorways which will set Sydney up for decades to come,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We understand drivers want to spend less time in traffic and these new measures combined with new and upgraded roads will ensure everyone can spend more time doing what they need to or what they enjoy.”
Minister for Roads Melinda Pavey said the announcement is on top of the $475 million investment to remove another 12 pinch points and introduce drone technology to monitor incidents in real time.
“In total our congestion busting package is worth $1.2 billion which we know will make a real difference,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Congestion costs Sydney around $6 billion each year so this is a critical long-term investment in our future.”
The additional $1.2 billion the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committing to congestion busting is more than four times the amount Labor claims it will spend on pinch points.
Labor will build Tweed Valley Hospital at Kings Forest
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley today returned to the North Coast to re-affirm NSW Labor’s plan to build the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Kings Forest rather than on sensitive agricultural farmland at Cudgen.
In a major statement on the new Tweed Valley Hospital, NSW Labor leader Michael Daley:
· Rejected claims by NSW Health bureaucrats and the National Party that the project will be delayed by moving to the Kings Forest site, saying an incoming Labor Government would “haul in the bureaucrats to begin work immediately” with a guarantee that it would be completed on-time and on budget;
· Pledged to retain the old Tweed Hospital site and the Cudgen site in public hands – never selling either site to property developers; and
· Committed that there would be no privatisation of health and hospital services in the Northern NSW Local Health District – after the Liberals-Nationals failed attempt to privatise five regional hospitals.
Mr Daley was joined today by Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot to recommit to Labor’s plans for the new Tweed Hospital.
https://twitter.com/michaeldaleyMP/status/1106014110930472960
NSW Labor reiterated the State election will be a referendum on the location of the Tweed Hospital.
Mr Daley said that people across regional NSW were up in arms about the Berejiklian Government’s $2.2 billion to Sydney stadiums instead of properly funding schools and hospitals across NSW.
Mr Elliot reaffirmed NSW Labor’s opposition to the National’s plans to build the Tweed Hospital on Cudgen farmland and condemned the National Party’s botched site selection process.
Mr Daley expressed concern that the National Party had chosen the Cudgen farmland site as a “Trojan horse” to overturn height limits in Kingscliff and to open the door for over-development – destroying the unique quality of life.
Reports earlier this month revealed that a Queensland property developer which had made donations to the Liberal-National Party recently purchased farm land next to the Nationals proposed hospital site.
Retaining the sites in public hands will require additional funds but NSW Labor is committed to protecting Cudgen farmland and not selling off Government land to developers for a quick buck like the Nationals will.
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley said that Labor will always prioritise protecting farmland and the community ahead of developers.
“My commitment is ironclad – Labor will build the hospital in Kings Forest and protect the current hospital from being handed over to developers,” he said.
“NSW Labor will build the hospital on time and on budget – but the Nationals and NSW Health will continue to pedal their mis-information”
Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot expressed concern that the Nationals were using the hospital location as a Trojan horse for developers to take-over state significant farmland.
“Whether it be high rise in Kingscliff or a nine-storey hospital on Cudgen farmland – Geoff Provest and the Nationals are failing to protect the Tweed from inappropriate developments,” Mr Elliot said.
“The March 2019 election will be a referendum on the location of a new Tweed Hospital. My commitment is to build the Tweed Hospital at Kings Forest but that should not be at the expense of residents living north of the river.
“Labor’s commitment is to keep the current Tweed hospital site in public hands and in doing so continue to deliver future health outcomes from that location.”