A man has been arrested following a fatal shooting in Newcastle yesterday.
Just after 4pm (Saturday 8 December 2018), police were called to a home on Beauford Avenue, Maryland, after reports of a shooting.
A man, believed to be 38-years-old, was found with fatal injuries inside an attached garage.
He is yet to be formally identified.
A crime scene was established, and officers from Newcastle City Police District, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, commenced inquiries.
About 1am today (Sunday 9 December 2018), specialist police and negotiators attended a home on Raglan Street, Wallsend, and established a perimeter.
Following negotiations, about 3.45am, 10 people – including a 30-year-old man and children – inside the home exited without incident.
The 30-year-old man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
The men are known to each other and police are treating the incident as targeted.
Inquiries are continuing.
Woman to be charged after leaving kids in hot car – Liverpool
A woman will be charged after allegedly leaving her children in a hot vehicle for over an hour in Sydney’s south west today.
About 12.45pm (Saturday 8 December 2018), a 36-year-old woman parked a Toyota Kluger in direct sunlight in a carpark on Viscount Place, Liverpool.
The woman left two boys, aged eight and five, inside the car while she went shopping.
About an hour later, the children were discovered by passers-by, who contacted police.
About 1.50pm, police from Liverpool Police Area Command attended as the woman returned to the vehicle.
The children were found to be dehydrated and were provided water. Ambulance Paramedics attended to assess the children.
The woman was spoken to at the scene and will be issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for leave child/young person in motor vehicle.
Her court date is yet to be determined.
Fatal motorcycle crash near Scone
A motorcyclist has died following a crash near Scone, in the state’s Hunter Region.
Just after 10am today (Saturday 8 December 2018), a motorcycle and truck collided on the New England Highway at Parkville, approximately 10km north of Scone.
The rider, a 66-year-old man, died at the scene.
The truck driver, a man believed to be aged in his 50s, wasn’t injured and has undergone mandatory blood and urine testing.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have established a crime scene and an investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Crash Investigation Unit.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or the events leading up to it, is urged to contact police.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
The highway is expected to remain closed for a number of hours and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Missing man – Dungog
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Hunter region.
Graeme Lambert-Smith, aged 61, was last seen leaving a hospital on Hospital Road, Dungog, about 7.10am today (Saturday 8 December 2018).
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified and commenced an investigation.
Police and family have concerns for his welfare as he suffers from a medical condition and may appear disorientated.
Mr Lambert-Smith is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 178cm tall, of thin build, with a fair complexion, silver short hair, and wearing glasses.
He was last seen wearing a blue jumper, black tracksuit pants, and no shoes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Raymond Terrace Police Station on 4983 7599 immediately.
Construction starts on Stockton drawcard
Construction has started on a $1.9 million playground and skate plaza precinct at Griffith Park, Stockton.
The South Stockton Active Hub will be delivered by a specialist skate park construction firm and be built in two parallel rows shorter than the single 140-metre length first envisaged.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Stockton residents at Griffith Park
The facility, which was revised following community feedback, will be situated at the southern end of the park adjacent to the harbour and a greater distance from neighbouring Hunter Street houses.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the playground will be complete with flying foxes, slides, climbing nets, swings and skate facilities, would draw more people across the Hunter River.
“This new playground will help to revitalise the Stockton foreshore by creating a vibrant, healthy and active outdoor-friendly space for the community,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The final design fits in perfectly with the existing amenities. We fielded submissions about a range of issues relating to the playground and skate plaza and, where possible, the concept plan has been amended to address them.
An artist impression of the South Stockton Active Hub at Griffith Park
Among the changes are a reduced construction footprint and a design closer to the water to reduce noise impacts to Hunter Street residents.
“The Active Hub precinct will be built adjacent to existing outdoor sporting fields and recreation areas, allowing for adults and children to eat, play and socialise at their leisure.”
The urban skate plaza and playground will be part funded by a $450,000 Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said he was excited to see this great community project come to fruition.
“It is great to see this project progressing that will activate Griffith Park for the Stockton community,” Mr MacDonald said.
“The NSW Government is pleased to partner with City of Newcastle through the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund to deliver projects across Newcastle Harbour.”
The playground will also include a lookout crane tower, accessible spinner, sand pit and a social area with shelter, barbecue and picnic table.
Features for the urban skate plaza include rails, angle ledges, hubbas, kerb cuts, A-frame kicker, zig zag ledge and a half pipe.
Firearms and grenade launcher among weapons seized in joint operation in Charlestown
A 49-year-old Lake Macquarie man has been charged with drug and firearms offences following a joint operation in Charlestown between the Australian Border Force (ABF) and NSW Police Force.
The operation began when border intelligence officers identified a number of online purchases of firearms-related items being sent to a residence in Charlestown.
Subsequently, ABF officers at the Sydney International Mail Gateway intercepted a number of mail items containing firearm parts.
On Wednesday, 5 December 2018, a search warrant was executed by officers from the ABF and investigators from NSW Police Force’s Drug and Firearms Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District at a home at Charlestown in the NSW Hunter region.
During the search, officers seized five long-arm firearms, two sound-and-flash grenades, one gas propelled anti-personal mine, seven gas-propelled grenade-type canisters, various calibres of ammunition, body armour, camouflage gear, and a hydroponic set-up with five cannabis plants.
Police seized all the firearms for forensic and ballistic examination.
The man was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with cultivate prohibited plant, two counts of possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, three counts of possess unauthorised firearm, three counts of possess unregistered firearm, four counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, unauthorised possession of firearms in aggravated circumstances, two counts of possess ammunition, and five counts of not keep firearm safely.
ABF officers also charged the man with 11 counts of prohibited import of firearm parts.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Thursday 6 December 2018).
ABF Investigations Superintendent Garry Low said the detection highlights the commitment of the ABF and partner agencies to removing potentially dangerous weapons from the community.
“We have significant intelligence capabilities to detect online purchases of firearms and accessories and through our investigations we have located a number of other serious weapons,” Superintended Low said.
“People need to be aware of the regulations around importing these items into Australia and that the ABF will investigate and take action against anyone found to be illicitly bringing them into the country.”
NSW Police Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said that the unauthorised and illicit possession of firearms are a concern for law enforcement.
“We’ve seen through recent investigations that there is an illegal market in sourcing firearms, replicas, and related paraphernalia, as well as equipment and parts to manufacture firearms locally,” Det Supt Fileman said.
“Even if a firearm is incomplete or won’t fire, the simple fact is: if it looks like a real gun, under the law, it is a gun, and we will lay charges as such.
“Just one firearm in the wrong hands could be fatal and we will continue to target anyone who illegally possesses, supplies or manufactures firearms in NSW.”
Anyone who is aware of an individual, who may be involved in importing firearms or firearms parts illegally is urged to contact Border Watch at
www.australia.gov.au/borderwatch.
Information relating to the illicit manufacture, supply, or possession of firearms can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Media contact:
Australian Border Force 02 6264 2244
NSW Police Force 02 8263 6100
National Accounts – September Quarter 2018
Today’s National Accounts for the September quarter 2018 show the strength of the Australian economy and the strong economic management of the Liberal National Government.
We have completed our 27th consecutive year of economic growth, the unemployment rate has fallen to 5.0 per cent and nearly 1.2 million jobs have been created under the Coalition Government. The strength of the Australian economy has recently been recognised by the International Monetary Fund, the OECD and through our AAA credit rating being reaffirmed.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, real GDP grew by 0.3 per cent in the September quarter and by 2.8 per cent through the year and this sees Australia growing faster than the OECD average and all of the G7 nations except the United States.
Growth continues to be broad-based with household consumption, dwelling investment, net exports and new public final demand contributing to growth. These were partially offset by a significant fall in mining investment as the last of the major LNG projects near completion.
New public investment grew by 5.1 per cent in the quarter to be 4.0 per cent higher through the year. Public investment will continue to be underpinned by the Government’s record $75 billion infrastructure rollout.
Compensation of employees, which records total wages and salaries across the economy, rose by 1.0 per cent in the quarter to be 4.3 per cent higher through the year. Growth was driven by strength in employment.
Because of the Coalition’s strong economic management we will deliver next April the first budget surplus in more than a decade.
The strength of the Australian economy is no accident. The Government’s plan of lower taxes and stronger economic growth is working and today’s numbers show the strength of the Australian economy is helping to provide the essential services all Australians rely on.
Senate passes motion marking one year since marriage equality passed the parliament
The Senate has passed a motion celebrating the first anniversary of marriage equality being passed in the parliament. The motion also noted the harm caused by the postal survey and that LGBTIQ+ people still face daily discrimination.
“I’m pleased to be celebrating the first anniversary of marriage equality passing parliament,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson.
“While this anniversary is a momentous occasion, we must remember the harm caused to LGBTIQ+ people, our families and our communities by the unnecessary postal survey and debate over our human rights.”
“The historic marriage equality vote was the culmination of decades of tireless campaigning by LGBTIQ+ leaders, activists and organisations.”
“It’s important to acknowledge, a year on from marriage equality, the fight for LGBTIQ+ rights is not over. The current debate over whether LGBTIQ+ people should be free from discrimination in religious schools simply because of who they are illustrates this.”
“I’m proud that the Greens have always stood with LGBTIQ+ leaders and activists, fighting for recognition of our relationships and families, while the major parties spent years and years denying LGBTIQ+ people our rights.”
“The Greens have always stood with LGBTIQ+ people and we always will. We won’t rest until we remove every discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people in our laws and in our society.”
—
Motion
Senators Rice and Pratt: To move — That the Senate —
(a) notes that:
(i) 7 December 2018 marks the first anniversary of marriage equality in Australia,
(ii) this resounding ‘yes’ vote is something to be celebrated, as is the passing of marriage equality in Australia,
(iii) the postal survey in itself is not to be celebrated, as it was opposed by the majority of LGBTIQ+ Australians and caused a lot of harm to LGBTIQ+ Australians and their families,
(iv) the historic ‘yes’ vote and the passing of marriage equality was the result of decades of tireless campaigning by brave community leaders and activists, and
(v) marriage equality is not the end of the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ Australians and their families, many of whom still face discrimination in their daily lives; and
(b) calls on all parliamentarians to continue to work to end discrimination against LGBTIQ+ Australians and their families in all areas of their lives.
Rolling over logging laws is a death warrant for threatened species
Last week’s rollover of the New South Wales native forest logging laws for another 20 years is nothing short of criminal.
“This disastrous rollover of last century’s Regional Forest Agreements signs the death warrant for threatened species and gives woodchippers everything they have ever wanted – all their Christmases come at once,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens forests spokesperson.
“These laws lock in the destructive practices of the last 20 years of native forest logging and will guarantee the death of rare and endangered animals and birds. More forest will be destroyed year on year to meet the guarantee of wood for the woodchippers.”
“This directly puts the survival of critically endangered species like the Swift Parrot into question.”
The independent review into the logging laws acknowledges that the majority of people who made submissions did not want the logging laws extended, but instead of listening to the community the Government just steamrolled over their concerns for their mates in the forest products industry.
Senate calls on Environment Minister to call in Lake Malbena development
The Senate has today called on federal Environment Minister Melissa Price to conduct a full assessment of the Lake Malbena development, including public consultation.
Greens Senator Nick McKim successfully passed a motion that pointed out the major problems with the development and approvals process.
“This development represents the privatisation of some of the most precious areas of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,” Senator McKim said.
“The people of Tasmania are clear – they don’t support this development.”
“Nor do they support the selling out of our magnificent wilderness.”
“It is now incumbent on the Minister to call this project in.”