A Shorten Labor Government will make the biggest investment ever in Australian netball by a federal government, committing $20 million over two years to Netball Australia.
This investment will help fund a range of Netball Australia’s grassroots participation and engagement programs, and ensure a strong future for netball in Australia – from local netball clubs, to our Super Netball stars and our outstanding national team, the Diamonds.
The funding will also support Netball Australia’s bid to host the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
Labor’s commitment is great news for more than 850,000 women and girls who participate in netball, and will ensure that both grassroots and elite netball gets the best support it has ever received from government.
Netball has the highest rate of female participation of any club sport in Australia. AusPlay research released in April this year showed netball is particularly important for girls’ participation in organised activity outside of school hours. The benefits of team sport for kids is well known, particularly for girls in helping to develop confidence and self-esteem, learn new skills and make new friends.
The rapid rise of elite female sport in Australia is a great thing. It means Australian girls are seeing more sporting role models more often on the TV, and are inspired to take up sport themselves.
But it also means that netball isn’t competing on a level playing field in television coverage and sponsorship space. While the expansion and broadcast of women’s footy and cricket has been supported by revenue generated by their elite male competitions, this is not an option for netball.
Labor’s $20 million investment will ensure that netball, which has done so much for women’s sport for so long, can keep pace with the rapid expansion of elite women’s competitions in other sports.
Labor has made hard budget decisions to ensure our priorities are fully paid for – we will make multinationals pay their fair share and close unsustainable tax loopholes, because we want to help a new generation of young girls fall in the love with netball and inspire the next generation of Aussie Diamonds.
Greens say Education Ministers Interference in Research Grants "An outrageous overreach"
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has called news that the former Education Minister, Senator Simon Birmingham, personally intervened to block research grants outrageous. She has also called for a completely independent process, free from Ministerial interference.
Senator Faruqi said: “As a former academic, I am horrified that the Minister intervened to block research grants. This is a massive and outrageous overreach from the Government.
“Research Grants are not there for the Minister to pick and choose based on his own political prejudices. The Australian Research Council should be trusted to guide research funding, free from political interference.
“Academic research is too valuable to be hijacked by a narrow ideological agenda.
“No Minister can be trusted with the power to block research grants. There should be a completely independent process, separate from Ministerial interference,” she concluded.
Escapees located and charged – Glen Innes
Two prisoners who escaped from a minimum security correctional facility in the state’s Northern Tablelands yesterday have been located.
The two men aged 49 and 32, were reported missing from the facility on the Gwydir Highway, near Glen Innes, about 4.30pm yesterday (Friday 26 October 2018).
About 10am today (Saturday 27 October 2018), officers attached to the New England Police District were involved in a short pursuit with a car on the New England Highway at Armidale.
The pursuit was terminated and the car was abandoned in Beardy Street. Police searched the area and located the two men in a nearby house. They were arrested without incident and taken to Armidale Police Station.
The 49-year-old man was charged with inmate escape lawful custody, take and drive conveyance, police pursuit – not stop, larceny, enter enclosed lands and drive unregistered and uninsured car.
The 32-year-old man was charged with inmate escape lawful custody, being carried in a conveyance and enter enclosed lands.
The men will appear in Armidale Local Court tomorrow (Sunday 28 October 2018).
Officer charged – Specialist Command
A police officer has been suspended after being charged with alleged child sex offences.
The 43-year-old senior constable was arrested about 3:50pm yesterday (Thursday 25 October 2018), by detectives from the Professional Standards Command, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
He has been charged with aggravated act of indecency, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, attempt sexual intercourse with a child under 10, grooming child under 14 years for unlawful sexual activity, two counts of have sexual intercourse with a child 10-14, and peep or pry.
The charges relate to offences that allegedly occurred between 2007 to 2018.
The officer, who has been suspended from duties from a specialist command, has been refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today (Friday 26 October 2018).
The current matters before the court are not related to the officer’s employment.
Appeal to locate two escapees – Glen Innes
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate two prisoners who escaped from a minimum security correctional facility in the state’s Northern Tablelands.
Robert Riley, aged 49, and Wayne Porter, aged 32, were reported missing from the facility on the Gwydir Highway, near Glen Innes, about 4.30pm today (Friday 26 October 2018).
Mr Riley is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, 165cm tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Mr Porter is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 177cm tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.
It’s believed the men are travelling on foot.
Police are warning members of the public not to approach the men, but to instead call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Toddler hit, truck driver sought – Ourimbah
Inquiries are continuing to identify the driver of a truck which hit a toddler on the Central Coast yesterday.
Emergency services were called to Pacific Highway at Ourimbah about 3.45pm (Thursday 25 October 2018), after a two-year-old boy was struck by a white pantech truck as it was driven out of a service station.
The child was treated at the scene by paramedics and flown by Westpac Rescue helicopter to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police have been told the child was placed into an induced coma as a precaution; however, it appears he’s escaped with only superficial cuts and grazes.
The truck driver did not stop and was last seen driving north along the highway.
Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, are investigating and believe the driver may not be aware he’d struck the boy, who had wandered away from a home nearby.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed or have any dashcam vision in that area around that time or has any information about this incident to contact Wyong Police on 4356 6099 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Greens say Education Minister Interference in Research Grants "An outrageous overreach"
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has called news that the former Education Minister, Senator Simon Birmingham, personally intervened to block research grants outrageous. She has also called for a completely independent process, free from Ministerial interference.
Senator Faruqi said: “As a former academic, I am horrified that the Minister intervened to block research grants. This is a massive and outrageous overreach from the Government.
“Research Grants are not there for the Minister to pick and choose based on his own political prejudices. The Australian Research Council should be trusted to guide research funding, free from political interference.
“Academic research is too valuable to be hijacked by a narrow ideological agenda.
“No Minister can be trusted with the power to block research grants. There should be a completely independent process, separate from Ministerial interference,” she concluded.
Infrastructure Australia report highlights massive under-investment in public transport by both major parties: Greens
Residents in outer suburbs have been appalling neglected by successive governments failing to properly invest in public transport, say the Greens, following the publication of Infrastructure Australia’s Outer Urban Public Transport report.
‘This report shows just how successive Liberal and Labor governments around the country have failed to properly plan transport solutions for people in outer suburban areas, who are stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams for several hours a day,’ said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.
‘People are crying out for accessible, reliable and affordable public transport. Instead we have governments throwing money into expensive, polluting toll roads that do nothing to solve congestion and mean that people living in the outer suburbs have no other option but to drive.’
‘As our cities grow, we have to give people the choice of high quality, fully integrated public transport – trains, trams and buses. That’s the only way we will solve our transport problems.’
‘We have to make sure public transport is planned properly. It’s not just a matter of announcing big flashy projects. We need comprehensive integrated transport plans across the country that prioritise public transport, and walking and cycling.’
Greens refer National Party funding to Auditor-General
Greens environment and water spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will today write to the Auditor-General to investigate reports of more scandal in the National Party.
“Reports that the National Party executive was paid $850,000 for drought-proofing that never eventuated are serious allegations. Today I will be referring this to the Auditor-General for investigation,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“Another day, another scandal involving the Nationals. Scott Morrison’s Special Drought Envoy Barnaby Joyce’s ‘nothing to see here’ attitude in response to these reports of rorting is typical of the former Deputy Prime Minister.
“The drought is crippling our farmers and to add insult to injury, the Nationals are brushing off these reports like they do with every scandal they find themselves in.
“The Nationals cannot be trusted with spending billions of dollars on drought relief and water management properly.
“Rorting and misusing taxpayers’ money are serious allegations and another reason why we need a federal anti-corruption body.
“The fact that Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack believes we don’t need a federal anti-corruption body says it all. The Nationals will always protect their own – no matter what their indiscretions – above the interest of our nation, our river, and the Australian taxpayers.”
Greens Senator Slams Lack of Transparency of Private School Slush Fund
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has called the Government’s so called ‘Choice and Affordability” package a private school slush fund. The fund is part of extra money announced for private schools by the Prime Minister in September, which Senator Faruqi has previously described as “hush money”.
In Budget Estimates today, the Department confirmed that it was a “decision of Government” and couldn’t answer how the figure was $1.2 billion figure was arrived at. The Greens have also confirmed that they will move to disallow the fund and call on the Government to reallocate it to the public system.
Senator Faruqi said:
“What has become pretty clear is the Government plucked the $1.2 billion figure out of thin air as a way to pay off the private school sector.
“This whole program is a farce. There are no rules, no criteria and the Department seems to have no idea how the amount of the enormous $1.2 billion private school slush fund was arrived at.
“The Greens unashamedly believe that with public money, public schools have to come first. It is beyond reprehensible that while one in ten public school classrooms in New South Wales are demountable, the private schools will be getting billions in special funds.
“There is absolutely nothing stopping the schools spending this money to subsidise school fees for wealthy parents. What a slap in the face for public schools.
“The Greens will be moving to disallow this fund as soon as it comes to Parliament,” she concluded.