Wednesday 1 October 2014

Racial Abuse

The Hunter's Muslim community says racial attacks against them have been increasing in recent weeks.

In one case two female medical students were verbally abused by a car load of men outside Maitland Hospital last week because they were wearing a hijab headdress.

It's estimated about 15-hundred Muslims live in Newcastle - around 400 are university students.

Bushfire Season Starts

The Rural Fire Service is warning us to prepare for an even more dangerous bushfire season this year in the Hunter.

The official bushfire danger period kicks off today as the latest figures show 25 per cent of residents caught up in the Port Stephens, the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands fires last year did not have a bushfire survival plan in place.

Lower Hunter RFS Manager, Jayson McKellar says residents need to take responsibility for bushfire safety.

Teen Girl Charged Over Stabbing

An 18-year-old girl has been granted strict conditional bail after being charged with stabbing another teenage girl several times with a pocket knife at Kahibah.

Police were called to bushland near Flaggy Creek Reserve at about 9 last night where the girls had been socialising with a group of people.

It's alleged the 18-year-old got into a fight with the 17-year-old girl, stabbing her in the chest, stomach, arms and hands.

The victim is recovering in the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

Police charged the 18-year-old with reckless wounding - she's due to face Belmont Local Court later this month.