"Cover-Ups And Intimidation" Alleged At Waratah's Calvary Mater

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

Whistleblowers have come forth to publicly allege the downplaying of serious risks at Waratah's Calvary Mater Hospital.

As part of a parliamentary inquiry into the Mater's management, it's been reported workers who flagged safety and health risks were threatened or pushed out of their jobs as a result.

The hospital is run under a public-private partnership between Novacare and NSW Health, with Honeywell the company in charge of maintenance. 

In their submission to the inquiry into the hospital's operations, the Health Services Union (HSU) has included staff reports of a "sweep it under the rug" culture from Honeywell and upper management. 

The HSU is using its submission to call for a full review of the contract compliance, as well as greater accountability and transparency among the state's health infrastructure.

Former Mater employee Luke Carroll said he experienced intimidation first-hand after writing various technical reports.

"I personally was pulled into rooms for impromptu meetings after writing various reports or technical positions on the maintenance or serviceability of certain equipment," he said.

"I was screamed at to change my position and essentially coerced into following the narrative Novacare and Honeywell were putting back to the facility."

Mr Carroll went further to add the facility's culture of altering and destroying documents was "common knowledge" amongst staff.

"If you left stuff on your desk, it'd go missing," he said.

"It was common knowledge within the Honeywell Facilities team and various parts of site that the mould testing regime was essentially being falsified.

"For lack of a better term, to produce artificially low results in problem areas."

Mater Hematologist Dr Katherine Rankin echoed Mr Carroll's sentiment in speaking about a general lack of accountability across the parties involved.

"Accountability has been diffused across a labyrinth of entities, Calvary, NovaCare, Honeywell, and the Ministry, leading to a situation where responsibility for safety has been repeatedly shifted due to contractual ambiguity," she said.

"As a consequence of this, there has been an 11-month delay in getting hazardous mould remediation work commenced." 

Parliamentary Inquiry Meeting. Picture: Holly Ogilvie

Missing Telarah Teen Spotted In Hamilton

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for our help to find a teenager who's been missing from Telarah for almost a month.

15-year-old Callum Schonewille was last seen on February 18 but police believe he may have been at a chemist in Beaumont Street, Hamilton at about 8.45am on Monday 9 March.

Police hold concerns for his welfare due to his age.

Callum is described as being of Caucasian appearance, abut 160cm tall with a slim build, light brown hair and a blonde rats tail and mullet.

He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, shorts, slides, socks and black jumper with a TUPAC logo and carrying a black satchel bag. 

Callum is believed to frequent the Telarah, Maitland, Edgeworth, Charlestown, Windale and Campsie areas. 

Anyone with information is urged to contract Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Missing teen Callum Schonewille

 

Hunter Receives Major Boost to Local Defense Industry

BY BRONWYN VERWEY

The federal government has invested more than $175 million into a Morisset manufacturing facility to deliver a new fleet of uncrewed navy ships. 

The investment will go towards technology company Ocius to produce 40 new Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels to be used by the Royal Australian Navy. 

The new ships will bump the Navy's total operational Bluebottle fleet to 55. 

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi welcomed the investment. 

"We have a world-class Australian company producing cutting edge defence technology technology right here in Morisset, and this investment ensures that capability continues to grow," he said. 

The Bluebottle system was developed in partnership with the Royal Australian Navy and was initially funded through the Defence Innovation Hub. 

Using renewable energy, including solar and wind, the ships will be able to spend extended periods of time out at sea, whilst conducting sub-surface surveillance. 

Mr Repacholi said it's important to ensure Australia is well positioned with adequate equipment and intelligence amidst escalating global tensions. 

"The Hunter has always played an important role in supporting Australia's defence industry, and projects like this show our region will continue to be central to Australia's sovereign capability," he explained. 

"This investment backs local workers, supports Hunter businesses and strengthens Australia's ability to monitor and protect our maritime approaches."

Picture: Ocius

Rail, Tram and Bus Union wants Newcastle Buses back in Public Hands

BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has welcomed calls for Newcastle's bus network to be back under public ownership.

It follows news the State government is investigating the possibility of returning Newcastle's buses to the public sector, once Keolis Downer's contract ends at the end of 2027.

Under the former Coalition government, Newcastle buses were privatised back in 2017, with a commitment to ensure improved bus services as a whole.

Almost 10 years later, Newcastle's bus network is plagued by a host of customer complaints and safety concerns.

The Union's NSW Tram and Bus Division President, Peter Grech said the community has suffered a range of various impacts, ever since Keolis Downer began operating Newcastle's bus network.

"The community, as a whole has suffered," he said.

"When they took over, they cut services in half, there's communities left isolated, [and] services not showing up that are scheduled to show up.

"There's a lot of inconsistencies in regards to Keolis Downer's operations."

He went further to state the Union is looking forward to helping improve the quality of Newcastle's bus network, should a transition to public ownership occur.

"The community in Newcastle has been left with a 'have-to-use' service rather than a 'want-to-use' service, and we want to turn that around," he said.

"I think it's a really important part for the community.

"It just blossoms everything, when people are using public transport, they're using local shops, [and] using local community services."

The Union will be launching their latest report into the impacts of privatisation on the quality of Newcastle buses tonight at NEX.

Community members are invited to attend.

Picture Supplied.

Appeal to Locate Missing Metford Man

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

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

31-year-old Beau McDonald was last seen leaving a home on Hakea Way in a 1997 white Holden Jackaroo SUV, at about 6.30pm last night.

Officers attached to the Hunter Valley Police District were notified and have commenced inquiries into his potential whereabouts.

Hunter Valley Police hold concerns for Mr McDonald's Welfare, describing his disappearance as, "out of character."

He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, around 170cm to 180cm tall, of a medium build, with black hair and brown eyes.

It's believed he frequents the Black Hill, Heddon Greta, Kurri Kurri and Maitland areas.

Anyone with information regarding Mr. McDonald's whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Picture: NSW Police

Local Push for Fare Gates at Hamilton Train Station

 BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK

Newcastle councillor Jenny Barrie will be pushing for fare gates to be installed at Hamilton Train Station. 

In a December council meeting, NSW Police identified a need for Opal gates to help combat rising anti-social behaviour near the station.

It's believed the violent behaviour has surged in the area, as a result of an Opal gates installation at Newcastle Interchange.

With gates now at the Interchange, fare evaders are now targeting Hamilton Train Station, as it's now the last ungated train station before the Newcastle CBD, according to Cr Barrie. 

Cr Barrie alongside fellow councillors Joel Pringle and Paige Johnson have co-signed a motion to be presented at tonight's council meeting asking for the immediate installation of the gates.

Councillors will vote on whether to advocate for the installation, as decisions on Opal gates lie with the State Government.

If the motion is successful, Council will write to the state's Transport and Shadow Transport Ministers, The Hon. John Graham and Natalie Ward MLC.

Cr Barrie said the community is eager to advocate further for more safety measures in the area.

"The Hamilton community and Safety Committee really want to do some more advocacy to the Transport Minister," she said.

"The police feel it's one part of a prevention strategy and of course a disruption mechanism to reduce un-lawful, anti-social behaviour."

She went further to state the gates would serve as a major first step in improving safety across the  Hamilton area. 

"We just want activity to become safer for everybody," she said.

"Everything we wanna do is [rooted in] putting events on and getting the community thriving again, [like] utilising the library space for more events.

"We feel that Opal gates is the starting point."

Picture supplied. 

Residents Reportedly Furious Over Midtown Precinct

 BY OLI GOELDNER

A proposal to establish extend operation hours and loosen noise restrictions on a Newcastle West block has been labelled a "dangerous mistake" by residents. 

Newcastle's Midtown area, bound by Hunter, King and Steel streets, has been put forward as the potential location of a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP). 

Trialed across various parts of NSW, the new classification allows councils to set trading hours and sound conditions to encourage live performance and support night life. 

However, voluntary community advocate for alcohol harm prevention Tony Brown said the move is a major mistake. 

"The local residents living in the mid part of Newcastle, will be really victimised by council and the state government to deal with more noise, violence and a loss of their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties," he said. 

Mr Brown explained the proposed precinct could have an adverse impact on resident's property value and amenity. 

"Any investment in the night-time economy has got to be responsible, not just about making more profits by having more young people highly intoxicated," he explained. 

"We've seen that before in Newcastle and we'd thought we'd honestly put that behind us." 

He added a similar venture was recently rejected by Byron Bay council. 

"They rejected the demands for the imposition of the SEP because of the very fact of likely more noise, more violence and more disturbances." 

Councillor Declan Clausen stated over the weekend that inner-city Newcastle should not be "going to bed with Big Dog". 

"Venues do operate here, this is a part of a city that we would like to see have a very active nightlife, and that requires new residents to be really open-minded about what they might mean if they're moving in right nearby," he said. 

"There's some in Newcastle that would like to see us all go to bed with Big Dog and not have a vibrant nightlife in the city. 

"I fundamentally disagree with that." 

The motion will be put forward at the next Ordinary Council Meeting.