New life-saving defibrillators to be installed at seven Cessnock sporting facilities

 BY OLIVIA GOELDNER

New grants from the state government have allowed for seven sporting faculties in the Cessnock Electorate to receive life-saving defibrillators. 

Cessnock Motor Cross Club, West Wallsend Rugby Football Club and Cessnock District Netball Association are among the few chosen. 

The grants of up to $3,000 cover the purchase, installation and training of the new automated external defibrillators. 

It comes as a part of the NSW Government's Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, putting $500,000 towards 193 sporting facilities in low socio-economic areas. 

Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr says he's pleased with the effort. 

"With more and more people of all ages participating in sport and active recreation across the Electorate of Cessnock this equipment will be available should the worst ever happen.

"This funding will ensure our local sporting organisation's are equipped to respond to life-threatening emergencies."

Image courtesy of Regional Development Australia

Hundreds of Injured Hunter Workers Involved in iCare Scandal, To Be Cut From Workers Compensation

BY KEELY JOHNSON

476 injured workers from the Hunter region will be cut off from the State's workers compensation scheme by the end of the year.

iCare is responsible for providing insurance compensation to more than 326 thousand public and private sector employers in NSW and their 3.6 million employees.

The agency, however, is currently involved in an $80-million-dollar underpayment scandal and is being accused of serious mismanagement and unethical practices.

"The great disappointment of this government's mismanagement of iCare and the workers compensation fund is that actual injured workers who are meant to be looked after by this scheme are instead either getting kicked-off the scheme or being underpaid while they're on the scheme," said Cessnock MP Clayton Barr.

Removing income support from hundreds of sick and injured workers is set to hit the region hard.

"On a regional basis... kicking injured workers off the scheme means they suddenly don't have enough money to keep a roof over their head, put food on the table and what little money they might have had to put back into the community to small businesses is taken away," said Clayton Barr.

"I have personally dealt with injured workers in the Hunter who have tried to commit suicide, tried to self-harm, essentially become homeless, become disconnected from their families through the poverty that has been imposed on them," said Clayton Barr.

Image source: ABC News

Cessnock MP Says Firefighter Compensation Scheme Hasn't "Met His Expectations"

BY DAKOTA TAIT

State Member for Cessnock, Clayton Barr, has encouraged local firefighters to apply for financial assistance through the Volunteer Firefighter Payment Scheme, but admits the government's support hasn't met his expectations.

Although the scheme was announced in late December, volunteers with the RFS and SES have only been able to apply for financial aid from mid-January, with Mr Barr suggesting the scheme has come a month too late and is attached to too much complicated paperwork.

Mr Barr says the scheme may also leave many fireys shortchanged, and claims the $6,000 cap on compensation will only reimburse about 20 days of lost income for volunteers who may have been fighting fires for months.

Mr Barr says any firefighters in the Cessnock electorate who have been told they are ineligible for compensation should get in touch with his office.

"Firefighters have been so heavily relied on and called upon in our community over recent months, and we need them to recover financially, as well as emotionally and physically," Mr Barr said.

Volunteer firefighters can apply for assistance and access more information regarding the Volunteer Firefighter Payment Scheme here.

Cessnock MP, Clayton Barr