Newcastle Company Answers Call For Covid Ventilators

BY IAN CROUCH

A Newcastle-based national engineering company is putting the final touches on the manufacture of the first of ten ventilators for the state government to help patients with COVID-19.

AmpControl answered the government's manufacturing call to arms to make a low-cost ventilator to boost patient care resources across the state's health system.

Engineers from the company worked with specialist clinicians from Hunter New England Health and the John Hunter Hospital as well as the University of Newcastle's Faculty of Engineering and other NSW Health specialists to develop the Ventasys ventilator.

Stage one of the project has been completed for the initial order of 10 units for health authorities - they will be put through rigorous testing and prototyping procedures before 100 units can be manufactured at the company's Cameron Park facility.

The ventilators will be used to boost capacity across Australia is the virus spikes again. There are also plans to export the product overseas.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian issued a call to arms five months ago calling on businesses to adapt into producing critical medical supplies in the fight against COVD-19.

"Global supply chains were disrupted and our local universities and manufacturers stepped in and joined forces to develop prototype ventilators. Two ventilators are on track to receive regulatory approval within weeks and, if needed, can be produced for hospitals here and potentially overseas, saving lives and boosting jobs," she said.

Health Minister, Brad Hazzard said The Ventilator Innovation Project was part of the NSW Government's $800 million investment to help increase services and equipment to combat COVID-19.

"Having access to a ventilator can be the difference between life and death for severe COVID cases and, sadly, we know the effects of shortages overseas," he said.

The Ventasys Emergency Ventilators developed By AmpControl at Cameron Park Picture: ampcontrolgroup.com

Hunter Labor MPs HIt Back At Premier's Train Manufacturing Comments

BY IAN CROUCH

Hunter Labor MP's have hit out over the Premier's comments about the state's train building ability, describing them as an insult.

Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney that Australia and NSW are not good at making trains, which is why they have to be purchased offshore.

NSW Labor Leader and former Newcastle MP, Jodi McKay says the Premier's comments are offensive to train building and other industries with a proud history in regions including the Hunter .

Swansea MP and Deputy Labor Leader, Yasmin Catley says the Premier has ignored the Hunter's proud ship and train building history, especially the Tangara carriages built in the 1980's by Goninans at Broadmeadow.

"..which are still running today on the tracks around NSW. The Premier has really demonstrated that she does not understand manufacturing. She's insulted those incredibly skilled workers that we have around this state, particularly those in the Hunter and, quite frankly, she's not up for her job if that's her view," she said.

Goninans (now UGL) built more than 450 Tangara carriages between 1987 and 1995. All but 8 are still in service and have been upgraded with the interiors repainted and new seating upholstery and handrails installed in 2010.

The Newcastle-built Tangara is still in service on Sydney's Rail Network Picture: busaustralia.com

Wallsend MP Calls For Ban On Sydneysiders Visting Newcastle And The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

Wallsend Mp, Sonia Hornery is calling on the Premier to ban all non-essential travel by Sydney residents to Newcastle and the Hunter.

It follows the case of a COVID-infectious Sydney man in his 20's visiting the Hotel Jesmond, Wallsend Diggers and the Lambton Park Hotel last week.

Hunter New England Health has contacted more than 200 people who were at those venues at the time of the man's visit.

Sonia Hornery believes there are many more who should've been contacted for COVID testing and isolation.

"We've also received Facebook messages from over 50 people who attended various venues including Jesmond last week who haven't been contacted by Hunter New England Health. Their response was that they had contacted 200 people, but that doesn't include people who may have walked in to the Jesmond pub 5 minutes before the time and remained there,' she said.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery

Plan To Get International Students Back To Newcastle University

BY IAN CROUCH

It's hoped the University of Newcastle will soon be able to welcome back international students as the coronavirus pandemic eases.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is working with all levels of government on a plan to transition the current two-week hotel quarantine system to a health checkpoint for international students.

The state government estimates foreign students are worth $13.9 billion to the economy and support 95,000 full-time jobs.

The Premier says regional universities won't survive unless they can get some of their students back.

It comes as the Hunter Business Chamber calls for an action plan to safely allow international students with existing visas back into NSW to help rebuild the education sector.

Newcastle University has more than 6000 international students among its cohort of 37,000 students.

Washington Slams Nelson Bay TAFE Promise

BY IAN CROUCH

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington has cast doubt on a Coalition promise to deliver a TAFE campus at Nelson Bay.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement on Friday, saying the government wants to give Port Stephens residents better access to education.

But Kate Washington says the promise has been made on the eve of an election with no land, no site identified, no planning work done and no timeline for completion.

The Port Stephens MP and Shadow Minister for The Hunter says the Liberal National government can't be trusted to deliver on the promise, given their track record when it comes to supporting TAFE.

Kate Washington says the Tomaree Education Centre was purpose-built to include a primary and secondary school as well as a TAFE and, while the facilities are still there, the government has refused to provide the resources to run the TAFE courses needed.

Kate Washington

Premier's $205 Million Dollar Commitment to Nelson Bay Road

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

The NSW Liberal-National Government has pledged to commit a further $205 million for the Nelson Bay Road duplication project if they are re-elected in the upcoming election.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the upgrade is essential for a road that gets over 25,000 motorists each day.

According to the Premier, Roads and Maritime Services have said the project could be started by the end of this year and will take two years to complete.

The $205 million dollar commitment comes in addition to the $70 million dollars allocated to the project in 2015 by then-Premier Mike Baird

"As the Hunter and NSW continue to grow, so does the number of motorists using our roads,"

"Nelson Bay Road is a crucial connection for residents but can become very busy during holiday periods," said Premier Berejiklian.

"That's why we're delivering major road upgrades and improvements to make it easier, faster and safer for people to get around,

"We are planning these improvements to support tourism and local industries as a major economic driver in the Port Stephens area."
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Image: Ian Crouch/2NURFM News

Port Stephens MP Wants a Billboard for Berejiklian

BY CATHERINE ALLEN

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington was joined by local nurses and health worker this morning to launch a campaign to crowd-fund a new billboard to be located on Nelson Bay Road.

The billboard is set to read "Schools and Hospitals before Sydney Stadiums" and is an attempt by Kate Washington to send a strong and clear message to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and local Liberal candidate, Jaimie Abbott.

"Don't waste billions of dollars on Sydney Stadiums, spend it on schools and hospitals instead,"

"Local residents have been raising this issue with me more and more. They can't believe the obscene waste, and they want to know how they can stop it," Ms Washington said.

"People in Port Stephens don't want their hard-earned taxpayers dollars being splurged on stadiums in Sydney."

$1600 is required to put the billboard in place, and Kate Washington has emphasised it is up to residents whether or not they donate to the fund.

Lorna Scott from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association echoed Ms Washington's sentiments that the government's priorities are wrong.

"For a good society we need health and we need education, and we need the environment to be looked at as well," said Ms Scott.

"These are vitally important things. Stadiums are important for a few people who like to watch men chasing balls, to be quite honest."

The NSW Labor Party has called for the people of NSW to be given the opportunity to have their say on the stadium spending, asking the Berejiklian Government to halt the stadium demolitions until after the March 23 election.

Any residents who wish to donate to the campaign are able to do so via Kate Washington's Facebook page.

Image: Ian Crouch/2NURFM News

Nelson Bay Road Duplication Delayed by Funding 'Backflip'

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

The state government is accused of back-flipping on an election promise to fund the duplication of Nelson Bay Road.

Former Premier Mike Baird promised $67 million to the project in 2015, but Freedom of Information documents requested by Port Stephens MP Kate Washington have revealed funding won't begin until after the 2020-21 financial year.

Voters will now face another state election before the duplication is complete, and Kate Washington says she can't understand how the Berejiklian Government thinks it could regain local support.

"There is a state budget coming up. They have one last opportunity to do the right thing by our community and bring forward this spend so that the full duplication of Nelson Bay Road, as promised, is delivered." Ms Washington told 2NUR.

Shadow Roads Minister Jodi McKay says Premier Gladys Berijiklian needs to come clean and explain her role in the decision to delay funding.

"Premier Baird stood in Port Stephens and promised a full duplication, then failed to deliver." Minister McKay said, labelling the backflip an 'insult to the people of Port Stephens.'

Jodi McKay and Kate Washington. Picture: Marina Neil, theherald.com

BREAKING! Fair Work Overrules RTBU Strike

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

In good news for Hunter commuters, a statewide planned stoppage to rail services on Monday will not go ahead.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union has been brought to its knees by a decision of the Fair Work Commission to ban Monday's strike- industrial action has been suspended for six weeks' time.

The Commission has justified the decision by considering the detrimental effects of a complete stoppage on the NSW economy, as government lawyers argued it could cost the state between $50 to $90 million as people struggle to get to work, school or anywhere else.

Utter chaos was experienced in the Sydney CBD today as commuters packed onto intercity trains running at a weekend frequency.

Fair Work believed if a ban on overtime hours could create such havoc, a total stoppage could endanger the population and grind productivity to a halt.

After joining talks between the RTBU and Transport Minister Andrew Constance today, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told reporters at Martin Place she's confident that, with the Commission's decision, the government will now be able to put the needs of the community first.

"I want to send the strongest message to the Rail Union and all NSW unions that we have a strong wages policy in place and we will continue to adhere to that policy moving forward," Ms Berejiklian said.

2NURFM News spoke to RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens yesterday, who slammed Transport Minister Andrew Constance's role in negotiations.

"In my experience (and I've worked under a lot of transport ministers) most of them have been conciliatory and understood the pressure we're all under...most of them have always agreed to sit down and talk about it. This guy's not prepared to."

Amidst the Union and media scrutiny, Premier Berejiklian today defended Andrew Constance's handling of the fiasco, expressing her gratitude to him.

Packed like sardines: a Sydney train during today's overtime ban.