Hunter Sports Clubs Urged to Submit to Inquiry into Sports Rorts Scandal

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

Hunter sporting clubs and organisations are being encouraged to share their experience following the Sports Rorts scandal.

An independent review by the Auditor General, into the Community Sports Infrastructure Grant program, found the Morrison Government had used the exercise to pork-barrel funding with the aim of winning seats in marginal areas.

The Labor held Hunter electoratse of  Paterson received $167,000 and Shortland was granted $277,113.

Meanwhile the Coalition seats of Lyne and Robertson were awarded a total of over $2.1 million from the $100 million dollar fund.

A select committee to further investigate the issue has been launched, with Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon saying now is the time for locals to have their say.

Ms Claydon believes there were a lot of local organisations that were overlooked in their applications, and now is their chance to contribute to the discussion.

"These organisations have an increasing demand on their field and ovals, change-rooms, canteens and more," she said.

"They applied on what should've been a competitive, merit-based grants program, but they got completely by-passed by a very cruel and selfish focus from a Government just trying to win marginal seats. That is not okay, by anyone's measure."

Ms Claydon says the committee will look into the delivery and decision-making processes involved throughout the grants program.

She explains that the inquiry will put the program guidelines, the assessment process, and the requirements places on applicants under the microscope.

"It will also look at the role of senior Government offices, including that of the Prime Minister's own office, in hand picking winners in marginal seats," she said.

Ms Claydon is encouraging locals who applied for the funding to contribute to the committee.

She's hoping to get a lot of feedback from Hunter Valley sporting bodies and organisations before submissions close on 21 February.

The committee is scheduled to report in late March.

Ms Claydon urges anyone with further information about the program to get in touch with her office before then.

New Look Shadow Cabinet Puts Hunter in the Spotlight

BY LILLY HAINES

Jodi McKay has made her first trip outside of Sydney since being named leader of the state opposition, to meet with the five Hunter MPs named in her shadow cabinet.

Meeting with local members at Nobby's Beach on Friday, the former Newcastle MP said she wanted her first trip to be to the Hunter because the area means so much to her personally.

The meeting officially introduced the local MPs granted portfolios in the new shadow cabinet, including Deputy Leader and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley.

Ms Mckay said she is thrilled to have the "girls from the Hunter leading the Labor Party", with both herself and Yasmin Catley hailing from regional New South Wales.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington takes on the role as Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage, and Shadow Minister for Rural Health.

Member for Charlestown Jodie Harrison is joining the shadow cabinet for the first time in her role as Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Learning, which Jodie Mckay says will be important as "Labor sees education as a priority going forward".

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr is taking on the role of Shadow Minister for Water, Innovation, Science, Tertiary Education as well as Shadow Minister for the Hunter.

"It was really important for me that the role of Shadow Minister for the Hunter role was not just focused on the city area of Newcastle," said Jodi McKay.

"I wanted to pay tribute to all those people in the Hunter Valley and I wanted Clayton to take on this role so he could be an advocate for Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, and Scone because it is important for those communities to know that we are there for them as well."

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison steps into the role of Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Medical Research, and Investment and Tourism.

Jodi Mckay said under her leadership the party plans to reconnect with rural and regional New South Wales and is using the appointments of these MPs to key cabinet portfolios to reflect this commitment to regions like the Hunter.

"This region is so important to the economic prosperity of this state," she said.

"I know what makes this region tick, I know how people here feel and think and it is important for me personally that we have a strong team coming from the Hunter."

The opposition leader also used the opportunity to reaffirm Labor's position on a proposed container port terminal in Newcastle, calling for action from the state government.

The comments come after NSW National party leader John Barilaro said he would support removal of restrictions for the expansion of a terminal including the removal of the cap and fee on container movements.

Mr Barilaro was referring to the presence of a clause inserted into the port sale contract by then Treasurer Mike Baird that imposes a cap and fee on all container terminals coming out of Newcastle Port.

Ms McKay said the deputy premier has long claimed he is willing to "stand up to" the coalition's Liberal members and says he should stop posturing and actually deliver for the people of the Hunter.

"The Nationals sat around the cabinet table when their Liberal masters drew up the sale documents for the state's port so John Barilaro can strut and crow as much as he likes about keeping the Liberals honest but this is a real test for him,"

"The people of Newcastle and the Hunter want to see action and even the Nationals rank and file members can see that the regions have been shortchanged because of the deal."

Hunter MP's announced in the Shadow Cabinet met at Nobby's Beach today.
L-R Clayton Barr, Yasmin Catley, Jodie Harrison, Kate Washington, Jodi McKay, Tim Crakanthorp, Jenny Aitchison.

Labor Roundtable on Regional Services

BY ALICE PEART

Labor representatives met at a Paterson community center today for a roundtable discussion with community members and professionals to identify problems in regional services across the Hunter.

The discussion covered housing, education and health services but predominately focussed on problems with the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Shadow Minister for Regional Services Jason Clare said it was about sitting down with the community to hear about what's working with the NDIS, and what's not.

The roundtable reportedly heard from one woman who had her funding cut by 90 percent and other community members who feel they still cannot access adequate support despite the scheme.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson said people are frustrated and are becoming fearful for the future,

"Particularly out in the regions because we don't always have the level of service you might have in the metropolitan area".

The Shadow Minister said while Labor is in opposition his role is to shine a light on the problems and spend the next three years forming policy.

Response Still Lukewarm Following Newcastle Bus Change

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Newcastle's updated bus and ferry timetable is being met with criticism, following private transport operator Keolis Downer's unveiling this morning.

The updated timetable includes improvements to routes like the 14 between Swansea and the Newcastle, restoring a direct link into the CBD. 

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley said those in her electorate are relieved they no longer have to jump aboard three buses to reach the city, however believes long journey times are still posing an inconvenience. 

The Swansea to Newcastle link departing at 7:56am now takes 87 minutes to reach its destination.

"It now takes longer to get from Swansea Heads to Newcastle than it did before Keolis Downer introduced the new network," Ms Catley said. 

"That's just not good enough," she continued, "it is not incentivising people to use public transport and at the end of the day, that's supposed to be our objective - getting cars off the roads and bums on seats on buses." 

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery accused Keolis Downer of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' in providing vital services to Lake Macquarie but reducing services within her electorate. 

"Not only were no changes made in parts of North Lambton, Lambton and Shortland, but now we will see reduced services to Wallsend as part of the refinements," Ms Hornery said. 

Meanwhile, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is disappointed the July 29 refinements will mark the loss of 92 ferry services, made up of 10 cuts on weekends and 21 throughout the week. 

"When ferry patronage is the only form of transport increasing," he said, "why would you cut services?" 

In a tweet, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce said it's disappointing no buses have been restored to travel down Beaumont Street. 

However, Corporate Affairs Director for Keolis Downer, Andrew Fletcher, said the changes come as a direct result of community feedback. 

"We've received over 2500 pieces of community feedback and we've analysed over 90,000 trips," he said, "changes like the direct connection for House With No Steps at Lambton address the bulk of concerns and make for a more efficient network." 

Mr Fletcher said Keolis Downer would double their efforts to make sure commuters were aware of which routes to take amid the shake-up. 

"From today, people will be able to study the new timetables applying to buses, school and ferry services," he said. 

An overview of the refinements along with updated network maps and timetables is available here.

Community drop-in sessions will be held by the network operator at the following locations:

Swansea Centre 228 Pacific Highway Swansea Monday 9 July 2018 4pm to 6pm.

Lake Macquarie Tavern 66 Wilsons Road Mount Hutton Tuesday 10 July 2018 4pm to 5.30pm.

The Place, Charlestown Frederick St, Charlestown Wednesday 11 July 2018 4pm to 6pm.