Newcastle Drink Spiking Petition Heads To Parliament

 BY IAN CROUCH

Less than a month after securing 20,000 signatures on a Newcastle petition calling for reforms to Responsible Service of Alcohol Laws, state parliament set to debate drink spiking this week.

Newcastle-based What Were You Wearing launched the petition calling for all security and bar staff at nightclubs to be trained on drink spiking and sexual violence prevention.

It followed a rise in reported cases in recent months.

The petition has the support of Newcastle MP, Tim Crackanthorp, who will lead the debate on Thursday. 

Drink spiking petition to be debated in parliament this week Picture: The Independent

All Known Asbestos To Go From Newcastle East Public School By End Of Year

BY IAN CROUCH

Asbestos contamination at the historic Newcastle East Public School will be a thing of the past by the end of the year.

Concerns were raised by parents and teachers on the first day of Term 1 this year after friable asbestos was found in the school's heritage buildings during renovations over the summer holidays.

The state government has spent $1.4 million up until March 25 on asbestos removal and a further $150,000 on replacing potentially contaminated library books and sports equipment.

Newcastle Mp Tim Crackanthorp says the Education Department has confirmed all known asbestos will be removed by the end of 2020, while artificial turf will be laid on already-encapsulated asbestos in the school playground.

Newcastle East Public School

State Government Sinks Opportunity for Newcastle Cruise Terminal

BY MEGHAN RICHARDSON

The state government has attracted criticism after refusing to support the development of the world-class cruise ship terminal in the Port of Newcastle.

The original development was announced in 2016 with a $12.7 million dollar budget allocated for construction.

The Liberal Government has now backed out of their promise to fund the first-class cruise port.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crakanthorp pushed for a motion calling on the Government to reverse its decision to withdraw funding.

The motion was narrowly defeated with a vote of 47- 45.

The cruise ship terminal promised to bring in thousands of tourists into Newcastle and the Hunter.

It was theorised it could add a significant boost to local businesses and assist the struggling Newcastle economy 

Mr Crakanthorp  claims Government MPs are being hypocritical by refusing to support the Newcastle terminal while boasting about pork-barrelling funding for their own electorates.

"This Government has spent $55 million dollars on the port of Eden," Mr Crakanthorp claimed. "Yet when we want some money here in Newcastle, the second largest city in the state, for the same thing, we are rejected when we request that little bit more than that 12.7 million dollars"

He says the people of Newcastle are fed up with the Government's unfair treatment.

"I'm constantly being contacted by local people who are very unhappy about this government and their inability to facilitate a cruise ship terminal in Newcastle," Mr Crankanthorp says.

Mr Crankanthorp says he will keep pushing the state government but for now the possibility of a world-class cruise ship terminal for Newcastle seems dead in the water.

The scrapped designs for the terminal released in 2017

Concerns Over Cyclist Safety

BY TYLER FARDELL


At a round-table discussion in Newcastle today, State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp and Shadow Minister for Active Transport Jo Haylen condemned the State Government's lack of action over planned cycle paths in the Newcastle CBD.

Plans for new cycle paths were included in visions for the CBD along with the construction of the light rail, but no development on new paths was ever started.

The lack of adequate safety measures for cyclists with no clear lanes or signage has resulted in a number of minor accidents and unfortunately one tragic event last month where 51 year old Danny Egan lost his life after falling off his bike while crossing the light rail tracks.

"The Government cannot continue to ignore the multitude of accidents, including a fatal accident, since the opening of the Newcastle light rail", said Mr Crakanthorp.

Mr Crakanthorp says an 'East to West' cycle path in the city would be the desired outcome and could be achieved with as little funding as 10 million dollars.

Ms Haylen says a cycle path would attract more business to the CBD improve traffic congestion.

Tim Crakanthorp MP, Jo Haylen MP  and Bernard Hockings at Newcastle today

Newcastle Buses Petition Goes To State Parliament

BY IAN CROUCH

Around 100 people will travel to state parliament this afternoon to deliver a petition of 20,000 thousand signatures calling for a review of Newcastle buses.

Commuters have been complaining in large numbers since the bus network and timetables were overhauled in January, with many saying popular routes have been cut and services are turning up late or not at all.

Hamilton resident, Patricia Mulligan has collected 3000 signatures and says the changes have had a massive impact on the elderly.

"...and even going up to Beaumont Street, that 201 has been taken away and also we can;t get to Aldi because there's no 201 that goes over there, which was very convenient and people here enjoy having that bus and it was really good," she said.

Hamilton Resident, Patricia Mulligan (second from right) discusses concerns about Newcastle Buses with Hunter state Labor Mps

Transport Minister Urged to "Fix" Newcastle Buses As Commuters Return To Cars

BY IAN CROUCH

The state opposition is stepping up pressure on the Transport Minister to come clean about the true extent of patronage since the introduction of the new timetable came into force for Newcastle buses.

The government continues to claim commuter numbers have increased since the new timetable and bus routes started in January, however Labor says Opal data contradicts this.

Newcastle MP, Tim Crakanthorp, Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery, Charlestown MP, Jodie Harrison and Swansea MP, Yasmin Catley joined with residents outside the Hamilton bus depot on Friday morning to urge Transport Minister Andrew Constance to review the timetable and restore key routes across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas.

A petition of 20,000 signatures is being presented to parliament next week, with a debate on the issue expected on Thursday.

Tim Crackanthorp says the situation is being made worse as more people get back in their cars for the city commute

"This week we had the Lee Wharf Parking Station closed down - that's over 250 parking spaces. People want to use public transport...but the bus network is an absolute disaster," he said.

Hunter Labor Mps Meet With Affected Residents Outside The Hamilton Bus Depot