Upper Hunter MP Will Continue To Fight For The Return Of The Regional Seniors Travel Card

BY OLIVIA GOELDNER

The State Member for Upper Hunter has said he will continue to fight for the reinstatement of the Regional Seniors Travel Card. 

The $250 card provided a much-needed boost to the travel budget of seniors across the Hunter, allowing them to complete daily tasks like attending medical appointments or visiting family and friends. 

The card has since been scrapped in the current NSW budget, leaving many feeling left behind. 

Dave Layzell says a petition debate held on Monday advocating for the return of the vital resource was gagged in Parliament. 

"At the end of the day, there is one Government in charge at the moment and they are the ones who make the decision on  the card and they are the ones who've decided to cut the card, so were saying to them 'reverse that decision' because it is a popular card that does a lot for the community." 

He says he will continue to present the matter to Parliament next year, saying the needs of our seniors should no longer be ignored. 

"The enormous good this card does for our community means that we will continue to fight for our seniors."

What Were You Wearing Petition Tabled in Parliament

BY DANEIE GEDDES

Yesterday, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp tabled a petition in Parliament calling on the government to mandate drink spiking and sexual violence training for all licensed venue staff in NSW. 

Last financial year, Newcastle accounted for the second highest number of spiking reports in NSW. 

The petition was created by Hunter-based advocacy group What Were You Wearing, targeting the growing number of drink spiking cases in the region. 

The petition garnered a mass of support from the local community, reaching over 20,000 signatures.

Tim Crakanthorp said the issue needs to properly be addressed. 

"The petition calls for spiking prevention kits, educational resources, and posters in venues to promote patron safety and awareness," he said. 

"The whole idea of What Were You Wearing is aimed at reducing the stigma put on victims."

What Were You Wearing Media Vice President Marcie Cheers said they've reached some remarkable milestones but there's still more to be done. 

"It's the first step in a very long battle, we've definitely hit some amazing goals, but its not over yet; it's over to the politicians now to decide the fate of drink spiking and sexual assault training," she said. 

Tim Crakanthorp says the matter should be debated in the next month. 

NSW Government to Rule-Out the Privatisation of Hunter Water

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The NSW Government will this week introduce legislation to Parliament to protect Hunter Water from privatisation. 

The first piece of legislation out of the new Minns government, aims to amend the Constitution Act 1902, and will require both Hunter and Sydney water to remain under public ownership. 

The change will mean the companies cannot be sold-off or disposed of. 

Both the Premier and The Minister for the Hunter said they don't want to see Hunter Water suffer the same fate as the state's electricity network and toll roads. 

"We've seen the cost of electricity go up with privatisation, we've seen toll roads and their prices go up under privatisation, and the last thing we want is for water prices to go up," Tim Crakanthorp said.  

Mr Crakanthorp said the Bill represents Labor's commitment to stop selling-off public assets. 

"Hunter Water has served our community for over 130 years; it's provided critical drinking water, crucial infrasturue and profit directed back into the state government," he said.  

"The former government would sell everything but the kitchen sink if they had the chance." 

"We've ruled-out privatisation." 

Singleton firefighters calling for changeroom after a century

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A NSW MP has made the case in the State's Upper House after Singleton firefighters raised the alarm on a lack of changeroom facilities. 

The Singleton fire station was built in 1915, but more than 100 years later, still lacks a simple changeroom, as well as separate toilets and showers for male and female officers. 

One Nation MP Rod Roberts says it's disappointing and concerning.

"They talk about an inclusive and diverse workforce," he said. "What woman wants to go and work somewhere where she's forced - she has no option, but she's forced - to strip down to her underwear in front of her work colleagues?"

"Apart from that, they're also in full view of members of the public that were walking down John Street or using any of the buildings that surround the fire station, and in this day and age in 2022, that is just not acceptable."

A pair of dance schools are located near the fire station, as well as a number of other premises around the Singleton CBD.

Mr Roberts says there are legal issues just waiting to happen.

"That's why the firefighters at Singleton raised it with me," he said. "They're not deliberately going around willfully exposing themselves to members of the public, but it's only going to take one member of the public that walks past, who takes some form of offence to this, and these firefighters and their employers could be open to some form of legal action."

Fire and Rescue NSW was allocated $50 million in the State Government's latest budget to upgrade female amenities over the next ten years, but couldn't be pressed on the situation at Singleton.

Deputy Commissioner Megan Stiffler says they're still in the early stages when it comes to spending the funding.

"FRNSW is currently assessing the priority of fire stations based on the condition of facilities and the current distribution of female firefighters," she said.

"Priority projects will be scoped to determine both the extent of works and the costs involved. Works are estimated to commence on the identified projects in November."

But Mr Roberts says the station isn't asking for much, and it should be a priority today.

"The professional men and women at Singleton Fire Station are very practical people," he said.

"They've said to me, 'Rod, we don't need a whole new fire station, we don't need go to that extent.'"

"All we're asking for is a demountable building to be placed in the rear courtyard of the fire station, that can be converted into separate male and female toilets and showers and changing facilities."

Hunter unions and women's support services welcome domestic violence leave legislation

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter unions and women's support services are welcoming the introduction of new legislation to Federal Parliament this week, giving workers across Australia access to ten days of paid domestic violence leave.

11 million workers are expected to benefit if the legislation successfully passes, including casual staff.

Both women's advocates and the broader union movement have spent around a decade calling for the change.

Hunter Workers Women's Committee Chair Leanne Holmes says security at work is a basic right.

"We've been in situations where women have had to make the choice between feeding their kids and finding a safe place to live," she said.

"A worker can now take paid time to go to court, move house, move his or her kids to a different school without losing their job, and that's the most important part. Work is people's anchor, it's their sort of safe space where they can earn an income." 

Labor's likely to be able to muster up the numbers to get the bill passed, though the Opposition has indicated it's still leaning towards the Fair Work Commission's model, where casual workers wouldn't receive the entitlement.

But Nova for Women and Children CEO Kelly Hansen says women make up the majority of the casual workforce, and are often the most at risk.

"A lot goes under-reported," she said. "This may give women the courage or the confidence to be able to report, and know that they will be able to follow through on any aspects that they have to, without being penalised."

"I think it's indicative of cultural change towards women and gendered violence. It also is indicative of trying to remove barriers and alleviate some of the pressures for women."

If passed, the legislation is expected to come into effect for larger businesses by February next year, though smaller businesses will have an additional six months to prepare for the change.

Anthony Albanese joined women's safety advocates at a vigil on the lawn of Parliament House on Thursday morning, describing domestic violence as a "stain on our national soul".

Ms Holmes was there, and says it was an emotional moment.

"Walking through Parliament yesterday on the front lawns, and Anthony Albanese coming out and then being in the chamber for that legislation to be commended to Parliament, you can feel the change," she said.

"We're finally in a space where the people of Australia are being listened to, and there's real positive change happening - literally happening before our eyes."

"It's not just saving lives, it's saving livelihoods."

Image credit: Anthony Albanese.

Hunter MPs take to the government benches for the first time

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The 47th Federal Parliament kicks off today, with Hunter MPs taking to the government benches for the first time in their careers.

Shortland MP Pat Conroy, Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon, and Paterson MP Meryl Swanson have been in opposition since their respective elections, but will finally cross the chamber as Labor claims power.

Ms Claydon is also the party's pick for Deputy Speaker, with Queensland MP Milton Dick likely to be Speaker.

The Government is expected to take steps toward major aged care reform and the implementation of ten days paid domestic violence for all workers.

"It's finally an opportunity to put on the agenda all of the things that the people of Newcastle voted for," Ms Claydon said.

"This first week of Parliament, for a new Labor Government, is to first and foremost start bringing Australians together, creating that better future that we put to the Australian people at the election."

It's Hunter MP Dan Repacholi's first time altogether as a member, one of 35 new MPs in the Lower House.

He's a fresh face in the Canberra ranks, but won't be delivering his inaugural speech on Tuesday.

The former sport shooter says he's looking forward to his first term in Parliament.

"Pumped, to be honest," he said. "This is an amazing thing to represent the Hunter, and an amazing thing to represent Australia."

"To be in the Australian Federal Government, it's an amazing thing to do." 

Wallsend MP Addresses Parliament about Fence at Glendore Public School

BY HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery will address parliament today and request that the long-awaited security fence for Glendore Public School is built as soon as possible as it "isn't secure" for the staff or the students.

The school which has been broken into three times since November last year has experienced $100 000 dollars worth of damage and can no longer afford to fix the property that is continuously damaged or to clean-up the vandalism that occurs. Glendore is the only school in the area yet to receive a security fence.

"This is the only school in the area that doesn't have a security perimeter fence and it's the only school being broken into and vandalized," says Ms. Hornery, "the community and school are sick and tired of having to replace items on a regular basis with anyone free to roam through the school grounds."

Five-hundred concerned parents have signed a petition calling on the Minister for Education to prioritize building the school a fence so that the students of Glendore Public can feel safe and secure when trying to learn.

"I am hopeful that now we have a new Minister, that the government might be willing to listen to the community concerns," claimed Ms. Hornery, "the school isn't secure and a perimeter fence around the school would really help that."

Photo belonging to the Newcastle Herald