Critical Incident Investigation Launched After Woman's Body Was Discovered In Muswellbrook

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A critical incident has been launched, after the body of a woman was found at a home in Muswellbrook. 

At about 7:20am yesterday (Monday the 30th of October, 2023), officers were called to a property on Sydney Street for a concern for welfare check.

Officers spoke with a 52-year-old woman, before leaving the scene a short time later.

Later, at about 7:00pm, officers were called to a licensed premises on the same street, following reports a woman was behaving in an erratic manner.

Police attended and spoke with a 52-year-old woman outside the club, before she was arrested and taken to the Calvary Mater Hospital under police guard for an assessment. 

At about 8:30pm, emergency services were called to the earlier Sydney Street property for another welfare check. 

Upon arrival, police found the body of a woman, believed to be in her 60's. 

It's not yet known how the woman died. 

A critical incident team from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Scott Tanner, says police are working to establish what the relationship between the two women is, and how officers responded to the two incidents. 

"With these matters, police have a view of all the circumstances surrounding the matter, and we wish to have an independent body look at the investigation, and the response of police at the time," he said. 

Newcastle MP Says Future of Cashless Welfare Card Could Come Down Hard on the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon has criticized the Federal Government's attempts to push an extension and expansion of the cashless welfare card program through parliament.

While the bill went before the Senate on Wednesday night, plans to expand the program's reach to new areas and make it permanent in current areas were abandoned in favour of amendments which extended the ongoing trial's life by another two years.

Ms Claydon said the program would be devastating for disadvantaged families if expanded to regional areas such as the Hunter in the future, and that Labor would not support the bill, even in a "watered-down form". 

"It's a program that punishes poor people, it's a program that separates vulnerable people from the rest of the community, subjects them to an income management regime that denies them agency in their lives," Ms Claydon said.

The bill was opposed in the Senate by Labor, the Greens, and independents Jacqui Lambie and Rex Patrick, but managed to find support in One Nation's vote.

Ms Claydon described the legislation as a lazy form of policymaking which did very little to fix structural issues and serious gaps in the welfare system.

"I would hope that the Government would actually listen to the expert advice that they commissioned," Ms Claydon said. 

"If they did, if they listened to Aboriginal community controlled organisations on the ground, and if they were taking note of that advice, they would not be pursuing this legislation."