Premier Sacks Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack Over Koala Protection Laws

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack has been sacked from her position by the NSW Premier for crossing the floor over koala protection laws. 

Ms Cusack moved a motion against the government bill on Thursday night, which saw it go down 18-19, arguing it still puts koala habitat at risk. 

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington has backed the move. 

In response, Premier Gladys Berejiklian removed Ms Cusack from her position.  

"Following her decision today to move a non-Government amendment to a Government bill, I have made the decision to immediately remove Ms Catherine Cusack as a Parliamentary Secretary," Gladys Berejikian said. 

The Local Land Services (LLS) Bill will now be sent to a Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Greens MP Cate Faehrmann MLC.

“It’s abundantly clear that this bill was to be the National Party’s Trojan horse which would have seen decades of work on the government’s primary mechanism to protect koalas discarded and nullify environmental protections on rural land," said Ms Faehrmann.

“Not a single member of the Liberals spoke to this bill when it passed through the lower house. If not for the courage of Catherine Cusack today, the koala would have been sacrificed for the sake of preserving an increasingly fractured Coalition.

“Sending this bill off to an inquiry is the best outcome and what better committee to examine this bill than the one that just wrapped up its landmark inquiry into koala populations,” said Ms Faehrmann.

The Premier and the Deputy Premier said the NSW Government would revert to operations under the former planning policies by the end of the month and in the new year would develop a policy to protect koalas and the interests of farmers.

In a statement Gladys Berejiklian and Nationals Leader, John Barilaro said, "Our farmers deserve certainty and they do not deserve to be held to ransom by a Greens-controlled inquiry." 

Image: News.com.au

Plans for the $780 Million John Hunter Hospital Building Unveiled

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Concept designs for the new, seven-storey Acute Services Building for John Hunter and John Hunter’s Children’s hospitals has been unveiled.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $780 million health and innovation precinct at John Hunter would drive significant economic growth in Newcastle region, generating jobs in construction and health.

“John Hunter Hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in NSW and this investment will provide enhanced health facilities ensuring the region has a world-class hospital to cater to its growing population,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Construction of the precinct will support more than 3,000 jobs over the life of the project helping stimulate the economy, a key component of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the redevelopment will significantly increase critical care capacity, with a 60 per cent increase in the Intensive Care Unit capacity and almost 50 per cent more theatres, interventional suites and procedural spaces.

“The Precinct will drive innovative collaborations between the health, education and research sectors, ultimately improving patient outcomes for communities in the Hunter region,” Mr Hazzard said.

The new Acute Services Building will include;

•  A new emergency department
• Critical care services (adult and paediatric)
• Operating theatres, interventional and imaging service
• Birthing suite and inpatient maternity unit
• Neonatal intensive care and special care nursery
• Larger and redeveloped inpatient units
•  Rooftop helipad

Stage 1 of an interim Emergency Department expansion has also been completed early as part of NSW Government’s COVID-19 response.

“I’m also pleased the Emergency Department expansion was delivered five months ahead of schedule, providing an additional 12 dedicated paediatric treatment areas and additional capacity to deal with the pandemic, with Stage 2 scheduled for completion early next year,” Mr Hazzard said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack, said the new Acute Services Building will serve the Hunter region for many years to come.

“This is a great opportunity to share the future vision of the Precinct, which will transform health care in the Hunter, bringing expanded, enhanced health services closer to home,” Ms Cusack said.

Early works on the new Acute Services Building are expected to commence in 2021 with main works construction scheduled to commence in 2022.