Low Income Families Squeezed out of the System: Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon

BY JESSICA ROUSE AND LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Federal Government is changing the requirements for families to be eligible for funding assistance, and Hunter MP's aren't happy.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said close to 1200 families will be losing out in his electorate with cuts to childcare assistance.

Under the government's new package families will have to satisfy a complex set of rules to qualify for government assistance including a work test and a means test. Joel Fitzgibbon says the works test will require families to satisfy minimum levels of 'approved activities' each fortnight.

He says it's outrageous.

"These new activity test rules are so complex and difficult that many low income families where one person, indeed sometimes two people working casually will be squeezed out of the system. Money funding and big tax cuts for the big end of town means low income families lose their child care."

He adds families in the lowest income bracket who earn less than $65,000 will be hit the worst by the changes, and its all on top of the 18 per cent growth in fees since the Liberal Government was elected.

"We want people in the workforce and to have them in the workforce we need flexible childcare arrangements. These new activity tests will squeeze many low income families out of the system, indeed 1200 alone in my electorate and many more across the Hunter region,"

"Well the government is out to save money to fund its multi-billion dollar tax cuts for the big end of town, and who pays? Low income families in the Hunter region," said Joel Fitzgibbon.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon. Image theaustralia.com.au

"It's Wicked What They've Done to Us": Kim-Leeanne King on the Government's Non-Response to the Williamtown Contamination

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's the town residents want to escape from, but they simply can't.

The PFAS contamination of Williamtown, or the red zone, has been plaguing the residents since the scandal was revealed in September 2015.

Kim-Leeanne King is just one of the many who lives along Cabbage Tree Road, one of the areas within the primary contaminated zones from PFAS. It's also the same road of a possible "cancer cluster" after Fairfax revealed at least 24 people who had lived on the road over the past 15 years had been diagnosed with cancer.

The cancer cluster reports were revealed earlier this year and labelled as being "too large to be coincidental" by One Nation Senator Brian Burston.

Kim-Leeanne has seen the effects of cancer firsthand after her father died of bowel cancer in 2005.

"Thyroid and colon cancer are known factors and the fact that my father was eating the vegetables that were grown here, I think that only adds to the worry that the rest of us have now, it's not if we get cancer but when we get it," said Kim-Leeanne.


The 47-year-old mother has always thought something wasn't quite right; her daughter suffers from various allergies and she herself has had a medical scare of her own this year.

The boundary of her property backs onto the heavily contaminated Lake Cochrane, adding to her suspicions about the chemical making her family, and her livestock, sick.

"I am resourceful, so I have done my own research on these chemicals and certainly what we are being told is different to what's happening overseas so we are doing everything that we possibly can. We no longer eat our own vegetables which we used to water with bore water."

Not eating anything grown on properties in Williamtown is one of the precautions laid out in guidelines published by both the Department of Defence and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the precautions though vary. Defence says it's alright to eat some things grown in certain areas, whereas the EPA urge residents not to eat anything grown anywhere within the red zone.

"Don't come in contact with surface water, don't do this, don't do that. I mean they're telling us all there are no known health effects, you're pretty safe, you're this you're that. But if they're telling us all of this why are they putting these precautions out there if they're not worried themselves?"

When it comes to taking precautions, Kim-Leeanne says they don't even let their grandson go outside and play for fear of what the chemicals in the ground may do to his health.

"He can't even go out in the yard and play. How sad is that? And this is Australia. And all the politicians are worried about in Canberra is their dual citizenship and saving their own political lives. It's a disgrace. A national disgrace."

Now Kim-Leeanne is just begging for an escape.

"That's the saddest thing. there's no way out. And then how do you replace what you've spent a lifetime building and doing... and I don't know... even just the sentimental value of things. It's wicked what they've done to us."

Cabbage Tree Road.

Swanson Moves Motion with Greens for Answers on Red Zone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Federal Government now has a deadline.

They have until February 6, 2018, to explain what consideration they are giving to the people and business of Williamtown when it comes to their financial situations.

Labor, the Greens and some minor parties have joined forces to put forward a Senate motion condemning the Department of Defence's response to the PFAS contamination saga in the Williamtown red zone, and also calling on the Turnbull government to explain what consideration it has given to addressing any financial impacts on affected businesses and individuals.

The motion was a culmination of work by Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon and Paterson MP Meryl Swanson who has been going in to bat for Williamtown in Canberra since the saga began.

"That's what this motion is about, it's about putting pressure on the government to say you keep telling us that you have a solution, you keep telling us that you have options for the people of Williamtown. That was six months ago, where are these options, we need to know what is going on," said Meryl Swanson.

A solution is yet to be found for the people suffering in the red zone, and Meryl Swanson believes the issue is bigger than politics, it's about people's lives.

"I just really want a scheme that's fair and that is straight forward and that helps people and gives them options. The actuary people, the policy people will be able to develop the details of whatever these things are going to be, but I just want something that's going to look after the people of Williamtown who have already been through enough."

"What they need to do is give a meaningful explanation of what is going on moving forward so when Senator James Magrath, head of the PFAS Taskforce stands up and says we have a plan, we need to know what that plan is," said Meryl Swanson.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson in Williamtown in May 2017.

Williamtown PFAS Contamination Drop-In Sessions

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Residents living in and around the Williamtown contaimination red zone have the opportunity to go along to information sessions tonight and tomorrow to hear from the Department of Defence.

The information sessions will focus on the findings of the 2017 Environmental Site Assessment and the 2017 Off-Site Human Health Risk Assessment.

The latest report found the maitenance zone, or red zone, now extends to include another 250 properties.

The details for the events are:

Community information presentation: Tuesday 5 December 2017
                                                              at the Murrook Cultural Centre, 2163 Nelson Bay Road,
                                                              Williamtown, 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Community walk-in sessions: Wednesday 6 December 2017
                                                  at the Murrook Cultural Centre, 2163 Nelson Bay Road,
                                                 Williamtown,
                                                 Morning session: 9:00am - 12:00pm
                                                 Afternoon session: 2:00pm - 6:00pm

At the walk-in sessions local residents and businesses will be able to ask questions, one-on-one with Defence and other government department agencies on the report findings.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the information sessions will be quite saddening for many of the residents.

"It's going to be tough news for residents because I think it is going to really be speaking to the potential poor health outcomes that flowed from this contamination. Whilst it won't specifically be about health, it will be about how the contaminants travels to humans."

There are more sessionss planned in the near future, but Kate Washington fears they may not deliver what the community wants.

"We're hearing from defence today that the community meetings coming up are about the conclusion of their assessment of the human health. Now for me that's a little bit concerning. It suggest that there may not be any future testing done, it suggests that this might be the end of the road for Defence's purposes in terms of determinin goutcomes for humans."

Hunter School Cleaners Fear For Their Jobs

BY ANNABEL ROBINSON

School cleaners are now in fear of losing their jobs.

The NSW Government is suggesting they will have to reapply for their jobs at the end of every contract as of next year. This will result in their accrued sick leave, recreational leave and long service leave becoming obsolete.

Cleaners current employment guarantees and conditions have been in place since 1994 and many cleaners fear that finding another job will be difficult as new contractors may not want to employ older people.

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, will move a Notice of Motion today calling the NSW Government to provide cleaners with better job security.

School cleaners are valued in the community as they have provided us with their service for decades keeping our school environments clean and safe.

"There will be an increasing loss of jobs because the providers will employ less people and expect others to work longer and as a result our schools won't be clean," Sonia said.

Sonia says the only thing fueling the Government's actions is to save money on wages and this is truly unfair and she will be urging the Premier to take steps in protecting our cleaners jobs and conditions.

It Could Get A Little Rowdy at Politics in the Pub Tonight

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Politics in the Pub is coming to Newcastle tonight, and it's sure to be a very lively discussion.

Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Member for Fenner Andrew Leigh is visiting Newcastle this week and will be hosting tonight's pub event with local MP Sharon Claydon.

He said he has no doubts the discussion could get rowdy with topics ranging from same sex marriage to the dual citizenship crisis plaguing the parliament.

"I imagine once we get past the usual jokes about dual citizenship we'll move onto the plethora of issues that are on people's minds. Newcastle voted strongly for marriage equality and I'm keen to see when parliament resumes that bill passes the parliament."

The discussion is also likely to turn to funding for schools, new hospitals, an answer to our clean energy future and Novocastrian's numerous grievances with the National Broadband Network.

"You can think of it as being like a boisterous Christmas lunch. People will be throwing questions at us and we'll be doing our best to respond and one of the things that I've constantly noticed through these kinds of events is that while you might impart some ideas, you learn far more than you give," said Andrew.

"The great thing about these politics in the pub type events is that you never know what's going to come up."

Politics in the Pub is on at Foghorn Brewhouse tonight 6pm until 7:30pm.

MP Andrew Leigh. Image theadvocate.com.au

It's a Resounding YES to Same Sex Marriage

BY JESSICA ROUSE AND SARAH JAMES

Across the country the result of the same sex marriage postal survey is a resounding Yes.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics announced the results this morning which saw 61 per cent of voters vote Yes and 38 per cent vote No.

The Australian Capital Territory returned the highest majority of Yes votes with 74 percent, and New South Wales returned the least with 57.8 per cent.

133 electorates voted yes, 95 of those electorates had a majority of 60 per cent; of the 17 electorates who voted No, 6 of those electorates had a 60 percent majority of No votes.

YES Campaigners with Tiernan Brady in Newcastle earlier this year.

The statistics become more interesting the more you break them down, females were more likely to respond to the survey and those voters aged between 25 - 29 years old had the lowest participation rate compared to the 70 - 74 age group being the most likely to respond to the survey.

Now it's expected two private member's bills will be put before parliament. Both are from Liberal members including one from West Australian senator Dean Smith.

Some Conservatives want strong religious protections, but other MPs say the bill can't threaten anti-discrimination laws. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has endorsed a bill co-signed by Labor and the Greens which will leave religious protections to the mercy of the Senate.

How did Novocastrians vote?

The Newcastle electorate responded overwhelmingly in favour of same-sex marriage, with 74.8% of people voting Yes.

This meant Newcastle had the fifth-largest majority of Yes voters in the country.

Paterson, Shortland and Hunter returned similar results, with 65.5%, 67.7% and 64.4% voting yes respectively.

"What an exceptional result. It certainly demonstrates just how strongly the public believes in equality for all, and particularly here in Newcastle, how supportive our community is of the diversity of our region," said Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen.

Declan Clausen thanked the work of volunteers who campaigned for the Yes vote, ensuring people were enrolled and got their vote in.

"I was extremely pleased to see the huge number of volunteers that were out every day of the week and on weekends in the leadup to the closing of the survey, making sure people had the opportunity to return their vote and have a say," he said.

Williamtown Innovation Hub Officially Open

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The latest hub of innovation and technology has officially opened in Williamtown this morning.

The Williamtown Innovation Hub, also called "DSA-18", will support the research and development of new technologies for the defence industry.

It's a collaboration of the University of Newcastle with the support of the state government who contributed $1.5 million to the hub to drive innovation.

The hub has desks for both defence workers and university researchers, meeting rooms and will host networking events and seminars to provide opportunities for engagement with local and national companies in the defence, security, IT and transport sectors.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says the innovation hub will make the latest technologies available to researchers to develop bigger and better things.

"It's really important that people have a place to incubate those ideas if you like and bounce them off colleagues who work in the industry and see if they're adaptable and see if the commercialisation is possible and that can only happen if you're working closely together," said Scot MacDonald.

The Hunter region's defence sector employs more than 4,600 people and contributes $1.3 billion to the region's economy.

"This will get the academics and professors working out the hub making themselves available to people who have got ideas that might be picked up by the defence industry. A lot of the innovation really does come from if you like, grassroots level," said Scot MacDonald.

Artists impression.

Vales Point Power Station Not so Worthless Anymore

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Vales Point Power Station on the edge of Lake Macquarie was meant to shut its doors in 2021, but now it's been revealed it won't shut until 2029 and its worth $729 million more than it was bought for.

The coal-fired power station has certainly made plenty of money since it was bought in November 2015 for just $1 million by Sunset Power who are operating the station under the old Delta Electricity name.

At the time of the sale, the ABC reports the Berejiklian government played down the sale of the power station because they believed it was worthless.

Now the massive jump in price has been referred to the Auditor-General.

The power station is quite large, responsible for 11 per cent of the state's electricity, but it's also one of the biggest pollutants in the country emitting 10 million tonnes of pollution each year.

Greens Energy Spokesperson Adam Bandt believes it needs to be shut down, but the flip flopping of energy policy in government is making that impossible.

Vales Point Power Station Image Wikipedia

"There is so much chaos in the electricity market and the electricity system under this government. People are clinging to these old assets no matter how polluting and how near the end of their life they are."

With no firm renewable energy policy from the government, Adam Bandt said everyone is clinging onto their old assets which are increasing in value, making companies more money, but the consumer's power bills more expensive.

"Now these coal-fired power stations are being rewarded for running their plant into the ground and staying open even longer and that's in large part because the government has made the whole of this area so uncertain that we haven't had the new investments in renewables that we need,"

"The choice is Malcolm Turnbull's. Are you going to start now putting your foot on the accelerator and built more renewables so we can close this coal-fired power station? Or are you actively going to make people dip into their pockets and subsidise it so that these coal barons can sit on an asset worth $730 million dollars that they paid $1 million for?" said Adam Bandt.

He also adds the power station is only going to get older and start to struggle to operate, particularly in the heat.

Australia's Future Submarine Fleet could be Calling Newcastle Home

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle could become the home for Australia's $50 billion future of submarines.

The Daily Telegraph reports both Newcastle and Wollongong's Port Kembla are options on the table for the French-designed Barracuda subs.

Sydney is reportedly too cramped to house the 12 new submarines particularly after the closure of the HMAS Platypus base.

It won't be anytime soon though, the subs aren't expected to be finished until 2030.

Image sbs.com.au

Boost to Battlefield Training at Williamtown RAAF Base

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Williamtown RAAF Base is set to benefit from new high-tech equipment to boost battlefield training.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has announced $40 million worth of Digital Terminal Control System simulators which will be installed across the country including here at Williamtown, and also in Brisbane, Townsville and Perth.

The simulators give soldiers the ability to replicate live training in a safe, cost-effective and still realistic way.

"These simulators will equip our soldiers with the skills necessary to use the DTCS to coordinate battlefield fire from artillery, mortars, helicopters, naval ships and fighter aircraft," said Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne.

"It also provides our personnel with the ability to work with multiple Australian and coalition land, air and sea platforms to engage the enemy."

Delivery of the simulators is planned to start in May next year.

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne visiting Williamtown
earlier this year.

It's a Who, not a What: Marriage Equality Campaigner Visits Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Bureau of Statistics has revealed the response to the same sex marriage survey has been huge, particularly here in Newcastle.

The man leading the Yes Campaign believes almost 60 per of voters have returned their survey form so far.

Meeting today outside an Islington home proudly boasting a rainbow fence, Australians For Equality Executive Director, Tiernan Brady met with Novocastrian Yes campaigners. He says from door knocking and phone calls alone, there's been a resounding majority of people saying they have voted, and they've voted yes.

Yes campaigners gathering in Islington today. 

"This is not a normal political campaign. It's not about taxes or defence policy or schools, it's about real people's lives and their dignity and people who live in Newcastle who love their community every little bit as everybody else in Newcastle and they just want to be treated the same," said Tiernan.

One of those real people was John, one of the Yes campaigners who lost his partner to pancreatic cancer. On his death certificate, John is identified as an "informant of death" which he says would be a different situation if his marriage was to be legalised.

"Marriage equality isn't some strange 'what', it's a 'who', it's somebody who lives on the same street as us. I think when people understand that they understand that marriage equality doesn't take anything from anybody."

Tiernan is blown away by the support Newcastle City Council has thrown behind the campaign and can see residents who identify as gay or lesbian are taking great strength from the support.

"I think the support of the council has been incredible in Newcastle. Most especially for the people of Newcastle because it sends such a powerful message to everybody in the community that the council that represents that community thinks everybody should be equal."

Tiernan played a key role in the successful campaign for same sex marriage in Ireland in 2015 and says compared to Ireland, Newcastle's reaction to the campaign and the polling numbers are quite similar. He's hopeful that similarity will lead to success in Australia for marriage equality.

"The wonderful thing to know from the Irish experience that the day after marriage equality happens, all that happens is a few more people get married and people get on with their lives. No one becomes less married and no one becomes more gay," said Tiernan.

The rainbow fence in Islington.

According to polling data released this week, one in five Australians aged between 18 and 24 had filled in the form but were yet to post it.

Particularly in Newcastle, there's a lot of students living away from home to attend university who may not have even gotten hold of their survey. With just over four weeks left to cast your vote, the campaign is reminding everyone to visit the post box.

"We all know that whatever happens with this vote we all have to wake up in Australia the next day, we all have to share the same country. So winning for us isn't about beating anybody. Winning for us is about persuading people. We understand that even though the majority of Australians are for us, there are some we are yet to persuade."

Bogey Hole will be all good for Spring and Summer

BY JESSICA ROUSE and SARAH BARONOWSKI

Stabilisation works at the iconic Bogey Hole could be all wrapped up just in time for summer with another round of funds from the state government.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald has announced $240,000 for cliff stabilisation works which will start in September.

This last stage of stablisation works will make the completion of the $490,000 project to improve public safety and access to the site. The work over the next month will focus on the East End entrance.

"Focusing on the eastern end access road putting in some retaining walls and improving fencing and drainage - it's the last part of the major works  they will begin in September and work will take about four weeks," said Scot MacDonald.

He was out in the blowy conditions this morning to make the announcement and says the work won't impact the public's access to the swimming hole.

"The swimming hole will stay open during that time so when the whether warms up again - it's very blowy and very windy now though - but it'll remain open since its a popular swimming hole so it should be good for Spring and Summer."

Image supplied.

Shocking $1.2 Million Power Bill

BY MATT JOHNSTON

Tomago steel processing plant Milltech is being hit hard by rising power prices. An increase of 160% in electricity costs will see their energy bill rise an extra $1.2 million over the next three years.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said that it's not just homes, but businesses feeling the pinch of increased electricity bills.

Since most Hunter industries heavily rely on electricity, Washington says the costs are mounting.
"It was really stark to see and understand the high energy use of our manufacturers and the impact of increased prices like this."

"This is hitting businesses really hard, and particularly our heavy manufacturing industries here in the Hunter are really going to feel the brunt of this."

The cost of energy isn't the only thing putting pressure on local businesses. International competition with lower production costs means local businesses often have to absorb price hikes rather than pass them on to the consumer.

 "They can’t put their prices up and keep absorbing increased energy costs, increased input costs, and their competitors are largely from overseas. Their business model is at risk.”

"My biggest fear is the flow-on impact of this on jobs for the Hunter. We can’t afford to go backwards in terms of our employment figures.”

Image http://milltechmartinbright.com/

Defence Innovation Hub for Williamtown means a major boost for the Hunter

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE and JESSICA ROUSE

The new Defence Innovation Hub being established at Williamtown Aerospace Centre is set to be a major boost for the Hunter's defence industry and innovation sector.

The centre comes as a part of the Federal Government's $195 billion spend on defence acquisition and is funded by the government in collaboration with the University of Newcastle's innovation network to encourage research and innovation.

Speaking at the HunterNet Defence Conference yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the region's defence industry is on the cusp of something special.

"We're announcing the NSW Government is contributing and collaborating with the Defence Innovation Hub. It really is about supporting universities and our smart industries, our research and our development that can be involved in the defence sector and that will be the air force, the navy and the army."

The Hunter has the largest regional defence presence in the state with the sector bringing in $1.3 billion a year and more than 4,000 jobs.

Scot MacDonald said the Defence Innovation hub at Williamtown will attract the expertise of academics, research and development to the region and continue to build on the strong relationship between the region and defence.

"We've always had a strong defence presence and defence industry in NSW but they haven't been talked about and known as well as in some other states. We are really getting on the front foot and making sure that place, particularly the Hunter, becomes much more prominent within the defence space and industry."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.
Image https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/1143-hunter-wins-innovation-hub-williamtown

The government could be adding insult to injury on the University of Newcastle

BY JESSICA ROUSE

New figures have revealed the University of Newcastle could be set to lose $79 million if the Turnbull Government's higher education reforms get through Parliament.

The loss would come as a result of particular reforms for enabling programs like New Step and Open Foundation, which would be opened up to the private sector and an addition of fees in excess of $3,000.

Newcastle Mp Sharon Claydon along with her Labor team is fighting against the reforms and she believes it would really add insult to injury for the university.

"That's a lot of money and it's coming on top of additional $100 million that the university is set to lose through the so called efficiency dividend over the next ten years if this government's higher education package gets through the parliament."

Tens of thousands of students get into degrees through the enabling programs and Newcastle is the biggest provider of the programs in Australia.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek hosted a roundtable at the University of Newcastle with Sharon Claydon and Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Daryl Evans last month to discuss the changes and the effect they'll have on students wanting to undertake study.

The government's views haven't budged since and the Newcastle MP says the reforms will put students off the idea of high education rather than encouraging them to better their learning.

"It's my firm view if the government is looking for savings they'd better look away from education because that's an area we should always be investing - Australia's greatest asset is our people and investing in our people is a long term investment for our future."

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon and Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Tanya Plibersek at the roundtable last month.

Paramedic safety is paramount

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Health Service Union (HSU) is calling for words to be turned into action after a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the violence against paramedics across the state and throughout the Hunter.

There has been an incredible upsurge in incidents in the past year and the inquiry also comes after numerous violent incidents including two paramedics who were assaulted in Lake Macquarie while helping a woman who was going into labour.

The inquiry found 47 recommendations with the HSU suggesting some need to implemented urgently including paramedics not working along, extra security at hospitals including guards and CCT surveillance and new protocols introduced so when violent patients are left at hospitals by police there are enough security guards and resources to deal with them.

"The important issues for the government is to ensure that no paramedic responds on their own, and there is adequate support and backup from other crews to be able to assist and ensuing the communications are improved by doing away with the radio blackspots that they currently have," said NSW HSU Secretary Gerard Hayes. 

The committee holding the inquiry was bi-partisan and with plenty of bipartisan support, the HSU hopes the measures will be put into action as fast as possible.

"Certainly senior representatives of the government are on this committee and so we would expect now that they would be taking that to their cabinet to ensure that what the HSU has been talking about for the past five years in relation to additional paramedics, additional security staff to make their job safer and to make the community safer is delivered onto the people of NSW," said Gerard Hayes.

Childcare centre off the RAAF Base and out to Medowie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Department of Defence are moving a childcare centre earmarked for the Williamtown RAAF Base out to Medowie instead.

It comes after international research indicated there is a potential risk that noise exposure may affect children's rate of learning compared to a quiet environment. In addition, the health risks to hearing is a major concern.

The research is what led to the closure of RAAF Base childcare centres back in 2015 at Amberley and Darwin.

The decision to not have one back at Williamtown is particularly pleasing to Paterson MP Meryl Swanson.

"It also happened to be outside of the red zone which I think is a wise and cautionary decision. You know, we don't know about PFAS, it is an emerging contaminant and I do think that they've done a good thing in making the decision to move the childcare centre,"

"They took the decision to move the childcare bases at Williamtown, Amberly and Darwin because of fast jets and the noise. That decision was taken a number of years ago before PFAS became an issue and I was briefed recently, last week, that a new childcare centre was being built at Medowie," said Meryl Swanson.

The childcare centre at Medowie is still little ways away - it isn't expected to be built until next year. Defence has committed to the centre which they say will be completed between January and August 2018.

Meryl Swanson says with a majority of RAAF families already living in Medowie, it just makes sense.

Security ramped up at Newcastle airport

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Security has been ramped up at Newcastle Airport and throughout the country, after an alleged terror plot was foiled in Sydney over the weekend.

Australian Federal Police swooped on five properties in Sydney suburbs of Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl on Saturday afternoon. Four people, two father and sons, were arrested for allegedly plotting to kill hundreds of people on a plane using a homemade bomb.

A number of items were seized during the search including a meat grinder which is thought to be planned to be used as a part of a bomb.

Travellers were warned overnight security would be stepped up at airports throughout Australia and to allow additional travel time to get through the extra measures.

A spokesperson for Newcastle Airport said they are following authorities instructions and have additional security measures in place at screening points. They say there's no need to arrive hours earlier for flights, but rather just 30 minutes.

Flag of Convenience threatens national security

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The murder of two sailors on board the Sage Sagittarius on its way to Newcastle in 2012 sparked a senate inquiry into the Flag of Convenience (FOC) shipping company and now it's been found to be posing a huge threat to our national security.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITWF) is calling on the government to step in and stop using FOC in Australia after the inquiry also found murder, gun-running, slave labour and harassment are just some of the things which happen on board. The inquiry found the Captain of the Sage Sagittarius was doing just that, ruling his ship with intimidation, but nothing was done.

The findings come one day after the Government announced they would create a Ministry of Home Affairs, but the ITWF National Coordinator Dean Summers doesn't think it will make a difference to the national security threats posed by FOC.

Sage Sagittarius Image wikipedia

"The Australian government doesn't seem too concerned about the security vulnerabilities in the shipping sector. If the same things were even suggested in the aviation sector or anywhere else, you'd have the whole intelligence organisation in Australia focusing on it,"

Dean Summers also says our national security is simply becoming vulnerable under the FOC shipping company. The organisation is accusing the Turnbull Government of replacing Australian seafarers with the lawlessness of FOC sailors probably because they're cheaper.

"Our national security have vulnerabilities when replacing Australians with Flag of Convenience. Even our Australian  Border Force (ABF) has stated very very clearly Flags of Convenience offer Terrorist organisations and organised crime groups the capacity to operate within Australia and around Australia," said Dean Summers.

The committee at the inquiry also made mention they were very concerned that FOC vessels were carrying dangerous goods around Australia's coast, "including ammonium nitrate and petroleum products. Last financial year, only 1,072 of the 15,715 commercial vessels arriving in Australia were searched by ABF".

The committee has made several recommendations in a bid to stop the use of the FOC shipping company.