UPDATED: Department of Education responds to surveillance camera allegedly uncovered at a primary school in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

The Department of Education has since responded to 2NURFM's request for a response.

"Student wellbeing is Ashtonfield Public School's highest priority.

CCTV cameras can support the school as a safe environment, and the school has signage throughout advising that CCTV can be used outdoors and indoors in general use areas and classrooms.

A camera has been put in plain sight in a classroom as part of a response to a police matter.

The matter does not involve nor put any students at risk, but it is not appropriate for the school to comment on such matters."

In addition, the Department provided reasons for why public schools use CCTV surveillance which included monitoring premises for after hours security and during the course of the working day for added security; they say surveillance is also used to monitor sick bays and student time-out rooms or other specific areas in schools.


EARLIER:

It's understood a surveillance camera has been discovered at a primary school in the Maitland area in a kindergarten classroom.

A concerned parent contacted local MP Jenny Aitchison after she discovered the camera and then heard three different stories about why it was there.

She's demanding the correct answer after she was first told it was a part of a high school students project, then the Department of Education allegedly told her it was a part of a film and then she was also told it was to catch someone who was apparently bullying a teacher.

"Given that there are three stories the onus is really on the Department to say why the camera was there, you know if the reason given by the director, of course, is that it was to be covertly finding out about bullying of a teacher that is also a concern, just the bullying in itself, but also how the school is addressing that issue," said Jenny Aitchison.

There are now reports the surveillance has now been removed but there's no solid answer about where it has gone.

"The video has actually been removed and the department isn't sure where it is so there are quite a few concerns about that. I've contacted the minister this morning about that and we've asked him to look into that issue. I understand the parent did also address that concern to him."

The Department of Education has been asked for comment.

NSW Labor calling for sexual assault education

BY JARROD MELMETH and JESSICA ROUSE

Shocking statistics released by the Human Rights Commission on sexual assault at university campuses yesterday show 55 per cent of students at The University of Newcastle (UON) had been sexually harassed on campus.

The statistics have been compiled from data gathered in 2016 which found within the 55 per cent of students who had been assaulted, over half had little to no knowledge of where to get support.

Additionally, 92 per cent of the respondent from UON didn't seek support for sexual harassment, with the most common reason being ' I did not think it was serious enough'.

Maitland MP and Shadow Minister for The Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jenny Aitchison is calling on the State Government to do more in a bid to stop the prevalence of harassment and assault on campus.

Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Jenny Aitchison Image smh.com.au

The MP says the key to stopping sexual assaults on university campuses is early education.

"Because these kinds of crimes don't start just in university, the attitudes and believes that underpin that terrible crime are actually present at a much younger age so we think it's important to address some and the education system needs to start engaging with students," said Jenny Aitchison.

NSW Labor has pledged to join "Our Watch", a joint initiative established to drive nation-wide change in the cultures underpinning violence against women.

"NSW is the only state that has so far not joined up to "Our Watch" and what that does is it provides the support for innovative programs for example "Respect for Relationships' from K-12 have been rolled out in Victoria which was based on a pilot developed through "Our Watch" so its about having the best evidence based programs out there," said Jenny Aitchison.

The statistics released yesterday also stated 78 per cent of perpetrators were fellow UON students, and that public transport was a particularly concerning area where assaults had taken place.

"It accrues right across the spectrum, the report has identified that public transport has been an area of concern for students and risks for students and where assaults and harassment have occurred. The government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone who uses our public transport system is safe from harassment or assault," said Jenny Aitchison.

Renewed calls for government investment in Maitland

BY JARROD MELMETH and JESSICA ROUSE

Following the approval of 247 housing lots at Thornton and Louth Park there have been renewed calls for the State Government to invest in the area.

The developments and their applications across the two suburbs were approved at Tuesday's Maitland Council Meeting just weeks after 511 lots were approved for Defence Housing, also in Thornton.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison believes the approval of more housing developments goes to the very heart of why the State Government must invest in more infrastructure in the area, particularly in schools.

"We need to ensure that the government comes good on infrastructure. The government needs to invest in Maitland in schools and education in order to make sure these people who come to Maitland have adequate facilities," said MP Jenny Aitchison.

Census data shows there was a two percent population increase in Maitland between 2011 and 2016 with the numbers only going up. Maitland was also identified as a high growth area being the fastest growing outside of the Sydney metropolitan area.

MP Jenny Aitchison says the lack of housing affordability in Sydney, Newcastle and in other major centres, is pushing people to come to Maitland instead where there's relatively low cost housing compared to a lot of these areas.

"The development approved goes to the very heart of why we need this new hospital, why we need the government to be investing in schools. We will be working to get new schools into Maitland to get expansion of our existing schools to cope with that demand."

NSW Government Rules Out Moving Site Of Proposed Lower Hunter Hospital

BY IAN CROUCH

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald says it's too late to consider moving the site of the proposed Lower Hunter Hospital at Metford.

There's still no word on when construction of the $400 million facility will begin.

Cessnock City Council last week passed a motion to hold talks with the government in a bid to move the site to a location along the Hunter Expressway, believing a hospital built there would better serve the Hunter Valley, Cessnock and Maitland.

Maitland MP, Jenny Aitchison would not support the idea, saying there's npow quick access for coalfields residents to the John Hunter Hospital via the Hunter Expressway and the Metford site would better serve the valley as well as the Port Stephens and Dungog shires.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald says the government has already spent millions on acquiring the land and pre-construction planning, and there's no turning back now.

"We're certainly interested to hear why the council thinks it should be moved and we're certainly interested in what other ideas they might have. But it's very difficult once you acquire the site, once the plans are under way, the consultation with clinical staff has begun. So, there's a lot of planning work. We've already spent several millions of dollars," he said.

Scott McDonald

Maitland MP Rejects Call To Shift Hospital Site

BY IAN CROUCH

Maitland MP, Jenny Aitchison is rejecting calls to move the site of the proposed Lower Hunter Hospital from Metford to Kurri Kurri.

Cessnock Council will consider a motion from Liberal Councillor Paul Dunn tonight to locate the hospital within the grounds of the former Hydro Aluminium Smelter, believing it's a better site to service the entire Hunter Valley.

However, Jenny Aitchison says the Hunter Expressway has made travel to the John Hunter Hospital much faster for Cessnock residents and Metford should remain the preferred site.

"When you're looking at the Metford site for Maitland Hospital, it's around serving not just Maitland, not just Kurri, not just Cessnock and further up the valley that way, but it's also to the north-east where you've got Port Stephens, Raymond Terrace and Dungog," she said.

Maitland MP, Jenny Aitchison

Growing Concerns Over Hamilton Crime Rate

BY TYLER FARDELL

Hamilton shop and business owners are becoming more and more concerned over the increasing crime in the area following a number of break-ins and armed robberies.

Residents affected have called on the government to do more as they feel they have been completely ignored.

The increasing crime is largely due to the governments decision to terminate the Newcastle train line at Hamilton station.

Shadow Minister for Small Businesses Jenny Aitchison and State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp met with local shop owners today to discuss their concerns.

Mr Crakanthorp said the situation was not acceptable and called on Minister for Justice and Police, Troy Grant to do more

"The Hamilton business owners are concerned about their business and in turn, their future. The Minister should visit with them and take their concerns on board".

Jenny Aitchison and Tim Crakanthorp meeting with Hamilton Business owners