Federal Government Williamtown contamination report tabled

BY JARROD MELMETH

A report being tabled by the federal government on the Williamtown Contamination crisis is being labelled as a slap in the face by the opposition.

The report comes as a result of a motion moved jointly by Labor and the Greens in December last year which called on the Turnbull Government to explain what consideration it had given to addressing the contamination crisis.

The Senate motion required the government to release its report on the 5th of February however, the report was given to the president rather than tabled in the Senate, which NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon says only adds to the bad way the people of Williamtown are being treated by the Government.

"Not only is it a day late. The report is totally inadequate. It really is quite arrogant. They have basically just listed key financial organisations they have met with, without releasing recommendations or the substance of the discussion about the key aspects of the motion which required the government to detail the financial impacts of the contamination on the people of Williamtown," Ms Rhiannon said.

Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson has described the government's handling of the motion as "a sign of utter disdain for the people of Williamtown who have suffered through no fault of their own."

The report will be tabled later today.

A property within the Williamtown contamination red zone.

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.

"Toxic Dysfunction" of Government Eroding Williamtown Solution

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson believes the "toxic dysfunction" of the State and Federal Governments has derailed their ability to find a solution for Williamtown.

The MP flew to Canberra yesterday to meet with Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne and Head of the PFAS Taskforce Senator James McGrath to demand answers.

But she says she came away disappointed with no answers, only being told that a number of options were being considered.

Senator Payne stated during the meeting that "defence stands ready to do whatever is asked of it from the Government".

Senator James McGrath and Senator Marise Payne at
Williamtown in May this year.

"I think it really speaks to the bigger problem that we have a Prime Minister who is incapable of making a decision and is battling to keep his job and batting off people that want his job. The buck stops in Cabinet, in Cabinet is where the big decisions are made," said Meryl Swanson.

Meryl Swanson said she came away with one startling revelation - Defence wasn't asked to come to Williamtown for the latest Williamtown Community Reference Group briefing where the Environmental Protection Authority informed residents the 'management area' or Red Zone had been expanded to include another 250 properties.

She says to get anywhere, everyone needs to work together, not pit everyone against each other.

"The last thing we want is the NSW Government and the NSW agencies like the EPA and Health, pitting Defence against the community. We need to be working together on this."

Meryl Swanson says a little bit of fault lies with all of the parties involved and she won't stop fighting for Williamtown until the problem is solved.

"The next step for me is to get back to Canberra on Sunday and go into next week continuing to push hard. I'm going to again contact the Prime Minister and say what is going on here and I'm going to continue to fight for the people of Williamtown like I have been."

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson at Williamtown in May this year.

Local MP's sidelined on Williamtown Contamination

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson says "it's a disgrace" the NSW Government plans to exclude local MP's from the new Williamtown consultative group.

Yesterday, it was revealed an 'independent' committee will be established and members of the current Williamtown Elected Representative Group (ERG) won't be given a place.

The Government also announced plans to dissolve the ERG but Meryl Swanson says this won't stop her from continuing to defend her community.

She says the State Government is just trying to avoid answering the tough questions.

"This is an attempt by the State Government to try and shelve this, to push it back into the corner and push it back under the rug and it's not good enough. We won't have it.

"This is a disgrace and we are continuing to fight and we won't be silenced on this."

The Paterson MP also claims it's "poor form" for Parliamentary Secretary of the Hunter, Scot Macdonald to suggest the ERG isn't taking the Williamtown contamination issue seriously by listening to the concerns of residents.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson

"I was affronted by Scot Macdonald's suggestion yesterday that our community concerns are not treated with sensitivity and confidentiality. I have never once breached the confidence of a meeting.

"That was particularly poor form to suggest that politicians would misrepresent members of the community. That is not accurate."

It is not currently known what role the new committee will play.

The Williamtown community has pushed back against this announcement, saying they want their local MP's to represent them on the issue.

Urgency ramps up for Williamtown residents

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Williamtown contamination saga continues to escalate, with shocking revelations over the weekend there is a possible "cancer cluster" within the red zone.

Fairfax reported over the weekend that at least 24 people have had cancer in the last 15 years who have been living on just one part of a heavily polluted street - Cabbage Tree Road.

In the wake of these unbelievable results, Hunter based One Nation Senator Brian Burston is threatening to withdraw his support in the Senate for some of the government's budget measures unless it makes a move to fund the relocation of residents who want out of the Williamtown red zone.

Senator Burston has labelled the number of cancers as "extraordinary" and "too large to be coincidental".

Image news.com.au

Residents were already desperate to get out of the Williamtown red zone and now the urgency has been ramped up.

President of the Fullerton Cove Resident Action Group Lindsay Clout can't believe what has come out to light and fears that the possibility of a "cancer cluster" may not be confined just to Cabbage Tree Road, but it could be the same for many areas across Fullerton Cove and Salt Ash.

"People need to be moved out now. We've spent two years soft-shoeing around this and we've been telling defence all the way along, the longer that they delay the moving of people out, the more information that's going to come out that's damning as a result of this contamination - and that's what's happening."

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson is deeply concerned for residents and is urging the government to give residents a solution, and give it to them fast. She, as well as her fellow Labor members, have contacted the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister's office in a bid to get an urgent briefing on the Turnbull Government's "solution" whatever it may be.

"Labor has put in a request for two meetings - one with the Department of Health and the Minister for Health and the second one is with the Prime Ministers task force so we have put those in already this morning, that has happened and it's in the making."

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson deputy chair of new government committee

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI and JESSICA ROUSE

Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson now has a place as deputy chair of a new Federal Government committee which will look at the benefits and necessity of regional development and decentralisation.

A key focus will be looking at the pros and cons of moving government departments from Canberra to regional areas like the Hunter and putting them in the best possible position for jobs and growth.

Meryl Swanson says it's pivotal regional areas don't miss out and she will ensure her electorate and the whole Hunter region aren't forgotten.

"We do need to have good services from government, we need to look at government departments moving to the regions and that's what this committee will be doing. Are they a good thing, are they not a good thing, we'll be making those inquiries and trying to figure out just what role the regions play."

She also says there's more to decentralisation than just moving government departments from Canberra to regions like the Hunter.

"Decentralisation is also about governments providing enough support and enough staff for the departments that are already in existence in those areas. So rather than sacking all the Centrelink staff, ensuring that staff are there is a very important thing. It is about how we ensure that we've got enough staff to make sure the people in the regions are well serviced," said Meryl Swanson.

Meryl Swanson calling for a review of the Disability Support Pension

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Joining the call for a review of the Disability Support Pension is Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson says the program's application process is "cruel and unfair."

She claims the process of proving eligibility for the pension asks people to jump through too many hurdles and it places unnecessary stress on those with a disability and their families.

Meryl Swanson says a complete review of the DSP is needed to ensure people get the support they deserve.

"It's about the time it takes, it's about the hurdles that people are asked to jump over, it's about the fact that people's treating doctors are completely disregarded and they're often assessed for the disability support pension against the word of their doctor by a bureaucrat in a half hour phone conversation," she said.

"So we need to go back to the drawing board on the Disability Support Pension."

According to the Paterson MP, applying for the pension takes an "incredible amount of time" and applicants face constant reviews and assessments which are just inadequate.

"Some people with disabilities that they've had their whole life and now being told by a bureaucrat on the phone 'oh, we've done a review and you should be able to work' when they have doctors and specialists saying they are incapacitated and not able to work."

Meryl Swanson

However, she says they're not looking to dismantle the pension scheme but make it better.

"No one wants to see the Disability Support Pension wroughted. We don't want that but what's happening at the moment is certainly above and beyond what needs to make it function properly and fairly for people," she said.

"A complete review is needed."

An end in sight for dodgy phone reception

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The long awaited Fullerton Cove mobile phone tower is set to be built by the end of next year, hopefully putting an end to dodgy and unreliable mobile phone coverage in the area.

It's been a long time coming, with the project finally recognised as a priority receiving funding under round three of the Black Spot Program after missing out in the first two rounds.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson confirmed the funding announcement but construction isn't set to begin until the second half of 2018 - another 12 months away.

"It will happen which is great. We received news that the contracts will be signed within the next month, but construction won't start until the later half of next year so there's still a bit of a wait but at least we know the tower will definitely be built and that's good news," said Meryl Swanson.

She says she's fought for residents this far, she won't be stopping now.

"it isn't great that it's 12 months away but at least we know its coming and I will be making sure it comes and I will definitely be keeping the pressure on as I have been for the last 12 months since I was elected and found out about this."

Discussions for a reliable national policy

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson was joined by Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Mark Butler yesterday for a visit to the Tomago Aluminium Smelter and a discussion about the need for a reliable energy policy in the Hunter and throughout Australia.

The Minister was able to see firsthand the fallout at Tomago when there is no reliable energy policy in place.

The visit to Tomago was an opportunity to meet with chief executive Matt Howell and hear the challenges facing the site since heatwave conditions forced the smelter to curtail production back in February this year.

Mark Butler agrees with the Paterson MP that a reliable and cost-effective energy supply is vital for manufacturers, like Tomago Aluminium

"I've been talking to manufacturers in this part of Australia and in the Hunter Valley which has been really valuable particularly Tomago Aluminium which is an exceptional piece of economic infrastructure for the country, not just for the Hunter Valley - it employs hundreds and hundreds of locals but is also a wonderful exporter and earner of overseas dollars for Australia as well," said Mark Butler.

With coal on its way out in Newcastle, and gas increasingly more expensive, the option to make gas available as an alternative in Newcastle is moving further away from being a possible solution.

Mark Butler says it's hard to see gas becoming affordable for new power generation unless gas prices go down.

"Now the Prime Minister has assured Australian businesses and households that gas prices will be halved because of the government's intervention that should take effect in July this year and we'll be holding him to that because if we don't get those sorts of reductions in gas prices we are going to see manufacturing jobs across the country in their tens of thousands lost."

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson: Be on notice.

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson's persistence paid off yesterday when Williamtown residents finally had the opportunity to meet with Defence Minister Marise Payne and head of the Prime Minister's contamination taskforce Senator James McGrath.

Behind closed doors on a cattle farm in Salt Ash, 20 residents told their harrowing stories face-to-face with people who could make a difference, and residents hoped it did.

It's a meeting the Paterson MP has been pushing for some time, and finally, the Defence Minister made good on her promise to come to Williamtown and meet with residents if she was re-elected.

Residents stories will be taken back to Canberra, and Meryl Swanson says it couldn't be too soon.

"You've come, you've said that you've heard us, I am supportive of what they've done today and I'll sing their praises for that but if they let us down all bets are off. We've given them faith and trust and I've played nicely politically today but, be on notice. We want action in Williamtown. it must happen."

Many residents are locked into a situation they simply can't see the end of.

"Can there be nothing worse than being a prisoner in your own home through no fault of your own. They don't want their bodies contaminated, they don't want their water contaminated and they don't want their properties contaminated"

Senator McGrath said he was touched by the harrowing stories of residents and is "deadly serious" about putting a plan in place to put an end to the contamination crisis.

"It's just so powerful when you sit and you hear it and you've actually got to look people in the eyes while they tell you we're still paying our mortgage while we rent somewhere else because we don't want our children to be exposed to this. We're retired, this is the only investment we have in our retirement," said Meryl Swanson.

Broadband compromise for Medowie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The National Broadband Network is still some time away from being available to Medowie residents, but a compromise from Telstra could solve some short term problems.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson is celebrating what she believes is a massive win for residents with Telstra agreeing to construct a "top-hat" in the Pacific Dunes Estate, which will allow 250 homes to connect to the ADSL. The work will also "backhaul relief work" across Medowie - in short, it relieve congestion and increase capacity across the internet network.

The work will be completed sometime around mid-year.

The NBN has and still is, causing headaches throughout the Hunter with people having problems connecting and even more problems once they've connected.

"At this point it's going to be around 2018 but as with everything with the NBN, its been a case of we'll believe it when we're connected and rolling and things are going well because even people that are on it haven't had the speeds that they've hoped for, so there's still a lot of work to be done," said Meryl Swanson.

Meryl Swanson says she'll continue to lobby for areas in and around her electorate continuing the fight for better internet.

"Thornton is an area that springs to mind straight away, there's still a lot of issues in and around there and in and around areas where there are just problems with the NBN."

Does Australia want to be independent? Issue raised in Maitland overnight

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The push for Australia to become a republic is back in the spotlight with local republicans meeting in Maitland overnight.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson was joined by Chair of the Australian Republican Movement Peter FitzSimons to open up the conversation about Australia's independence with locals.

The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) considers the political climate is right to re-ignite the discussion, with support coming from the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader as well as state and territory leaders.

The ARM believes we need a head of state which reflects our Australian values, rather than a monarch in a foreign country.

Peter FitzSimons is proposing Australia remains part of the Commonwealth and retains the Westminster system of government - the only change being the Governor General becomes our head of state, with the parliament to vote on the Prime Minister's choice for the role.

"At the moment the Prime Minister chooses the Governor General and he asks the Queen of England 'is it okay?' In a new system, the Prime Minster chooses the Governor General and instead of asking the Queen of England, asks the Parliament of the people."

Image smh.com.au

Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull has said in the past Australia gaining its independence as a republic won't happen before Queen Elizabeth II ends her reign, with seemingly too much love for her amongst the Australian people.

Another argument Meryl Swanson often hears is people questioning whether now is the right time for a republic when there are so many other important things happening in our country.

"Well, I say there are always more important things - people want to pay their mortages, they want to raise their children, they want to enjoy their retirement. We all want to live in a wonderful country. We can do that with an Australian head of state."

The debate has happened before, but Peter FitzSimons says the minimalist model he's proposing is much simpler than the one which went to a referendum in 1999.

"Under the current system the democratically elected leader of the Australian people asking an unelected English lady "is it alright with you English if I do this in Australia?" New system Prime Minister chooses the Governor General instead of asking the Queen of England asks the Parliament of the people,"

Whether or not the Australian people want to become independent would be decided through a plebiscite asking are you for or against, and from there a model would be looked at.

"At the moment the authority of the Prime Minister rests upon democracy, the will of the Australian people, lets have the same system for the Governor General."

The NBN still giving Paterson MP a headache

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The roll out of the NBN network in the Hunter is still giving Paterson MP Meryl Swanson a headache.

The MP is calling for the Joint Standing Committee on the NBN roll out to visit Paterson and see for themselves the problems residents are experiencing.

Residents have had endless problems with not only the roll out itself, but problems connecting even after their suburb has gone live, complaint handling and blame shifting.

"Residents, businesses, people trying to just live their lives have had a terrible time. They've either been taken off the roll out list or their times have been put back considerably. it really has been substandard," said Meryl Swanson.

Meryl Swanson says the whole project has been a complete "stitch up" and the Prime Minister has completely failed to deliver.

"This government needs to understand and this prime minister needs to understand that his promise that we would have NBN by the end of last year has not been fulfilled and this whole idea that it was going to be faster and cheaper and it was just going to be better has not worked."

The call to the Joint Standing Committee to visit the region is one of six recommendations Meryl Swanson has made to the Committee.

The inefficient roll out is leaving businesses and families in the lurch, left without the technology they need for work or school, and the Paterson MP says it's contributing to the Hunter having the poorest digital literacy skills in the country because access to the necessary tools just isn't possible.

"The hunter is the worst in Australia and that's dreadful and that's not because our people aren't clever, it's because they don't have the tools to use the Internet to become more digitally literate, to become more proficient in the digital world you actually need decent service so you can get on and do things," said Meryl Swanson.

A fix for Testers Hollow could be underway by mid next year

BY SARAH JAMES

Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson has welcomed the announcement that work on raising the road at Tester's Hollow will next start year, but slammed the NSW Government for its $2 million contribution to the $17 million project.

During last year's election campaign the Liberal government had promised $15 million would go towards the project.

However, Meryl Swanson is claiming the announcement as a 'win', having lobbied hard since the election for the Coalition commitment to be realised.

"The government is now waiting on a proposal from the state government within weeks - so I'm very pleased about that, and then once they get that report from the state government they're going to be doing that planning work with construction to start in 2019," she said.

Federal Member For Paterson Meryl Swanson

Hospital waiting list nightmare

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson is calling on the government to put an end to cuts to the health sector, in an attempt to stop excessive waiting lists at hospitals.

An elderly couple in the Hunter have been waiting four years to see an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at John Hunter Hospital.

Each year they call the hospital to check they're still on the list, and each year they're given the same answer, 'yes you're still on the list'.

John Hunter Hospital Image dailytelegraph.com.au

"People in my seat of Paterson know, they're not silly, they know that either one, they can't get in to see their doctor, two, it's costing them more to do so, or three, they're waiting an extraordinary amount of time as we've seen up to four, five, and six years for some appointments for specialists and some elective surgeries and it's just not good enough," said Meryl Swanson.

Since speaking out in parliament, Meryl Swanson says the John Hunter Hospital have recruited an additional two visiting ENT specialists who will begin work in April which is a positive, but it doesn't solve the problem.

"This is just a symptom of a much bigger problem across out health care system. It's not just the John Hunter, its all of our public hospitals and people know that they're waiting longer and longer for elective surgery, they know they're waiting longer and longer for appointments," said Meryl Swanson.

"It's one of those things we just know this government has ripped funding out of".

Residents still without the NBN

BY JESSICA ROUSE and GEORGIA LUPTON

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson is calling on the NBNCo to explain why some homes in Rutherford and Aberglassyn have been left out of the NBN rollout. 

The suburb went live on the network six months ago, but 150 homes were left out, and they want to know why.

Residents were urged to contact NBNCo directly to get accurate and individualised information, however when they did, they didn't get any of the answers they wanted.

Ms Swanson's office has been flooded with residents telling her they aren't getting the answers they need and they don't understand why.

Ms Swanson says in this technological age, it is ridiculous some residents have been left behind, while those in other areas strive ahead.

"You've got people who are trying to run small businesses from home, you've got students, kids going back to school hoping they'll get the NBN so they'll be able to download their homework and upload stuff they need to send back to school and they just can't do it. it's hopeless."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten concerned for Williamtown residents

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has personally phoned residents affected by the Williamtown 'red zone'.

Jamie and Samantha Kelly discovered their 10-month old son had significant levels of toxic firefighting chemicals in his blood - something Mr Shorten says is incredibly concerning. 

Mr Shorten personally contacted the family after meeting them two months ago when he was in the area.

The family are moving into a new rental property in Newcastle and Ms Kelly told the Newcastle Herald they had been inundated with kindness from the wider community. 

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson says the problem isn't going away and she won't stop fighting for the Williamtown residents.

"I think the most important thing is that we maintain the pressure on this government to do something for these people and I am doing everything within my power to keep the profile of this story up in Canberra. I'm talking to as many people as I possibly can and Bill is certainly one of those people."

Hunter MP Thrown Out Of Parliament

BY IAN CROUCH

Federal Paterson MP, Meryl Swanson says she'll gladly risk being thrown out of parliament again if it means standing up for her constituents.

The former radio host was given her marching orders after yelling out across the chamber during question time at Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, demanding to know who's responsible for the Williamtown contamination scandal.

Meryl Swanson says the government is ducking and weaving on the issue.

"We just want a straight-forward answer and we want someone to give the people of Williamtown the answers that they're so desperately seeking, and I do not walk away from defending those people and I will continue to do it even if it means I am ejected form the chamber, I will continue to stick up for them and ask those questions and seek to have them answered," she said.

Paterson Mp Meryl Swanson

Where is our phone tower? Labor call out Turnbull government over election promises not kept

BY JARROD MELMETH

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Stephen Jones and Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson were in Fern Bay today meeting with local residents who are affected by mobile phone black spots in the area.

In the lead up to the Federal election, the Turnbull government promised a mobile phone tower would be built in Fullerton Cove if re-elected.

Stephen Jones has accused the coalition of pork-barrelling after the audit commission found over 80% of the mobile towers in round one of funding went to coalition electorates.

"What we are saying to Malcolm Turnbull, what we are saying to the government is this is your opportunity to make good on the program." Mr. Jones said.

"Here you have a community that is crying out to have their mobile phone black spots fixed, a clear and present need. Lets get it done. Lets follow through on the commitment and lets ensure that these residents get their issues dealt with."

Fullerton Cove has missed out on funding in round 1 and 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Program, with no indication of whether they will receive funding in round 3.

Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Stephen Jones.
Photo courtesy of Facebook.

Struggle for the aged pension in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Aged pensioners in the Hunter are being forced to live without an income for months on end as they wait for aged pension applications to be approved.

A backlog of Centrelink claims is creating the wait period and Human Services Minister Alan Tudge is being called upon to explain just how large the backlog is and how long aged pension applicants will have to go without income.

Some are able to live on savings but many don't have savings. They have to rely on family or charity for day-to-day expenses.

Paterson MP Meryl Swanson says her office receives call after call from people who have been waiting up to six months for their aged pension applications to be approved.

"This government has made such savage cuts that we're now seeing some of our most vulnerable people having to wait months for something that they are entitled to; they've paid their taxes their whole life and now they're being told you have to wait over six months for a pension. It really isn't good enough."

This latest error follows a backlog which saw students who applied for Abstudy and Youth Allowance wait months to be processed.