Newcastle man charged for allegedly producing child abuse material

BY JARROD MELMETH

Australian Federal Police have charged a Newcastle man for allegedly producing child abuse material.

Authorities say the material featured a child known to the man who was allegedly uploading the footage to an online chat platform.

A search warrant was executed at the man's Shortland home on Thursday after the AFP received a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. The report identified a Kik user who was uploading child abuse material to the platform.

A 24-year-old man was arrested at his home in Shortland, where police seized three mobile phones that will be subject to further forensic examination.

The child allegedly featuring in the material has been identified and is safe and police say they are providing support to the victim and their family.

The Shortland man was charged with eight offence including Five counts of producing child abuse material, Two counts of possessing of controlling child abuse material, Using a carriage service to access child abuse material and Using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.

He will face Newcastle Local Court on Friday.

AFP acting Sergeant Damian Mair said when a child is in danger, or an extreme risk of abuse, investigators will do everything they can to quickly identify the victim and remove them from harm.

“Our child protection investigators across the country are always ready to focus their efforts to cases where we have information that a child is at immediate risk of being abused by an adult.

“When a child has been abused, our priority is to get them out of a dangerous situation, prevent an offender from committing more abuse, and then bring that person to account for their deplorable criminal acts,” acting Sergeant Mair said.

Host of house party at the centre of Hunter COVID-19 outbreak charged

BY JARROD MELMETH

A man has been charged after allegedly hosting multiple gatherings at Shortland, in breach of the Public Health Orders.

It's believed the gathering is one of the parties attended by the two Sydney women who sparked the Hunters COVID-19 outbreak.

Police will alleged the 22-year-old man hosted a number of gatherings at the home on Sandgate Road on three separate nights from 28 - 30 July. He has since tested positive to COVID-19.

Three other people - two men aged 21 and 26, and a 20-year-old woman - were issued with $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices for attending the gatherings.

Police are continuing their investigations into the events to identify further guests.

The 22-year-old man will face court on Tuesday 28 September 2021.

13 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the Hunter

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW Premier has announced the state recorded 356 new cases of COVID-19, of which at least one third were infectious within the community.

Of the 356 cases recorded, 13 were in the Hunter region with ten in Newcastle and three in Lake Macquarie. 12 of the 13 cases were infectious in the community.

Three of the cases recorded locally are currently under investigation as health authorities try to piece together how they caught the virus.

The new cases follow the announcement from NSW Health overnight of more close contact COVID exposure sites at Wests New Lambton, Subway at Warners Bay, Air Locker Training at Kotara, and the 269 bus route from Teralba to Warners Bay.

Other new casual contact venues include Big W at Charlestown, Coles at Warners Bay, Aldi at Newcastle West, Newcastle Basketball Stadium, McDonalds at Charlestown Square and Coles at Medowie.

Shortland Public School announced via Facebook overnight it would be closed for deep cleaning and contract tracing on Tuesday after a member of the community tested positive to Coronavirus.

For the full list of dates and times for any of the venues of concern, head to the NSW Health website.

Hunter residents urged to get tested as high COVID load found in three sewerage treatment plants

BY JARROD MELMETH

The NSW Premier says there is a high viral load of COVID-19 in a number of Newcastle sewerage systems, which could indicate undetected cases in the region.

The detections were found in the Shortland, Burwood and Belmont sewerage treatment plants.

The Burwood Beach sewage catchment serves 225,834 people and includes the Newcastle City area and surrounding suburbs of Dudley, Charlestown, Jesmond, Lambton, New Lambton, Mayfield, Elermore Vale, Kotara, Garden Suburb, Adamstown Heights, Kahibah, Highfields, Merewether, Waratah West, Georgetown and Carrington.

The Belmont sewage catchment serves 115,000 people and includes Belmont, Warners Bay, Gateshead, Tingira Heights, Bennetts Green, Jewells, Redhead, Eleebana, Croudace Bay, Valentine, Marks Point, Blacksmiths, Pelican, Swansea, Swansea Heads, and Caves Beach.

The Shortland sewage catchment serves 60,000 people and includes Shortland, Cameron Park, Minmi, Fletcher, Maryland, Birmingham Gardens, Wallsend, Callaghan, Sandgate, Kooragang, Mayfield West, Fern Bay, Fullerton Cove and Stockton.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says she is calling on all of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie to get tested.

"Particularly Birmingham Gardens, Shortland, Maryland, Fletcher, Minmi, Cameron Park, Mayfield, Stockton and Fern Bay.

 "It is critical that we can get testing levels up to understand as soon as possible any undiagnosed cases there so that we can make the best public health decisions," Dr Chant said.

Up until now, the Hunter has been largely spared of the virus during the latest outbreak. Two service stations in the Hunter were placed on the health alerts list as being visited by a COVID positive person. No cases as yet have emerged from those alerts.

Shortland sewerage treatment plant.
Image: Hunter Water

Labor Commits $13 million for Glendale Interchange

BY JARROD MELMETH & MADELAINE MCNEILL

Federal Labor have today announced it will invest $13 million into the Glendale Interchange.

The money will go towards building the Pennant Street Bridge which would link Glendale to Cardiff. 

Lake Macquarie Council has also committed $6 million towards the project with Labor expecting the remaining $13 million needed to fund the $32 million project to be funded by the NSW Government.

The interchange is arguably the regions most strategically important infrastructure projects and has been a point of contention in politics since the idea was proposed by former Premier Bob Carr, 21 years ago.

In last years budget, the NSW Government said it was not going to fund the bridge over the rail lines between Cardiff and Glendale instead providing $360,000 in planning funds.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development Anthony Albanese was in the Hunter today to announce the funding commitment where he called on the NSW Government to provide the left over funds.

“Labor has consistently backed the Glendale Interchange because we see the value it will bring to this region.

“When I was the Infrastructure Minister, I ensured that there was $13 million in the Federal Budget for this project. However, immediately upon their election the current Liberal-National Government in Canberra scrapped the fund and in the process cut over a million dollars from the Glendale Interchange.

“This project has the backing of Federal Labor and Lake Macquarie City Council, which will contribute $6 million to the $32 million project. The interchange needs the backing of all levels of government and the Berejiklian Government should match Federal Labor’s commitment," Mr Albanese said.

The funding would help complete the first stage of the interchange, including the Pennant Street Bridge.

While work has been completed on the first section of roadworks, including the extension of Stockland Drive and Glendale Drive, there is no funding currently available to continue to the critical second section, the Pennant Street Bridge over the rail line in Cardiff.

Shortland MP Pat Conroy said it was important to keep momentum going on the project.

“Independent analysis has shown that for every dollar invested in this project by governments another $94 of private investment will be unlocked, creating up to 10,000 jobs for our region.

“I am pleased stage one has begun, but the real benefits lie in linking Cardiff and Glendale with the bridge over the rail line at Pennant Street," Mr Conroy said

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said all Hunter councils had identified the project as a priority.

“As well as the obvious benefits for Lake Macquarie, this project provides crucial connectivity for mining and energy businesses from right throughout the region to gain access to the Port of Newcastle.

“There is enormous potential for retail and commercial business as well, and this area is earmarked for significant housing growth," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said the project will deliver much needed jobs for our region.

“Major infrastructure projects are important enablers of regional economies over time but they also deliver a lot of jobs during the construction phase.

“Our region benefited from a number of major projects funded by the former Labor Government.  These included the duplication of the Tourle Street Bridge and the new University of Newcastle city campus.  The Glendale Interchange project would build on Federal Labor's strong record of delivering for our region," Ms Claydon said.

The announcement is the second major roads commitment from Labor for the Hunter, following Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson announcing yesterday to match the Liberals $1.6 billion commitment to extend the Pacific Highway from Black Hill to Raymond Terrace.

L-R: Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser, Infrastructure Minister Anthony
Albanese, Shortland MP Pat Conroy & Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon.

Worker Threatened With Axe During Shortland Pie Shop Robbery

BY IAN CROUCH

Two men have escaped with the cash till during an armed robbery on a Shortland pie shop early Tuesday morning.

The pair, who had their faces covered, entered the Millers Pie and Sandwich Bar on Sandgate Road just after 4.30am.

One of them threatened the baker with an axe while the other grabbed the till before they fled.

They made their escape in a dark coloured Mazda 3.

The baker was shaken but otherwise unharmed during the hold-up.

Electrical fault sparked Shortland cottage fire

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Fire has caused severe damage to a small cottage at Shortland this morning.

Firefighters from Wallsend, Lambton and Mayfield West were called to the home on Sandgate Road just before 8:30 to find the bathroom engulfed in flames.

It's taken about an hour to extinguish the fire, with the rest of the house damaged by smoke and water.

One occupant was treated at the scene for minor burns.

It's believed an electrical fault sparked the blaze.

Man Arrested After Pursuit At Shortland

BY IAN CROUCH

A Merewether man is facing serious driving charges after a pursuit at Shortland this morning.

Police say they noticed a Mitsubishi Magna being driven erratically near Heaton Street, Jesmond just before 2.30 and attempted to pull the car over, but the driver took off - heading up the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at a speed well in excess of the 90 kilometre per hour limit.

The car stopped at the at the Maitland Road lights and the 46-year-old driver was arrested.

He's expected to be charged with driving while disqualified and police pursuit (Skye's law).

Five hour siege lands man in court

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man accused of a five hour standoff in East Maitland over the weekend heads to Newcastle Local Court today with seven charges against him.

On about 12:45 Saturday morning police noticed a man run from an allegedly stolen car in Maize Street Tenambit and pursued him to Card Crescent at Maitland where it's alleged he broke into a unit and refused to come out.

After five hours and a number of specialist police including general duties, criminal investigation, rescue unit and specialist police, negotiators persuaded the man to leave the unit and he was arrested.

He was refused bail in Maitland Bail Court yesterday.

The charges against the 22-year-old include drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, two  counts of enter enclosed land without lawful excuse, destroy or damage property, break & enter house, and two outstanding warrants.

Police will also allege the car, a white Nissan Patrol utility, was stolen from a Shortland home last month.

Image MJF Productions Australia

457 Visa Round-Table Discussion

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Federal Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy and Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann hosted a roundtable discussion with worker representatives yesterday, to talk about putting local workers first.

Many raised concerns with the way businesses advertise for jobs before looking for workers overseas and gave evidence for HUNTER workers missing out because of the 457 visa program.

MP Pat Conroy says his party have made commitments to ensure locals get the work.

"Our election commitment around 457 visas was quite extensive," he said.

"First off, ensuring there was true market-labour testing so that employers had to advertise locally at realistic wages to see whether an Australian could fill the job and they'd advertise for four weeks,and then there was a requirement that if there was a 457 visa worker brought in, that they be paid the market rate of pay."

He also claims Labor has introduced tougher requirements on employers in terms of training which would lead to better outcomes for workers across the Hunter and Australia.

"That's really important. I don't think people are just using temporary skilled migrants when there's a genuine skills shortage, but people have to be satisfied that Australians get first go at the jobs.

According to Pat Conroy, this skill shortage needs to be addressed but says funding cuts on a Federal level aren't helping.

"We've seen a very significant reduction in training assistance from the Federal Government leading to fewer apprentices and we need to train these people to give young people a future," he said.

"We need Australians to fill those jobs so employers need to spend more money on training and the Federal Government should be helping in that."

Pat Conroy MP

Radical Changes to Hunter Electorate Boundaries

The Australian Electoral Commission has made changes to the way Hunter residents will vote, by re-drawing the electoral boundaries in the area.

Under the changes, Hunter MP, Joel Fitzgibbon will be without a job as his electorate is split between Pat Conroy's Charlton and Barnaby Joyce's New England.

The northern parts of Charlton will be split between Newcastle and Shortland electorates under the changes.

The re-draw would have come to a blow for Paterson MP Bob Baldwin, who now has an uphill battle to hold his seat in the 2016 election.

Before the changes, Paterson was a Liberal seat with an almost 10% margin, but after moving South will become a marginal Labor seat with a 1.3% margin.

There is speculation that Fitzgibbon will take on Conroy's seat, which now includes his home base at Cessnock.

There is also talk Shortland MP Jill Hall will retire before the election, allowing Conroy to run in her place.

More will be known when pre-selection opens later this year.

Images courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald (LINK), The Daily Telegraph (LINK) and Athmitchell via Wikimedia (LINK).

Pension Concerns

HUNTER residents are concerned after indications the Federal Government could change the age pension in the upcoming May budget

The Government is prioritizing the proposed paid parental leave scheme, costing taxpayers about 5-point-5 billion dollars each year


Shortland MP Jill Hall says if there are cuts to the pension, elderly residents could suffer

"It's mean that they'll have difficulty paying their bills, they'll have trouble buying food that they need it'll mean that their life is a lot harder than it is now. Without their continued efforts, without recognizing the work that they do, Australia would be a much poorer place than it is now," Mrs Hall said.

The federal budget is due next month

Scissor Scoundrel

A 13-year-old girl will face Broadmedow Children's Court, after Shortland residents allegedly found her inside their house early this morning.

The Bardia Road residents awoke after hearing noises, and allegedly found the youth with a pair of scissors.

Acting Senior Sergeant Robert Waugh says the home-owners detained the teenager before police arrived at the scene.