Hunter Peace Group says no to nuclear powered submarines

BY JARROD MELMETH

A plan from the federal government to roll out nuclear powered submarines as part of its naval fleet is being described as "terrible" by the Hunter Peace Group.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the AUKUS pact with the United States and United Kingdom, which would see our naval feet boosted by the vessels using closely guarded US technology.

The Hunter Peace Group is calling for the region to be removed from any involvement with the submarines, following reports the Hunter could be considered as a potential maintenance port for the vessels.

The group, along with former Lord Mayor Joy Cummings, declared Newcastle a Nuclear Free Zone in 1982, a commitment which was reaffirmed by the current Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes in June this year.

City of Newcastle raised the Hunter Peace Group and International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons flags to commemorate Hiroshima Day earlier this year, marking the 76th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by US forces in World War II.

Secretary Lynda Forbes says she fears the repercussions of how this will all play out.

"I think we are going to see a lot more aggression towards China over the next year or so.

"I'm not surprised about it because this government has been building its defence budget enormously and what they're going to spend over the next decade is an unbelievable amount of money. 

"The amount o money that is being spent just on these submarines is rather disgusting when there are so many people out there struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads," Ms Forbes said.

Regal Cinema receives $180,000 to premiere International Film Festival

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Regal Cinema at Birmingham Gardens has been given a cash injection of just over $180,000 to help get audiences back into the cinema once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

The money will be put towards organising the inaugural Newcastle International Film Festival designed to become and annual event to entice regional audiences back to the cinema, which hasn't shown a move since March 2020.

The grants comes as part of the federal governments Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.

Regal Cinema Owner George Merryman says the name of the fund is fitting considering The Regals history.

"It's called RISE which is perfect because The Regal has a history of rising again. It was closed for many years and then there was a community campaign to save it which was successful. We have had our struggles but every time it comes back," Mr Merryman said.

The idea for the Newcastle International Film Festival was conceived by Mr Merryman and his Wife Jo about ten years ago when they registered the name.

Mr Merryman says its something they've always wanted to do.

"We used to direct the travelling film festival for the Sydney film festival, so we have a history in film exhibition. We have always wanted to do our own festival.

"One of the great things about film festivals is that they do bring people back to the cinema. We were actually inspired by the Tribeca Film Festival which was founded in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  

"After the attacks in 2001, people stopped going below 14th Street where the most damage had been done. The festival set itself in that exact area just to bring people back and it was successful. 

"That's what a film festival does. It's a big event that brings people together and that's our thinking. After COVID which has been an extinction event for many cinemas," Mr Merryman said.

The Regal is also in discussions with the University of Newcastle to use as a proposed second venue to expand its capacity as it only has around 150 seats.

The festival is planned for a late 2022 premiere while The Regal hopes to reopen its doors by November this year.

Hunter industries set to receive a workforce lifeline

BY JARROD MELMETH

The federal government has announced an Agriculture Visa in response to the workforce shortage Hunter industries are facing.

Across the country the agriculture sector alone is short tens of thousands of workers due to the COVID-induced border closures.

The Visa will be in place from late next, will run for three years and will be open to applicants from a range of countries the federal government says have been negotiated through bilateral agreements. It's not yet known which countries this will include.

NSW Nationals Senator Perin Davey says the Visa will help solve one of the great challenges facing the Hunter in recent history.

"I have had a lot of representations from businesses in the Hunter, particularly in the wine and grape industries as well as the meat processors who have really felt the pinch with the loss of the backpacker workers and the tightening of restrictions of overseas workers coming into the country.

"This will be a game changer for out agriculture industries who have been crying out for something to be done to address the workforce shortages which have really come to a fore during COVID," Ms Davey said. 

The federal government says the Visa will supplement the Pacific Island Scheme and the seasonal worker program which are already in place.

However, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy says the Visa will sideline workers from the Pacific and will offer less protections for workers.

"What we will see is some of the less scrupulous farmers choosing the Agriculture Visa so they can get away with exploiting the workers on that visa," Mr Conroy said.

Funding To Support Communities Impacted By Black Summer Bushfires

BY LAURA RUMBEL 

Like many other communities across New South Wales, Dungog and the Hunter felt the impact of the Black Summer bushfires. 

With almost $5 million available through Stage Two of the Bushfire Recovery fund, Dungog, Cessnock, Singleton and Upper Hunter Council areas will all receive funding to support bushfire recovery across their impacted communities. 

$900,000 dollars of the funding will contribute towards the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Recovery and Resilience program. 

The tourism project aims to improve destination perception, increase consumer demand, raise sales value, and boost domestic tourism across the Hunter. 

Nationals' Candidate for the Hunter James Thomson says he is happy see some funding allocate locally.

"There is a diversity of projects but it's all about supporting the Cessnock community and making sure that our communities get back up on their feet after the bushfires," Mr Thomson said

Member for Upper Hunter David Layzell said, it's fantastic to see these vital community projects receive this funding as people continue to rebuild their lives following the black summer bushfires that destroyed homes in our region and damaged many more.

Source: Newcastle Weekly 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull giving false hope to Hunter on Liddell: Fitzgibbon

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Federal Government wants to extend the life of existing coal power plants including the Lidell Power Station in the Hunter.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg told Federal Parliament yesterday they were in talks with AGL to extend the life of the power station beyond its 2022 closure date, but AGL say they're committed to closing it.

There are reports Liddell might be sold off to another company who will keep the power station open until at least 2027.

AGL's CEO Andy Vasey tweeted overnight in response to the Prime Minister's claims in parliament, saying he and the company are committed to closing Liddell and walking away from coal fired pwoer generation.

.@TonyAbbottMHR We're getting out of coal. We committed to the closure of the Liddell power station in 2022, the end of its operating life.

— Andy Vesey (@AndyVesey_AGL) September 5, 2017

But Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon says the Prime Minister is misleading the Hunter community in saying the power station could stay open in the future, when it really isn't the case.

"I think he's perpetrating a cruel hope for Hunter's communities, and AGL has made it clear that they have no interest in expanding the plant which is a shame No one would welcome it more than me. But I just don't see it happening."

A report is warning an extra 1,000 mega watts of electricity will be needed this summer to meet the electricity needs and amid fears of lengthy blackouts in Victoria and South Australia.

"Malcolm Turnbull has perpetrated a cruel hope on both the Hunter's community and certainly the nation. He's suddenly talking about Liddell but he could've been doing that three or four years ago. And of course at 3pm he said one thing and by 7pm last night he was saying something else," said Joel Fitzgibbon.

Image theaustralian.com.au