80 Contractor Jobs to be Dropped from Ravensworth Mine

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

Up to 80 workers will be cut from a Yancoal and Glencore joint venture mine site near Singleton next year.

The Hunter Valley Operations mine at Ravensworth will drop around 80 contractors from its mining, coal preparation, and maintenance departments.

Hunter Valley Operations is a 51:49% joint-venture between Yancoal and Glencore.

A spokesman for Hunter Valley Operations says it will keep all of its permanent staff, but is reducing its coal processing requirements as "a result of ongoing economic and energy demand impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic".

The company says the revised production plan has meant some contracting roles won't be required when the changes take effect from January 2021.

The mine site near Singleton will lose around 80 contractors following changes to its production plans. Image: Yancoal

Newcastle Doctor on Probation after Injecting Consenting Patients with Cannabis OIl

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

Newcastle doctor Andrew Katelaris has had another stoush with the Health Care Complaints Commission, after he injected two ovarian cancer patients with black market cannabis oil.

The patients had consented to the experimental treatment.

Andrew Katelaris [Image: Getty Images]

The HCCC have prohibited Dr Katelaris from injecting, supplying and administering cannabis for medicinal use.

The decision was made after the HCCC found the injections “resulted in serious adverse reactions and their [the patients] prolonged hospitalisation”.

“[Dr Katelaris] devised a hasty, ill-conceived and unsafe clinical trial of injected cannabis oil as a treatment for malignant ascites,” the HCCC said in a statement.

Dr Katelaris has been a long-time advocate for the use of medicinal cannabis, and was deregistered more than a decade ago for supplying cannabis to patients.

He was also charged with growing more than 50-thousand cannabis plants near Dungog.

He said the use of cannabis oil was the best treatment for the patients.

“They [the two patients] were both suffering severe peritoneal carcinomatosis, with bowel obstructions – so it can’t really get much worse than that,” he said.

“It was a desperate situation, which called for desperate action.”

He also said the treatment was a partial success.

“One of the ladies – the one that we documented – actually had a 50 percent reduction in her cancer markers,” he said.

“They [the HCCC] … ignored that in their, sort of, rushed approach to prosecute the nasty, maverick Dr Katelaris, rather than actually looking at what may have been achieved during these brief trials.”

The Turnbull Government have begun plans to introduce medicinal cannabis for patients who need it, but Dr Katelaris said it’s all talk.

“There’s been a lot of rhetoric both from Turnbull and Baird, and others about how much they’re doing to facilitate medical cannabis,” he said.

“But at this stage, not single child or adult in this state, or country, has received legal medical cannabis so it’s simply up to the activists to fill that yawning hole.”

Despite the new restrictions put him, Dr Katelaris is going to keep promoting medical cannabis’ benefits.

“The HCCC does what the HCCC does, and that’s retard progress,” he said.

“We see this as another small step in a very, very long march to have rational health therapy available for the population.

“The move to have medical cannabis widely accepted and applied across a range of serious and currently intractable diseases is unstoppable overseas.

“All that the establishment can do in this country is slow it down.”

Government Moves to Secure the Hunter's Future

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

The State Government have announced a blueprint for the Hunter as it looks to ensure the region will be able to grow by 30 percent over the next two decades.

Rob Stokes

Dubbed the Hunter Regional Plan, the project will help guide private development over the next 20 years, with hopes it’ll turn Newcastle into a metropolitan centre.

“We know that this region will continue to grow in terms of population,” Planning Minister Rob Stokes said while also calling Newcastle the “capital of the largest regional economy in NSW”.

The Government also announced the Hunter Region Special Contributions Plan to help spur development across the region.

“It can help developers and land owners to price in from the very beginning of their development proposals,” Rob Stokes said.

“This will provide certainty, clarity, it’ll help speed up the planning process.”

The plan is a levy, which was similar to the one used by the Government while it was revitalising Western Sydney.

“It’ll also put downward pressure on house prices by making it clear to developers the sorts of contribution they’ll be expected to contribute,” Stokes said.

The blueprint has been praised by local think tank Urban Task Force, with its CEO, Chris Johnson saying the plan was inevitable.

“Sydney can’t just always go up and get bigger, so we’re going to rely on Newcastle as a major centre into future decades,” he said.

“We’re very positive about strong growth, we believe this plan does deliver on that.”

“A lot is going to be in the detail of course and some of that will come out in the district plans.”

Maitland gets Heritage Funding

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

It’s one of the oldest towns in New South Wales and now the State Government have funnelled almost $45,000 into Maitland to help protect its heritage sites.

It’s part of the Heritage Grant Program, set up by the Baird Government to help protect heritage sites to towns across the State.

Scot MacDonald

A bulk of the funding will go to Maitland Council, as it works to refurbish timber windows at the Walka Water Works.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says Maitland has a special need to protect heritage sites.

“It’s one of the fastest growing LGAs [in the State],” he said.

“That also means you’ve got to protect the heritage as well.”

A small, $5000 portion will be given to Dunmore House owner Paris Osbourne to refurbish guttering and collector boxes at the historic house.

“$5000 goes a long way to protecting those old historical houses,” MacDonald says.

“Anybody associated with them would know keeping water away from some of the old buildings is very, very important.”

Dunmore House is one of the oldest buildings in Maitland, constructed in the early 1800’s by convicts.

The site was declared heritage listed in 2012.

Liberals Absent From Extraordinary Meetings

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Newcastle Council’s Liberal Councillors have been accused of using obstructive tactics to force a merger between Newcastle and Port Stephens Council after lodging a motion to block legal action against the merger and then failing to turn up to meetings to discuss the motion.

Council has held three extraordinary meetings this week, with the expectation to discuss the motion to rescind legal action only to be halted by the absence of those wanting to stop potential legal action.

Jason Dunn [Image: Newcastle Herald].

“We’re payed an allowance to attend meetings and I don’t think there’s an excuse for any Councillor, particularly a Councillor that has actually brought a motion [to not turn up],” said Deputy Lord Mayor Jason Dunn.

“As elected Councillors, that's what we signed up for.”

“I know I’ve turned up to a meeting before to ensure we have decorum, with an 18 month old child with me, but that’s what you do to make sure Council can function,” he said.

Liberal Councillor Brad Luke was among those who didn’t attend any of this week’s meetings and says he had personal commitments that prevented him from attending.

“Being on Council’s a part-time job, they [Councillors] have other businesses they’re running and jobs they’re doing and they set their life schedule around that meeting schedule,” he said.

Luke also suggested that it wasn’t only Liberal members not attending the extraordinary meetings.

“[Labor] Councillor Tim Crackanthorp has also not been at any meeting this week,” he said.

Liberal Councillors have been critical of the motion to seek legal advice on the proposed merger since it was first suggested, saying it’s unlikely to change anything since the State Government can simply amend anything wrong with the proposal.

Liberal Councillors Brad Luke and Sharon Waterhouse [Image: Newcastle Herald]. 

They've summed it up as a big waste of money.

Jason Dunn has suggested the Councillors critical of the motion should attend the next extraordinary meeting on Thursday, saying they need to make time for that meeting.

“If they’re too busy with work and other commitments, well then, they should really consider their position as a Councillor I would think,” he said.

“It really is a disgraceful situation that these Councillors who are paid to attend these meetings and represent the community can’t be bothered turning up.”

Brad Luke has been critical of the whole situation, suggesting Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes is calling extraordinary meetings for no reason.

“The only time you normally have an extraordinary meeting is in times of great urgency,” he said.

“This is simply the Lord Mayor wanting to waste money on pursuing legal action, suing the State Government.”

Luke also accused the Lord Mayor of “playing political games and carrying on”.

“I think it’s utterly ridiculous the way she is going on with this,” he said. 

Rail Corridor Plans Divide Newcastle

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Protesters against the development of the rail corridor [Image: Ian Crouch]

Urban Growth’s planning proposal for Newcastle’s former heavy rail corridor has been handed down to Council for scrutiny.

The estimated $500 million commitment from the State Government will see the corridor transformed into an area with buildings are public spaces, including parks.

The plan will see the rezoning of up to 4 hectares of the city from Worth Place to Newcastle Station.

Hunter chairman of the Property Council of Australia, Ed Crawford approves of the plan and says it will benefit the city.

“The objective of this is to really revitalise the inner city and make it a desirable place to be for people to work and live in,” he said.

“In lots of ways this puts Newcastle on the map and a place where tourists would want to come and spend time and money.”

One of the key issues Urban Growth had to take into account was the need to keep buildings under nine storeys.  Crawford says this was respected.

“There’s no high rise building contemplated in this scheme, I think it’s all very compatible with the built form that is around those number of sites,” he said.

David Shoebridge [Image: Ian Crouch]

“It seems, from the information that’s been released, a good compromise between those who might say three will be development opportunities and those that say there should be lots of public space.”

“I think there seems to be a suitable blend of both.”

Not everyone shared Crawford’s optimism though, with Greens MP David Shoebridge leading a protest of about 40 people in the city on Thursday.

The group was protesting the plan to develop on the land, and saying the door has been left open for more private development.

“From day one, this was well connected property industry, doing what it does every day in NSW politics,” he said

“They get in the ear of the decision makers, they find the public land where they can make the largest amount of profit and they circle around, getting the Government to do their bidding.”

Shoebridge warned the city could end up like Sydney, with regions deemed as public places having private buildings placed on them.

“We saw it in Barangaroo in the heart of Sydney, 22 hectares of public space.  Originally it was going to be parkland for public interest, and instead we get a ruddy-great casino owned by a billionaire,” he said.

“Here, their montage is all about public open space and a green outlook.  If it goes ahead, we’ll see more intense development and more public land handed over.”

Paterson - The Key Battleground

BY GARY LYSAGHT

In the final day before Australia go to the polls, the candidates for Paterson have made a last ditch effort to shore up votes.

Paterson is one of the key seats this election, sitting on a razor thin margin of just 0.5 percent, but swinging towards Labor.

The electorate was previously a safe Liberal seat until redistributions across the Hunter saw that margin slip away as it lost part of the north-east coast and gained traditional Labor territory.

Because of the margin, both parties have promised big for the electorate with Labor candidate Meryl Swanson saying the groundwork’s been done for a Labor government.

Meryl Swanson & Karen Howard

“We have got the ball rolling on making our policy announcement about Williamtown.  The government has played catch-up on that,” she said.

“We will save Medicare, we’ll properly fund our schools and we will give people the 21^st century NBN.”

Labor have promised big for Paterson, with $20 million allocated for national blood testing for 10,000 people expected to be effected by PFOS and PFOA as a result of RAAF base contamination.

Other promises include funding for a Heddon-Greta carpark and an accessibility lift for Maitlald RSL.

Labor have also promised up to 19,000 homes will be connected to the full-fibre NBN instead of the Coalition’s hybrid one.

Meanwhile, Liberal candidate Karen Howard echoed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, calling for a return of the Coalition Government.

“It’s very important at the moment that we stick together.  We need stability, we need majority government,” she said.

“The worst possible thing for the Hunter region will be a sea of red.”

The Coalition have also made big promises, with a $55 million package for Williamtown and other RAAF bases – more than double Labor’s promise.

Upgrades to Kurri Kurri sports ground and mobile black spot reduction have also been promised should the Turnbull Government be returned on Saturday.

“I will be working extremely hard on behalf of the communities of Williamtown and surrounds to fight for them, to make sure we deliver on everything we’ve promised,” said Howard.

While not promising to do the same, Swanson said she would make sure the Prime Minister knew what he constituents want, regardless of whether that PM is Malcolm Turnbull or Bill Shorten.

“I intend to be … an absolute champion and a strong advocate for them in Canberra,” said Swanson.

“I’ve spend my whole life talking to people.  More importantly, listening to people.”

With the Hunter being a very pro-Labor region, with local heavyweight Joel Fitzgibbon being a stalwart in the region since 1996, Howard is now urging residents to switch sides.

“What we’ve seen is it has been very difficult to deliver from Opposition and that’s not an arrogant comment, that’s the reality,” she said.

Coaltion Promise to Improve Mobile Coverage

BY GARY LYSAGHT

The federal government have committed to building a new mobile base station at Fullerton Cove if they are re-elected on July 2.

It’s part of a $60 million boost in funding for mobile black spots, which will now see up to $220 million spent across Australia to boost services.

Fullerton Cove was chosen specifically by the Turnbull Government [Image: ABC].

The new station is expected to provide coverage for residents of Fern Bay and also Williamtown Airport.

“This is a notorious mobile phone black spot and particularly important to have good mobile phone coverage in times of emergency,” said Liberal candidate for Paterson, Karen Howard.

“I know this is going to provide benefits to our emergency services,” she said.

Howard said the location on Nelson Bay Road was selected because it had been “overlooked by mobile network operators due to commercial factors”.

“The Coalition is committed to improving mobile coverage along major transport routes,” she said.

Howard also committed herself to working with the Baird Government to increase phone coverage in the future.

“If elected, I will be working hard with not only my federal colleagues, but [also] my state colleagues to ensure that we fix some of the other mobile phone black spots that I’ve noticed,” she said.

Public asked to Decide Marina's Fate

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Lake Macquarie residents have been invited to attend a public meeting on the Pelican Foreshore Saturday afternoon to discuss the future of the former Pelican Marina site.

Pelican Marina before its demolition [Source: ABC].

The Marina fell into the lake earlier this year and was subsequently removed by the State Government.

Since then, the site has been in limbo as the Government remains tight lipped on their future plans.

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley will host the event, which will be attended by Shadow Lands & Water minister, Mick Veitch.

Catley says she’ll be keeping Lands & Water minister, Niall Blair abreast of tomorrow afternoon’s discussions.

“Certainly through Parliament I’ll be making sure [the] minister his the community’s views,” she said.

“He just needs to come on board now and make sure that he lets the community know that in good faith, he will listen to them.”

Minister Blair was invited to the event, but refused to attend.

Conversation has already begun over what will replace the marina and the Milanos restaurant with Catley suggesting they should simply be replaced.

“People really liked having a marina at that part of the lake,” she said.

“It was obviously well utilised because of its location.”

A free sausage sizzle will be on offer to those that attend, with attendees being asked to bring a camping chair along to avoid sitting on the grass.

Catley says the event will be easy going and community focussed.

“It’s the community coming together to give me their views on how they would like to see the building proceed,” she said.

The event will kick off at 3:30pm.

Daunt Bones to be Reconstructed Before Autopsy

BY GARY LYSAGHT

A forensic expert will arrive in Newcastle next week to reconstruct the skeleton of murdered carpenter Christopher Daunt.

An autopsy will follow the reconstruction in an effort to determine the cause of death.

Police have alleged Daunt was bashed to death by Christopher John Robertson in March 29 last year.

It is alleged the attack happened at Robertson’s New Lambton home.

Robertson was arrested last week before detectives discovered the remains of Daunt at Seahampton.

Strike Force Retractor was established to assist in uncovering the body of Daunt and piecing together the final hours before his death.

Police have continued the search for Daunt’s possessions, with the investigation leading them to bushland near Cameron Park.  However, they failed to find anything.

Daunt and Robertson had been close friends, with allegations that the two were also involved in the local drug trade.

Government to Upgrade Gresford

BY GARY LYSAGHT

The Federal Government has committed to chipping in $1 million to help Dungog Shire Council upgrade Gresford’s main road.

The announcement was part of an election promise, which will see Park Street upgraded with the Government’s assistance, along with $3 million from Council.

Gresford's new MP, David Gillespie (left) with Dungog Mayor Harold Johnston. 

Lyne MP David Gillespie says the road has been in need of an upgrade for some time.

“It’s not drained and it’s on a hill.  And when it’s raining it’s really quite dangerous because there’s nowhere for the water to run away to,” he said.

The road is also an essential part of the Gresford Billy Cart Derby, an annual event which sees more than 5 000 tourists visit the small town and pump more than $50 000 into the economy.

“People come from all over the State, not just nearby Newcastle and Maitland,” said Gillespie.

“It’s an iconic event.”

The road can be dangerous for the racers, with the road being quite worn out.

“The surface is pretty dodgy and that’s why I think the Gresford billy cart people will be extremely happy,” said the town’s new MP.

Gresford became part of Lyne after the electoral redistributions which saw the abolition of Charlton and dramatic changes to Hunter, currently held by Labor stalwart, Joel Fitzgibbon.

Previously, Gresford was in Paterson, then held by former MP Bob Baldwin.

Gillespie is hopeful his funding commitment will get him and his new constituents off to a good start.

“I’m demonstrating that I can deliver the goods for what has been promised in the past,” he said. 

[Image Source: The Newcastle Herald].

Ingham's Employees Lose Job Security

BY GARY LYSAGHT

The Meat Workers' Union has expressed its outrage over the forced closure of the Ingham's processing plant at Cardiff, which will leave 355 workers without a job after August.


The company has said the closure is in an effort to cut costs and save money at a range of outlets across Australia since Ingham's was purchased by a large, American company 3 years ago.

Ingham's employees leave, knowing their job is no longer secure [Source: The Newcastle Herald]

The news was broken to the highly unionised workforce on Wednesday afternoon, giving workers only six weeks to find new employment.

Ingham's has confirmed they will provide redundancy payouts to workers, as well as paying for training programs for current employees to find new work.

Meat Worker's Union Branch Secretary Grant Courtney says Ingham's still isn't doing enough for their employees who don't have the skills to do much else.

"These people have worked in the industry a long time ... the company's just going to throw them on the scrap heap," he said.

He says Ingham's isn;t doing much for Cardiff workers, but it's working hard to make the processing industry in Australia better.

"They're going to invest $400 million in the processing industry, and that's a good thing for the industry, but it's not good for our member at Cardiff," he says.

"If the company's got that amount of money to splurge around to improve other processing plants across the country and can't throw money out to Cardiff; I just think it's a bad call."

Union members and executives are calling for a town hall meeting some time next week in an effort to discuss what's next for meat processing in the Hunter.

Courtney has worked with Ingham's to change their minds, but hasn't been successful.

"We've asked the company to go back to their senior figureheads and get them to reconsider their position [but] the company has said no at this stage, the decision is final, that's what it is."

Families Urged To Claim Family Energy Rebate

BY ARIANA GATTI

People who have lived in residential communities, long-term, are able to apply for up to $165 to cover the cost of electricity.

Families with young, dependent children, can apply for up to $150 worth of rebate assistance, who received a Family Tax Benefit this financial year.

Residents who meet the criteria will have until the 16^th of June to claim the rebate on their electricity bills.

Member for Swansea, MP Yasmin Catley, is urging eligible Hunter residents to the claim the NSW Government’s Family Energy Rebate as soon as possible.

MP Yasmin Catley says, “The application will only take a couple of minutes online, but should be completed as soon as possible to avoid the last minute rush.”

[Image source: Sawmill Creek (LINK)] 

Community Calls to Save Mambo Wetlands

BY GARY LYSAGHT

The Port Stephens community has continued to fight the planned sale of the Mambo Wetlands by the Department of Education.

A 'for sale' sign appeared on the grounds on May 6th, with the local Mambo Wanda Wetlands Landcare committee saying the weren't given a heads up beforehand.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington has firmly opposed the Baird Government's planned sale of the property, saying it is vitally important it doesn't enter private hands.

FOR SALE: Wetlands to be sold [Photo: TRRA]

"There's enormous cultural significance for the local Worimi.  [And] ecologically, it is part of this complex ecosystem that forms [the Wetlands]," she said.

Local residents had the opportunity to have their say on Thursday 26th May with a local forum held at Horizons Golf Resort at Salamander Bay.

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and Environment Minister Mark Speakman were both invited to attend the forum, with letters and email from Washington's office going unanswered.

The Wetlands' sale sign
[Source: Port Stephens Examiner]

A key concern for local residents is the local koala population which call the Wetlands home.

"We just simply can't afford it, for the sake of the koalas and all the other threatened species that live within that parcel of land," says Washington

"We need to, as a community, have a really strong voice and let the Government know that we do not want this land placed into private hands," she said.

The sale of the Wetlands would be another asset the Baird Government have sold off since the 2015 election, with up to $3 billion of public assets being sold as of 2016 since the Coalition victory in 2011.

Sold assets include Bligh House for $58 million and the Australian Technology Park for $263 million.

Money raised from the sale of buildings considered to be old or misused will be redirected to constructing new infrastructure and housing.

The State Opposition have been critical of the recent litany of public assets the Government have sold into private hands with Shadow Finance Minister Clayton Barr saying Premier Mike Baird was "addicted to the sugar hit" of selling off assets.

"Whether it is electricity assets or Government property, they are happy to accept the short-term gain and ignore the long-term pain," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Environmental Protests to Take Place in Port of Newcastle

The Port of Newcastle will play host to the Australian outlet of an international protest on climate change, focusing on asking the world to walk away from fossil fuels.

The peaceful protest  is under the banner Break Free and is being conducted in association with Greenpeace.

Hundreds of Australians are expected to attend the event running from May 7-8, with thousands expected to attend around the world, with peaceful protests taking place in the United Kingdom, Canada and South Africa.

"We are in a climate crisis right now, there's no other way to put it" said Dr Nikola Casule from Greenpeace Australia.

"February was the hottest month on record, we've had places in the Arctic that effectively had no winter.

"There are certain parts of the Arctic that were 16 degrees above normal."

It comes after Environment Minister Greg Hunt attended the Paris climate conference late last year, signing the commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

"The Turnbull Government has so far maintained the policies of the Abbott Government" said Dr Casule.

He went on to say Break Free's goal is to force elective representatives to take real action on climate change, and calling on Parliament to implement policies that can make a change.

However, Dr Casule has said reducing carbon emissions needs to include the reduction of Australia's exportation of coal.

"Australian carbon emission is only a small part of what we really need to be talking about.

"It's our exports that are our biggest contribution to global warming, and to stop that we need to keep coal in the ground."

One of Australia's largest exports is coal, with millions of dollars coming in from nations across the world, including China.

"The debate you hear in Canberra kind of misses the point if it's not talking about a reduction in the Australian coal industry" said Dr Casule.

Image courtesy of The Australian (LINK).

Award Celebrates Contribution by Over 65's

Port Stephens residents are called on to nominate a senior citizen who has made their region a better place for the 2016 Seniors Local Achievement Award.

The award recognises over 65's who have made a real difference to their community through any of their chosen fields.

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington says the awards are a great way to showcase seniors who have given back.

"There are people that contribute as part of their roles in any of the service clubs, lions clubs, rotaries" she said.

"There's just so many different ways people are contributing and strengthening our community."

People can nominate seniors by calling Washington's office on 4987 4455, or via Email at portstephens@parliamnet.nsw.gov.au.

"I'm really hopeful that people will contact me office to nominate people for this award"  Washington said.

"There's a wealth of people [who] could possibly be nominated."

Nominations close March 25th, with the winners announced as part of the 10 day-long NSW Seniors Festival, which runs from April 1-10. 

Image courtesy of the Boroondara Bulletin (LINK).

Greens Call for Talks on Drug Reform

Federal Greens Leader Richard Di Natale has hosted a roundtable discussion in Newcastle,with new ways to tackle the Ice epidemic on the table.

Di Natale will be calling on the Government to move drug addiction out of the criminal justice system and into the health network.

All types of drug use will be up for discussion, not just Ice.

He is also calling on funding for drug prevention be also diverted into the health system, to help with rehabilitation  and detox centres. 

Dr. Di Natale is hoping for "rational" conversations on drug control

"There are resources going towards police, to target individuals who have got drug addiction, rather than spending that money on treatment" said Dr. Di Natale.

A number of roundtables will be held across Australia in the weeks leading up to the national illicit drugs summit in March, with stops also expected in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

Newcastle was one of the chosen cities because of the "live issue" illicit drugs are in the region.

The roundtable will include representatives from the health and justice departments, academics and people who have experienced drug use first hand.

Despite the call to decriminalise the use of drugs, Di Natale is still calling on the drugs themselves to be illegal.

"Drugs should continue to be illegal, particularly drugs like is.  We should continue to prosecute drug dealers, but when we're talking about the individuals who use drugs, it's much better to offer them treatment."

However, Drug Free Australia Executive Director, Jo Baxter has lamented the decision by the Greens, saying the criminal system should receive increased funding for drug related crimes.

"We could put more resources into drug courts, which is a system where by they [drug addicts] aren't treated as criminals, they are diverted into rehabs."

"Anything that would take the deterrent away, that's not a good system."

Di Natale has used Portugal as an example of how decriminalising drug use has done good things.

"In Portugal, where criminal penalties for individual drug users were removed, and all that money spent on treatment; we didn't see any increase in drug use."

"What we saw was more people come forward for treatment and a much, much more efficient use of resources."

Ms. Baxter however has argued the decriminalisation will send the wrong message to kids.

"They need to think about the compassion of the kids that are coming up and haven't tried drugs yet."

"Don't send the wrong message, don't let it become normal."

The national summit will be held in Canberra on March 2, and is expect to play host to members of the Federal Cabinet.

There, Di Natale hopes to have rational discussions about drug control.

"We're just trying to change the national conversation" he said.

Image courtesy of Business Insider Australia (LINK).

McCormack has got Williamtown at the "top of the Priorities"

New Assistant Defence minister, Michael McCormack has given hope to Williamtown residents, as he aims to make the contamination at Williamtown RAAF base a top priority.

It comes as Defence minister, Marise Payne refuses to respond to the Senate inquiry into the base, which found conditions to be a crisis to the local community.

Minister Payne has also refused to announce when the Federal Government will respond to the report.

"Having face-to-face engagements with people who are living the reality of this contamination is vital" says Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon, who welcomed the announcement from minister McCromack.

McCormack first entered Parliament in 2010, representing the seat of Riverina, NSW

 It's been months since the initial announcement of contamination, which has seen local businesses hampered by loss of business, while fishing organisations have had little to no income since late last year.

Claydon has also advised minister McCormack to see the effects first hand, and not in Canberra.

"Have some discussion with the community group leadership ... to really find out what is the most appropriate means of communicating with as many residents and effected business as possible."

"It's not good enough to just lob up in Newcastle with a clear plan."

"He needs to hit the ground running."

McCormack was sworn in as Assistant Defence minister earlier today, along with a slew of Nationals MPs, including Barnaby Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister, and Alan Tudge, who replaced Stuart Robert as Human Services minister.

Image courtesy of Alex Ellinghausen, via the Sydney Morning Herald (LINK).

Hunter Breaks Rain Record

The Hunter is expected to have more rainfall for the rest of the week, following sunny skies for the Australia Day holiday.

Rainfall is expected to varied, with some parts expected to receive up to 60 millimeters of rainfall, while others may receive as low as 5.

Chris Webb from the Williamtown Weather Office says the showers will effect everyone.

"For the entire Hunter district tomorrow and Saturday, they'll be some showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon."

"At this range it's not possible to know where we'll get it, but we're confident there will be some about."

The upcoming rainfall will push this January into the wettest one in memory.

"We've got an old record of 404mm, 1895 it dates back to" says Mark Wilgard, Observations Officer at Williamtown Weather Office.

"As of yesterday, 9am we had 402.8mm, but since then we've got the 1.2mm."

"So the record's been equaled."

This weekends rain is being blamed on a low pressure trough which is moving itself across the Hunter.

"We think with the trough nearby there will be some showers and thunderstorms this evening" said Mr Webb.

"That trough will probably move across the Hunter on Saturday, causing more showers and thunderstorms."

The poor weather is expected to move on by Sunday.

Layoffs at Scone Abattoir

A downturn in the Australian livestock industry has seen 155 workers losing their jobs at a Scone abattoir.

The JBS owned facility aims to combat the downturn by shifting from double to single shift work days, resulting in the layoffs.

Most of the workers came from labour hire firms (who outsource skilled and unskilled blue-collar workers) or are on temporary work visas.

Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union Secretary, Newcastle and Upper NSW Grant Courtney said the writing for the layoffs was written on the wall.

"When there's livestock downturn or when the market corrects itself, jobs are always lost and usually the areas that are dropped first are labour hire workers."

JBS has confirmed it is still committed to the future of its Scone operations.

Mr. Courtney said the focus should remain on keeping local workers.

"It's about career opportunities for local people, who are also looking for work."

"The company needs to have a look at itself and say "well okay, who are the people we should be keeping"."

"We want to make sure that there's a career path for permanent residents into the future."

It comes after the abattoir was sold by Primo to JBS in March 2015. At the time, New England MP Barnaby Joyce confirmed then Treasurer Joe Hockey had the authority to divest JBS of the meatworks.  

Image courtesy of Emma Brown, via ABC News (LINK).