Local showgrounds could be under threat

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Throughout the Hunter, showgrounds are managed by volunteer trusts, but this could all change when new Crown Land Laws come into effect.

The new Crown Lands Management Act 2016 will be able to transfer a wide range of Crown Lands to local councils and other government agencies.

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Mick Veitch sees the move as yet another example of the National Party failing rural and regional communities.

"There's a real risk under the new laws that the minister of the day can transfer crown land including showgrounds to your local council to manage. What that means is, if the councils keen to sell off and develop that land they can do so under the new regime," said Mick Veitch.

The changes to the laws would see the showgrounds most likely taken out of the trust hands and transferred to local councils and government who would be likely to sell the community assets, particularly if they are strapped for cash.

"Right across the Hunter there are showgrounds managed by hard working trusts and these trusts need support and they need support from the community as well as government. What I'm saying to the minister, is we need to make sure the communities continue to have a say in the management of these showgrounds via the trust system."

NSW Labor sought to move amendments to the Crown Lands laws which would have prevented councils reclassifying Crown Land as "operational" land that could be sold off.

Image @MickVeitchMLC

Temporary work visa replacement scheme could affect Hunter workers

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Temporary work visas, or 457 visas, will be a thing of the past with Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull announcing the visa would be replaced by two new visas.

Foreign workers take up a lot of work in regional areas like the Hunter, particularly in the health sector, and there are fears the new scheme will either create more jobs, or leave jobs without anyone to fill them. 

It's likely 200 fewer industries will be able to access overseas staff and there will be stricter conditions placed on those who do come to Australia to work under two new visas.

Member for the Hunter Joel FitzGibbon says the system was being wroughted, but he questions whether the new reforms will actually prove to make a difference.

"Jobs were going to foreigners which could have been filled by local people - now Malcom Turnbull has been sitting on his hands and knees for years, and whether he has now successfully really moved to fix it is a question we still don't know the answer to," said Joel FitzGibbon.

The Prime Minister says the reforms will focus on "Australian jobs and Australian values" giving Aussies the chance to get more work.

Image www.theaustralian.com.au

Current visa holders won't be affected by the changes.

"Well is this is genuine change, I welcome it. But Malcom Turnbull has given us none of the details about his new visa scheme, there is no doubt 457's were being wroughted costing Australians jobs," said Joel FitzGibbon.

Rural men at higher cancer risk

Hunter men are being encouraged to have their prostate checked after a study from Cancer Council NSW reveled rural men have a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer than their major city counter parts.

The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, showed rural while overall survival rates had improved, rural men were 32% more likely to die from prostate cancer then men in major cities.

"There is a couple of reasons [for the disparity] we think that early detection really is a big contributor to these different rates, but also the distance to treatment is quite a barrier," said Shayne Connell, Regional Manager, Cancer Council NSW.

Survival rates increased from 57 to 84 percent but the inequity between rural and city patients was still prominent.

"Across the board we've had about 700 deaths in rural men over a 15 year period," Mr Connell said.

All men, particularly those with a family history of cancer, are encouraged to visit their doctor or call the Cancer Council help line on 13 11 20