Upper Hunter Economic Recovery Slowing Down

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Hunter Research Foundation held its Upper Hunter Economic breakfast this morning industry professionals discussed the regions economic indicators.

Economic indicators are used to analyse the economic performance of a region in order to indicate the direction of that economy.

According to the new analysis, the Upper Hunter business and household expectations for the local economy continued to decline from their 2017 high.

The lead economist for the Hunter Research Foundation Dr Anthea Bill said the Upper Hunter is in Sync with the Hunter region more broadly as well as the rest of the nation.

"The Upper Hunter region and the Hunter together, are showing some more robust signs, particularly in terms of their housing markets. We are seeing some declines but only moderately.

"At the moment when we have a look at the Upper Hunter, housing market and house prices declined by three per cent overall, but when we unpack that, we can see most of those declines were driven by the Upper Hunter Shire. Muswellbrook and Singleton actually had a two per cent rebound and Singleton had particularly strong growth over the year of seven per cent in its house prices.

"There was less softening in the consumer sector for both the Hunter and the Upper Hunter, while business measures are kind of tracking in sync in some ways with the nation. We have had a bit of a softening in the business sector. Some slowing of the moment that was seen in 2017-18.

"I think political uncertainty at a national level is playing in. There has been some downgrading of global forecasts and there might be a little bit extra impact in the region around some softening in the thermal coal price that we will be watching for future economic indicators," Dr Bill said.

The key economic indicators for the Upper Hunter are:

• Employment: fell despite growth in September 2018. The Unemployment rate is steady, just above the state but below the broader Hunter region.

• Median house prices: across the Upper Hunter fell by 3 per cent. There was a significant decline in the Upper Hunter Local Government Area, but growth in Singleton and Muswellbrook.

• Business performance and confidence: soften further from a recovery in late 2017, when the region was at its peak but remains above long-term averages.

• Household spending: past spending has stayed relatively steady while future household finances showed a decline.

• Business and household confidence: the region's economy has softened again, but businesses and households remain optimistic, and confidence is well above 2013-15 lows.

Economic indicators for the Upper Hunter.

Community Calls for Balance in Bid to Stop Dartbrook Reopening

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Farmers, business owners, health professionals and families have come together in the Upper Hunter to prevent more coal mines being opened in their backyard.

A new committee has been formed in response to a proposal from Australian Pacific Coal to reopen Dartbrook underground mine which was mothballed in 2006 following three deaths at the site over a twelve-year period.

Plans to reopen the mine and extend operations until 2027 are in their final stages after the NSW Department of Planning & Environment provided a positive recommendation in January of this year.

An Independent Planning Commission (IPC) meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 9 and new committee Friends of the Upper Hunter is urging fellow residents to have their opinions on the project heard.

The group believes the region has reached a tipping point in the number of mines it can safely sustain and hopes to see the same success Groundswell Gloucester had earlier this year in its bid to stop the opening of the controversial Rocky Hill Mine.

A major concern for the group is Australian Pacific Coal's long-term plan to run an open-cut mine on the site.

Committee member Kirsty O'Connell said it's not about being anti-mining but about finding balance for the community and ensuring healthy communities and clean air going into the future.

"We also need to be able to position ourselves for the future and to invest and strengthen those other industries that are going to be important as we go through these transitions with the mining industry," said Ms O'Connell.

"We really want to make sure there is enough quality land, there's enough water, there's enough space for those industries that will create jobs for everyone in the community now and into the future."

Kirsty O'Connell said it's about taking care of the health of local communities as the region continues to see worrying trends in air quality.

"There's been two separate reports now that the Upper Hunter, and particular the postcode 2333, is one of the most polluted in the country and certainly the most polluted airshed in NSW."

The group is also stressing the effect the mine's reopening could have on air quality for residents of the Lower Hunter, with unwashed coal to be delivered to Newcastle via the railway line.

Independent Planning Commission Meeting will be "Critical"

Friends of the Upper Hunter view the proposal to reopen the underground mine as a "stepping stone" towards an open-cut mine and Kirsty O'Connell believes next month's IPC meeting will be critical in the fight against Dartbrook's reopening.

"We want to make sure the community is wide awake to the strategic importance of the underground proposal, the fact that it does pave the way for an open-cut mine,

That's why it's really important that anyone who doesn't want an open-cut on the doorstep of Aberdeen and the Hunter River actually has a say now," she said.

"We're really trying to encourage as many people as possible to put in a written submission because typically people forget or they think it doesn't matter, and we're really trying to tell people strongly 'Your objection matters',

It only needs to be a sentence, it can be confidential, but please get an objection in and make sure our concerns are heard on this."

Anyone interested in having their say on the issue can apply to speak at the meeting before April 1st or provide a written submission via the IPC website.

Friends of the Upper Hunter has also provided a direct link to the submission portal on its website.

The meeting will take place at 10am at the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music in Muswellbrook on Tuesday, April 9.

Meeting Sought With Local MP

The group has sought a meeting with re-elected MP Michael Johnsen to make sure he's clear on the details of Australian Pacific Coal's proposal.

"The state government has already set out in it's Hunter Region Plan a fantastic plan for diversification of the local economy and for transition, in fact, those are some of the priorities for the Upper Hunter," said Ms O'Connell.

"We're really encouraged that Michael Johnsen was one of the councillors who voted for Upper Hunter Council's first Coal and Coal Seam Gas policy,

He was part of that unanimous vote and what we're calling on him to do is to stand by those principles he was exhibiting in 2011 and call for the protection of farming and for the protection of our communities."

A map of Upper Hunter Mines. Image: Friends of the Upper Hunter via Australian Pacific Coal

$650 Million Announced For Two Upper Hunter Bypasses

BY JARROD MELMETH

Federal and State Labor has announced $350 million in joint funding for the Singleton Bypass on the New England Highway if both levels form government.

The federal opposition has committed $250 million to the project, while the NSW opposition has allocated $100 million.

Singleton town centre is considered one of the states worst traffic chokeholds where the New England Highway runs through the town.

Labor says more than 3,700 trucks travel through Singleton per day which impacts on the existing road network, road safety and on public amenity in the local community

Federal Member for the Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon said it is no secret that Singleton is a traffic nightmare.

“In my years as the local member I’ve had to fight for four big New England Highway projects: the Belford Bends Deviation, the Scone Bypass, the Muswellbrook Bypass and the Singleton Bypass.

“The first two are complete and with Federal Labor’s announcement and Michael Daley’s commitments today, we hope to start building the other two soon,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

NSW Shadow Minister for Roads Jodi McKay said NSW Labor will still commit $100 million in the event both tiers do not form government.

Meanwhile, NSW Labor has also committed $266 million to the Muswellbrook bypass, matching the Liberal Governments announcement last week.

Ms McKay said only Labor can be trusted to deliver the projects.

"John Barilaro said just a couple of weeks ago, before the Liberal/National announcement of $266 million, that he did not see the project as a priority. 

"He has suddenly acted when he realised his job is on the line, and that is the only reason that he made that announcement," Ms McKay said.

The current situation at Muswellbrook where the New England
Highway runs through the town.

The current situation at Singleton where the New England
Highway runs through the town.

Early Intervention Key In Crime Prevention: Singleton Mayor

BY JARROD MELMETH

Early intervention to reduce the risk of substance abuse in Singleton is the first order of business for the revitalised Community Drug Action team.

The need for the program was one of the outcomes from the Youth & Alcohol and Other Drugs forum held at Singleton Youth Venue recently and has been resurrected by council in an effort to provide support and raise awareness locally for young people. 

Community Drug Action teams were established in 1999 and have led thousands of activities to engage at-risk youth, educate parents and wider community through activities and campaigns. The initiative is supported by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and funded by NSW Health.

The latest statistics from the Bureau of Crime Statistics show a 53 per cent increase in amphetamine possession and/or use in the Singleton LGA between 2016-17.

Singleton Mayor Sue Moore said while alcohol and substance abuse is growing problem it is not exclusive to just Singleton.

"It's growing in every area and early intervention is, of course, a key to being able to stop the addiction which rolls on to many other aspects of crime, not just drug and alcohol," Cr Moore said.

Council's Strategy and Engagement Manager Natalie Zagninski said the program will work in partnership with the Red Cross and the Save a Mate program to raise funds to educate young people about keeping themselves and others safe.

"This kind of initiative is especially timely given school end-of-year celebrations are just around the corner and young people are planning schoolies activities.

Other programs on offer under the initiative include Responsible Service of Alcohol, Driver Education and First Aid.

Muswellbrook Mayor confirmed as Upper Hunter candidate

BY JARROD MELMETH

Labor has announced Muswellbrook Mayor, Martin Rush will run as the Country Labor candidate for the Upper Hunter in the March 2019 State Election.

State Opposition Leader, Luke Foley made the announcement during a visit to the region this morning - describing the new candidate as having conviction and commitment to the local community.

In the Upper Hunter seat in the last election, Country Labor recorded one of the largest swings against the National Party of 20.8%.

Martin Rush said he believes that margin has narrowed even further since 2015.

"We had over $650 million dollars of commitment from all sides during the last campaign," he said, "because as the margin narrowed (and that became obvious to both major parties that the seat was up for grabs) there was some interest in the seat - and that was really refreshing."

Mr Rush believes this renewed interest will make for a hotly contested seat but promises it will be a fair campaign.

"From my perspective, we just want to get out and tell a positive story," he said, "we want it to be a solution-based campaign.

"So you won't see our side engaging in any confrontational or negative politics with the other side - that's just not us."

Mayor of Muswellbrook, Martin Rush. 

Welcome Rain Arrives In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

There's been some welcome rain overnight across the Hunter, giving some hope to drought affected farmers.

Although patchy in parts, some good falls were recorded in the Upper Hunter as well as across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.

Merriwa has recorded the best rainfall so far, with 23.8 millimetres falling since 9 o'clock yesterday morning, while 8.4 has fallen at Scone Airport and Williamtown has recorded 30.2.

Light Rain is also falling over the massive fire ground at Putty where more than 10,000 hectares of bush has been scorched since last week.

The Weather Bureau bureau says showers should ease by this afternoon.

Welcome Rain Has Arrived In The Hunter

Upper Hunter Farmers Feeling the Pinch with No Rain In Sight

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's dry.

Very dry in the Upper Hunter.

It's getting closer to winter as each week goes by and without barely a drop of rain for some time farmers are racing the clock to grow feed to last through the colder months.

Dairy farmers Brian and Debbie Parker live on a property just outside Denman and they're beginning to feel the pinch from a significant lack of rain.

They've been working the farm for 20 years now and currently have 200 head of Jersey and Illawarra cattle. The last time they suffered a really bad drought was in 2006-2007 and they fear it could get really bad again.

"It's very dry. We have not had any decent rain since Cyclone Debbie. We got a couple of inches then and that was March last year."

"We're having to search further afield all of the time to source hay, we'll be down in Victoria soon! We really want to get some decent rain before Autumn ends, that would be the end of May, that's when the feed just doesn't grow because its coming into winter so we've got to get rain before winter," said Brian Parker.

"As soon as we can grow it [feed] we are feeding it off. There is no surplus feed at all. Actually last week I had to buy in my first load of hay - there goes $12,000 for a b-double from Cowra."

That load of hay could be just the beginning, if no substantial rain comes Brian and his wife Debbie could be shelling out thousands of dollars every month for one b-double load, at least. That will add to an ever increasing power bill and pumping water through irrigation systems more and more.

Scone. Image www.scone.com.au

Some farmers in the Upper Hunter are questioning just how much the State Government are helping them.

In 2015, the government took drought declarations away replacing them with the NSW Drought Strategy. The drought declarations did trigger the release of some subsidies when it was in place including transport subsidies which is something farmers are really missing.

It's understood that now instead of being declared in a drought and assistance being triggered that way, farmers have to get in touch with Local Land Services for help, and if they don't then they won't know about it.

"As far as I knew we needed to be [drought declared], we've had no support tell us that we can actually access those things so I didn't even know anything about it to tell you the truth. And I'm totally unaware of any of that... I'm very unfamiliar with this new system," said Brian Parker.

"Back under the old system we got freight subsidies and that did really help, I don't even know if that is still available," and Brian said he has never had any contact from Local Land Services or the government at any level to tell him there are options available to him or even where to go to look for them.

"We're too busy looking after everything on the farm, and we just need some advice, even an email in laymens terms - something."

"I'm not one to ask for too much help, but just to be aware of what's out there, and if there is something that I see applicable I'd certainly look into it but I don't see anything that's out there."

Image nbnnews.com.au

In the end though, it goes beyond cattle and hay.

"You just can't control the weather I mean we're in an industry, farming, so we go with the weather and it's tough times now, very tough times, but all you've got to do is look after your mental health too," which Brian Parker says from experience, having had trouble a couple of years ago.

"It's the constant work and the stress of it all really and that's what takes its toll on you. And you just wonder when its going to rain next, you keep looking towards the sky."

Bushfire Relief Funding for Thousands of Affected Hunter Residents

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Thousands of people affected by bushfires in the Hunter will now be able to apply for disaster relief funding.

The State Government has announced disaster assistance is now available to Hunter residents affected by the Chichester Dam and Main Creek Road fires in Dungog, and the Mount Helen fire in the Upper Hunter.

The assistance for eligible residents, local councils and producers includes:
- help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
- support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
- concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
- freight subsidies for primary producers, and
- grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen said thousands of homes and properties were damaged and so the funding will go a long way.

"It will assist both councils and private landowners to be able to recover things like fencing, you might need feed and stock, things like that and those sorts of assistance measures are very very important to help people recover,"

"Affected landowners and councils when they apply will be able to see exactly what their damage requirements and improvements are and they'll be able to see when they apply when they will be eligible for. The best thing to do is have a look at the website," said Michael Johnsen.

To see if you're eligible and for more information head to the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website: www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au

Image MJF Productions.

Woman Flown to Hospital after Serious Quad Bike Accident in the Upper Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 43-year-old woman is nursing serious injuries in the John Hunter Hospital after a nasty quad bike accident in the Upper Hunter.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to the Muswellbrook property last night where they found the woman had suffered head, chest and arm injuries after the quad bike rolled down an embankment.

She was airlifted to hospital and remains in a critical but stable condition.

In another incident this morning a man was flown to the John Hunter Hospital after he fell off a horse in Scone.

The 24-year-old fell from his horse at Scone Racecourse and suffered pelvic injuries.

He's in a stable condition.

No More Open-Cut Mining Plans for Drayton South in the Upper Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An amendment to a state mining and planning policy means no open-cut mining will be allowed on Drayton South.

The NSW Government announced the change today, which they say brings certainty to both the industry and the community in the Upper Hunter.

Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts announced the amendment which will "protect the valuable and world-renowned horse studs in the area".

The State Government has approved underground mining for the site though, which looks to be getting undertaken by Malabar Coal.

The company expects to finalise their purchase of the project for exploration on the site in the coming months and say they've already surrendered part of the previous license that had extended south of the Golden Highway encroaching on horse studs.

But Georgina Woods from Lock the Gate Alliance believes it falls far short of what's needed in the area.

"It's good to see this formalised but really we are disappointed with the narrowness of the decision. It's actually condemning the farming and horse breeding industries of the Hunter Valley to have to continue to fight for their survival against the government who seems to have ears only for the coal industry."

Image theaustralian.com.au

Drayton South mine promises to only mine underground

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

The newsest buyer for the Drayton South Coal Mine in the Upper Hunter is promising to only mine underground.

Thoroughbred horse studs are cautiously welcoming the plan after years of dispute over the mines' expansion.

Horse breeders have long argued the impact of former owner, Anglo American's original plan would've seen coal mining only 500 metres from their doorsteps, causing major dust and noise problems for their horses.

Malabar Coal is promising to only mine underground and has agreed to have its mining license varied.

Upper Hunter economy on the up

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Upper Hunter's economy is on the up with a falling unemployment rate and a rise in commodity prices increasing confidence in the region.

Changes to the resources sector are thought to have played a big part in the results according to the Hunter Research Foundation Centre's (HRF) latest report.

There's been a massive turnaround in the economy with the jobless rate falling from 8.6 per cent in December 2015 to just 4 per cent last December.

Lead economist from HRF Dr Anthea Bill says the rising employment rate is a huge win for the region and it's thanks to the movements in commodity prices, particularly improvements in the price of thermal coal.

"It's softened a little bit in the beginning of 2017 but even over the year from March 2017 to March 2016, there was a 54 per cent improvement in thermal coal prices and that's obviously flowing through into direct employment and sub contractors."

Image theherald.com.au

She also says both consumer and business confidence are to thank for the region's better economy.

"We can see there's been a sustained improvement in business confidence and rising measures of business performance, profitability and trading and also rising forward facing measures such as hiring intentions and capital investment expenditure predictions in the December quarter."

Even resident's expectations for the region's economy are on the rise for the next three months at its highest since 2005 with business owners confident the local economy has and will improve for the short and long term.

"Generally, overall there's been renewed regional confidence, so we've seen a big jump in business confidence in terms of the regional outlook, so the outlook for the Hunter overall, and we've seen market improvements in householders confidence better than it has been for more than a decade," said Dr Anthea Bill.

However, housing figures were the weak link, with the median house price falling from around $345,000 in December 2015 to around $328,000 last year.

Quad bike safety training free for farmers

BY JARROD MELMETH

Farmers, including those in the Hunter, will now receive free quad bike training in a boost to the safety improvement program aimed at significantly reducing the number of deaths on rural properties across NSW.

SafeWork NSW in partnership with Tocal College will deliver up to 100 training events in regional and remote areas across NSW previously costing upwards of $200 after a government rebate of $310.

Member for the Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen said, offering incentives for quad bike safety will reduce deaths as a result of quad bikes.

"I can't put more hours in a day but what I can do is make it as easy as possible to access training.

"That is why we are abolishing the fee. That is why we are giving helmets away. To make sure people are safe when using quad bikes.

"We are trying to raise awareness about how dangerous these quad bikes are and about how important it is to ride them safely and to use appropriate equipment when using them," Mr Johnsen said.

Since 2011, there have been 113 deaths from quad bike accidents across Australia, with 32 incidents just in NSW.

In March this year, the government doubled the rebates available under the scheme for farmers who want to buy a safer side-by-side farm vehicle, retrofit safety equipment to existing quad bikes, and/or buy an approved helmet.

Today's announcement is about removing a barrier to accessing training and making it as safe as possible for farmers who use quad bikes," Mr Johnsen said.

L-R: Singleton's Gavin Wake, Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen, Max Wake
 and Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean at the Wake
 property on Sunday.

Wilpinjong mine expansion approved

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

Wollar residents have been dealt a devastating blow after the NSW Planning Assessment Commission approved the expansion of the Wilpinjong coal mine.

Wilpinjong coal mine [Picture: The Herald].

The mine will now operate until 2033, increasing its annual production to 13 million tonnes of coal.

The state government and Department of Planning approved the expansion despite receiving 284 objections to the proposal.

Bev Smiles, from the Wollar Progress Association, slammed the Department of Planning's assertion that the decline of Wollar - in the Upper Hunter - is "inevitable even without mining".

"It's not based on any facts," she said.

"It's convenience for them not to recognise, the Department of Planning themselves, with their approval over the last 10 years of major expansions of this coal mine have caused the demise of the Wollar community.

Ms Smiles says the Peabody-controlled mine has slowly eroded the small community, with only three independent properties left in the town.

She says the rest of the town, including the churches, general store and numerous other properties are owned by Peabody.

"What we have left in our community is a number of isolated properties that are totally stranded.  The people, including myself, have been economically disadvantaged by the decision making of the NSW Government," she said.

"That economic disadvantage and the social injustice in the Wollar community has not been recognised at all in the Planning Assessment report or by the Department of Planning.

"We [the Wollar community] believe this decision ... is a very socially unjust decision."

Hunter independent service stations should expect a visit from SafeWork

BY JARROD MELMETH

The New South Wales Government has today launched a project aimed at educating independently-owned service stations in regional NSW, including the Hunter on safety and workers compensation, as well as obtaining fuel pricing information.

The project is in response to recent SafeWork research that found small, independently-owned service stations lack understanding of work health and safety in relation to storage, handling and use of dangerous goods, as well as safety and emergency plans.

Director North Region SafeWork NSW, Laurence Ritchie says Hunter service station owners should expect a visit.

"It's quite possible that there will be visits across the Hunter Region, but that will not be in the Greater Metropolitan area.

"The Hunter Region itself is quite broad and we will be looking to go to service stations that out lie the Hunter area," Mr Ritchie said.

SafeWork NSW Group Director, Regional Operations and Sector Initiatives, Tony Williams said the project was about increasing the ability of service stations in regional NSW to work safely and more productively.

"Due to their isolation, small independently-owned service stations in regional NSW have received less frequent assistance in the past.

"By Supporting them to understand their work health and safety, workers compensation and trading obligations, workers will be safer and consumers better protected," Mr Williams said.

During visits, SafeWork inspectors will advise local operators how to comply with dangerous goods regulations and ensure they have adequate and up to date safety and emergency plans.

"We've worked with stakeholders who have supported us going out," Mr Ritchie said.

Operators that receive a visit may be eligible to claim a $500 rebate from SafeWork NSW, to put towards the purchase and installation of eligible safety items that address a safety problem.

Mine rejection saves thoroughbred industry again

BY: GARY-JON LYSAGHT

The region's thoroughbred industry is praising the decision made by the Planning Assessment Commission to halt Anglo American's plan for a mine in the Upper Hunter.

It's the fourth time the Drayton South coal mine has been rejected by the PAC, with reports the state government are now making moves to cap the number of times an application can be lodged.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Friday that the submission was rejected because it posed a risk to the Coolmore and Godolphin's Darley thoroughbred studs in the Upper Hunter.

The Upper Hunter thoroughbred industry was in danger of moving interstate if the mine went ahead. [Picture: Scone Chamber].

Hunter Thoroughbred Association President Cameron Collins said the decision made by the PAC was "logical".

"The science, the economics, and common sense support this decision.  It's the fourth decision in our favour by 12 independent commissioners over the past four years," Mr Collins said.

"But, it doesn't prevent another application for a mine on this site and we think there's an opportunity now for the government to make a decision to block any further mining on this site."

Anglo American first made an application in 2011, to build a mine 500 metres from the same farms which bore runners including Black Caviar and Winx.

That application was rejected twice, and a third time when Anglo American moved the mine's border to 900 meters away.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts has reportedly begun steps to limit the number of applications an organisation can lodge, even though the planning department recently recommended the mine be approved.

"At the moment, people can come back and appeal based on a very similar application," Mr Roberts told Macquarie Radio on Thursday.

Cameron Collins

"It would require some legislation and this is where I would hope the Labor party would support us."

Mr Collins said there needs to be an agreement between Upper Hunter industries to determine which land is for what.

"Both industries, the mining industry and the breeding industry - and agriculture in general - need an understanding of where mining can go and where it can't go," Mr Collins said.

"We would think it's time for the state government to put some buffers in the equine critical industry cluster.

"That would give us some certainty and investors certainty, and will also give the mining industry some clarity as to where they can and can't mine."

When lodging the submission, Anglo American made the assertion that the mine would generate almost 1,000 new jobs for the Upper Hunter, as well as $300 million in royalties.

That is a far cry from the $2.6 billion estimated worth of the thoroughbred industry - a number Mr Collions said was recognised by the PAC.

"They clearly came down on the side of the thoroughbred industry to say that this mine - the economic benefits of this mine - were not in the public interest at the expense of a long-term agricultural industry," he said.

Mr Collins said jobs in the agricultural industry were long-term ones, while mining jobs are short-term.

Anglo American have been especially critical of the PAC, saying it was costing hundreds of jobs in the region.

New Poll: Hunter Support For Baird Government Slips Further

BY IAN CROUCH

The BAIRD government appears to be losing even more support in the Hunter.

A ReachTEL poll shows the Coalition's only local MP, Michael Johnsen would lose his seat of Upper Hunter if an election was help today.

His primary vote has slipped to 37.4 per cent, down from 38.9% at last year's election, which Michael Johnsen won on preferences despite a 15.6% swing against him on the primary vote.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union claims the latest poll result would be enough for Labor to win the seat. The Country/National Party has won every election in the seat of Upper Hunter since 1932. Former member, George Souris held the seat with a clear majority of 54.7% of the primary vote prior to his retirement at the 2015 election.

The AMWU says the government's decision to send train building contracts offshore has hurt its support in the Hunter where Downer EDI and the United Group operates. More than 72% of respondents to the poll strongly opposed the government's decision to import new trains from South Korea instead of building them here. While 84.5% agreed the government should be willing to pay more to build the trains locally if it creates jobs in NSW.

Michael Johnsen

AGL Offers Redundancies to Hunter Emplyees

BY GARY LYSAGHT

Electricity provider AGL has begun offering voluntary redundancies at two of its Upper Hunter workstations.

Hundreds of employees at AGL’s Bayswater and Liddell facilities have been offered voluntary separation packages.

AGL Macquarie General Manager Ian Brooksbank says the redundancies come as the company looks to reduce costs at its Hunter outlets.

“Faced with challenging market and financial conditions, AGL Macquarie is identifying opportunities to manage our operations as efficiently as possible,” he says.

It is not yet known just how many works will take up their employers offer and depart the company.

“Voluntary separation packages allow us to review our business structures and determine whether we can achieve efficiencies and implement changes that enable some employees to voluntarily depart the business,” says Brooksbank.

AGL has been quick to clarify that the redundancy packages are in accordance with conditions of the Macquarie Enterprise Agreement, 2012.

Packages also follow individual employee contracts.

Expressions of interest for the redundancy packages will be assessed by the end of June, with any departure dates determined at AGL Macquarie’s discretion.

“Each expression of interest will be individually assessed against our business and operational requirements,” says Brooksbank.