UPDATE! Police Investigate Theft Of Motorbikes From Morisset

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A 50-year-old man is due to front court in July accused of a string of break and enters including the alleged theft of five motorcycles and riding equipment from a Morisset dealership valued at $50,000.

Officers arrested a 40-year-old man at a home in Berner Street Merewether on unrelated offences.

A search of the home recovered 3 motorbikes, riding equipment and clothing allegedly stolen from the Morisset business.

Inquiries led police to a Gateshead storage shed linked to a 50-year-old man from the Berner Street address where further items were seized along with a large number of allegedly stolen tools.

He was arrested near his Merewether home after foot pursuit and scuffle with police.

EARLIER:
 

Lake Macquarie Police are on the hunt for two men wanted over the theft of several motorbikes earlier this week at Morisset.

Police say between 1.30am and 6.00am on Monday, the pair forced their way into a motorcycle dealership on Alliance Avenue through a wall.

They took five Yamaha motorbikes and riding equipment including helmets, gloves, goggles and kitbags, before leaving in a grey ute believed to be driven by third person.

Police have released CCTV images of two people and a grey ute seen in the area and are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. 

A CCTV image of one of the men allegedly involved in the heist

BREAKING! Home Destroyed By Fire At Metford

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a home at Metford overnight.

Fire crews from six stations were called to the single level brick and tile home on Chelmsford Drive just before 11.00pm on Wednesday to find a fire in the attached garage had quickly spread to the rest of the house.

Newcastle Fire Command says they received 5 triple zero calls and all residents of the home were accounted for.

The intensity of the blaze forced firefighters to battle the flames in defensive mode from outside the property.

It took them two hours to extinguish the fire, with a crew from East Maitland called back to the home just before 5.00am on Thursday to put out a small re-ignition.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

2023 Budget Wrap-up

 BY EMILY WILLIAMS

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced the Federal budget for the year ahead, with energy and Medicare coming out on top.

Leading into Tuesday night's announcement, Hunter residents were most concerned about energy, housing and the cost-of-living crisis.

 Image: Facebook

These are some of the highlights from the 2023 budget:

CLEAN ENERGY

As the country continues its transition away from fossil fuels, the new budget includes a significant investment in clean energy.

A $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart Fund will be established to produce renewable hydrogen as part of the Government's bid to become a "renewable energy superpower".

ENERGY BILL RELIEF

5 million Australians will have a $500 reduction to their energy bills next year.

Those eligible will include pensioners, veterans, seniors and other concession card holders.

Recipients of Carer Allowance and Family Tax Benefits will also benefit from the scheme.

MEDICARE

A $5.7 billion investment in Medicare was announced, including a $3.5 billion incentive to triple bulk-billing for low income families.

The incentive will increase from $6.60 to $19.80.

This coming after the latest Clean Bill report revealed the Hunter had some of the lowest bulk-billing rates in New South Wales.

Vice-President of the Doctors Reform Society Dr Robert Marr praises the move.

"It's really important that people have access to GPs and it's important that Medicare bulk-billing be saved, and that's what the budget has done," he said.

RENTAL CRISIS

As the rental crisis continues to plague the Hunter, more than a million low-income earners will be eligible for rental assistance.

The Commonwealth Rent Assistance package will increase by $31 a fortnight for some recipients.

However, the changes have been criticised by Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize.

"Those who do get a small increase will find that it has been swallowed by surging rents," she said.

SINGLETON AND MUSWELLBROOK BYPASS

Although not mentioned in the budget, the Singleton and Muswellbrook bypasses will go ahead, Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi has confirmed.

"Which is great news for the residents of the Hunter," he said.

These projects have expected completion dates of 2026 and 2027; however, this is weather dependent.

Government Saves Medicare Bulk Billing

BY DANEIE GEDDES

In last nights budget, the Federal Government finally delivered long-awaited Medicare funding to maintain and improve access to bulk billing.

The Government tripled the Medicare Bulk Billing incentive from $6.60 to $19.80.

Last year, GPs across the Hunter began ceasing bulk billing due to the under funding of Medicare. 

Healthcare providers in the Hunter have been calling for an increase after the latest Clean Bill report revealed the Hunter had some of the worst bulk billing rates in NSW.

Vice President of the Doctors Reform Society Dr Robert Marr said the move has saved affordable access to healthcare in the Hunter. 

"The saving of Medicare bulk billing will reduce unnecessary suffering and even deaths that would have occurred if patients could not afford to go to the doctor," Dr Marr said.  

"So many patients will be relieved at the change, as for months they have been chasing a bulk billing clinic they can afford, where they can get consistent care from a doctor they have known for years," he said. 

Last month in Newcastle, of the 45 GP clinics across the city, none offered bulk billing.

The increase is a major advance for healthcare in the Hunter and will support free and consistent GP visits, reducing financial stress for Hunter residents. 

"The long term changes will take years to have benefits but there is pleasingly a lot of good ideas the Government is working through with a clear reformist agenda," Dr Marr said. 

The Doctors Reform Society is welcoming the Government's efforts to provide more funding to improve access to affordable GP visits across the Hunter. 

Missing Hunter Teen Could be in Muswellbrook or Sydney

OLIVIA DILLON 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage boy missing from Muswellbrook.

16-year-old Thomas Beckingham was last seen leaving a home on Forbes Street at Muswellbrook, at 11:30 yesterday morning. 

Police and his family hold concern for his welfare due to his age. 

Thomas is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of a slim build, with brown hair, a moustache and brown eyes.

It's believed he's either in the Sydney or Muswellbook area. 

Anyone with information on his whereabout is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. 

Thomas Beckingham

Hunter Housing Providers Call for More Investment into Rent Assistance and Dwellings Ahead of Federal Budget Release

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Hunter-based community housing provider is calling on the Federal Government to make a serious commitment to end the housing crisis felt across the Hunter and Australia when it delivers it's budget tonight. 

Recent data out of Communities and Justice NSW indicates the expected wait time for a one bedroom studio in Newcastle is between two and five years. 

Two, three, and four bedroom properties have a wait list between five and ten years. 

As of June last year, there were more than 1,700 applicants on the waitlist for social housing in Newcastle, with 111 in high need of a home. 

Home in Place Executive Manager of Business and Public Affairs, Martin Kennedy, said they're hoping to see a commitment made to increase rent assistance, in a bid to ease pressure on the private rental market, and in turn, the social housing sector. 

"You can't allow something as fundamental as secure housing to be something that only well-off people can afford. Having that sort of arrangement is completely corrosive to society and to the economy, and that's the direction we're headed in," he said. 

"It's incredibly important that we put this right." 

The organisation is also hoping the budget will include a boost to the Housing Australia Future Fund. 

Mr Kennedy said it's obvious more houses need to be built in order to cater for a growing number of struggling Hunter residents. 

"The current level of 30,000 dwellings is better than nothing, but it would be good to see it increased." 

Motorcyclist In Serious Condition After Crash At East Maitland

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding a crash involving a motorcycle and a car which shut the New England Highway at East Maitland for several hours late yesterday,

Emergency services were called to the highway at about 5.30 to reports a motorcyclist travelling east had collided with a hatchback turning right onto Banks Street.

The motorbike rider, a 26-year-old man, was flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A 63-year-old man who was driving the hatchback was taken to Maitland Hospital with minor injuries.

 

The crash at East Maitland caused delays for several hours Picture: Jessica Rouse/NEW-FM