Autumn 2017 NEWCASTLE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

TIM CRAKANTHORP MP YOUR STATE MEMBER FOR NEWCASTLE

414 Hunter Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 P. (02) 4926 1126 F. (02) 4926 2134 E. [email protected] Newcastle show will go on Message from The Newcastle Regional Show went ahead in 2017 due to a last minute Thanks for reading my Autumn emergency funding injection by the State Government. This followed a Newsletter. month of lobbying by the Show Association and my office. Hopefully the Since the beginning of the year I have Show will continue in 2018 and beyond. been fighting for better outcomes for I met with the Show’s President, Brett the Newcastle community. I have been Gleeson in February, who told me trying to negotiate the best deal from that the Show was in a dire financial the Government on the V8 Supercars position and may not proceed in 2017. race that will be in Newcastle East, to He explained that their bank balance adequately protect the heritage and had gone from $3 million to near zero increase the community consultation. over the last ten years. Car parking I have been fighting to keep the fees were going straight to Sydney and Newcastle Show going. With its proud showground facilities were incurring tradition over the last 115 years we do huge fees. The loss of our Show holiday not want to see it disappear. and lack of support from local business I am holding the Government to also contributed to the demise of the account on the costs of the light rail Newcastle Show – not to mention the and interchange, making sure that your annual, infamous Newcaslte Show rain. tax dollars are well spent. I then met with Venues NSW and the Tim talks to Debbie McLucas from the I have been speaking to residents who Minister’s staff, calling on them to assist. Newcastle Show Association. are concerned about parking in the I wrote to the Minister, spoke on this CBD and the viability of businesses, issue in Parliament and met with the now with over 1000 car parking spaces resigned Parliamentary Secretary for the disappearing. I want to thank everyone Hunter, Catherine Cusack MLC. who responded to my car parking In the second week of Parliament I survey. Your thoughts and concerns are spoke to the Sporting Venues Authorities appreciated. Amendment Bill saying that Labor would I am continuing to push the government reserve the right to move amendments to get a clear focused approach to if the government could not find a long the Broadmeadow Sporting Precinct term solution to the ongoing financial and its redevelopment. Despite the viability of the Show. of Newcastle and the Hunter. It’s disappointing that Ms Cusack has been Government saying a plan would be I was very pleased when Ms Cusack removed from the role now. considered by the NSW Government at followed up from our meeting and the end of 2016, we have still not seen my speech in Parliament with an I will now continue lobbying for a plan. announcement that the Government the Show to have a long term I recently announced the recipients of would provide a short term grant for the financial plan and reintroduce the Newcastle Local Sports Grants Show. I commended Ms Cusack for the Show Day Holiday so that the and Community Building Partnerships taking this bipartisan approach on this Show’s financial future is secure for Grants, two great community based issue. This is a great result for the people many years to come. grant programs that provide $350, 000 to local groups. If you know ‘Like’ Tim on Facebook of any groups who may benefit, please For more photos and updates on local issues from Tim, please visit tell them to contact my office to get an www.facebook.com/fightingfornewcastle and hit the ‘like’ button! application this year. Tim Inside Newcastle Supercars (P2) Out and About (P3) Local Hero (P5) Local community receive grants (P6) 2 NEWCASTLE | COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Newcastle Supercars Earlier this year, I stood with Shadow Minister for Trade Tourism and Major Events, Penny Sharpe to call on the Berejiklian Government to establish a government coordination unit located in Newcastle to act as an independent liaison and consultation body for local residents and businesses engaging with NSW government agencies, Newcastle City Council, and the event promoter in the lead up to the Supercars 500 event in November.

The Government had introduced a Minister for Major Events, Adam I am calling on the Government to bill into the NSW Parliament, leaving Marshall has since come out and organise a public information forum the coordination of the event located offered ONE Newcastle-based to address the alarming findings of at Destination NSW in Sydney and liaison officer for the event. This is this study. managed via a myriad of committees. not what we asked for and it is not I have and will continue to The consultation was to be left up to fair to the people of Newcastle. raise all resident’s concerns Supercars. When the event was in Homebush they were allocated a team in the with the Government. Labor moved amendments to area – Newcastle deserves nothing improve consultation, coordination less and should be treated with the and protect the heritage of Newcastle Contact the minister same respect by this Government. East – disappointingly, the Liberal/ Only a team based in Newcastle, can If you would like to let the Minister National Government voted against do a suitable job. It was required for for Major Events, , the amendments. the Homebush event and Newcastle know your thoughts please send The community consultation to deserves equal treatment. your letters to: date has not been independent As yet the Government hasn’t come The Hon. Adam Marshall MP nor adequate – this needs to be to Newcastle to address the residents’ GPO Box 5341 addressed immediately. The people concerns. I invited the Shadow Sydney NSW 2001 and businesses of Newcastle Minister to come and meet with some deserve more than this half-hearted OR call him on (02) 8574 5450 affected residents, something the approach by this Government. The Minister has failed to do. Steel city remains Earlier this year, it was revealed that areas of Newcastle including Carrington, Cooks Hills, Mayfield and Merewether, had been the subject of a Macquarie University study looking into the levels of toxicity in the soil.

Many of the metals, including I have written to the Premier Gladys lead, copper, chromium and zinc, Berejiklian to emphasise this as were found in parks and gardens a priority and am also seeking a at levels considered dangerous meeting with Environment Minister, to human health. . The EPA must work with the authors of the report to The majority of the contaminants are ensure it is fully understood before it thought to have been drawn from the takes action. former steel making industry. Recently Shadow Minister for the The three-year study, which was Environment, Penny Sharpe came published in the journal, ‘Science to Newcastle to visit the areas of the Total Environment’, had 150 affected and meet with residents. soil samples taken from five areas I hope the Environment Minister Sue Walmsley, Penny Sharpe and Tim including Carrington, Mayfield, doesn’t follow in her predecessor’s Crakanthorp discuss the soil contamination. Newcastle and Cooks Hill and footsteps and we have another Merewether. Williamtown on our hands. 3 NEWCASTLE | COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Out and About

As a father of four young children, I understand the importance of a quality education. I stood

Sharon Claydon MP and I at the with the NSW Teachers 2017 Presentation Ceremony. Tim, volunteer Alf and Shadow Minister Federation to say “I give a for Emergency Services, MP. Gonski.”

Wing Commander Andrew Jackson and I with Earlier this year, it was revealed that areas of Newcastle including Carrington, I have a dream Newcastle... one of the new F-35 Strike Fighters due to hit NRL Telstra Premiership Williamtown RAAF Base soon. Cooks Hills, Mayfield and Merewether, had been the subject of a Macquarie Newcastle Knights 2017! University study looking into the levels of toxicity in the soil. Met with the YWAM Mayfield team.

Speaking at the first 2017 Politics in the Pub Newcastle on the topic of the future of Member for the Blue Mountains employment in the Hunter, with Peoplefusion’s , PSA member Miriam Serena Rodgers at the Wickham Park Hotel. Williamson and I at the PSA Rally, Welcomed Steve and Stan, owners of new store Local Crop, to Hunter Street. fighting for the rights of public service workers. COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER | NEWCASTLE 4

2017 Newcastle Local Woman of the Year Melissa Histon In the lead up to International Women’s Day I announced that founder of The Sista Code website and Got Your Back Sista charity, Melissa Histon was the 2017 Newcastle Woman of the Year. Melissa is dedicated to sharing stand against domestic violence. stories and images of inspiring Melissa and her team made a women and organisations that are collection of still images and actively doing what they can to videos, to be used in a social media improve the plight of oppressed, campaign, television commercial disadvantaged and mistreated and print advertisements people around the world. She aims encouraging our community to take to uplift, inspire and share the love. a stand. As the founder of the Got Your Melissa is an inspirational women Back Sista charity, she held an who fights to empower and event, ‘I say NO to domestic celebrate women. violence’, which saw over 500 people in the Hunter community Newcastle is lucky to have Melissa Histon, 2017 Newcastle Woman of the Year. come together on 3rd September her in our community. 2016 at Hunter Stadium to make a South Korean Fighting for palliative care 24/7 Earlier this year, it was bought to my attention that employment boost the 24/7 Palliative Care Outreach Service at the In the last Parliament sitting, I called Mater Hospital was under threat of being cut back the Government out on their decision to to a 9am to 5pm service or even worse, a 9am to a award the $2.3 billion new Intercity train 2pm service. It was proposed that the after-hours fleet contract to South Korea. visits would be replaced with a telephone hotline. This was a kick in the guts for locals especially Given that this Government recently released a document titled, when the Newcastle unemployment rate is currently The NSW Government plan to increase access to palliative care, I sitting at 6.1 per cent and youth unemployment in was shocked by this revelation. the Newcastle is currently 12.1 per cent, higher than Currently the service sends out palliative care doctors and nurses under the previous Labor Government. to the homes of patients that access the service after leaving the hospital, deciding to end their lives in the comfort and familiarity of The contract could have generated up to 1,200 jobs. their own home. I asked the Government to reverse its decision and Having been approached by people deeply concerned about the build the new Intercity fleet in the Hunter. welfare of their patients, and noting that death is not limited to the It boggles the mind how this decision came to be hours of 9am - 5pm, I acted on this threat by: especially when it is widely known that the Victorian 1. Arranging to meet with the Minister for Health; Premier, Daniel Andrews, managed to get a cheaper 2. Putting a Notice of Motion to Parliament for debate; deal from a Victorian manufacturer and has kept 3. Submitting 11 specific Questions on Notice in Parliament on this 1,100 people off the unemployment queue. issue; and 4. Arranging a press conference with Palliative Care Ambassador It’s disappointing the that new NSW Premier has Bryce Gaudry. previously been Minister for Transport and Minister for The meeting with the Minister for Health, and my the Hunter does not support local workers. The Premier subsequent discussions with the Hunter New England Health knows that Newcastle has a large manufacturing Service were positive. It would appear that any such plan to cut industry that is in the midst of a downturn. The industry palliative care services is now not going to occur. is screaming out for work – crying out for contracts – but, sadly, she is happy to watch local industry leaders I will continue to stay vigilant and will always fight for the like Forgacs and UGL cut staff rather than employ more continuation of the 24/7 palliative care outreach service in Newcastle. workers for new projects. 5 NEWCASTLE | COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Penalty rates Local Family budgets will Hero face an even greater squeeze after the Fair Astrid Work Commission Gearin decision to undertake a drastic YOUTH COMMUNITY attack on weekend and public DEVELOPMENT holiday pay rates. OFFICER Astrid Gearin is a 35 year old youth community development officer who works in Newcastle. She is also involved in refugee advocacy, hosting The Welcome Ride with other NGOs in the area. What you do? I’m a youth community development officer and am also involved in The Welcome Ride. The Welcome Ride is a two day bus ride around Newcastle for newly arrived young refugees that stops at places of significance for fun and activities. It promotes inclusiveness, unity and diversity within the Newcastle community and to highlight places that host Congratulated The Family Hotel’s owner Steven free and safe activities. It is for people in high school and up to 25 Forbes, who supports his workers with penalty years from other countries, religious backgrounds and cultures. rates on weekends and public holidays. The Welcome Ride also links newly arrived young people from other countries with friends/supporters/mentors that may have I fully support penalty rates and support businesses been in Newcastle for a period and have already started to that share that belief. I visited Steven Forbes from establish their life in a new community. The Family Hotel recently to discuss the issue with him. I was impressed with his decision to pay his Who is your inspiration? workers what they are worth on weekends and I am inspired by people that do purposeful volunteer work and public holidays. hobbies that make for a better place to live. He also had an impressive display of promotional What do you do in your spare time for fun? gear to support his belief! I like to entertain, cook, laugh, and spend time with friends and family. With families set to have less take home income, NSW Labor is demanding the Berejiklian Any favourite haunts in Newcastle? Government urgently acts to arrest the sky Home with my dog and my partner. I also do love a long breakfast rocketing cost of living in NSW. at many of Newcastle’s sensational cafés. The Government has played a leading role in the Do you have any goals for 2017? rise of living costs in NSW through its move to Keep saving for the home I would love to buy that appears to be increase public transport fares and engage in a forever out of reach! lengthy court battle to increase energy prices. I am deeply disappointed with the If you would like to sponsor a Welcome Ride activity Fair Work Commission’s decision OR can assist with transport i.e. buses, please and urge employers to do the right contact Astrid on (02) 4922 1508. thing by their workers! ALSO SEE Facebook: Newcastle.ydo Instagram: newcastleydo.astrid 6 NEWCASTLE | COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Local community organisations receive grants The Community Building Partnership grants are awarded to not-for-profit community organisations for projects that will benefit their local community through the building or improvement of facilities.

THE WINNERS OF THE 2016 ROUND ARE: Young People’s Theatre Working Women’s Group Newcastle Toilet refurbishment and storage Auditorium stage area fire $15,000 sprinkler protection project $20,000 Prostate Survival Alliance Security gate for car park entry University of Newcastle $5,000 Outdoor play space for Jenny’s Place Newcastle Rowing Club $16,400 Met Miss Porter’s House volunteers when looking Solar panel installation Newcastle at the results from their Community Building Rowing Club Newcastle & District Partnership Grant. $6,100 Softball Association Covered shelters at Croation Wickham Stevenson Park Sports Club Cooks Hill Preschool $15,000 Disabled toilet and disabled access Climbing structure and soft fall area upgrade Merewether District installed $15,000 Cricket Club $10,000 Refurbishment of Townson Oval Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club The Greek Orthodox Church & synthetic cricket nets Refurbishment of lifesaving room Community of the Holy Apostles $15,000 $11,724 Critical repairs & maintenance for the Mayfield East Public School Holy Apostles Community Centre Stockton Historical Society P & C Association $20,000 Hall renovation $10,270 Mayfield East Public School Easts Rugby Club Playground Easts Rugby Clubhouse Project Variety The Children’s $13,115 $20,000 Charity (NSW) The Newcastle Variety coffee cart Schizophrenia $24,207 Hebrew Congregation Fellowship of NSW Refurbishment of Community Hall Sunflower Centre disabled access Newcastle City and Eastern under the Newcastle Synagogue $14,983 Districts Cricket Club $11,000 Practice wickets at Learmonth Park Hillcrest Tennis Club $23,886 Newy Paddlers Incorporated Resurfacing of courts Purchase of Capital Equipment - $15,000 mobility beach mat equipment $18,315 CONTACT TIM Keep in touch with Tim and find out what’s happening across Newcastle. Like Tim’s page on facebook FightingForNewcastle A: 414 Hunter Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 Follow Tim on Twitter @crakanthorp E: [email protected] P: (02) 4926 1126 F: (02) 4926 2134

TIM CRAKANTHORP MP YOUR STATE MEMBER FOR NEWCASTLE

Authorised by Tim Crakanthorp MP, Member for Newcastle, 414 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW 2300 and printed by Gret Tapp Printing, 48 Industrial Dr, Mayfield East NSW 2304 using parliamentary entitlements,APRIL 2017.