In short:

A Sydney man, identified by the NSW Game Fishing Association as Paul Barning, fell overboard during a fishing competition north of Newcastle on Sunday.

Police say Mr Barning was dragged into the water by the shark when he became tangled in tackle and that it was not a shark attack.

What's next?

An air and sea search for the missing man will continue further south.

Man refused bail on traffic, drugs and firearm offences following Wickham crash

By Matthew Kelly

Updated January 15 2025 - 1:03pm, first published 1:00pm

📷 The overturned police car in Albert St, Wickham. Picture by Marina Neil.

A 26-year-old man has been refused bail on traffic, drug and firearm charges following a pursuit and crash outside the Wickham Park Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Aaron James Forster of Woodberry did not enter pleas to 11 offences during a brief appearance in Newcastle Local Court.

The pursuit began shortly after 6pm on Tuesday when police attempted to stop a Ford Everest on Acacia Avenue, Waratah, which had been reported stolen from a Cooks Hill address earlier in the day.

A pursuit was initiated when the vehicle failed to stop.

The pursuit continued throughout several suburbs before allegedly driving through a red traffic light at the intersection of Fern Street and Maitland Road, Wickham, colliding with a motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider - a 27-year-old man - suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The vehicle allegedly continued to Albert Street where it collided with a police vehicle, causing the police vehicle to roll onto its side.

No police officers were injured.

The stolen vehicle was immobilised as a result of the crash and the driver and passenger ran from the car.

Following a foot pursuit, police arrested Forster, who police allege was a passenger in the vehicle.

Police allege Forster discarded a backpack shortly before his arrest. It allegedly contained a shortened firearm, $2175 cash, and amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis.

📷 Police inspect the damaged motorbike. Picture by Marina Neil.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with 1:

• Possess shortened firearm without authority,
• Possess loaded firearm public place,
• Not keep firearm safely,
• Use, supply, acquire, possess stolen firearm or part,
• Possess unauthorised firearm,
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen,
• Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner,
• Hinder or rest police in the execution of duty, and
• Three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

Forster will reappear in Newcastle Court on January 29.

Investigations are continuing to locate the driver.

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/16873523

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-new-species-of-sydney-funnel-web-has-been-discovered-and-it-s-a-monster-20241211-p5kxmz.html

Scientists have declared the Sydney funnel web – hallowed and feared as the world’s most venomous spider – is in fact three separate species. And one of the spiders, new to science, is a certified monster.

“They’re actually a totally new species. They’re restricted to about 25 kilometres around Newcastle,” Smith said. “So we’re calling that the Newcastle funnel web.”

“So if you translate that to the Newcastle funnel web, yes, the biggest spiders are more likely to inject enough venom to cause envenoming. I suspect what they’re calling the ‘big boy’ is more likely to be dangerous.

... the exact locations of the Newcastle funnel webs have been obscured from maps due to conservation fears.

Car careens into New Lambton front yard as crash hospitalises eight, including five children

By Simon McCarthy

Updated December 28 2024 - 6:56pm, first published 6:55pm

A crash that sent a vehicle careening through a fence and into the front yard of a New Lambton property on Saturday afternoon has sparked a considerable emergency services response as police and multiple ambulance units rushed to the scene just before 5pm.

Three adults and five children have been hospitalised, a spokesperson for the NSW Ambulance said, though all were said to be in a stable condition. An adult woman had suffered a suspected fractured wrist and a man was suffering back pain, the Ambulance source said, while the children were taken for precautionary assessment.

NSW Police cleared the scene just before 6pm, where it appeared the vehicles had collided at the intersection of Hobart and Wallarah streets in New Lambton. One vehicle, with damage to its side panels, was extracted from the front yard of a nearby property, where it had crashed through a fence. The other vehicle, with significant damage to its front, was cleared from the roadway.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene as Highway Patrol officers directed traffic around the crash site.

The crash follows four deaths on state roads over the holiday period since Friday, December 20, the most recent incidence of which claimed the life of a motorcycle rider near Port Macquarie around 12.30pm on Saturday, December 28.

The rider, a man in his late 60s, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a Toyota Landcruiser in the westbound lanes of the Oxley Highway about 47 kilometres outside Port Macquarie, police said. The other driver was uninjured and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Police have urged travellers, particularly over the busy holiday period, to drive safely - to avoid driving while tired, especially on long trips - and warned that officers would be enforcing all road-related legislation, including speeding, drink- and drug-driving, distractions, driver fatigue, and any dangerous driving behaviours which put the safety of road users at risk.

"Traditionally, this is the busiest time of year on NSW roads and police will be out in force across the state to encourage compliance with the road rules."

In short:

A federal inquiry into nuclear energy has held a hearing in Muswellbrook in the NSW Upper Hunter region.

Speakers discussed future employment, environmental concerns and expressed frustration with policy, but not the suitability of the region for a nuclear facility despite recent earthquakes.

What's next?

The inquiry will hold hearings in Lithgow and Sydney this week before moving to Western Australia.

Fuelled by hatred and obsessed with conflict, man smashed into police car

By Anna Falkenmire

December 7 2024 - 5:30am

A MAN obsessed with war and conflict was "fuelled by his hatred of police" when he wreaked traffic chaos in an hour-long fit of rage before driving his car directly towards the public foyer of a Hunter police station.

Andrew Phan Berlot, 21, claimed to have a passion to be arrested and sent to jail so he could learn tricks from other inmates when he handed himself into Raymond Terrace police on October 31.

The Kurri Kurri man had just smashed his Toyota Camry sedan into a marked police Volkswagen on William Street after making a last-second deviation from his trajectory towards the station doors.

"I drove into the side of it," Berlot told officers just before 9am that morning, according to a set of agreed facts.

"I did it on purpose ... I hate youse."

He said he was going to drive into the police station but inexplicably changed his mind.

During a recorded interview afterwards, police described Berlot as displaying "an obsession with war and conflict".

The 21-year-old tried to join the Australian army before 2021 and then travelled to France between 2021 and 2022 to join the French Foreign Legion.

He was reported to have fought with that service for three months before returning to Australia.

Last year, he travelled to the Middle East with the intention of joining the Russian military conflict but returned to Australia after failing to proceed through certain border crossings.

He bought a one-way ticket to France in early 2024 but was unsuccessful in joining the French Foreign Legion again, so he returned home three months later.

By October 31, 2024, Berlot was working as an apprentice bricklayer in Port Stephens, when a heated verbal argument broke out with his employer about the police.

Facts tendered to the court claim Berlot hopped in his car in "a fit of rage" and fled the site "at high speed".

Traffic was heavy on Nelson Bay Road at Fern Bay when Berlot was captured on dashcam driving in the breakdown lane and on the wrong side of the road, hitting speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour in a 70 zone.

The police case was that Berlot "maintained his rage for over an hour as he drove through multiple suburbs and forced vehicles off the road" after the blue at work.

"Without provocation the accused then directed his rage directly toward police," the facts said.

At 8.45am, "fuelled by his hatred of police", CCTV captured Berlot driving on the wrong side of the road directly towards the public foyer of the Raymond Terrace Police Station on William Street.

"The [offender] maintained a direct trajectory toward the front glass doors of the police station before making a last-second deviation to collide with a marked police vehicle," the facts said.

The police Volkswagen Passat suffered considerable damage and was rendered unservicable. Police discovered Berlot had earlier used a claw hammer to smash his own windscreen.

Berlot was arrested at about 8.50am after he entered the station and told police what had happened.

Berlot was sentenced in Raymond Terrace Local Court this week to 22 months behind bars, with 15 months non-parole, and was disqualified from driving for two years.

He had pleaded guilty to two counts of driving recklessly or furiously in a speed or manner that was dangerous, and one count of destroying or damaging property.

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/15547078

In short:

NSW Police have arrested 138 people for allegedly defying directions not to enter the shipping channel in Newcastle Harbour.

The Port Authority has temporarily paused shipping movements due to safety concerns.

What's next:

A police operation on the harbour is continuing.

In short:

Activism group Rising Tide says multiple people have been arrested at an anti-fossil fuels demonstration in Newcastle.

Thousands have attended the multi-day protest, where Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett delivered a speech and performed.

What's next?

The demonstration is expected to continue until Sunday evening.

Archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20241121082410/https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/anti-coal-protesters-clear-court-hurdle-for-kayak-flotilla-near-port-20241121-p5ksdv.html

I mean, I could see it coming, but not this blatantly. It's also a bit worrying that the CEO is saying something needs to be done to keep the plant running.

In short:

The seafarer went overboard from a bulk carrier off the coast of Newcastle around 11:30 on Thursday night.

A multi-agency search had been underway since midday, about seven nautical miles offshore.

A recreational fisherman found the man in the water while returning from a day out fishing.

Inside the top-secret missile factory deal Newcastle Airport 'can't afford'

By Donna Page

Updated November 9 2024 - 7:40am, first published 5:30am

📷 Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy in Canberra with the head of guided weapons and explosive ordnance Air Marshal Leon Phillips and Kongsberg Defence Australia general manager John Fry. Picture by Nicole Mankowski

THE Williamtown missile factory looked like a done deal.

From the minute a public announcement was made in August - by the Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy - it sounded like a done deal.

"Today, we are announcing an $850-million investment with Kongsberg Defence Australia to build an advanced guided weapons production facility right here in the Hunter Valley," Mr Conroy said, on August 22.

And there was good reason to mark the occasion.

Mr Conroy said the Williamtown factory would create 500 construction jobs, inject $100 million into the Hunter's economy and employ a further 100 people when it opened.

"The project, which involves construction of a factory in the Newcastle Airport precinct", was "another example" of the Albanese government's commitment to keeping Australians safe, he said.

And it wasn't only the minister who was pushing the deal.

Newcastle Airport had already spent millions in unbudgeted funds hastily planning to build the new 9000-square metre missile factory.

Management was so confident, in fact, that staff were busy organising a December sod-turning ceremony at the site with Mr Conroy slated as the special guest of honour.

But an ongoing Newcastle Herald investigation can reveal that the factory has yet to obtain airport partnership board approval and is not funded.

While the deal was branded as an $850 million partnership between the federal government and Kongsberg - a move under which the Norwegian arms dealer will make more than 100 missiles a year at Williamtown - the reality for Newcastle Airport is very different, and much more complex.

Rightly or wrongly, missing from the August announcement was that Newcastle Airport has to borrow money for the construction of the $130 million factory in exchange for a long-term lease, which it hasn't yet signed.

Also missing was the fact that the airport was facing serious insolvency concerns as its loss-making, property-development arm, Greater Newcastle Aerotropolis (GNAPL), increasingly drains cash reserves from the airport's general operations (NAPL).

"Recent advancements in property projects have resulted in funding demands within the business surpassing the available sources of capital," a May financial analysis of the airport reads.

It's understood GNAPL recorded a loss of $5.4 million last financial year, which blew out from a budgeted loss of $2.5 million.

The previous financial year it lost $1.8 million, bringing accumulated losses this financial year to $14.1 million.

It resulted in the airport recording a loss of about $1 million last financial year.

📷 An artist's impression of the proposed Kongsberg missile factory at Williamtown. Images supplied

As previously reported, the airport is facing a financial crisis due to cost blowouts on its terminal expansion, falling passenger numbers and unbudgeted expenditure for the Kongsberg factory and Lockheed Martin Air 65000 project.

Internal documents detail repeated warnings that the organisation is in financial trouble, has no clear plan to fund major projects and is fast running out of money - upgrading its financial management risk rating since February to "extreme".

While Mr Conroy was spruiking the Kongsberg deal, insiders were left questioning why Williamtown was the centerpiece of the federal government's announcement when the airport was unsure if it could even afford to build the factory.

They said it raises questions about who knew what and when, which remain unanswered.

"You have to question what is going on behind closed doors," a staffer said. "You have to question why we want this so bad, when the airport's finances are being drained to a point where it needs an equity bailout."

A Defence spokesman said on Friday that the Commonwealth's partnership with Kongsberg meant the factory would be built, but he declined to answer questions about the impact of the airport's financial situation or its ability to fund the project.

In response to the growing controversy, Newcastle Airport's board chair Jude Munro, outgoing CEO Peter Cock and part-owner City of Newcastle have scrambled to reassure the public that the airport is financially stable.

In stark contrast, the airport's other part-owner, Port Stephens Council, remains tight-lipped and is refusing to answer questions.

An airport spokeswoman said on Friday that investments were being made to "yield long-term returns" and it could not answer questions about confidential or Defence-related issues.

"Stories based on misinformation can only hurt the Hunter region and the asset we operate for the benefit of the community," she said.

The airport, Ms Munro and Dr Cock have been asked repeatedly to detail the misinformation in the Herald's reporting but declined.

📷 Newcastle airport CEO Peter Cock and board chair Jude Munro.

But it's the airport's own internal documents which belie the 'nothing-to-see-here' defence being mounted.

A confidential paper submitted to last month's GNAPL board meeting outlined the missile factory deal and added to the growing chorus of internal warnings about the financial risk.

"Based on .... group forecasts there is insufficient headroom to fund unbudgeted capex from cash reserves, and in the event that CBA [Commonwealth Bank] debt funding is not obtained, there is expected to be a shortfall that would either breach the businesses $15 million working capital limit or require significant capital or operating cost savings to offset," it reads.

The report goes on to say that funding from the Commonwealth Bank for the Kongsberg factory is "not likely to be approved and committed until 31 March 2025 at the earliest".

Until then, GNAPL is reliant on a loan agreement with NAPL.

"Prior to the amendment of the CBA facility any funding required by GNAPL will be sought, subject to liquidity requirements, from NAPL," the report reads.

While there appeared no doubt that the business case for the Kongsberg factory build was sound, internal documents reveal the risks are increasing as the airport's cash reserves continue to be drained.

Despite the delicate financial balancing act, the GNAPL board appears undeterred. It recommended the factory plan for approval last month, including rubber-stamping additional costs of $2.631 million to advance the design and an extra $500,000 for planning.

This brings approved expenditure for the project to $5.731 million.

📷 The Royal Australian Navy test-fires a Kongsberg naval strike missile off the deck of HMAS Sydney near Hawaii. Picture by Daniel Goodman, ADF

There are now fears that what is seen as a "done deal", could actually turn out to be a "dud deal" for the airport.

And yet it is being enthusiastically promoted, just as internal doubts about the airport's finances continue to pile up.

"There is a tipping point and everything is pointing to the airport getting dangerously close to it," an insider said. "We don't have funding for the project and there is no signed lease yet. There is a lot of risk involved, but how widely was that known?"

On the positive side of the ledger, the board passed a vote last month to confirm the airport was solvent.

At the same meeting, however, it quietly issued airport management with a directive to accelerate documentation to allow cash injections from the councils, look at job cuts and investigate ways to allow the airport to dip below its required $15 million cash reserve limit.

"Review and reduce capital expenditure, including pausing board-approved projects...," one directive reads.

"Develop a plan to reduce labour costs including enacting a freeze on hiring and staff rationalisation plan ... Accelerate documentation of the working capital facility with CBA [Commonwealth Bank] to enable shareholder funding."

Another says review the $15 million "working capital floor and recommend to the board the parameters that require a temporary reduction".

Vexed staff are now asking questions about why the airport would "aggressively pursue" the missile factory as it investigates ways to access a multimillion-dollar bailout of ratepayer funds, because the airport is struggling under a mountain of debt.

"Among all the things that weren't said at the time of the Kongsberg announcement was it was highly questionable if the airport could afford to build the thing," one said.

The Herald has previously reported that a funding injection from the councils would require approval from Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig.

But a July document details the airport investigating ways around the requirement.

"Potential shareholder funding options continue to be evaluated," it reads. "Focus on alternatives that do not require ministerial approval..."

These include "monetisation of land value via sale and long-term lease back to shareholder councils" and establishing a working capital facility that would see Newcastle Airport issuing bills of exchange, to be accepted by the Commonwealth Bank, but funded by the councils.

The deadline is looming for the ultimate decision-making authority within the airport's complicated structure, which is controlled by the two councils.

The Greater Newcastle Aerotropolis Partnership Board, whose final approval is needed for the missile factory to proceed, is expected to meet later this month.

It is made up of City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath and Labor councillor Nuatali Nelmes, plus Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson and general manager Tim Crosdale. Port Stephens council also nominates a councillor and manager to the board for extra oversight.

The lack of transparency and confusion throughout the process has only encouraged scepticism from those inside the airport.

"We're facing job cuts and it looks like we're going to approve a massive building project that we can't afford right now," they said.

"The whole thing just boggles the mind."

Do you know more? Donna.page@newcastleherald.com.au

"You have to question why we want this so bad, when the airport's finances are being drained to a point where it needs an equity bailout"

- Airport staffer

In short:

The NSW Supreme Court has accepted a challenge from the state's police commissioner to a climate protest planned in Newcastle later this month.

The protest, organised by Rising Tide, would see activists attempt to block access to the Port of Newcastle.

What's next?

Rising Tide says the multi-day demonstration will go ahead regardless of the court's decision.

Ross Kerridge 'seriously concerned' by Newcastle Airport's debt scandal

By Simon McCarthy

Updated November 3 2024 - 3:10pm, first published November 2 2024 - 4:34pm

Lord Mayor Ross Kerridge says he will call for a meeting with the Newcastle Airport's senior management after revelations the region's key infrastructural asset was drowning in debt and looking for a potential ratepayer bailout.

The airport, which is jointly owned by Newcastle and Port Stephens councils, is teetering and in desperate need of a funding injection, and internal reports show staff repeatedly warned the organisation was in financial turmoil with no clear plan to fund major projects.

Cr Kerridge took to social media on Saturday and said the contrast between the airport's public statements and what its own internal reports reveal "raises serious questions".

"As Newcastle and Port Stephens residents are the ultimate owners of this vital infrastructure, they deserve clear and transparent information about its financial health," he said.

"The potential consequences of any financial instability at the airport would directly impact our residents - our community shareholders - through increased rates, reduced community services, sale of assets, or raising charges to customers at the airport.

"It may also impact negotiations with potential industries or partners wishing to join the Newcastle Airport precinct developments. This does not, and will not ever, sit comfortably with me."

"Our community deserves nothing less than complete transparency about the state of their airport."

The crisis comes as a multi-million-dollar terminal expansion faces cost blowouts amid falling passenger numbers and unbudgeted spending for the Kongsberg missile factory and Lockheed Martin Air 6500 project.

The airport's outgoing CEO Peter Cock has strenuously denied the airport was facing money problems, though, and has insisted that the organisation's financial situation remains "robust".

Newcastle Airport board chair Jude Munro has similarly denied the organisation is in hot water and has labelled the Newcastle Herald's reporting on the subject as "sensationalised and inaccurate".

When she, Dr Cock and the airport were asked to detail any misrepresentations, they declined.

"I am disappointed to learn that our commitment to good governance and ongoing risk management analysis has been misrepresented," she said in a statement earlier this week.

"Our board of directors, known for their experience and expertise, passed a resolution and directed the airport leadership team for prudent management to maintain cash reserves of $15 million.

"This decision aligns with our best practice standards as a skills-based and risk-averse board."

As the Herald revealed at the weekend, the airport's loss-making property development arm, the Greater Newcastle Aerotropolis (GNAPL), appeared to be at the root of its problems and only survives due to cash injections from the airport's general operations.

According to a financial deep-dive report from April, GNAPL is simply not viable, or "bankable", as a standalone company yet. Falling passenger numbers following the collapse of Bonza and diverting millions in unbudgeted cash reserves to prop up GNAPL's property developments have sparked insolvency concerns.

Insiders say there are fears the airport is being "bled dry" and needs an urgent bailout.

"I will be meeting with the airport's senior management soon and expect these issues to be clarified," Cr Kerridge said.

Customarily, directors from both the City of Newcastle and Port Stephens Council sit on the Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd (NAPL) and the Greater Newcastle Aerotropolis (GNAPL) boards. Former Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath have retained their positions on the board until at least February next year in the interest of "stability" after the council voted on the matter earlier this week.

Councillors voted on Tuesday to keep Cr Nelmes and Mr Bath, whose fees for work as boards directors have risen to nearly $80,000 each per year, in the roles on an interim basis until a "merit-based" application process can be put together.

Cr Nelmes used her casting vote to appoint herself to the board in 2019 for a fee of $50,000.

The former mayor said there is a "huge amount of work" in the role and offered to mentor the person who is selected to take her place.

Cr Kerridge, who has declared a conflict of interest that would preclude him from sitting on the boards, absented himself from the vote.

Port Stephens general manager Tim Crosdale also sits on the boards, and newly elected Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson has replaced the former mayor Ryan Palmer.

The details of this report are developing. It may be updated.

Company behind PEP11 gas project says it has been recommended for approval

By Matthew Kelly

October 17 2024 - 5:30am

📷 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese campaigning against PEP11 on Terrigal Beach in 2021.

The government agency responsible for the administration of petroleum titles in Australia has recommended a controversial gas exploration project off the Hunter coast proceed, according to the company seeking the licence.

BPH Energy, through its subsidiary Asset Energy, is seeking an extension of Petroleum Exploration Permit 11, or PEP11, which extends from Port Stephens to south of Sydney.

The project site is in Commonwealth waters 26 kilometers off Lake Munmorah, which is about 35 kilometers north of Prime Minister Anothony Albanese's new home in the Central Coast suburb of Copacabana.

Federal Industry and Science minister Ed Husic said last month that, based on the material provided to him, he had formed a "preliminary view" that the PEP11 permit should not be renewed.

The minister's comment was applauded by environment groups and local MPs who have been opposed to the project for close to a decade.

The government has provided the company with 1608 pages of material, which it has been asked to respond to before a final determination is made.

In a statement accompanying an update to the Australian Stock Exchange last week , BPH Energy said a copy of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator's recommendation, which recommended the project be approved, was among the documents it had received.

The company said it appeared the recommendation was mistakenly included in the 45 annexures of documents.

It declined to provide a copy document to the Newcastle Herald for legal reasons.

Both Mr Husic and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources declined to comment on the recommendation.

NOPTA previously recommended the PEP11 exploration project should proceed in 2020.

Despite having the support of former resources minister Keith Pitt, former prime minister Scott Morrision sensationally intervened to stop the project in late 2021.

The decision was voided in February 2023 after Asset challenged the validity of Mr Morrison's decision-making authority in the Federal Court.

📷 Map shows the PEP11 zone in relation to the Hunter Offshore Wind project.

The latest application is being considered by the Commonwealth-NSW Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority.

Asset Energy has argued that the project is necessary to alleviate the national "gas crisis".

Chief executive David Breeze told the Herald last month that the company would again seek legal recourse if it considered its application had not been dealt with fairly.

"The need for gas has become much more critical," Mr Breeze said.

"NSW is suffering the highest rate of business insolvencies relative to past times, inflation is still at a high and the cost of energy is a key point there. It's critical that this project proceeds."

Surfers for Climate is among the groups opposed to PEP11.

"It shouldn't be understated that there is a toll being taken on coastal communities when they are constantly on edge about potential oil and gas activity off their beaches,"chief executive Josh Kirkman previously said.

"Australia does not need new oil and gas projects in our ocean, when the tide is certainly turning towards renewables and the electrification of our homes at scale."

The state government recently introduced legislation earlier this year banning offshore petroleum drilling projects, such as PEP11, in NSW coastal waters.

The legislation was driven, in part, by a significant public backlash against the PEP11 project.

'We declined': Newcastle Mums reject volunteer awards to make a point

By Damon Cronshaw

Updated October 16 2024 - 3:47pm, first published 12:30pm

📷 Megan Clarke, Kerrie McGrath and Claire Paterson, of Newcastle Mums for Palestine, declined volunteer awards from Sharon Claydon. Picture supplied

Three mums have declined a volunteer award from Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon to highlight the "daily struggles faced by Palestinians".

The trio, of Newcastle Mums for Palestine, attended a ceremony for volunteer awards on Tuesday.

But when Ms Claydon presented the awards, they declined to accept them.

Megan Clarke, a member of the group, said they "declined to shake" Ms Claydon's hand at the ceremony and "instead passed on three important documents".

These were: A list of children who died in Gaza since October 7; an Australian Centre for International Justice statement on "occupied Palestinian territory" and a study in The Lancet on the death toll in Gaza.

The mums group said that it would, under different circumstances, "welcome this recognition from our elected federal representative".

The group had done advocacy and fundraising work over the past year.

"Our own work pales in comparison to the daily struggles faced by Palestinians," Mrs Clarke said.

She added that the fundraising helped relatives of a Palestinian family in Newcastle to escape Gaza and come to Australia.

The group was concerned about a lack of "access to humanitarian visas" for Palestinian refugees.

"We do not do this work simply because we have the time to spare for a worthy cause," Mrs Clarke said.

She added that the trio did not take up anyone else's time when they declined the awards at the ceremony.

Mrs Clark said Ms Claydon had been "notably absent from all our community events held over the past 12 months, despite multiple invitations".

"She is yet to attend a local rally. She is yet to adequately acknowledge the presence of peaceful protestors, who gather outside her office twice a week."

Ms Claydon declined to comment.

More than 42,000 people had been killed and more than 99,000 injured in Gaza by Israeli forces, Gaza's health ministry says.

Israel says more than 1200 people, mostly civilians, were killed when Hamas terrorists attacked on October 7.

More than 250 hostages were taken into Gaza. About 100 remained there, while about 40 had died.

WARNING: This story contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died.

In short:

An inquest has begun into a fatal police shooting in Newcastle last year.

The inquest was played the police body-worn camera vision, which shows a man lunging at police with a knife before one officer fires his gun.

What's next:

The inquest is expected to hear evidence over coming days before the Deputy State Coroner hands down a finding.

'Be alert': roll with Newcastle voter details missing after council election

📷 A map of Ward 3. Picture by NSW Electoral Commission

A PRINTED roll containing the personal information of voters, including home addresses and birthdays, is missing after the Newcastle council elections.

The authorised roll used to mark off electors from Ward 3 remains unaccounted than more than three weeks after polls closed.

The data of 30,971 electors in City of Newcastle Ward 3 is printed on the missing roll, as at August 5, 2024.

It contains each voter's identification number, their full name, residential address, date of birth and sex.

For silent electors, their identification number, full name and sex is printed on the document.

The NSW Electoral Commission has urged those affected to be on alert for the possible misuse of their personal details.

A public announcement from the commission on Tuesday said those affected were being contacted directly by mail and informed of the actions they could take to protect themselves.

The NSW Electoral Commission was working with NSW Police and the NSW Privacy Commissioner.

The issue was discovered following the pack-down of a polling place after voting closed on election day, on September 14, when the printed rolls were collected for scanning and checking.

Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Matthew Phillips said all possible action was being taken to locate the missing roll.

He confirmed all ballot papers were secure.

"I apologise to the electors of Ward 3 of the City of Newcastle for the concern this will cause and encourage them to be alert to any potential misuse of their details," he said.

"This does not affect the validity of the City of Newcastle election results.

"All votes taken at the polling place where the roll was used were counted on election night and continued through the usual ballot tracking, counting and results processes."

Electors who did not cast a vote in Ward 3 will not be issued with a fine because the commission cannot check who was marked off at the polling place where the roll went missing.

Dr Phillips said the NSW Electoral Commission was investigating the incident and would review its processes for opportunities to strengthen security processes around the management of printed rolls.

The polling place at the centre of the investigation has not been made public.

There were 10,739 printed rolls distributed to 2099 venues for the 2024 local government elections.

All have been accounted for except the one in City of Newcastle Ward 3, which covers the New Lambton area.

Only enrolled electors and non-residential electors for Ward 3 of the City of Newcastle are listed on the printed roll.

People can make a complaint by emailing privacy.newcastle@elections.nsw.gov.au if they are not happy with the handling of the incident.

Anyone with information that may assist investigations has been urged to contact NSW Police on 4926 6599.

Keolis Downer bungle forces Newcastle bus fleet offline as registrations lapse

By Simon McCarthy

Updated October 2 2024 - 6:16pm, first published 6:08pm

Newcastle transport operator Keolis Downer has blamed an administrative error after the registration of a significant number of its Newcastle bus fleet was allowed to expire on Monday, September 30, forcing much of the city's fleet offline on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the operator, which runs just shy of 200 buses in Newcastle, apologised to travellers on the network on Wednesday afternoon after buses were suddenly recalled from service to the depots on Tuesday when the issue came to light.

Keolis Downer insisted on Wednesday that the fleet had recently passed all required safety checks and that, as of October 2, its entire fleet was back online and operating as normal.

"All vehicles are now registered. We have reviewed our processes to ensure this will not happen again," the spokesperson said in a brief statement. "We are very sorry for the impact this issue caused our customers."

The operator did not specify the number of buses included in the lapse on Wednesday, but the Newcastle Herald understands that as much as half the local fleet was affected.

Keolis Downer won a 10-year contract in 2016 to run the city's buses, the Stockton ferry and the Newcastle light rail. Still, earlier this year, the transport worker's union pushed the state government to return the public transport network to "public hands", citing a decline in bus service quality since privatisation.

"Privatising Newcastle's bus network has been a complete disaster. Commuters have had to deal with inferior services while drivers have had to fight for decent pay and conditions from Keolis Downer," Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Toby Warnes told the Herald in July.

Since it took over in 2017, Keolis Downer has changed routes and timetables, which has sparked complaints from some passengers, and a 10,000-signature petition was tabled in Parliament in 2018.

The Minns government established a bus industry task force last year to examine the effects of privatisation and recommend improvements.

A report by the task force published in February identified four Hunter routes as "short-term" priorities - Charlestown to Newcastle via Jesmond and Newcastle University; Cameron Park to Newcastle via New Lambton; Cessnock to East Maitland; and Mimmi to Newcastle via Wallsend.

In short:

A group of Rising Tide protesters have stopped and climbed onto a coal train at Sandgate near Newcastle.

The group is protesting over federal approval of three coal mine expansions in NSW.

The company behind one of the expansions says it will support hundreds of regional jobs.