POLITICS PAGE 4
LIFE & STYLE PAGE 21
INSIDE TE PAGE 28
WHEN OLD SORES FESTER
TWO GREAT NEW COLUMNS
THE RETURN OF GUNS N’ ROSES
FEBRUARY 20 2013 WWW.NEWCASTLEPOST.COM.AU
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT PH: 49 610 310
Flying off course In town about the rescue chopper, Minister is grilled on CSG
HOUSING CRISIS New State Government figures show that reporting of unauthorised occupants in public housing across the Hunter is double the state average. In January, Family and Community Services Minister, Pru Goward, launched a twomonth amnesty period for people in public housing to declare unauthorised occupants living in their home, in order to avoid back-paying rent.
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EGGING THEM ON Students learn more than just their ABCs PAGE 3 Andrew Cornwell, Ausgrid employees Steven Shelswell and Matthew Ophir, Chris Hartcher, Garry Edwards and Tim Owen
TRICIA MOROSIN
E
nergy Minister Chris Hartcher visited the Hunter last week to thank Newcastle Ausgrid employees for their support of the Hunter Westpac Rescue Helicopter service, but the attention soon turned to the issue of coal seam gas mining in the area. Mr Hartcher said more than 490 local workers had donated $70,000 to the helicopter service via workplace giving deductions, and also announced that Ausgrid would contribute an extra $30,000 to the cause.
It’s back!
“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is a vital community service that we all hope we will never have to use,� Mr Hartcher said. “Workers from Ausgrid have supported the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for the past 10 years by regularly donating part of their pay. “I thank each of the 492 Ausgrid staff for volunteering their support.� Minister Hartcher was then questioned by media about CSG exploration in the region and admitted he was in regular contact with people concerned about the issue. “[The NSW Government] has a commitment to dialogue with people,� Mr Hartcher said. “If they’ve got a problem, we’re only too happy
to hear it but we also have a responsibility to make sure there is an adequate gas supply for the future and that’s a balance that we have to achieve.â€? Mr Hartcher encouraged those concerned about coal seam gas to have faith in the science used by the Planning Assessment Commission. “All decisions are made upon the science and upon the evidence,â€? Mr Hatcher said. “They’re not made upon anyone’s wish, they’re not made upon any corporate desire, and they’re not made upon any government or ministerial desire‌ “What do people have to fear from science?â€? @triciamorosin
SHINING KNIGHTS Knights too good for Souths in trial match PAGE 52
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