> # Train controller sacked over safety incident on Newcastle-Sydney line > > A rail signaller who incorrectly allowed a Newcastle-bound train onto a closed track while "possibly" distracted playing online games was sacked over the incident. > > The Newcastle Herald reported on Monday that an Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) report tabled in NSW Parliament had shed light on a disturbing culture of signallers at Sydney Trains' Homebush control centre using work computers to shop and play games when they were on shift. > > The OTSI investigation followed an incident in January when the signaller allowed a train to enter a section of track at Cowan which should have been closed for maintenance, creating a "high risk of collision". > > The signaller failed to properly "protect" the track from train traffic despite giving verbal assurances to a manager that they had done so. > > A Sydney Trains spokesperson said on Wednesday that the signaller had been sacked and the organisation had "increased enforcement" for employees not complying with its internet policies. > > The Homebush manager told OTSI during the latest investigation that "after they had been made aware of the incident they observed a type of game open on the [signaller's] work computer at their workstation". > > "The screen quickly went into screensaver mode as the [manager] approached and the [manager] was not able to identify what the game was," the report said. > > A Transport for NSW IT investigation found "evidence of activity on various news, games, social media, shopping and other non-related work sites and applications" on the workstation computer but, "due to the nature of the set-up of the computer, it was not possible to assign the usage to a particular person". > > The signaller later told the manager and investigators that they had not been playing the game at the time of the incident, but the manager described to investigators a "widespread culture among signallers of using the work computer to access non-work-related applications and sites during their shift". > > The OTSI report said the signaller had failed to read documents outlining the scheduled track closures in the hours before they were implemented "possibly due to inattention or distraction caused by the use of the signaller's workstation computer for non-work-related purposes". > > The report said the signaller had been in the job for 18 years but had been involved in 16 recorded incidents between 2019 and 2023 that required coaching or other interventions. > > The most serious of these incidents had involved the routing of two freight locomotives onto a closed track in western Sydney in 2020, when the signaller failed to set protecting signals to stop. > > Asked if she had implemented new procedures to make sure signallers were focused on the job, Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said she was "pleased" Sydney Trains had investigated the incident. > > "I know Sydney Trains takes any safety incident extremely seriously, and I'm pleased they immediately launched a safety investigation into the incident," she said. > > "Safety is our top priority, and we are constantly looking at ways we can make our railway, and the people who run it, safer." > > The Sydney Trains spokesperson said the organisation had proactively reported the incident to OTSI. > > "Transport for NSW IT blocks countless non-work-related websites and are constantly looking for ways to proactively strengthen firewalls and manage internet access during work hours," the spokesperson said. > > "Sydney Trains has a policy that does not permit the use of mobile phones and devices for non-work purposes when on shift at signaller worksites and have increased enforcement for non-compliance." > > The OTSI report said 30 per cent of signallers at the Homebush control centre had received formal warnings for using personal devices, and the manager said many more had received informal warnings. > > "The [manager] advised it was common for signallers to sit sideways facing their computers rather than facing their signalling operating panel," the investigation report said. > > "The [manager] called it 'the sideways club' and explained that [managers] saw it as an indication that non-compliance was possibly occurring." > > The OTSI report noted a fatal accident at Kogarah in 2010 when a train struck a worker at a time when the signaller "may have been using a personal laptop computer ... while operating the signal panel".

> # Train controller sacked over safety incident on Newcastle-Sydney line > > A rail signaller who incorrectly allowed a Newcastle-bound train onto a closed track while "possibly" distracted playing online games was sacked over the incident. > > The Newcastle Herald reported on Monday that an Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) report tabled in NSW Parliament had shed light on a disturbing culture of signallers at Sydney Trains' Homebush control centre using work computers to shop and play games when they were on shift. > > The OTSI investigation followed an incident in January when the signaller allowed a train to enter a section of track at Cowan which should have been closed for maintenance, creating a "high risk of collision". > > The signaller failed to properly "protect" the track from train traffic despite giving verbal assurances to a manager that they had done so. > > A Sydney Trains spokesperson said on Wednesday that the signaller had been sacked and the organisation had "increased enforcement" for employees not complying with its internet policies. > > The Homebush manager told OTSI during the latest investigation that "after they had been made aware of the incident they observed a type of game open on the [signaller's] work computer at their workstation". > > "The screen quickly went into screensaver mode as the [manager] approached and the [manager] was not able to identify what the game was," the report said. > > A Transport for NSW IT investigation found "evidence of activity on various news, games, social media, shopping and other non-related work sites and applications" on the workstation computer but, "due to the nature of the set-up of the computer, it was not possible to assign the usage to a particular person". > > The signaller later told the manager and investigators that they had not been playing the game at the time of the incident, but the manager described to investigators a "widespread culture among signallers of using the work computer to access non-work-related applications and sites during their shift". > > The OTSI report said the signaller had failed to read documents outlining the scheduled track closures in the hours before they were implemented "possibly due to inattention or distraction caused by the use of the signaller's workstation computer for non-work-related purposes". > > The report said the signaller had been in the job for 18 years but had been involved in 16 recorded incidents between 2019 and 2023 that required coaching or other interventions. > > The most serious of these incidents had involved the routing of two freight locomotives onto a closed track in western Sydney in 2020, when the signaller failed to set protecting signals to stop. > > Asked if she had implemented new procedures to make sure signallers were focused on the job, Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said she was "pleased" Sydney Trains had investigated the incident. > > "I know Sydney Trains takes any safety incident extremely seriously, and I'm pleased they immediately launched a safety investigation into the incident," she said. > > "Safety is our top priority, and we are constantly looking at ways we can make our railway, and the people who run it, safer." > > The Sydney Trains spokesperson said the organisation had proactively reported the incident to OTSI. > > "Transport for NSW IT blocks countless non-work-related websites and are constantly looking for ways to proactively strengthen firewalls and manage internet access during work hours," the spokesperson said. > > "Sydney Trains has a policy that does not permit the use of mobile phones and devices for non-work purposes when on shift at signaller worksites and have increased enforcement for non-compliance." > > The OTSI report said 30 per cent of signallers at the Homebush control centre had received formal warnings for using personal devices, and the manager said many more had received informal warnings. > > "The [manager] advised it was common for signallers to sit sideways facing their computers rather than facing their signalling operating panel," the investigation report said. > > "The [manager] called it 'the sideways club' and explained that [managers] saw it as an indication that non-compliance was possibly occurring." > > The OTSI report noted a fatal accident at Kogarah in 2010 when a train struck a worker at a time when the signaller "may have been using a personal laptop computer ... while operating the signal panel".

> - In short: Environmental activist group Blockade Australia has staged more than a dozen protests on the Hunter rail line since Tuesday. > - It has impacted coal trains and more than 200 passenger trains, leaving many commuters frustrated. > - What's next? Transport for NSW says it will continue to assess the situation and schedule replacement buses when necessary.

> - In short: Environmental activist group Blockade Australia has staged more than a dozen protests on the Hunter rail line since Tuesday. > - It has impacted coal trains and more than 200 passenger trains, leaving many commuters frustrated. > - What's next? Transport for NSW says it will continue to assess the situation and schedule replacement buses when necessary.

> - In short: The Northern Territory's annual firework night has seen at least four people injured, including a six-month-old with facial burns and a 37-year-old with burns to the groin region. > - It is legal to set off fireworks in the NT each year on July 1 during a five-hour window. > - What's next? Police have urged people not to continue letting off fireworks after Monday night's 11pm cut-off and have reminded the public doing so could incur a $1,800 fine.

> - In short: Sisters Olivia and Hannah Lemin were treated for "burning" and "tingling" sensations after they were allegedly served insect repellent instead of juice at a Perth restaurant. > - The family says they have made a complaint to the Department of Health. > - What's next? The restaurant said it was investigating the incident, but declined to comment further.

> # 'You must leave': brave museum worker stands up to armed alleged terrorist > > By Jessica Brown > > Updated June 27 2024 - 10:42am, first published 8:00am > > ! > > 📷 The incident was livestreamed online and what has come to light has painted a terrifying picture of what could have been. > > A BRAVE museum worker could have made the difference between an armed assailant choosing to carry out a pre-planned alleged terrorist attack in Newcastle on Wednesday and deciding to walk away. Police, including the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, are investigating after emergency services were called to Newcastle Museum in Honeysuckle about 12.30pm to reports a man was dressed in tactical equipment and was brandishing a knife. > > The incident was livestreamed online and what has come to light has painted a terrifying picture of what could have been. > > A man can be seen in a bathroom toilet cubicle at the Civic Theatre preparing for his attack. It is understood he had circulated a manifesto detailing the reasons behind his plans. > > ! > > 📷 The man livestreamed his attempted attack online. Picture is a screenshot from that video. > > He can then be seen walking across the road, in front of the light rail, before entering the office of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp. > > He quickly vacates the building and heads towards the museum. When he enters wearing the tactical equipment alerts were raised and one brave museum worker verbally confronts him saying "you can't walk around like that". > > As the assailant decides on his next move, museum-goers including children can be seen entering the main lobby then jumping in shock and fear. > > Again the museum worker addresses the man, "back to outside...you must leave" and a second worker can be heard saying "no knives in public spaces". > > ! > > 📷 An image from the feed that was distributing the live video of the alleged assailant. > > In the end the man chooses to leave the museum and puts down his knife as the workers lock the doors and police are called. > > Newcastle Police District officers went to the premises on Workshop Way where they arrested a 19-year-old male. > > A subsequent search saw police find a number of items which have now been seized. > > The man was taken to Newcastle police station and has now been charged with one count of other acts done in preparation for, or planning, for terrorist act, contrary to Section 101.6 of the Criminal Code Act (CTH). > > Following further inquiries, police have confirmed the existence of the document that had been circulated to a number of public figures and media outlets. > > The man, from Raymond Terrace, has been refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday June 27. > > There is no ongoing threat to the community relation to this investigation. > > Inquiries are continuing. > > The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission. > > Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

> # 'You must leave': brave museum worker stands up to armed alleged terrorist > > By Jessica Brown > > Updated June 27 2024 - 10:42am, first published 8:00am > > ! > > 📷 The incident was livestreamed online and what has come to light has painted a terrifying picture of what could have been. > > A BRAVE museum worker could have made the difference between an armed assailant choosing to carry out a pre-planned alleged terrorist attack in Newcastle on Wednesday and deciding to walk away. Police, including the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, are investigating after emergency services were called to Newcastle Museum in Honeysuckle about 12.30pm to reports a man was dressed in tactical equipment and was brandishing a knife. > > The incident was livestreamed online and what has come to light has painted a terrifying picture of what could have been. > > A man can be seen in a bathroom toilet cubicle at the Civic Theatre preparing for his attack. It is understood he had circulated a manifesto detailing the reasons behind his plans. > > ! > > 📷 The man livestreamed his attempted attack online. Picture is a screenshot from that video. > > He can then be seen walking across the road, in front of the light rail, before entering the office of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp. > > He quickly vacates the building and heads towards the museum. When he enters wearing the tactical equipment alerts were raised and one brave museum worker verbally confronts him saying "you can't walk around like that". > > As the assailant decides on his next move, museum-goers including children can be seen entering the main lobby then jumping in shock and fear. > > Again the museum worker addresses the man, "back to outside...you must leave" and a second worker can be heard saying "no knives in public spaces". > > ! > > 📷 An image from the feed that was distributing the live video of the alleged assailant. > > In the end the man chooses to leave the museum and puts down his knife as the workers lock the doors and police are called. > > Newcastle Police District officers went to the premises on Workshop Way where they arrested a 19-year-old male. > > A subsequent search saw police find a number of items which have now been seized. > > The man was taken to Newcastle police station and has now been charged with one count of other acts done in preparation for, or planning, for terrorist act, contrary to Section 101.6 of the Criminal Code Act (CTH). > > Following further inquiries, police have confirmed the existence of the document that had been circulated to a number of public figures and media outlets. > > The man, from Raymond Terrace, has been refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday June 27. > > There is no ongoing threat to the community relation to this investigation. > > Inquiries are continuing. > > The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission. > > Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

> Labor senator Fatima Payman has crossed the floor to vote against her party on a motion related to Palestinian recognition.

> It is the first time a Labor politician has crossed the floor while Labor is in government since 1986. > > Labor party rules state that all members must vote in line with the position taken by the Labor caucus. It is then up to the caucus to decide on the penalty, which can include suspension from the caucus. > > Expulsion from the Labor Party itself is a matter for the party's national executive.

> - In short: Tasmanian art gallery Mona has hung artworks by Pablo Picasso in a female toilet cubicle in response to a failed court bid to exclude men from a women-only art installation. > - In April, a court ruling found Mona discriminated when it refused a New South Wales man entry to its Ladies Lounge. > - What's next? Mona curator Kirsha Kaechele is appealing the discrimination ruling in the Supreme Court.

> - In short: Australia will restrict the sale of vapes to pharmacies from next week, as the Greens agree to pass a proposed ban. > - The government has agreed however to water down restrictions that would have required adults to obtain a prescription. > - What's next? The laws will be debated and put to a vote in parliament later this week.

> 3 HRS AGO > > A STRANGE boom and rattle has been reported across Lake Macquarie from as far as Edgeworth to Gwandalan. > > Four 'felt' reports have been lodged with Geoscience Australia, despite no earthquakes currently showing for the area. > > A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman told the Newcastle Herald firefighters had not received any reports of a possible earthquake and that none of their alarms had been triggered. > > Locals have taken to social media, reporting windows rattling at Charlestown, Toronto and Cameron Park as well as other suburbs. > > More to come.

> 1 HR AGO > > A SENIOR seismologist with Geoscience Australia has been unable to identify a seismic event in the Lake Macquarie area after residents reported a strange rattle and boom. > > The seismologist has confirmed the event was not an earthquake, despite several 'felt' reports being lodged with the organisation on Thursday. > > Almost 20 felt reports have been submitted from Thornton down to Gwandalan after residents experienced a 'boom' or rumbling sound followed by rattling windows and walls around midday. > > The Newcastle Herald contacted Subsidence Advisory NSW which confirmed there have been no mine subsidence events in the area.

Source: https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/8391323/no-earthquake-questions-remain-over-strange-boom-and-rattle-live/