NEWS DESK
Man charged over ferry bomb threat A DISGRUNTLED French Islander who allegedly threatened to “blow up” the Stony Point to Tankerton ferry, Thursday 3 September, has been arrested and charged with making threats to kill. He has been bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court in January and banned from using the ferry in the meantime. Detective Leading Senior Constable Darren Sherren, of Hastings CIU, said the man, 60, made the threats by phone to the Public Transport Victoria complaints line. “He was not happy with the service and certain things were said, including threatening to blow up the ferry with explosives as the result of a long, ongoing feud. “The PTV then relayed the nature of the call through to us and we raided a French Island property and seized firearms.” Police also travelled on the ferry that afternoon to ensure passengers were safe. The ferry runs between Stony Point, Tankerton wharf on French Island, and Cowes, Phillip Island. It is scheduled to run all year but varying weather conditions make departures problematic. This has led to frequent complaints from passengers, claiming the service is poorly run and the operator unresponsive. The service has been operating in Western Port Bay since 1994 and has
grown from 25-passenger vessels operating to French Island only, to two high speed passenger catamarans running to Phillip Island and out to Seal Rocks. PTV says the large tidal variation in Western Port and volatile air and sea conditions make operations difficult. It does not guarantee operation of the ferry “in the interest of ensuring passenger safety”. Steve Taylor
Appeal change MOTORISTS will soon no longer be able to apply for an official warning based on a good driving record if they are caught speeding at more than 10kph over the limit. However, they will still be able to apply for an official warning under provisions for special or exceptional circumstances. A good driving record will remain a basis for appeal for motorists detected speeding at less than 10kph over the limit. The changes to the official warning notice criteria come into effect on Monday 21 September. “Speeding remains one of the biggest killers on our roads and this is a reminder for drivers that they are responsible for making sure they are aware of their surroundings, including speed limits, at all times,” road policing command Superintendent Kevin Sheridan said.
The way ahead: Small Business Minister and MP for Dunkley Bruce Billson at the launch of the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Creating Futures for Youth program, with the brotherhood’s executive director Tony Nicholson, youth development worker Sali Shayia, and Citi Foundation’s Guy Matthews. Picture: Gary Sissons
US-based backing to help job skills program A NEW York-based philanthropic fund is helping finance a new employment skills program to help up to140 locally unemployed young people in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. The unveiling on Friday of the new Brotherhood of St Laurence program, Creating Futures for Youth, coincided with the release of figures showing youth unemployment in the area was nearly 20 per cent. The program - funded for 12 months by the New York-based Citi Foundation - offers career guidance, work placements and job search training from the Brotherhood's Frankston headquarters, the High St Centre.
The program, which will reach out to local employers, schools and service clubs, has been launched as unemployment rates for 15-24 year olds in Frankston and the peninsula area are “stubbornly high”, according to Brotherhood of St Laurence chief Tony Nicholson. Federal Department of Employment's figures in July showed youth unemployment in the area reached 18.6 per cent – 15 per cent above the Victorian average. "Young people today need strong supports in a much tougher job market to gain even entry level work,'' Mr Nicholson said. ''We know youth unemployment has
a scarring effect on young people and hurts their future prospects, including the chance of even holding down a steady job further down the track.'' Citi Australia's head of corporate affairs, Guy Matthews, said investing in young people to connect them to jobs is at the core of Citi Foundation. John Catto-Smith, who runs the Brotherhood's High St Centre, said the program will help 140 disadvantaged young people move from learning to employment. ''We are trying to break the cycle of youth unemployment, give them real work experience, teach them how to communicate better and use motivational methods to reach youth,' Mr Catto-Smith said.
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S A L E PAGE 10
Southern Peninsula News 15 September 2015
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