Labor MP appointed to Speaker’s Panel

Federal Labor MP for Macarthur, Michael Freelander has been given the role as one of the House of Representative’s Assistant Deputy Speakers.

“In this role, I will assist the Speaker of the House of Representatives (and his deputies), taking the chair from time to time and presiding over the deliberations of the House,” Mr Freelander said.

“The role of speaker is an integral component of our democracy.

“The speaker must uphold order in the parliament and ensure that parliamentary rules and protocols are adhered to by all.

“I consider it a great privilege to have been appointed to the parliament’s Speaker’s Panel, and thank my colleagues from both sides for entrusting this great responsibility to me.”

Mr Freelander will continue with electoral duties; he is also the Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee into Health, Aged Care and Sport.

Real estate office on fire

A fire is being contained in the upper floor of the Ray White Real Estate office on Argyle Street, Camden.

The fire broke out into the upper floor of the local real estate agent at around 5pm this afternoon (August 30) and travelled to the back of the building and to the ground floor igniting gas bottles out the back.

Aaron Scott a passer-by with the help of Plough and Harrow Inn proprietor Russell Lowe attempted to put out the fire by using a fire hose from the inn.

After Mr Scott first noticed the flames, he ran to the front of the building and saw there were two people from Ray White inside trying to put out the flames with fire extinguishers.

The staff members managed to leave building and move their cars from the back for the building before the fire took off.

Russell Lowe’s premises is just a few door away from the real estate office; he and Mr Scott tried to hose the adjacent shop (Looking Class) but when gas bottles started igniting and flames appeared, the two men stepped back.

A number of fire brigade units arrived. The fire is yet to be extinguished with firies watering the front and back of the shop as well as adjacent buildings.

There has been no report of injuries.

A fire broke at Ray White Real Estate, Argyle Street Camden. ( Photo Aaron Scott)

NSW Fire and Rescue hosing down the front of the real estate office at Camden.

COVID testing blitz

Anyone who lives or works in West or South West Sydney with even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms is being urged to come forward for testing, as mystery cases continue to emerge.

“This region is key to breaking the back of this wave of transmission and high testing rates in people with symptoms is crucial to stopping community transmission,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

“NSW is on the right track with cases remaining low, however, I remain concerned that we are continuing to have cases diagnosed without a link to a known cluster.

“This is a call to anyone who lives in Sydney’s west and south west to come forward for testing with even the mildest of symptoms.”

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said cooperation is needed by everyone to play their part to help clamp down on community transmission and prevent the risk of further clusters emerging.

“We are asking anyone who works, resides or has visited Sydney’s west and south-west recently to come forward for testing at even the slightest hint of symptoms,” Dr Chant said.

“A unique feature of this virus is just how mild the symptoms can be and this can present the biggest challenge when people don’t realise they may actually have the virus – I want the community to help us identify where these mystery cases are coming from.”

There are 302 locations for the public to get COVID-19 testing in NSW, with more opening every day – 90 are drive-throughs and 22 are pop-up clinics. For the closest testing clinic go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics