Footballers’ association CEO, Brendan Schwab, has criticised the sport’s governing body over its handling of the Newcastle Jets.

Football Federation Australia has agreed to give short-term financial assistance, but the PFA says it’s legally obliged to guarantee the club’s long-term survival.

Byron Bay Surfer Kieran Perrow will fly out to Los Angeles tomorrow after being granted a wild card entry back into the ASP World Tour.

The 33-year-old thought his career was over after missing the revised cut off mark.

Labor has successfully formed a minority federal government after clinching the support of independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.

After 17 days of uncertainty, regional NSW MPs Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott finally decided to throw their support behind the Labor Party.

The decision will see Julia Gillard remain as prime minister after taking a narrow margin in the House of Representatives, 76 to 74.

Queensland independent Bob Katter announced his decision to back the Coalition in a hung parliament in an interview with journalists in his Canberra office earlier this afternoon.

Mr Oakeshott and Mr Windsor announced their decision at a press conference at 3pm today AEST.

In what he described as a very difficult decision, Mr Oakeshott said he had dealt with splits in the community and splits in his family on which party to back.

“It is not a mandate for anyone, nor is it an endorsement,” Mr Oakeshott said.

Mr Oakeshott said he was “thoroughly unimpressed” with the political parties in Australia.

Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott had been negotiating with both Ms Gillard and Opposition leader Tony Abbott since the August 21 election.

“I want to thank both leaders for the way they’ve treated us during this process,” Mr Windsor said before announcing his decision.

Both leaders made their final pitches to the independents today.

Labor required just two of the three MPs to form a minority government, while the coalition required all three.

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Football Federation Australia has announced it will provide short-term financial assistance to the Newcastle Jets.

For now at least, the squad can focus on preparing for a trip to Adelaide this weekend.

There’s been some consolation for the ousted Knights, with Kurt Gidley selected in the Kangaroos Four Nations’ train-on squad, while Jarrod Mullen and Akulia Uate made the Prime Minister’s XIII.

The team enjoyed Mad Monday festivities today, but starting tomorrow, Rick Stone and co will pick up the pieces of a season that promised plenty, but ended in disappointment.

The Nurses Association has again ruled out any immediate strike action, following the latest hearing over a new Hunter New England Health rostering system.

The union will continue to meet with the health service over the next week.

Below is statement from FFA boss Ben Buckley, after a day of talks on the future of the financially stricken Newcastle Jets

Football Federation Australia today announced it would be providing short term
financial assistance to the Newcastle Jets whilst it continued to work with the club
to determine its long term future.

“There are a range of complex issues that we’re discussing with various stakeholders
and this will enable us to hold these discussions and at the same time take some
important immediate steps including ensuring players’ current entitlements are met,”
said CEO Ben Buckley.

“The Club has a proud history and great spirit evidenced not the least by the
players’ approach to the current issues and their strong performance on the weekend.

“I’d like to acknowledge the responsible approach the players have been taking and
assure supporters that the next couple of Jets’ Hyundai A-League games will go ahead
as planned.

“As well as providing the Club with an opportunity to address its current challenges
FFA’s interim support will also provide an opportunity for the local community to
come out and show its support for the future of the Club.”

Below is statement from FFA boss Ben Buckley, after a day of talks on the future of the financially stricken Newcastle Jets

Football Federation Australia today announced it would be providing short term
financial assistance to the Newcastle Jets whilst it continued to work with the club
to determine its long term future.

“There are a range of complex issues that we’re discussing with various stakeholders
and this will enable us to hold these discussions and at the same time take some
important immediate steps including ensuring players’ current entitlements are met,”
said CEO Ben Buckley.

“The Club has a proud history and great spirit evidenced not the least by the
players’ approach to the current issues and their strong performance on the weekend.

“I’d like to acknowledge the responsible approach the players have been taking and
assure supporters that the next couple of Jets’ Hyundai A-League games will go ahead
as planned.

“As well as providing the Club with an opportunity to address its current challenges
FFA’s interim support will also provide an opportunity for the local community to
come out and show its support for the future of the Club.”

There are fears Newcastle’s ailing CBD will never be revitalised, unless the city gets a major attraction to draw people in.

And a historian says the key to Newcastle’s future could lie in the past.

The cream of Australian bowls is on show at Club Helensvale this week for the fourth annual “National Club 5 a Side Challenge”.

While all competitors are keen to take home $40,000 in prize money, a number of players are using it as final preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

A new invention to keep those swooping magpies away has local bikeriders in a spin.

It’s a wind powered deterrent aimed at keeping cyclists safe throughout the season.

Coffs Harbour’s museum is to get a new home after its original location was flooded last year.

The Coffs Harbour City Council has acquired the heritage-listed former court house and police station in Harbour Drive.

The council paid $800,000 for the building when it was auctioned on Saturday.

The museum currently has its material stored at the Bunker Gallery but will now move into the Harbour Drive premises in December.

The weather board building was constructed in 1906.

A classic encounter in Newcastle rugby league, with Maitland overcoming Wests in extra time in this afternoon’s major semi.

The Pickers advance to the grand final, while the Rosellas will battle Cessnock for the other spot in the season decider.

There’s big news in Hunter politics tonight, with Cessnock MP Kerry Hickey confirming he won’t re-contest his state seat at the March election.

It follows a difficult few weeks, after it was revealed he secretly fathered a child with a parliamentary staffer.

Mr Hickey had separated from his wife before the relationship began.

Today he told NBN News, “12 years is a long time in the job, all of the decisions I’ve made have been for the right reasons.”

He’s been the state Member for Cessnock since 1999.

Newcastle City has won its third straight Black Diamond AFL grand final, with a dominant display against old rival’s Cardiff this afternoon.

City lead at every break to claim its fourth flag in eight years.

The approval for a Woolworths supermarket at Mullumbimby was a long and contentious affair so it’s not surprising its construction is now making waves.

A group of Aboriginal people is staging a sit-in saying they weren’t consulted about use of the land.

The Central Coast Mariners picked up thier first home win of the A-league season after defeating the Melbourne Victory 2-0 at Bluetongue Stadium last night.

Goals on either side of the break was enough for Graham Arnold’s side to take all three points.

There’s been a dangerous rescue on the Gold Coast of a young whale caught in shark nets.

It took three hours to free the animal which was the first to be entangled this migration season.

The Knights clash with the Storm in Melbourne this Sunday is technically a dead rubber, but try telling that to winger Kevin Naiqama.

The younger brother of fullback Wes will make his NRL debut, after Junior Sau was ruled out by a hamstring injury.

Newcastle Jets players and staff have gone unpaid for the second straight week.

The clash with Brisbane will still go ahead this Sunday, but Monday is looming as D-Day, when the footballers’ association arrives in Newcastle to try and resolve the situation.