March 2019 – Page 19

68 MORE TRAIN STATIONS TO RECEIVE ACCESS UPGRADE

A further 68 train stations will receive upgrades such as new lifts, ramps and footbridges to make them more accessible under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management has made it possible for the total investment in the Transport Access Program (TAP).
“We are committed to making public transport accessible for all customers, including those with a disability, the less mobile and parents with prams,” Mr Constance said.
“Currently more than 90 per cent of customer journeys are accessible but we want to make sure everyone can access public transport easily and with dignity.
“When we came to Government accessible public transport had been neglected. Labor was only doing two access upgrades a year and it would have taken them 90 years to upgrade all stations on the network.”
The funding to be delivered by the NSW Liberals & Nationals will supercharge the station upgrade program and include upgrades at Dapto, Faulconbridge, Tuggerah, East Hills, Point Clare, Moss Vale, Goulburn, Griffith, Dubbo and Queanbeyan.
Five stations between Sydenham and Bankstown will also become accessible for the first time as part of Sydney Metro, upgrades Labor has vowed to cancel.
“We have delivered 52 wheelchair accessible train stations since 2011 and we will deliver dozens more as we keep cutting through Labor’s backlog,” Mr Constance said.
“Our Government listened to communities across the state and we know accessible transport is key to good quality of life so we made these upgrades a top priority.”
Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres welcomed the commitment to improve access at Kingswood station.
“This is a big issue for my community, which I have been campaigning for and I am so pleased we can make this station accessible,” Mr Ayres said.
The NSW Government is working to deliver safe, modern and accessible public transport infrastructure statewide. The program provides new lifts, ramps and footbridges across the network to achieve this.

Previously announced station upgrades
Rooty Hill Edgecliff Millthorpe North Strathfield Kingswood Hazelbrook Wyee Blayney Mittagong Clarendon Hawkesbury River	Wahroonga Taree Roseville Glenbrook Beecroft Como Bexley North Fairy Meadow Petersham Waratah
Additional station upgrades
Warrawee Canley Vale Birrong Dapto Wollstonecraft St Peters Blackheath Yagoona Banksia Ourimbah Lisarow Niagara Park Narara Lapstone Waitara Faulconbridge Towradgi Erskineville Pymble Stanmore Point Clare Tuggerah	East Hills Denistone Goulburn Normanhurst Thornleigh Bellambi Dubbo Armidale Griffith Moree Queanbeyan Grafton Narrabri Parkes Gunnedah Casino Wauchope Redfern Moss Vale Unanderra
Currently non-accessible stations being upgraded by Sydney Metro
Dulwich Hill Hurlstone Park Canterbury	Wiley Park Punchbowl

NSW AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS PARTNER TO BUILD AUSTRALIA’S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN’S CANCER CENTRE

Kids sick with cancer or needing emergency care are set to benefit from Australia’s first Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre and a rebuild of the Children’s Hospital at Randwick.
The $608 million investment overseen by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will transform cancer care, and add more than 50 per cent to the size of the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick, with a new Emergency Department among the additions.
A funding commitment of $428 million from the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, $100 million from the Commonwealth Government, $30 million from the University of New South Wales, $25 million from Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and $25 million from the Children’s Cancer Institute are contributing to the historic establishment of the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre and redevelopment of the hospital.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said this significant investment was possible only because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“The Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre brings clinical care, research and teaching together in the one place. Importantly, that means better outcomes for kids and for NSW it cements our position as a world leader in care for children with cancer”, Mr Hazzard said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said today’s announcement will give children for the first time the same level of integrated cancer care experienced by adults.
“If your child is battling cancer, you want to know that the latest research is translating into effective treatment as fast as possible. This Centre will ensure kids have that next level care with many experts working together on the same campus,” Mr Hunt said.
The investment in both the CCCC and the redevelopment of the Children’s Hospital is projected to create more than 6080 direct and indirect jobs.
“All of those jobs will be great for the area and for the economy and they build on the Liberals & Nationals’ strong track record when it comes to delivering health infrastructure. Our government has already built or upgraded more than 100 hospitals and other health facilities across the State,” Mr Hazzard said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Federal Government is investing significant funding into medical research and this collaborative model is the exciting model of the future.
“Children will receive the finest possible care in both general medicine and specialist cancer treatment and research,” Mr Hunt said.
The project will be built over two levels. On the ground floor will be a brand new Emergency Department as well as new short stay units while above it will be the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre, bringing the very latest in research from the laboratory bench to the bedside.
“For staff too, they will have all of the opportunities that come with having state of the art facilities so they can continue the wonderful work they already do looking after our kids,” Mr Hazzard said.
Today’s announcement is on top of the $720 million investment already announced for the redevelopment Prince of Wales Hospital also at Randwick, bringing the total value of the site works to $1.3 billion.
The Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, said when completed, the expanded Children’s Hospital would be integrated with a new Acute Services Building and the recently announced $250 million University of NSW Health Translational Hub.
“Randwick will host a Health and Education Precinct that will be the envy of the world. When you combine these substantial investments and the calibre of our health clinicians and academics, you can expect an incredible result,” Mr Notley-Smith said.
“Our community can have peace of mind that we have the very best healthcare available in the world, close to home.”

Greens say Axe pollie pensions when Ciobo and Pyne go

With at least half of the 20 retiring federal politicians set to receive a parliamentary pension, it’s time the pollies’ pension was axed entirely, say the Greens.
“While politicians elected after 2004 don’t receive a parliamentary pension, those elected before then – such as Ministers Pyne and Ciobo, rumoured today to be leaving politics – would get hundreds of thousands of dollars each year as a pension, for doing nothing,” Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Larissa Waters said.
“These blokes will probably end up like their mate Joe Hockey – with a diplomatic posting and a cushy pension – all funded by the taxpayer.
“Politicians have their snouts in the trough, while ordinary people struggle with the cost of living, wages have flatlined and Newstart hasn’t increased for 24 years.
“It’s no wonder people think so little of politicians, when the rules are rigged in their favour. If they’re not doing the job anymore they shouldn’t be paid.”
Greens will request the Parliamentary Budget Office to cost the public money saved from such a move, and would move to apply those savings to people who actually need it, as part of our pledge to increase Newstart by at least $75 a week.
“In Budget week I’ll move for parliamentary pensions for MPs elected before 2004 to be scrapped, and will keep pushing on this issue if the Greens have the balance of power in the Senate after the next election,” Senator Waters said.
“Let’s give help to the people who need it. Not to those who’ve received generous salary and allowances while in the job and still want to collect after they leave the job.”

Former officer charged with sexual assault – Central Metropolitan Region

A former police officer has been charged following investigations into an alleged sexual assault.
Between July and August 2013, it’s alleged a woman was sexually assaulted by a police officer in southern Sydney.
The senior constable was on-duty at the time.
Following inquiries by the Professional Standards Command, a 43-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (27 February 2019).
He was charged with sexual assault without consent and was given bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 20 March 2019.
The man is no longer a member of the NSW Police Force.