Category: NSW News

A man has been arrested by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism offences.
Earlier this month, the NSW JCTT commenced an investigation into the online activities of a man, who was reportedly expressing extremist views in conversations across a number of platforms and sharing pro-Islamic State material.
Following extensive inquiries, a 34-year-old man was arrested by the Tactical Operations Unit at Caringbah just before 8am today (Friday 24 December 2021).
He was taken to Sutherland Police Station, where he will be charged.
A short time later, NSW JCTT investigators executed a search warrant at a nearby home, where searches are continuing.
There is no ongoing threat to the community relating to this investigation.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole have announced a new Cabinet team to focus on delivering the NSW Government’s vision for the state.
It combines a wealth of experience with fresh energy at a critical time, leading NSW out of the pandemic and toward a stronger future.
“Our new Ministry harnesses experience, while allowing for renewal and injecting fresh energy into the team,” Mr Perrottet said.
“It’s a team with purpose, carefully shaped to deliver on our vision. My expectation is that every Minister will work hard to improve the lives of people across our state at a critical time in the history of our state.”
There are nine first-time Ministers in the new-look Cabinet which includes the three new portfolios of Minister for Cities, Minister for Homes and Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology.
“Four of our new Ministers are women and we hope they will help inspire our next generation of leaders,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We’ve spelt out our vision and the new portfolios demonstrate our commitment to deliver more opportunity for home ownership, our Six Cities strategy, and great jobs through cutting edge research, innovation and local manufacturing.”
The Government’s priority remains reopening and kick starting the economy in a safe and measured way while delivering its record infrastructure program.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the past three years have been some of the most challenging in our State’s history, with the team’s focus now on recovery and strengthening our resilience.
“We’ve gone through the darkest of days, but we are focused on building stronger regional communities – stronger for their services, their jobs and the opportunities we’re unlocking for this generation and the next,” Mr Toole said.
“Regional health has been a big focus of our Government since day one – and as a registered nurse from the bush, Bronnie Taylor will ensure regional communities get the investment in hospitals and health services and the quality of care they deserve.
“The new Emergency Services and Resilience portfolio combines our response and recovery efforts to ensure NSW can bounce back and lead our state to a better future.”

NEW SOUTH WALES CABINET MINISTERS

The Honourable Dominic Francis Perrottet MP Premier

The Honourable Paul Lawrence Toole MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Police

The Honourable Stuart Laurence Ayres MP Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, Minister for Western Sydney

The Honourable Bronwyn Taylor MLC Minister for Women, Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Mental Health

The Honourable Matthew John Kean MP Treasurer, Minister for Energy

The Honourable Damien Francis Tudehope MLC Minister for Finance, Minister for Employee Relations, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council 

The Honourable Alister Andrew Henskens SC MP Minister for Skills and Training, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly

The Honourable Bradley Ronald Hazzard MP Minister for Health

The Honourable Sarah Mitchell MLC Minister for Education and Early Learning

The Honourable Mark Raymond Speakman SC MP Attorney General

The Honourable Robert Gordon Stokes MP Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Cities, Minister for Active Transport

The Honourable Victor Michael Dominello MP Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government

The Honourable Anthony John Roberts MP Minister for Planning, Minister for Homes 

The Honourable David Andrew Elliott MP Minister for Transport, Minister for Veterans

The Honourable Natalie Peta Ward MLC Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence

The Honourable Kevin John Anderson MP Minister for Lands and Water, Minister for Hospitality and Racing

The Honourable Dr Geoffrey Lee MP Minister for Corrections

The Honourable Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Disability Services

The Honourable Samuel Farraway MLC Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

The Honourable Stephanie Anne Cooke MP Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience

The Honourable Eleni Marie Petinos MP Minister for Small Business, Minister for Fair Trading 

The Honourable James Henry Griffin MP Minister for Environment and Heritage

The Honourable Mark Joseph Coure MP Minister for Multiculturalism, Minister for Seniors

The Honourable Dugald William Saunders MP Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Western New South Wales

The Honourable Benjamin Cameron Franklin MLC Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Regional Youth

The Honourable Wendy Margaret Tuckerman MP Minister for Local Government

Successful business founder, Bridget Sakr, will ask the Strathfield community to make her their representative in the NSW Parliament at the upcoming state by-election.
A working mother, Bridget spent years in the corporate sector and then was building up her finance business when a family tragedy reshaped her life and focus.
“I was going through the most unimaginable time in my life when this community wrapped its arms around me, opened its heart to me and came to my aid,” Ms Sakr said.
“I would like to repay their love, kindness and generosity by fighting for to build a better community for every one of them.”
“I will campaign for safer and less congested roads, educational opportunity, policies to improve home ownership in our community, and more accessible grief support, trauma and mental health care for the multicultural community that calls Strathfield home.”
Premier Dominic Perrottet said Ms Sakr is a determined and successful businesswoman whose perspective and drive would be an asset to the parliament.
“Bridget is a strong-willed woman who has had success in business and is determined to make a difference for the Strathfield electorate,” Mr Perrottet said.
“She is a resilient and extraordinary person with a genuine determination to give back to a community who supported her through her time of need.
“As a candidate, she embodies all of the values we want in our elected leaders, particularly her commitment to giving voice to those who struggle to be heard.”
Ms Sakr said she will be a strong advocate for the Strathfield community and local businesses, to ensure that they get the services and infrastructure that is needed to recover and ultimately prosper.
“I grew a successful business from scratch, so I understand the challenges that small businesses are facing; and I will be a vocal advocate for support that local businesses need to help them recover.”
“There are still people and businesses doing it tough, and they need a stable and experienced government that can deliver jobs and opportunities. By voting for me, the community will get a tenacious and passionate representative in the Perrottet Government working to build a better future for the community.”
Ms Sakr has spent more than three decades working in the financial services sector, and is the co-founder of Granite Home Loans.
Ms Sakr has a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Humans Resource Management from UTS.
She is a former executive at Genworth Financial, former ambassador for The Risk Board, and was an executive consultant to the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia.
Ms Sakr founded heartFELT, an online grief support platform, following the death of her 11-year-old daughter Veronique in February 2020.
Together with Daniel and Leila Abdallah, whose three children were also killed in the Oatlands tragedy, she co-launched ‘I 4Give Day’.
The annual event is designed to promote a national dialogue about the benefits of forgiveness.

• The construction of a new Flight Training Centre with aircraft simulators in NSW.
• Plans for expansion of the Qantas Loyalty team in Mascot.
• A commitment from Qantas to deliver improved Indigenous and diversity employment outcomes in its NSW workforce over the next five years.

The NSW Government’s booster program continues to ramp up with NSW Health already delivering more than 120,000 vaccine booster doses to help keep people safe and increase levels of immunity to COVID-19.
On Friday, NSW Health clinics delivered the highest daily total since the rollout of the program, up from 2000 doses two weeks ago, in support of the Federal Government’s vaccine program.
People are eligible for a booster 5 months after a second dose and NSW Health can accommodate people about to travel who might need a slightly earlier appointment.
The number of people eligible to receive a booster will increase steadily in 2022, with around 40 per cent of the NSW population to be eligible at the end of January, 64 per cent in February, 87 per cent in March, and 91 per cent by April 2022.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet thanked people for coming forward to get their booster shots and urged every eligible person to book in as soon as possible.
“As we navigate our way out of the pandemic, we remain focused on saving lives and protecting livelihoods and getting your booster shot will offer you protection against COVID,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our frontline health workers have been incredible over the past two years and their dedication is greatly appreciated. It’s time for us to step up again and get a booster to protect ourselves, the community and those who have done so much to keep us safe.”
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said NSW Health will also be keeping its COVID testing centres open during the holiday months, so people can get a test when they need it.
“The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get vaccinated and get a booster if you are eligible,” Mr Hazzard said.
“We need everyone to continue to do their bit and follow the rules, so if you have even the slightest of symptoms get tested and stay at home.”
Those eligible for a booster dose can book in at a NSW Health vaccination clinic through the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder. You can also book in to receive a booster dose at a participating pharmacy and your local GP.

The NSW Government has welcomed 214 new firefighters to its ranks at a graduation ceremony this morning at the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills.
The recruits completed their training in all facets of the job, including fire, rescue, emergency first aid, hazardous material treatment and natural disaster response.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott joined FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter to congratulate the new permanent and on-call firefighters. They observed a live demonstration by the recruits of the types of incidents they could face as firefighters, including a mock service station fire, a structural blaze and a hazardous material emergency,
“These fresh-faced recruits join the ranks at a time when we face the likelihood of more natural disasters over summer as well as the ongoing pandemic, yet nonetheless are committed to work to protect our property and loved ones,” Mr Elliott said.
“They have joined FRNSW because they want to make a difference and now they’re learning the skills to make that positive impact.
Their recruitment represents the ongoing, record investment this Government has made to safeguard our communities from fire and disaster right across this State.”
Commissioner Baxter praised the recruits who come from diverse backgrounds but share one common goal – to protect the irreplaceable.
“These new firefighters appropriately represent the communities they protect,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“They come to us from cities and towns all over New South Wales and beyond with fortitude and determination and we equip them with the knowledge and skills to be prepared for anything, to protect the irreplaceable.”
The recruits have successfully completed almost 15 weeks of training in the Academy’s state-of-the-art learning environments which include a special urban search and rescue scene, an underground train tunnel, a mock service station, a five-storey training tower and a live fire facility.
The new recruits come from a range of backgrounds, including a former teacher, a former restaurant manager and an accomplished landscape architect.

• An emergency department
• an eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) /Close Observation Unit (COU)
• increased capacity for chemotherapy treatments
• surgical and operating theatres
• expanded medical imaging, including MRI and additional X-ray
• Ambulatory care for community outpatient services
• Paediatric and maternity services – including inpatient beds
• Flexible mental health beds associated with the medical inpatient unit and
• enhanced education and training facilities.

New South Wales is continuing to bounce back from one of the biggest economic shocks the State has faced in generations, with the Government’s targeted support measures and strong vaccination rates helping our economy successfully recover.
Treasurer Matt Kean today released the 2021-22 Half-Yearly Review, with the State’s economy showing signs of a strong rebound as we continue to reopen our economy in a safe and measured way.
Despite a revised deficit of $19.5 billion for 2021-22, the NSW Budget is still forecast to return to surplus by 2024-25, with the impact of the Delta outbreak largely contained to the current financial year.
Mr Kean said the increased deficit was driven by the significant health, social and economic measures the NSW Government introduced in response to the Delta outbreak, which kept people in jobs and businesses open across the State.
“Our support measures, combined with the resilience, creativity and determination of our people and businesses, meant the State’s economic contraction was smaller this year than it was in 2020, despite a greater level of restriction in place,” Mr Kean said.
“COVID-19 is unpredictable but we have demonstrated that we have the fiscal firepower to respond when needed. Our success so far in keeping people in jobs has shown that we can deal with the challenges that come our way over the coming weeks and months.
“As a result, we have seen strong rebounds in consumer confidence and business confidence, which are helping to drive a rebound in the State’s economy.
“Growth in jobs has resumed and vacancies are higher than pre-pandemic levels. Economic activity and employment are projected to rebound back above pre-Delta outbreak levels in the March quarter 2022.”
Mr Kean said the NSW Government has committed about $45 billion in health, social and economic measures since COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced in March 2020.
“$7 billion in JobSaver payments helped around 206,000 businesses get through the Delta outbreak, and maintained the vital link between employees and employers,” Mr Kean said.
“Our $2.8 billion Economic Recovery Strategy is continuing to support our people, our workers and our businesses, and our $5 billion commitment to WestInvest will help build vital infrastructure and facilities in south-western and western Sydney.
“Despite the pandemic, NSW is the only state in Australia with triple-A credit ratings, recently assigned by Fitch and reaffirmed by Moody’s.”
Mr Kean said the NSW Government will explore reform opportunities to support long-term economic growth, including improving women’s economic opportunities, developing the industries of the future, increasing home ownership, supporting the State in becoming a clean energy superpower, and continuing to improve our health and education systems.
“Because of the policies set out in this Half-Yearly Review and the huge efforts made by the people of NSW, we have the opportunity to build one of the strongest and most resilient economies anywhere in the world,” Mr Kean said.
“Our people are our most valuable assets, and we need to continue to invest in them and in the programs that help them flourish and realise their aspirations.
“COVID-19 has taught us that the biggest issues of our time can be the biggest opportunities for our State in the future. We intend to learn that lesson, and bounce back better and stronger in 2022.”
For more information, visit: www.budget.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Government is urging people to book in for their COVID-19 booster shot with restrictions easing today as part of the reopening roadmap.
The new settings that come into effect today include:

• Density limits will cease and masks will only be required on public transport and planes, at airports, and for indoors front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated. Masks are strongly recommended in settings where you cannot social distance;
• QR check-ins will only be required at high-risk venues including hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funerals or memorial services, business premises for personal services (e.g. hairdressers, salons and spas), pubs, small bars, registered clubs, nightclubs, and for indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people;
• Proof of vaccination only required for indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people and cruises with more than 100 passengers;
• Businesses can still require proof of vaccination at their own discretion;
• COVID safety plans will be optional for businesses and will be supported by SafeWork NSW.

More than 93 per cent of people aged 16 and over have been fully vaccinated as NSW continues its responsible and measured approach to reopening.
To maintain increased levels of immunity across the population the Commonwealth Government and NSW Government are continuing to roll out a booster vaccination program. Boosters are currently available for people aged 18 years and older who received their second dose at least five months ago.
Booster eligibility will increase steadily in 2022, with around 40 per cent of the NSW population to be eligible at the end of January, 64 per cent in February, 87 per cent in March, and 91 per cent by April 2022.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said with the removal of additional restrictions it was vital people booked in for their booster shot so we can continue to reopen safely.
“As we reopen in a measured and safe way people need to keep rolling up their sleeves to get their first and second jabs and their booster shots,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We have some of the highest vaccination rates in the world but there will continue to be challenges thrown at us and everyone must follow the rules to help combat new variants and keep people out of hospital.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Government was sticking to the roadmap to give people certainty ahead of summer.
“Our Government will always take COVID seriously to ensure our regions remain open and safe,” Mr Toole said.
“With vaccination rates so high and visitors eager to get out and about, we urge people to follow the health advice to ensure they can hit the road enjoy the best regional NSW has to offer as safely as possible.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism Stuart Ayres said with restrictions being relaxed businesses would continue to welcome people back safely.
“It has been a tough two years for business but we are learning to live and work in a COVID-safe way and it’s important we follow the rules for everyone’s safety,” Mr Ayres said.
“Cafes, restaurants, retail, tourism will be able to welcome more people back as we head into summer but it is vital people go out and get the boosters to keep themselves and others safe and businesses open.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard encouraged everyone to book in for their booster as soon as they are eligible.
“Check your eligibility, get online, make the booking and you will be doing your bit to keep you, your family and the community safe,” Mr Hazzard said.
For more on the roadmap changes for December 15 visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/easing-covid-19-restrictions/opening-in-dec.
Increased penalties for non-compliance with the isolation, testing and quarantine requirements remain, with individuals facing fines up to $5,000 and $10,000 for corporations.
Fully vaccinated close contacts will only have to isolate until they receive a negative PCR result. However, household close contacts and close contacts in any other settings identified by NSW Health will still be required to isolate for seven days and comply with PCR testing requirements.
The Commonwealth Government recently announced the vaccination program has been extended to all children aged 5 to 11 years from 10 January 2022 following updated advice from Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).