A new express turn-up-and-go bus service will be introduced along Victoria Road from West Ryde to the city as part of network changes delivering an extra 700 weekly services.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said customers in Sydney’s North West and Lower North Shore will benefit from the timetable changes with the extra weekly services including the new West Ryde to City and Chatswood to City frequent routes introduced next month.
“From January we’ll be making changes to increase the frequency of services on key routes, with improved connections for customers travelling to the city or within the local area.
“This will include a new limited stops turn-up-and-go bus for the people of West Ryde right into the heart of the city at Hyde Park on the 500X route.
“Chatswood and Willoughby will also see regular services on route 120 into the QVB, at least every 10 minutes on every day of the week, giving customers more choice around when they travel,” Mr Constance said.
There will be some changes to existing local and city services to support the new frequent routes and to allow for better connections to other modes of public transport such as ferries.
The changes to respond to customer demand will affect some bus services in locations such as Parramatta, Carlingford, Macquarie Park, Ryde and Eastwood.
To help reduce duplication on the network, some routes will be replaced by new routes or extra services on other routes, while some current routes will be shortened but retain their current route numbers.
Existing overnight services on route 520 will operate under a new route number between Parramatta and the city.
The changes will be introduced in January 2021. A full list of changes will be available at www.transportnsw.info.
Author: admin
GOVERNMENT CHARGES AHEAD WITH ELECTRIC BUSES
More than 50 new electric buses will roll out across Sydney over the next year, as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver faster and quieter services.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the government is transitioning the state’s fleet of 8,000 buses to zero emission technology.
“I want to scale up our efforts towards tackling climate change so I am challenging Transport for NSW to aim for my goal of electrifying the state’s entire bus fleet by 2030,” Mr Constance said.
“I am excited to see us one step closer to our vision of creating a greener, cleaner and healthier future for the people of NSW, with more people now able to enjoy our electric bus fleet right across Sydney.
“Over the last 18 months we’ve been trialling five electric buses in the Inner West, and the feedback from drivers and customers has been positive.
The new electric buses are part of the Government’s fleet replacement program, with the first vehicles expected on the road during the first quarter of 2021.
They have been ordered from a range of manufacturers, including BCI, Yutong, Nexport BYD Gemilang and Nexport BYD Volgren.
They will be rolled out by several operators – Punchbowl Bus Company, Busabout and Interline in the south west, Transdev in the north, with Transit Systems making the largest order for the inner west with more than 30.
Transport for NSW’s Deputy Secretary of Greater Sydney Elizabeth Mildwater said more local manufacturers will feature in future orders of zero emission buses.
“There are a lot more zero emission buses to come and we’re delighted that local manufacturers like Bustech and Custom Buses are getting into the game with their buses currently undergoing a review to ensure they meet local standards, while Nexport is planning to set up a local plant,” Ms Mildwater said.
“Once they and other manufacturers are ready, our operators will have more choices to buy locally. In the current order, the Volgren bus is being assembled in Victoria using a chassis made by Nexport BYD overseas.”
MAJOR ROLLING BACK OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN NSW
The 2sqm rule will be expanded and venue caps will be removed under a major easing of restrictions, as NSW continues to record zero cases of community transmission.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the timing is right to ease restrictions and replace the 4sqm rule with the 2sqm rule, except at gyms and nightclubs.
“We are grateful to the people in NSW for their patience and understanding over what has been an incredibly difficult year,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The rolling back of restrictions across the State is only possible because of the excellent work of the community who have followed social distancing guidelines and continued to come forward for testing.”
On Monday, 7 December, the NSW Government will ease the following restrictions allowing:
Venues including hospitality venues, retail and places of worship:
- 1 person per 2sqm (with 25 people permitted before the rule applies), except for:
- Gyms and nightclubs (1 person per 4sqm, with a maximum of 50 people allowed in gym classes or on the dancefloor at nightclubs)
Stadiums and theatres:
- Outdoors: 100 per cent seated capacity, and 1 person per 2sqm rule for unstructured seating areas.
- Indoors: 75 per cent seated capacity.
Gatherings in outdoor public spaces:
- Up to 100 people for outdoor gatherings (up from 50).
- Up to 5,000 people for outdoor events that are fenced, ticketed and seated (subject to the 2sqm rule).
- Up to 3,000 people for other organised outdoor events i.e. community sport and outdoor protests (subject to the 2sqm rule).
Dance Floors:
- Up to 50 people indoors.
Singing
- Up to 50 performers indoors, no maximum cap outdoors.
- Advice is for congregation/audience to continue wearing masks if singing.
Under the changes, maximum capacity caps will be removed subject to the 2sqm rule for:
- Bookings at hospitality venues;
- Weddings;
- Funerals;
- Regional agricultural shows;
- Corporate events; and
- Religious services.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the people of NSW have worked hard to keep COVID-19 under control and deserved this major easing of restrictions.
“Today is a great day for the people of NSW and great timing with Christmas fast approaching, as we will soon see larger crowds at venues and events and the expansion of the 2sqm rule state-wide,” Mr Barilaro said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said under the changes most venues will be able to double their capacity, which will have an immediate and substantial impact on the economy.
“This change will make a big difference to many businesses and will provide a real boost for jobs particularly in the service industry which has been hit hard over the past nine months,” Mr Perrottet said
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said as restrictions are eased the community needs to continue playing their part and being COVID-Safe.
“Keep getting tested with even the slightest of symptoms, maintain your social distance, don’t go to work if you are unwell and wear a mask where you cannot guarantee social distancing,” Mr Hazzard said.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government would continue to work with business and industry to ensure they operate in a COVID-Safe way.
“We have worked closely with industry representatives throughout 2020 to safely ease restrictions and we appreciate their patience and know these changes will be incredibly well received,” Mr Ayres said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said despite there being no recent cases of community transmission the community should continue to be COVID-Safe.
“It is critical that people continue to come forward for testing and practice COVID-safe behaviour when out and about and catching up with family and friends,” Dr Chant said.
GREEN SHOOTS AS NSW ECONOMY RETURNS TO GROWTH
The New South Wales economy has helped power Australia back to economic growth and out of the first recession in almost three decades, with ABS data released today showing a 6.8 per cent rebound in state final demand for the September quarter.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the positive result was driven by a number of factors including a 10.8 per cent increase in household consumption and strong investment by the NSW Government in the public sector, which saw public demand up two per cent in the quarter and 6.4 per cent through the year.
“There are many challenges ahead but we are now seeing greater confidence in the community and a return to solid economic growth for NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our ability to keep as much of NSW open as possible and in the process support jobs and businesses with $29 billion in health, economic and social support measures is reflected in these latest economic results.”
Mr Perrottet said the Government would continue to do everything possible to boost employment, support businesses and ensure the community remained safe.
“Today we announced the further easing of restrictions around the number of people allowed in a range of venues, and this will further boost economic activity and support jobs at a critical time for the economy,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As we regain more freedom ahead of Christmas it’s vital people continue to remember the real risk of COVID-19 and use commonsense and follow health advice.”
The latest data follows more than 36,000 people returning to work in NSW in October with the state’s unemployment rate falling 0.6 per cent to 6.5 per cent.
Female participation increased by 0.3 percentage points to 60.6 per cent, the highest it’s been in the history of the series.
For more information on the State’s economic recovery, reform agenda, and the NSW Budget released on November 17 please visit budget.nsw.gov.au.
SPECIALIST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AT RISK AS MORRISON GOVERNMENT VOTES TO ABOLISH THE FAMILY COURT
There are grave fears for the ability of Australia’s family court system to support women and children fleeing family violence, as the Morrison Government backs in its radical proposal to effectively abolish the Family Court.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the Government voted last night to merge the Federal Circuit Court and the Family Court of Australia into one generalist court.
“There are major issues with the Family Court system but this legislation will go no way to addressing them. This reckless plan from the Morrison Liberal Government will essentially abolish the standalone Family Court—a court which plays a critical role in providing specialist support, especially in cases where there is family and domestic violence,” Ms Claydon said.
“70 per cent of matters brought before the family courts involve domestic violence. The consequences of reducing our ability to support and protect these people are incredibly serious indeed.”
“Newcastle lawyers consistently tell me of a chronically underfunded system. They speak of the lengthy delays in replacing judges. They say that matters are taking up to four years to resolve, with families waiting up to a year for family reports to be made. They tell me of their worry and concern for our judges, who are each carrying a workload of 1½ judges by themselves. And they tell me of constituents falling through the cracks, thrust into personal danger or stuck in limbo while their family situations deteriorate.
“The Morrison Government needs to reverse its strategy of persistent neglect that has brought our family law system to its knees.”
Ms Claydon said the legislation was also condemned on the national stage.
“More than 110 eminent organisations involved in family law banded together to pen an open letter which calls on the Morrison Government to abandon this legislation once and for all. The letter actually urges that we go in the opposite direction and increase the level of specialisation in family law and family violence, not dilute and diminish it.
“When any legislation prompts such unified and vehement condemnation from those that know, it behoves a government to listen. The passage of the Bill through the House demonstrates that this Government has heard nothing.”
General's Campbell & Burr must resign to preserve the integrity of Afghan War Crimes process
Australian Greens Peace spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called for General’s Campbell and Burr to resign to enable the recommendations of the Afghan Inquiry to be implemented free from any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, and facilitate ongoing investigations by the Australian Federal Police.
General Campbell was the Commander of Joint Task Force 633 responsible for all Australian forces deployed in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, between January 2011 and January 2012. Lt. General Burr was a Commander of SASR on two separate deployments during the Afghanistan War.
“Since this report was first released, I have been clear in questioning how appropriate it is for General Campbell and General Burr to initiate the disciplinary action against commanding officers who served during the Afghanistan War,” Steele-John said.
“If this level of alleged systemic failure had occurred within a financial institution, it would be totally inappropriate for the reform of that institution to be led by an individual who hel a senior executive position during the time that alleged criminal activity occurred.
“Both General Campbell and General Burr have irresolvable conflicts of interest; it is impossible for the public to trust that commanding officers will be held to account when the process is led by the top brass who themselves held commanding roles during the period of time when many of these alleged crimes were committed.
“I’m not saying that General Campbell or General Burr were involved in any of the alleged incidents or even that they knew about them prior to the release of the Afghan Inquiry report, but that perception is undermining the process.
“Veterans who did the right thing expect that the commanders who either turned a blind eye to sanitised reporting, or failed to engage with what was happening on the ground should be held to account and so does the Australian public.
“We cannot allow defence leadership to apply one set of rules to their subordinates in the lower ranks and a different set of rules to themselves in secret.
“If General’s Campbell and Burr will not do the right thing by the Australian Defence Force, and the Australian public, and resign then Prime Minister Morrison should sack them.”
Now more than ever, the fight against HIV must continue
To mark World AIDS Day 2020 and support the ‘now more than ever’ theme, the Morrison Government will provide almost $6.2 million towards the ongoing battle against HIV, and has expanded access to Dovato® on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Today, more than 28,000 Australians are living with HIV and it is very pleasing that most have a suppressed viral load. That means they’re healthy and unlikely to pass on the virus to anyone else.
Australia’s collective and long term track record and leadership in HIV, working together to provide innovative treatments and supporting people living with HIV is respected globally, however – now more than ever – it’s important to maintain the focus.
To take us further along this path to virtual elimination and to support the health and mental wellbeing of people living with HIV, the Morrison Government will allocate:
- up to $1.5 million to the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) – over two years to develop a workforce development program that increases the knowledge and skills of the workforce and contributes to a reduction in new HIV infections
- up to $750,000 to the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AVIL) over two years to work with its members to implement a number of projects aligned to the key priority areas of the National Strategies; and
- up to $1.4 million to the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) over two years to implement a number of projects including a Hepatitis B Primary Care Referral Pilot Pathway, a trans and gender diverse health care model and review of user experience, a Primary Health Network engagement pilot and an update to the All Good online resource.
A further $2.5 million will support innovation in the sector with grants of up to $500,000 to provide positive outcomes for the National Strategies priority populations.
This funding is part of the $45.4 million investment allocated in the 2019–20 Federal Budget to implement five National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategies, including the Eighth National HIV Strategy.
This is Australia’s roadmap to help further reduce new infections and improve health outcomes.
Our goals include virtually eliminating HIV transmission in Australia by 2022, reducing mortality and morbidity related to HIV and supporting those living with HIV by reducing stigma and discrimination.
Also from today, access to the important new treatment option Dovato® (DOLUTEGRAVIR + LAMIVUDINE) on the PBS will be expanded for the treatment of people living with HIV who have already used antiretroviral therapy.
Previously this medicine was only available on the PBS for people newly diagnosed with HIV who had not had treatment. The expanded listing for the once-daily treatment gives people with HIV more treatment options.
This PBS listing is expected to benefit approximately 28,000 people living with HIV in Australia. Without subsidy, it could cost them more than $8,500 per year, however will now cost as little as $6.60 with a concession card.
This expanded listing follows the recent expansion of other important medicines for people living with HIV over recent years including expanded PBS access to Biktarvy® for children with HIV from 1 September 2020.
The Eighth National HIV Strategy is available on the Department of Health website.
South Australia switches on electronic prescriptions
South Australians will now have access to electronic prescriptions through the Morrison Government’s ongoing investment in digital health.
Since May, electronic prescriptions have been introduced across the country, with South Australia joining Victoria, the ACT and metropolitan Sydney.
So far, more than one million electronic prescriptions have been issued. This includes over 800,000 original electronic prescriptions and over 400,000 repeat tokens to patients.
Significant progress has been made to connect Australia’s healthcare system, so access to healthcare information and providers is available whenever and wherever it is needed.
The Morrison Government has committed $2.4 billion to provide all Australians with access to telehealth, with more than 30 million Medicare-eligible telehealth services delivered since March. The Government has also invested $5 million to fast track electronic prescribing, and provided $25 million to support home delivery of medicines.
The use of My Health Record by healthcare providers has also grown significantly, providing Australians with secure access to their health information.
Since March, the volume of documents uploaded by healthcare providers like hospitals, pathologists and radiologists increased by 40 per cent. Currently there are more than 275 million clinical and medicines documents in the system that were uploaded by healthcare providers.
The My Health Record system provided life-saving access to health information for Australians during the Queensland floods and last summer’s bushfires, and has been an important digital health tool during the pandemic.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said electronic prescribing was a “critical component” of the Government’s digital health approach to COVID-19.
“Along with the rollout of telehealth, this is a critical component of the Government’s utilisation of digital health infrastructure and services, which has been brought to the fore during the summer bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Hunt said.
“These initiatives are critical in delivering health services for all Australians now and into the future.”
Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said e-prescribing had played a significant role assisting Australians living in regional, rural and remote areas, with their healthcare needs.
“Technology is helping to overcome the challenges of distance faced by communities in regional, rural and remote Australia when accessing healthcare and medication,” Minister Coulton said.
LABOR TO OPPOSE COMMISSIONER FOR DEFENCE & VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION
Labor will oppose the Morrison Government’s National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention legislation in the Senate, following a decision taken by the Caucus today.
When the Government introduced the legislation for a National Commissioner, Labor were sceptical it was not “bigger and better than a Royal Commission” as the Government claimed.
We supported referring it to a Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee inquiry so it could be thoroughly examined, and so veterans and families could have their say.
The inquiry reported back yesterday. It confirmed Labor’s, and many people’s concerns, that the National Commissioner won’t have the independence, scope or resources to ask the really hard questions only a Royal Commission can.
The overwhelming feedback from submitters and witnesses to the inquiry was that the scope of the role was too narrow and that interim National Commissioner Dr Bernadette Boss was not sufficiently independent given her long association with the Australian Defence Force.
A number of stakeholders have said we need a proper inquiry through a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of systemic problems and to propose practical solutions, which could include a body like the National Commissioner.
Unlike the Government, Labor has consulted widely with veterans and families, veteran advocates, and mental health experts.
When the Prime Minister announced the National Commissioner earlier this year, he ignored the pleas of parents like Julie-Ann Finney and Karen Bird, whose veteran sons tragically took their own lives.
These families were clear – they wanted nothing less than a Royal Commission into veteran suicide to get to the bottom of these needless deaths.
This was always going to be the real test for Scott Morrison and his legislation, and he has failed badly.
The Government needs to establish a Royal Commission into veteran suicide, so we can tackle this issue once and for all.
Our veterans and their families deserve nothing less.
Stockton’s Mitchell Street set for a facelift
City of Newcastle will increase the number of street trees in Stockton’s main street from three to 40 as part of a $3.3 million upgrade to start in early 2021.
The project will give Mitchell Street a makeover to improve public spaces, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and increase shade as part of the City’s Local Centres program.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that the investment would deliver a more attractive space for shopping and dining as Stockton’s population grows.
“The community has told us that that they love the atmosphere of Stockton’s main street and shopping precinct, but they want an improved public space,” the Lord Mayor said.
“A key feature of this upgrade is the significant increase in street trees which will provide much needed shade and add to the colour and character of this important shopping and business centre within Stockton.
“An innovative design has been developed to create space for these trees and still allow space for parking and footpaths. Local businesses will be able to take advantage of shade for street side dining, and shoppers will have a more pleasant place to spend time or catch up with friends.
“We’re now inviting the community to view the plans on our website or in Stockton Library and let us know their thoughts before starting construction in the New Year.
“This investment is one of 26 projects valued at more than $17 million delivered in Stockton over the past five years, including coastal protection works and the much-loved Stockton Active Hub.”
Plans for the upgrade are available on City of Newcastle’s website, and on display at Stockton Library from today until December 14.
The Mitchell Street upgrade will include drainage improvements, new footpaths and street furniture, landscaping including new street trees and raingardens, and a reduction in speed limit to 40 km/hr to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.
City of Newcastle is delivering the Mitchell Street upgrade as part of its record $116 million 2020-21 capital works program designed to support the local economy in response to COVID-19.
Suburban hubs across the local government area are being revitalised as part of City of Newcastle’s Local Centres program, with Carrington and Beresfield completed while Joslin Street Kotara, Llewellyn Street Merewether and Orchardtown Road New Lambton are underway.
Visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay to have your say on the Mitchell Street upgrade.