EXTRA SERVICES MAKE SUMMER TRAVEL A BREEZE

More than 1,200 extra services will help keep customers COVID safe across the Sydney transport network, as people continue to return to the CBD and move around this summer.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the new summer timetable will kick off from December 1, and will allow more people to get to popular public places like shopping centres and beaches.
“More than 1,000 bus services will be added to the 3,300 extra services we added during the COVID pandemic, to help commuters enjoy all the city and surrounds have to offer this summer,” Mr Constance said.
“900 of the weekly services will be added on Friday and Saturday nights to help support Sydney’s night time economy, which is still recovering from the COVID crisis.
“An extra 236 weekend services will run to Bondi, Coogee and Manly beaches, while ferry frequency will also increase to meet current physical distancing requirements.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said hundreds of extra staff will be retained for the summer to help customers move safely around the network.
“We are continuing to do everything we can to support customers travelling on the public transport network, with increased cleaning, green physical distancing dots, and additional staff all still in place,” Mr Collins said.
“I thank all the commuters and businesses who have worked with us from day one and continue to work with us to keep services safe and moving.”
Breakdown of the extra summer services:

  • 600 weekly night bus services between 9pm and 1am on Friday and Saturday.
  • 300 weekly Nightrider services from midnight to 4.30am on Friday and Saturday.
  • 236 extra weekend services will run to Bondi, Coogee and Manly beach.
  • 70 weekly light rail services on the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines from 7pm on Wednesday to Sunday.
  • Manly Ferry Service uplifted from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes during the day until 6pm.

RED TAPE SLASHED TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

More than 170 planning rules, policies and guidelines have been ripped up to simplify the planning system, speed up assessments and boost productivity as part of the NSW Government’s agenda to reform the system.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said repealing the 156 planning circulars, 16 referral requirements and two ministerial directions will make the system more efficient without compromising standards.
“We are bonfiring a lot of our regulations which will make the planning system easier to navigate,” Mr Stokes said.
“The removal of redundant or duplicated policies, guidelines and rules will also reduce backlogs and bottlenecks and cut costs for applications.
“Over the next three years, we aim to slash the number of cases we refer to other government departments by 25 per cent to reduce assessment times and simplify the planning system.”
Planning rules, guidelines and policies removed from the system include:

  • 156 out of 203 (77 per cent) planning circulars spanning more than 15 years that are redundant, outdated or superseded;
  • 16 planning referral requirements;
  • Two ministerial directions relating to the defunct strategic plan for Greater Sydney and home occupations that have been superceded or made redundant by newer plans and policies.

Mr Stokes said the NSW Government’s Planning Reform Action Plan is a clear message that NSW is open for business and a great place to invest.
“The planning system is a vital economic lever to boost productivity and help drive the nation’s economic recovery,” he said.
“We have  $570 million allocated over the next four years to create a more timely, certain and transparent planning system as part of our sweeping reforms.”

GAS POWERS NARRABRI PRECINCT INVESTIGATION

The NSW Government has today released a strategic statement outlining its ongoing support for the domestic gas industry, as a driver of new jobs and industry opportunities in regional NSW.
The release of the Strategic Opportunities for Gas in Regional NSW statement coincides with the government’s commitment to investigate a potential Narrabri Special Activation Precinct (SAP), which would streamline planning processes, create new jobs and fuel regional economic development.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said with the recent Independent Planning Commission’s approval of the Narrabri Gas Project and investment around the Narrabri Inland Port, now is the right time to investigate a Narrabri precinct.
“Today we are releasing the NSW Government’s statement of support for the future growth of the gas industry, backing investments like the Narrabri Gas Project that will provide a $3.6 billion economic boost and create around 1,500 new jobs,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This gas project opens up a wide range of industry growth opportunities in manufacturing everything from plastics to fertiliser and construction materials.
“This is great news for the local economy, and it is why the Government will now start investigating a potential Special Activation Precinct in Narrabri.
“We want to create a thriving energy hub in Narrabri focused on value-added production and manufacturing to power long-term job opportunities across the region.”
The NSW Government will work closely with Narrabri Shire Council and local stakeholders on its investigations into a potential Narrabri precinct.
Narrabri Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ron Campbell, said the Narrabri Gas Project gives the potential Narrabri precinct a clear point of difference.
“This commitment is a great win for our region – a Special Activation Precinct would give potential investors confidence to commit to Narrabri and be innovative with the opportunities available here to do business with the world,” Cr Campbell said.
The NSW Government’s Strategic Opportunities for Gas in Regional NSW statement outlines the government’s support for the domestic gas industry, with a comprehensive Future of Gas Strategy to be delivered in 2021.
Gas statement: https://www.nsw.gov.au/gas-statement
SAP page: https://www.nsw.gov.au/narrabrisap

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR STATE’S FIRST SMART MOTORWAY

Drivers in Sydney are today using the State’s first smart motorway on the M4, after it was switched on for a month long trial.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the $600 million M4 Smart Motorway project will provide safer and more reliable trips.
“Crews have been working hard since December 2017 to build the infrastructure needed for this amazing system, which will improve travel times for more than 150,000 vehicles using the M4 each day,” Mr Constance said.
“This morning we saw the overhead gantries activated between Penrith and Parramatta, with the rest of the new technology being switched on over the next month to allow drivers to get used to the changes.
“Journeys along the M4 will now look different so we really need drivers to be aware of the changed traffic conditions and are encouraging drivers to take extra care.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the new ramp signals and overhead gantries will improve traffic flow.
“This technology will ensure less stop-start traffic and sudden braking at some of the most congested points along the motorway,” Mr Collins said.
“Once all systems are switched on, they will talk to each other and automatically adjust to incidents without a manual operator intervening which is the way of the future.
“When the entire M4 Smart Motorway is operational, journey times along the M4 between Penrith and Parramatta are expected to be reduced by up to 15 minutes in the morning peak.”
The trial will run through to Sunday 13 December, with the M4 Smart Motorway on schedule to be fully activated later this year.

RBA confirms JobKeeper saved at least 700,000 jobs

A research discussion paper released by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), confirms what millions of Australians already know – that the Morrison Government’s JobKeeper program was a country saving moment.
The RBA paper titled, How Many Jobs Did JobKeeper Keep, shows the temporary payment helped to reduce “total employment losses by at least 700,000.”
Underlining the incredible impact JobKeeper had in helping to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs, the RBA found that “overall employment losses would have been twice as large over the first half of 2020 without JobKeeper.”
The report further stated that “JobKeeper played an important role in cushioning the decline in employment over the first half of 2020.”
For the six months to the end of September, around $70 billion in JobKeeper payments were made to around 900,000 businesses supporting more than 3.5 million jobs.
As part of our Economic Recovery Plan the Government extended the temporary JobKeeper Payment by six months through until 28 March 2021.
The extension of the temporary payment recognises that while the economic recovery is underway, some parts of the economy continue to be particularly affected more than others due to health restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19.
With 650,000 jobs created over the past five months, 80 percent of those Australians who either lost their jobs or saw their working hours reduced to zero at the start of the pandemic are now back at work.
This has seen the effective unemployment rate come down from around 15 per cent in April to 7.4 per cent today.
Our Economic Recovery Plan outlined in the 2020-21 Budget will help to create more jobs, boost our economic recovery and secure Australia’s future.

City set sights on tourism to bolster future of COVID disrupted economy

A fresh approach to unleash Newcastle’s tourism potential will be unveiled by City of Newcastle to attract a wider visitor audience and boost local economic COVID-recovery efforts.
Newcastle’s thriving tourism industry, prior to COVID-19, contributed $1 billion to the local economy each year, with more than 5.1 million international and domestic travellers visiting in 2019.
The City’s draft 2021-2025 Destination Management Plan was created with stakeholders from across the industry, and sets out a raft of initiatives and projects set to stimulate the local tourism economy and increase visitor spend.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said work done now to position Newcastle as a premier tourism destination will play a vital role in the city’s future economic recovery, once travel restrictions ease further.
“The City has taken the lead to spearhead a collaborative and consolidated approach toward shaping Newcastle’s future as a destination for visitors and tourists,” said Cr Nelmes.
“With a pipeline of new-build hotel investment, including the five-star Kingsley part of the Crystalbrook Collection in the former City Administration Centre and plans underway to develop the historic Newcastle Post Office into a hotel, and Iris Capital’s QT Hotel, Newcastle is well positioned to attract a new wave of domestic and international visitors, once travel restrictions ease further.
“The City is committed to driving the growth and sustainability of the visitor economy with a new tourism plan designed as a visionary tool, instrumental to driving Newcastle’s social and economic recovery.
“The Destination Management Plan provides our City with a blueprint to work together across government and industry to create meaningful partnerships in order to achieve a shared vision for Newcastle as a premier visitor destination, showcasing the City’s rich art, cultural and culinary scene, a vibrant night-time economy and experiences that celebrate our natural environment and creative community.
“The Plan highlights the significant opportunity for a tourism-led economic recovery from signature attractions, while developing tourism products and experiences, particularly across places like Blackbutt Reserve, the Bathers Way, Newcastle Art Gallery, and Fort Scratchley.
“We aim to build a thriving visitor economy in Newcastle that will lead to population, economic and jobs growth, and our City’s success will be one shared by the greater Hunter Region, NSW and Australia.
“To succeed as a sector, industry, government and operators need to collaborate and find ways to work together, by positioning Newcastle as the destination of choice in order to attract the tourist dollar, in an increasingly competitive market.”
Councillors will vote at tonight’s Ordinary Council Meeting to place the draft Destination Management Plan on public exhibition from 25 November 2020 until 6 January 2021.

Man presents to hospital with gunshot wounds – Hunter Valley

Police are investigating after a man presented to a Hunter hospital with gunshot wounds early this morning.
Just after 4am (Tuesday 24 November 2020), a 43-year-old man presented to Scone Hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg and ankle – he is currently being transported to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Police have been told the injured man was driving north on the New England Highway, near Wingen, about midnight, when he pulled over after a white sedan approached from behind.
The injured man was involved in an altercation with two men from the white sedan, before a number of shots were fired and the pair fled. He reportedly drove to friend’s home in Blandford before being taken to Scone Hospital.
Officers from the Hunter Valley Police District have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding how the man sustained his injuries.
As police continue their inquiries, they are urging anyone who may have information to contact Scone Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Byron Bay restaurant fined $5,000 for breaching COVID Public Health Orders

A Byron Bay restaurant has been issued with a $5,000 fine for an alleged breach of Ministerial Directions under the Public Health Act at the weekend.
As a part of ‘Operation Summer Safe 2020’ and ‘Operation Schoolies 2020’, licensing police from Northern Region conducted a deployment to Byron Bay between Saturday 21 and Monday 23 November, assessing venue compliance with regards to the Public Health Orders.
As a result of inquiries, police attended a restaurant on Jonson Street, where they observed more than the designated one person per four square metres inside the venue, over a two-day period.
Following further inquiries, police contacted the business owner yesterday (Monday 23 November 2020) and issued a $5,000 Penalty Infringement Notice for “Fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 – Corporation”.
Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell said as thousands of school leavers arrive in Byron this week, venues need to be aware of their responsibilities in maintaining a COVID-Safe environment.
“There are Year 12 students coming to Byron Bay from all across Australia, including Victoria, Queensland and Greater Sydney.
“Our specialised licensing police will continue to conduct business inspections and compliance checks throughout the entire ‘Schoolies’ and ‘Summer Safe’ operations, to ensure venues have their COVID-Safety plans up-to-date and are doing their bit to protect the Northern NSW community,” Supt Roptell said.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Counting koalas won’t save national treasure

A koala census won’t save our national treasure and a moratorium on the clearing of critical habitat is still urgently needed, the Greens say.
Responding to the Environment Minister’s announcement today of a koala census to identify key habitat, Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“A koala census won’t save our national treasure from the Morrison Government.
“Koalas have been counted in critical habitat areas only for the Government to ignore that data and approve mining and development projects that imperil the koalas calling that land home.
“Just last month, the Environment Minister approved a quarry at Pt Stephens which will destroy 52ha of critical habitat for the endangered species.
“Unless habitat clearing is stopped, koalas will soon be extinct.
“The Greens will move in the Parliament for a moratorium on habitat clearing to save the koala from extinction.
“Off the back of the worst bushfires in history which killed a third of NSW’s koala population and destroyed millions of hectares of habitat across the country, no approvals for developments on koala land should be given.
“The Morrison Government has had seven years to develop a recovery plan for the koala, a census isn’t enough, the species needs real protection under our national environment laws.
“It’s clear the government isn’t serious about saving the koala and cannot be trusted to protect it with or without a census.”

$41.7 million boost to commercialise lifesaving medical discoveries

An innovative nasal treatment to fight COVID-19, common colds and flu is being taken to the next stage of testing, thanks to the Morrison Government’s $500 million Biomedical Translation Fund.
Developed by Australian biotech company Ena Respiratory, INNA-051 works by stimulating the innate immune system, the first line of defence against the invasion of pathogens into the body.
The Government, alongside Brandon Capital Partners has committed $11.7 million to test the nasal spray treatment that targets the primary site of most respiratory virus infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and influenza.
The program has been designed so that if successful, INNA-051 will be manufactured and formulated in Australia, creating manufacturing jobs into the future.
In addition, four further projects will also share in almost $30 million dollars to commercialise their ideas. Each of these projects provide the potential to greatly improve the treatment for issues such as respiratory diseases, chronic pain and autoimmune diseases.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said successful outcomes of the projects will improve the lives of Australians and potentially millions of people around the world.
“Australia’s health and medical researchers are world class and this investment will continue the proud Australian tradition of discovery and translation that saves lives and improves lives,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Morrison Government is backing Australia’s next generation of medical advances and this investment means these businesses have the potential to take their technology to the next level.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said this funding underpins the Morrison Government’s determination to deliver better health outcomes, while also encouraging economic growth and creating jobs.
“The Biomedical Translation Fund fosters potential breakthroughs that will not only improve people’s lives, but also help Australian companies create more jobs and grow into new markets,” Minister Andrews said.
“The Morrison Government is looking to develop our manufacturing capacity in medical products and this fund is yet another way we can help commercialise great Australian ideas right here at home.”
Funding consists of equal parts Commonwealth and private sector funding and is operated by three private sector fund managers: Brandon Capital Partners, OneVentures Healthcare Fund and BioScience Managers.
The other four investments made through the Fund are:

  • OneVentures Healthcare Fund has committed $9.5 million to Kira Biotech. Kira Biotech is researching treatments for autoimmune disease, a condition where the immune system attacks healthy cells or the body’s organs. Kira Biotech’s research directs components of the body’s normal immune response to the impaired cells of a person suffering from an autoimmune disease, allowing the immune system to work properly.
  • BioScience Managers has committed $10 million to medical device company Closed Loop Medical. Closed Loop Medical’s technology aims to improve treatments for conditions of the body’s nervous system. The technology being developed will record and measure a person’s unique response to stimulation and provide a tailored outcome for the patient. The technology has the potential to be applied to disorders including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and bladder dysfunction.
  • BioScience Managers has also committed $5 million to Adherium. Adherium is developing a digital medication monitoring system for people with respiratory diseases. The monitoring system will initially help people with conditions like asthma, by tracking their drug usage and issuing reminders to ensure they take their medication.
  • Brandon Capital Partners’ MRCF BTF Fund has invested more than $5 million in Polyactiva. Polyactiva’s novel polymer technology delivers medication to the eyes. Its lead product will be used for treating glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness affecting 70 million people globally. Polyactiva’s novel delivery technology will provide six months of therapy from a single treatment, overcoming many of the challenges of delivering medication with eye drops.

The Morrison Government continues to invest in the cutting-edge medical technologies and treatments that will save lives, while growing a sector that can create jobs for Australians now and into the future.