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NSW Government continues to boost much-needed social housing in Sydney’s south-west

The NSW Government is continuing to bolster housing security for those in need with tenants moving into a newly completed social and affordable apartment complex in Southwest Sydney.

The brand new six story complex in Campbelltown is comprised 35 two-bedroom, four three-bedroom and two-one-bedroom units and will provide 94 residents, ranging from young families to people at risk of homelessness a safe and secure place to call home.

With a State Government investment of $22 million, the building was purchased off the plan and will be managed by Homes NSW.

Purchasing this property shovel ready, directly off the plan meant construction was able to be expedited, delivering quality social housing close to transport services and retail amenities.

This is one of the many ways the NSW Government is working to build the states social housing portfolio to address the increased demand for social and affordable housing.

With more than 55,000 people on the waitlist for social housing, and close to 12,000 on the list in Sydney’s Southwest alone, the NSW Government will continue explore every option to expedite the delivery of more homes to help confront the housing crisis.

The NSW Government is committed to a proactive approach to boost social housing, and support those experiencing homelessness. Action already taken has included:

Created Homes NSW, merging the housing and homelessness functions of the Department of Communities and Justice with the Land, Housing Corporation and the Aboriginal Housing Office to streamline support for residents and delivery pathway for more homes;
Committed to 30 per cent social and affordable housing in all developments on government surplus public land;
Undertaking a statewide land audit to identify state owned land to deliver more housing;
Fast tracking the delivery of more social and affordable homes through the $610 Million Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator payment and Housing Australia Future Fund;
Implemented planning reforms to expedite the delivery of more housing across the state;
Investigating innovative solutions to deliver more homes with $10 million allocated to Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing;
The 2023-24 NSW Budget included a $224 million Essential Housing Package which allocated $70 million to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable homes in regional NSW;
Extended temporary accommodation from an initial period of two days to seven days;
Removed the 28-day cap ensuring vulnerable people are able to access support when they need it most;
Increased the cash assets limit from $1,000 to $5,000 when assessing eligibility for Temporary Accommodation;
Removed the cash asset limit assessment entirely for people escaping domestic and family violence;
Extended Specialist Homelessness Services contracts for two years, to 30 June 2026;
Deploying more assertive outreach services to engage people sleeping rough and support them into long term, stable accommodation;
Appointed a Rental Commissioner to work with us in designing and implementing changes that rebalance the rental market, making it fairer and more modern; and
Put a 12-month freeze on the requirement for people in temporary accommodation to complete a Rental Diary, while the scheme is reviewed.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This project is a prime example of the NSW Government’s commitment to ‘thinking outside the box’ when it comes to delivering more fit for purpose housing for those people in need.

“We’ve identified the potential of purchasing new developments off the plan to support the timely delivery of more social housing. This site ticked all the boxes – including its location and being shovel ready.

“This is one of the many ways we can deliver more social housing right across the state and specifically in Sydney’s south-west, where we’re seeing an increased demand for social and affordable housing as the cost of living continues to rise.”

Site works on track for new Shellharbour Hospital

The new Shellharbour Hospital is on track for the next phase of construction, with early works nearing completion.

Minister for Health Ryan Park and Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson today visited the site to meet with workers and inspect the progress on the new hospital, which is being delivered as part of the more than $700 million new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project.

“It’s exciting to see significant progress being made for this new hospital, with the early works nearing completion,” Mr Park said.

“This brand-new hospital will be wonderful for both the community and the staff who will work here.

“Healthcare staff at the new Shellharbour Hospital will benefit from a broad range of measures the NSW Government is rolling out designed to strengthen the state’s health workforce, including safe staffing levels for nurses and midwives and improved salary packaging.

“I’m proud to be delivering major workforce reform so frontline healthcare workers are given the support they need to continue to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients.”

Federal Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones said community consultation has been vital in helping shape the new hospital.

“I’m pleased our community in the Illawarra is one step closer to having a new purpose-built health facility to meet healthcare needs now and into the future,” Mr Jones said.

“The Albanese Government is proud to work in partnership with the NSW Government, and is providing $128 million for this much-needed state of the art hospital. I look forward to major works formally commencing soon.”

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said the new hospital would serve the Illawarra Shoalhaven community for generations to come.

“The new Shellharbour Hospital will ensure our growing community and region will have greater access to the healthcare services they need,” Ms Watson said.

“This is a project that the community has long advocated for and I’m looking forward to seeing construction activity ramp up even more on site.”

Labor spokesperson for Kiama Dr Sarah Kaine MLC welcomed the progress on the new Shellharbour Hospital.

“The greenfield site where we are building the state-of-the-art facilities from the ground up provides an opportunity to construct a new, sustainable and smart hospital, which will provide enhanced access to health services for the entire region,” Dr Kaine said.

“Once it opens in 2027, the new Shellharbour Hospital will be able to provide more care closer to home, reducing the need for people to travel out of the area for treatment which is a huge win for the people of the Kiama electorate.”

More than $700 million has been committed to the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project, which includes $570.6 million from the NSW Government (including $23.3 million for a new carpark), and an Australian Government contribution of $128 million.

The new Shellharbour Hospital will include:

an expanded emergency department
increased surgical capacity
rehabilitation and aged care services
acute medical services
expanded mental health services
new drug and alcohol unit
renal dialysis
outpatients care services
car parking and improved public transport links.

Hutchinson Builders was awarded the early works contract in 2023 to prepare the site for the new hospital, and the State Significant Development Application for the new hospital was lodged in September 2023.

Pending planning approval, the main works contract is expected to be awarded mid-year, with work to commence soon after. Construction of the new hospital is expected to be complete in 2027.

As part of the new Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services project, refurbishments were recently completed at Wollongong Hospital and Bulli Hospital to provide expanded rehabilitation and inpatient services in the Northern Illawarra region.

Planning is underway for a new community health centre to be delivered in Warrawong, on a section of the old Port Kembla Hospital site.

2024 ASEAN-Australia special summit to celebrate 50 years of partnership

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will host leaders of ASEAN and Timor-Leste for the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne from 4-6 March. 2024 marks 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first external partner.

Australia has strong and far-reaching ties with the region. We are connected by families, friends, education and business.

As a bloc, ASEAN is Australia’s second largest two-way trading partner. More than one million Australians have Southeast Asian heritage.

During the Special Summit, Leaders will discuss bolstering ASEAN-Australia cooperation, our vision for the region’s future and how we can work together to address shared challenges. A focus of the discussions will be on Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, a blueprint for stepping up Australia’s economic links with the region, launched by Prime Minister Albanese in September last year.

Preceding the Leaders’ engagement, there will be a range of meetings and events across four thematic Tracks that will bring together Australians and Southeast Asian business and community leaders, experts and academics to discuss:

Boosting economic engagement;
Supporting an accelerated clean energy transition;
Increasing practical maritime cooperation; and
Supporting the region’s current crop of emerging leaders.

In addition to the Special Summit, Prime Minister Albanese is honoured to host official Guest of Government programs with a number of Southeast Asian leaders:

HE Ferdinand Marcos Jr, President of the Philippines;
The Hon Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia;
HE Mr Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR; and
HE Mr Pham Minh Chính, Prime Minister of Vietnam.

The Prime Minister will also hold the Australia-Singapore Annual Leaders Meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore, HE Mr Lee Hsien Loong. He will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor-Leste and with the ASEAN Secretary-General.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Australia is proud to be ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner, sharing 50 years of mutual respect and cooperation with our friends in Southeast Asia.

“Building Australia’s links with the countries of Southeast Asia is a priority for the Government.

“The Special Summit commemorates our shared history and focuses firmly on the future – on how we can deepen our ties and Australia’s engagement with our region.

“Australia sees ASEAN at the centre of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region. Strengthening our relationship ensures our shared future prosperity and security.

“I look forward to welcoming my counterparts to Australia to discuss the shared challenges facing our region, opportunities to enhance our prosperity and how we can build on our strong relationships.”

Targeted sanctions in response to Alexei Navalny’s mistreatment in prison

The Australian Government has imposed Magnitsky-style targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on seven prison officials involved in the mistreatment of Alexei Navalny.

Mr Navalny was detained at the IK-6 penal colony, a maximum-security jail known for its systematic abuse of prisoners. He was regularly mistreated, denied healthcare and placed in prolonged periods of solitary confinement. He died in custody on 16 February 2024.

The Australian Government is deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Mr Navalny. These sanctions are the next step in Australia’s efforts to hold to account those responsible for grave breaches of Mr Navalny’s human rights. We will continue to work closely with our partners to hold the Russian Government and all involved in Mr Navalny’s death accountable.

The Government’s first tranche of Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions, announced on 10 December 2022, included individuals involved in the 2020 poisoning of Mr Navalny.

Australia holds President Putin and the Russian Government responsible for Mr Navalny’s treatment and death in custody. As Australia has made clear to Russia, we join calls for an independent and transparent investigation into Mr Navalny’s death.

We acknowledge Mr Navalny’s heroic contribution to promoting democracy in Russia and his tireless opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s regime – work for which he has paid the ultimate price.

This announcement builds on our recent actions in response to human rights abuses in Russia. This includes sanctions in response to the poisoning, arrest, trial and sentencing of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Australia’s statements in key multilateral forums.

MEDIA RELEASE: DIGITAL ID SCHEME HAS SO MUCH PROMISE BUT IT’S UP TO PARLIAMENT TO ENSURE SOCIAL LICENCE

The move towards a credible and secure Digital ID has large potential privacy benefits if done well and clear risks if it is rushed or mishandled.

Today the Parliamentary inquiry into the Digital ID scheme provided its report on the Bill. The Committee received hundreds of concerned submissions from members of the public and organisations with concerns about privacy, ensuring protections for those who won’t or can’t access digital ID and bias in technology including facial recognition.

The dissenting report from Greens Senator David Shoebridge describes these concerns in greater detail and is available here in the report.

Greens Senator and Digital Rights Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“This Bill represents a unique opportunity to rebuild trust in the Government’s digital capability.

“It is clear from the many hundreds of individual submissions that have expressed serious concerns about the privacy implications of a Digital ID, that the Government has not yet earned this trust.

“The bill does not create a ‘honeypot’ of new data so it’s unfortunate that the Government is insisting on granting law enforcement bodies access to the scheme.

“Insisting on law enforcement having access to the scheme gives the impression that there is a large and useful data set that police and security agencies will want to access. This is not true, the Bill only allows for the interrogation of existing secure databases that already exist at a state and federal level.

“Insisting on law enforcement access to the Digital ID scheme creates the false impression that it creates a new honeypot of data and that inevitably undermines public confidence in the reform.

“The Greens want to ensure that a new digital ID does not further the existing digital divide in the community.

“If people can’t access a digital ID, or choose not to have one, then then they must still have reasonable access to critical services and not be excluded from participating in social or economic activities.

“An inclusive digital ID system must be designed as inclusive from the ground up with particular attention to disability inclusion. A simple step here is including proof of age cards as recommended by Blind Citizens Australia.

“We also share the concerns of many groups that uncritical use of biometric and facial matching data could perpetuate existing biases. There needs to be a solid plan to ensure this isn’t baked into the scheme from the beginning.

“Every one of these concerns can be addressed by well directed amendments in the Senate and the Greens will be working with the government and other parties to achieve this,” Senator Shoebridge said.

NSW POLICE PREFER PINKWASHING TO REAL ACCOUNTABILITY

The pressure that the NSW Police, conservative media and state government have placed on Mardi Gras to change their decision to uninvite the NSW Police to the Sydney Mardi Gras parade is an insult to the pain and hurt Sydney’s LGBTIQA+ community is feeling.

This isn’t just about the tragedy last week.

Just three months ago, the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes reported back finding that the NSW Police still treated scrutiny of their actions with contempt.

The Police cannot treat the LGBTIQA+ community like a marketing opportunity to pinkwash their brand while treating attempts to interrogate their actions with contempt. No institution is entitled to queer spaces and queer support while refusing to take the required steps to right historical and present wrongs.

In the same week Commissioner Karen Webb gave her apology to the families of gay hate crime victims, Webb accused friends and families grieving the loss of two beloved LGBTIQA+ community members of being “haters.”

The NSW Police should take a step back this year and actually address the recommendations of the Special Commission of Inquiry.

Stephen Bates MP, Australian Greens LGBTIQA+ Spokesperson said:

This is not just about the tragedy of last week. This is about holding the NSW Police accountable for their inaction in response to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes as part of the historical injustices that have been perpetrated by the Police against the LGBTIQA+ community.

Just days after making her apology in response to the Special Commission report, the Police Commissioner dismissed the hurt and grieving of many in the LGBTIQA+ community and lashed out against Mardi Gras’ simple request that the Police respect our pain this year.

The Australian Federal Police listened to our community and took a step back this year. The NSW Police should too.

Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, NSW Greens LGBTIQA+ Spokesperson said:

LGBTIQ hate crimes are not just historical. The pain and grief of queer communities in NSW is tangible right now, and parts of the community don’t feel safe reporting threats or violence to police.

The NSW Police marching at Mardi Gras won’t erase decades of systemic violence or patch the wounds still open today. We want to see the NSW Police Force use this year to commit to the transformative change that LGBTQIA+ communities need, including by implementing the recommendations of the Special Commission of Inquiry.

Last weekend, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb apologised to the families of gay hate crime victims who were denied justice as a result of systemic failures within the NSW Police Force, but provided no commitment to reform.

City of Newcastle and University expand region’s art and culture commitment

City of Newcastle and the University of Newcastle have today announced a new cultural partnership that will see the two organisations working together to expand the region’s art capabilities.

The four-year partnership marks a significant milestone for both institutions, expanding the two organisations’ commitment to supporting arts and culture in the region, while providing students with valuable educational experience.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Vice Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky celebrate the partnership.

As work on the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery continues, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was the perfect time to formalise the relationship between the institutions for the benefit of the region’s communities, its visitors and a new generation of students.

“As part of the partnership, the community will benefit from shared spaces, while students across various disciplines including architecture, visual communication, business, and tourism courses will have the opportunity to undertake Career-Ready Placements,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The students will have the opportunity to learn while shadowing staff through all aspects of gallery operations. Students can learn about exhibitions, while business students will understand more about retail and commercial activities.

“The gallery will benefit from the University’s academic expertise and resources, while building relationships with students who bring fresh ideas and perspectives to foster growth with new audiences.

“It is a partnership that will ultimately enrich our city’s future cultural and academic landscape.”

A First Nations cadetship has also been established to provide career ready opportunities in Cultural stewardship in the arts.

University of Newcastle’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, welcomed the four-year agreement with Newcastle Art Gallery, acknowledging the shared interests and goals of both institutions.

“Newcastle Art Gallery and the University of Newcastle share a common commitment to cultivating creativity and innovation in the region,” Professor Zelinsky said.

“This special, collaborative partnership will help us to deliver real-world, professional experience to equip our students with career-ready skills, which we believe is key to their future success.

“The students will not only graduate with a degree but will take away real-life experience from working with the gallery. They will have the opportunity to build connections with the knowledgeable team which will help them find a career they love in the future.

“We are proud to be one of the first institutions in Australia to embed this type of Career-Ready Placements within all undergraduate degree programs and are fortunate to have a network of supportive organisations and businesses like Newcastle Art Gallery that are equally passionate about providing our students with real-world experience.”

In addition to the students’ professional placements, Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton, OAM, said both institutions would enjoy many shared benefits.

“We look forward to the educational and creative opportunities that this partnership will bring,” Ms Morton said.

“We envision future collaborations across complementary exhibits, research and parallel programming, as well as the opportunity to learn from each other.”

Newcastle Art Gallery was Australia’s first purpose-built regional gallery. It has been at the heart of the city’s rich cultural heritage for over 40 years and is home to one of the most significant art collection in regional Australia.

University of Newcastle’s University Galleries Art Curator, Gillean Shaw echoed Lauretta’s sentiment.

“Our art galleries are renowned for contemporary exhibitions and our Watt Space city gallery is the longest-running student gallery in Australia. This partnership will allow us to work together to create more opportunities for our students and our shared communities to experience artistic diversity and extraordinary creativity.”

Multimillion-dollar community facility coming soon to Blackbutt Reserve

Food for the body and the mind will be on the menu at Blackbutt Reserve as part of a $3 million community-focused project set to get underway next month.

Featuring a new cafe and environmental education space, the multipurpose community facility will provide an enhanced experience for the more than 150,000 people who visit City of Newcastle’s (CN) 182-hectare nature reserve each year.

Kingston Building director Matt Howard, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, CN Assistant Project Manager Rachael Evans, Councillor Margaret Wood, Blackbutt and Natural Areas Manager Andrew Staniland at Blackbutt ReserveConstruction will begin in March and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, after Councillors voted last night to accept a tender for the project.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the project will complement Blackbutt Reserve’s existing attractions, offering a new space to gather and dine whilst taking in the tranquil natural surroundings and animal experiences.

“As the green heart of our city, Blackbutt Reserve welcomes countless locals and visitors each year who take advantage of the picturesque walking trails, unique native wildlife exhibits and family-friendly playgrounds,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The construction of this multipurpose community facility and cafe will improve an already popular attraction and offer a space for all members of our community to relax and enjoy the surroundings, with an accessible design catering for people with diverse mobility and other sensory needs.

“This project will deliver one of the final stages of our $10 million investment to deliver the Carnley Avenue Recreation Area Masterplan from the Blackbutt Plan of Management, that I developed more than a decade ago with the community after fighting to save this wonderful community asset.”

An artist's impression of the new Blackbutt Reserve cafe and community facility An artist’s impression of the new Blackbutt Reserve cafe and community facilityThe facility will replace the existing temporary kiosk and will include a cafe with an undercover dining and seating area, as well as a multipurpose space where community and school groups can gather, hold events or learn about the environment.

Cr Nelmes said Council is continuing to deliver quality facilities, with new and redeveloped dining destinations currently in the pipeline as part of the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery, the Bathers Way project at South Newcastle Beach and the Harbour Foreshore Masterplan.

A new operator is also being sought for the café at Lambton Park, which will undergo a major renovation, while the refurbished kiosk at Dixon Park Beach has been incredibly popular since it reopened in 2022.

“By investing in these projects, we will continue to make our recreational and cultural facilities welcoming places for both locals and visitors, while also helping to support new jobs and opportunities for hospitality operators in our community,” Cr Nelmes said.

The cafe and multipurpose community facility have been partially funded by the NSW Government’s Resources for Regions grant program.

Cliff works underway at South Newcastle Beach to enhance public safety

With work on the lower promenade at South Newcastle Beach now complete, specialist contractors have today begun final work to stabilise a section of the cliff face located to the south of the Bathers Way upgrade.

The area is known by the Awabakal name Yirannali, which means “a place of falling rocks”, and is a key point of interest on the Newcastle Coastal Geotrail given the fracturing of layers of coal and sandstone unique to this location.

City of Newcastle Acting Executive Director City Infrastructure Robert Dudgeon said this work is an important step before re-opening the nearby pathway to the community.

“We anticipate that we will see a significant increase in foot traffic compared to historic levels when we open the lower promenade and re-establish the connection from Newcastle Beach up to King Edward Park,” Mr Dudgeon said.

“While the work on the lower promenade is now complete, the contractor working on the cliff face has requested it remain closed to pedestrians while they complete the cliff stabilisation work.

“The area has a history of rockfall, I’m sure many people remember the large rock that fell in 2002.

“Public safety is our highest priority so it’s important that we reduce any risk to the community.”

The work involves installation of a series of rock bolts, while specialised machinery will be used to seal areas of soft rock to reinforce the cliff face.

“We anticipate some short periods of disruption to the flow of traffic and pedestrians along Watt Street in March due to crane movements when the sealing works take place, but much of the work is undertaken using hand tools with workers abseiling from the top of the cliff line,” Mr Dudgeon said.

The specialist contractor will work in close collaboration with Daracon who are working to complete the construction of the Bathers Way upgrade after the original contractor Lloyd Group entered voluntary administration in March last year.

The Bathers Way, South Newcastle Beach upgrade features a shared path from Shortland Esplanade to King Edward Park, improvements to parking, landscaping, lighting and accessibility, the installation of fitness equipment, shade, seating and viewing areas, as well as a new café/kiosk and accessible amenities.

The project also includes a $1.6 million upgrade to the skate park with wheelchair-accessible skate bowl and terrain park, which will complement the advanced-level facilities at Empire Park and provide a unique drawcard to promote ongoing visitation and activation of this area.

The upgrade remains on track for completion in mid-2024.

$20 million funding injection for regional horse racing

The NSW Labor Government has welcomed Racing NSW’s investment of almost $20 million in country and provincial racetracks.

The Minister for Gaming and Racing, David Harris, has made supporting regional racing a focus since taking on the role.

The Racing NSW Board has committed to this significant capital works program, prioritising shovel ready projects, including new stabling, track upgrades and other infrastructure improvements.

Goulburn racecourse will receive the most significant funding, $9.5 million, to construct 80 new stables and supporting infrastructure, with these works already having the necessary development approvals.

Wyong racecourse has secured more than $1.5 million for irrigation and drainage upgrades, as well as a new machinery shed.

Gosford racecourse will have a new home turncamber constructed on the course proper at a cost of $2.0 million.

This project will greatly improve the competitiveness of racing at Gosford, with works to commence immediately following The Coast race meeting in May 2024.

Dubbo, Albury, Wagga and Grafton have received funding for new or improved training tracks, with these works ready for immediate commencement.

Ballina will receive funding for a complete irrigation system upgrade to ensure the club is able to efficiently and reliably manage their training and racing surfaces.

Racing Orange will receive funding for refurbishment of existing oncourse stabling that is currently vacant, adding to the volume of horses in training at the venue.

Racing is a $3.3 billion industry in the state, with more than 90,000 people involved as employees, participants or volunteers and the flow on effects sustain more than 50,000 local jobs, either directly or indirectly.

Critically, more than half the racing industry’s economic impact is in rural and regional NSW.

Racing NSW has spent over $125 million in the past 10 years improving the safety and reliability of racing and training facilities in NSW.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Gaming and Racing, David Harris:

“This funding injection is welcome. It’s about creating local jobs in our rural and regional areas which are more critical than ever before.

“Thoroughbred racing is an economic powerhouse in regional NSW, providing around 17,700 direct jobs and contributing almost $2 billion to the state’s economy.

“Regional racecourses and clubs play a crucial role in developing our state’s world-class thoroughbreds and creating the champion racehorses of the future.

“This funding injection is also about futureproofing the industry.

“This significant investment in infrastructure, as well as a pipeline of trained workers from the Team Thoroughbred NSW Training Academy established by Racing NSW at Scone, creates a safe and sustainable future for the industry.

“Local jobs in rural and regional areas have flow-on effects across the whole economy and for our communities.

“The NSW Government understands the value that racing brings to NSW and will continue to support it being the number one state for thoroughbred racing in the country.”