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Top pickings for National AgDay

This National AgDay, the NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has thanked the farmers and fishers of NSW for the commitment and resilience they have shown over the past 12 months and congratulated them on their achievements.

In delivering world-renowned food and fibre to consumers, last year NSW primary industries recorded the second highest gross value of production (GVP) on record, with a value of $21.2 billion during the 2022-2023 financial year.

In the same period, NSW primary industries’ exports increased 15% to a new record high of $13.1 billion.

The minister paid tribute to NSW producers first-hand during a visit to a cherry orchard in the state’s Central West, where she was able to sample some of the early-season fruit and learn more about the initiatives underway to continue to drive industry growth.

One such example is a new national communications and extension program for the cherry industry, which will see best practice information on biosecurity, resource availability, sustainable production, labour and climate change shared through grower-led trials, demonstrations, orchard walks, newsletters, training events and the soon-to-be-launched Cherry Picked podcast.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will lead the program in partnership with Hort Innovation, drawing on expertise from Cherry Growers Australia, Fruit Growers Tasmania, South Australian Research and Development Institute and the Victorian Cherry Association.

With the theme for this year’s National AgDay being ‘Grow you good thing’, this new communications and extension program will be the cherry on top of a promising season for growers.

Further information on the economic value of NSW primary industries can be found at the DPI’s Performance Data and Insights websitelaunch.

Further information on the new cherry communications and extension program is available on the Hort Innovation websitelaunch.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said:

“AgDay is a day to celebrate our producers and reflect on the fact that this state continues to produce some of the best food and fibre in the world.

“We’ve got everything from prawns and pulses to cherries and Wagyu beef, and so much more in between.

“Our farmers and fishers continue to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of consumers, which is why people across the world love NSW produce.

“New season cherries are a great example of the delicious, local produce that consumers in NSW can enjoy right now, so this AgDay, I’m encouraging everyone to take advantage of the great food and fibre we have on our doorstep.”

Acting President Cherry Growers Australia Nick Noske said:

“The Australian cherry industry identified the need for the establishment of an effective industry-wide communications program such as this. 

“In recent years there have been several disruptions, such as unfavourable weather conditions (for example, excess rain and drought), COVID-19 and complications with overseas markets, which has challenged product quality and quantity, as well as reducing opportunities for direct industry engagement, peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and next-generation development.

“This program will work to reverse these disruptions.”

Hort Innovation General Manager for Industry Services and Delivery Andrew Francey said:

The project is in direct response to a call from industry to deliver new, independent, and informative communications and extension activities to the Australian cherry industry. 

Growers have the opportunity to be involved in a regional growers program with a focus on regional challenges and opportunities through demonstration trials and local grower meetings.

Funding boost for men’s mental health support service

The Minister for Health Ryan Park and the Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson have announced a one-off $50,000 funding boost to men’s mental health support service The Man Walk Australia.

The Man Walk Australialaunch is a charity focused on improving the mental health of men and reducing the nation’s suicide rates through the delivery of opportunities to support men, including regular organised walks to ‘walk and talk.’

The organisation provides health related services and benefits by using preventative measures to support the physical and mental health and general wellbeing of men.  

The funding will support Man Walk’s objectives of bettering the mental, physical, and overall wellbeing of men, including starting new walk locations in NSW.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Too many men are not reaching out for help when they need it. We must turn that around.

“That’s why I am so pleased to announce this contribution to The Man Walk Australia to further their life-changing work in the men’s mental health space.

“I commend The Man Walk Australia for its ongoing work to support the physical and mental health as well as general wellbeing for men.

“I know how much this funding will mean to their team and to the people who rely on their services.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said:

“We know it can be especially difficult for men to ask for help and that’s why we it is vital for us to reach out, lean in and meet people where they’re at.

“This funding boost will help shape part of that work. The Man Walk Australia creates a safe and inclusive environment for men to talk and support each other.

“Improving your mental health takes a holistic approach The Man Walk Australia provides the opportunity to get active, talk to others and become part of a supportive community.”

Nurses and midwives celebrated at annual Excellence Awards

The 11th annual NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards were held in Sydney yesterday, to celebrate some of the outstanding nurses and midwives across the state. 

For the first time since 2019, the awards were held as a live ceremony at Parliament House.

Health Minister Ryan Park extended his sincere congratulations to the 29 winners and finalists.

“The professional achievements, compassion and dedication on display yesterday were nothing short of remarkable,” Mr Park said.

“I also want to thank all of our nurses and midwives across the state for the skill, professionalism, and heartfelt care they provide each and every day to the people of NSW.”

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce congratulated the winners and finalists in this year’s Excellence Awards, acknowledging the many nurses and midwives among them who were nominated from across rural and regional NSW. 

“The opportunity to celebrate the excellence and achievements of NSW Health nurses and midwives, many of whom travelled long distances to attend last night in-person, is a real highlight and I am so pleased for all the winners,” Ms Pearce said. 

NSW Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Jacqui Cross, said it is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the outstanding work nurses and midwives do every day, and extended her gratitude and congratulations to all the winners and finalists.

“These awards celebrate all nurses and midwives across the continuum of their career,” Ms Cross said.

“One of many highlights was the Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises the contribution of an outstanding nurse or midwife who, throughout their career, has had a positive and sustained influence on patients, the health system and their profession.”

This year the Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award went to Executive Director of Nursing Anna Thornton from St Vincent’s Hospital Network.

“The Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards represent a significant opportunity to take a moment to stop, reflect and recognise the commitment, compassion, innovation and exceptional care being provided to the people of NSW by our nurses and midwives,” Ms Cross said. 
 
The winners in each of the 9 categories are:     

  • Nurse of the Year (joint winners): John McAllister, Nurse Practitioner, HIV and Sexual Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital Network and Trent Williams, Clinical Nurse Consultant, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter New England LHD
  • Midwife of the Year: Tracey Codner, Clinical Midwife Consultant, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
  • New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Garima Nepal, Registered Nurse, Coonabarabran Health Service, Western NSW LHD
  • Nursing/Midwifery Team of the Year: Dorrigo Nursing Unit, Dorrigo Multipurpose Service, Mid North Coast LHD
  • Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Award: Jane Jackson, Nurse Manager, The Forensic Hospital, Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
  • Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Thornton, Executive Director of Nursing, St Vincent’s Hospital Network
  • Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Sharelle Anderson, Registered Midwife, Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service, Southern NSW LHD
  • Healing Heart Award (colleague nominated): Gillian Prott, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney LHD
  • Healing Heart Award (consumer nominated): Angela Kiss, Clinical Nurse Consultant, St Vincent’s Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital Network.

For more information, including a full list of finalists, visit 2023 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awardslaunch.

Summertime’s right for dancing in the streets

Communities, councils and event organisers will have a much easier and cost-effective path to hosting festivals, parties and events on their local streets and outdoor areas under landmark changes to the application process.

The NSW Government is also making outdoor dining permanent across NSW, with a law change to cement temporary arrangements introduced during COVID-19. 

Reducing costs and red tape to utilise our shared streets and outdoor spaces is part of the Government’s focus on finding all ways possible to ease the cost-of-living and help families.

Drawing from the successful approach developed by Wollongong Council a ‘global approvals’ approach will be rolled out to 127 councils across the state.

A pilot will also be delivered which will aim to reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning. Events on streets can require a development application and can incur traffic management costs of over $100,000 for a single day. The pilot will involve finding potential savings, by planning for multiple events in the same location in advance, making it easier and more affordable to put on local events over a period of time.

This will substantially reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning for events to close a local street for an event.

Guidelines will be issued that help councils, event organisers and businesses use public lands and close streets in a more cost-effective and simpler way, without the need to keep going through the same process for the same location every time.

The global approvals model will facilitate events like the Sydney Streets street party events happening in the City of Sydney. 

The activation of streets is part of the NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda to remove red tape, bring back live music, encourage local entertainment zones and prevent single complainants from shutting down venues.

The package of reforms will be introduced to Parliament within days.

Outdoor dining will be freed up on a permanent basis from January 1, with businesses supported to use their privately-owned land for outdoor dining and events. This will make temporary measures introduced during COVID-19 permanent.

A faster, light-touch application process will provide a cost-effective and ongoing solution that provides certainty for businesses, including cafes, restaurants, Clubs, RSLs, certainty about where outdoor dining can take place and allow them to make the most of space outside their venues.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms

For more details of the Outdoor Dining explanation of intended effect (EIE) exhibitionlaunch

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“As a government we want to support communities, businesses and councils to bring life and vibrancy back to our streets. Councils will be helped to streamline pathways for creatives and community groups to stage pop-up events and festivals, including street closures and global pre-approvals for event sites.

“This is giving communities the chance to have more fun outdoors but is also way in which we can assist the cost-of-living crisis by making it cheaper to arrange events.

“People want to be able to use their streets as public spaces – they own them. The proposed reforms will permanently relax rules for outdoor dining that came into force during COVID, allowing venues to make the most of space outside their venues with a quicker, light-touch application process.

“COVID-19 showed us that Sydney is a city that does alfresco well. The reforms will permanently relax the rules for outdoor dining allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor space.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Outdoor dining exemptions introduced during the pandemic helped build a more flexible and responsive hospitality industry.

“In meeting our election commitment to make outdoor dining permanently available across NSW, business will soon have permanent access to a faster and more cost-effective pathway instead of having to complete a detailed and costly development application.

“The outdoor dining changes are part of the Minns Government’s broader reform package to improve vibrancy in our streets and create a better environment for hospitality trading.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“Parramatta has such wonderful streets and outdoor spaces to be activated. This policy will help make our communities even more vibrant and lively, cementing Parramatta’s reputation as a destination.”

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LANDMARK INDO-PACIFIC FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today met with Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Leaders in San Francisco to endorse a comprehensive package of IPEF agreements.

IPEF brings together large and dynamic regional economies, accounting for around 40 per cent of global GDP, and includes eight of Australia’s top ten merchandise trading partners.

Australia is a founding member of IPEF, alongside Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Prime Minister Albanese and other IPEF Leaders released a joint statement welcoming signature of a first-of-its-kind supply chain agreement and the substantial conclusion of negotiations on a ground-breaking clean economy agreement and an innovative fair economy agreement.

Earlier this week, Minister for Trade Don Farrell signed the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement to support our region’s ability to prepare for and respond to future supply chain shocks. 

Australia will continue to work with IPEF members to conclude negotiations on the trade agreement in 2024.

The agreements endorsed by the IPEF Leaders will create a cooperative, principles-based framework that boosts trade and investment in our region.

Leaders endorsed the Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity to provide an overarching framework focused on cooperative activities across all agreements, including regular ministerial engagement.

IPEF Leaders also announced a Critical Minerals Dialogue to strengthen collaboration in critical minerals supply chains and to boost regional competitiveness.

For Australia, this will mean using our critical minerals to assist the region in transitioning to clean energy and in turn will create diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains, building Australia’s capacity and standing as a renewable energy superpower.

These announcements build on the investments the Government has previously made including $25 million to support IPEF developing economy members with technical assistance and capacity building initiatives.

Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister:

“Engagement in IPEF supports our region’s economic architecture, boosting trade, investment and jobs in Australia and our region.

“Australia is investing in IPEF to accelerate trade diversification and deepen economic regional engagement.

“IPEF demonstrates inclusive economic cooperation and what can be achieved when regional partners work together for the common good.”

Man charged after toddler’s leg broken – Cardiff

A man has been charged after a toddler’s leg was broken in the Hunter yesterday.

Around 10am on Thursday 16 November 2023, emergency services were called to a shopping centre on Main Road, Cardiff, following reports of an injured child.

Police were told a man riding an electric scooter had lost control before the scooter crashed into the toddler.

The man immediately retrieved his scooter and left the scene.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the four-year-girl for a broken leg and a laceration to her face, before taking her to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition, where she underwent surgery.

Following inquiries and a public appeal for information, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District arrested a man at Belmont Police Station, around 12.30pm today (Friday 17 November 2023).

The 37-year-old was charged with grievous bodily harm by negligent act (vehicle) and ride electric scooter on footpath.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 29 November 2023.

Appeal to locate girl missing from Lake Macquarie 

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing from the Lake Macquarie area.

Charlotte Oates, aged 12, was last seen on Montgomery Street, Argenton, about 10.30am on Tuesday 14 November 2023.

When she could not be contacted or located, officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police Area Command were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold concerns for her welfare due to Charlotte’s young age.

Charlotte is described as being of Caucasian appearance with a fair complexion and freckles, about 160cm tall with medium build, and mid-length dark wavy hair which may now be dyed red.

She was last seen wearing a black Champion jumper, dark short tights, a t-shirt and joggers, and was carrying a small black Nike backpack with a burn mark on the front.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Appeal for information following robbery – Newcastle 

Police are seeking assistance from the public as investigations continue into a robbery in the Newcastle area overnight.

About 9.15pm on Thursday 16 November 2023, police have been told a man entered a service station on Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill, and threatened the female attendant and demanded money.

The attendant handed over a sum of money from the cash register before the man fled the scene.

The woman was not physically injured.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced an investigation.

Investigators have released a description of a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The man is described as being aged in his mid40s, dark complexion, about 180cm tall, medium build, wearing a red T-shirt, black shorts and a black face mask.

ALBANESE’S TAMPA MOMENT

Labor’s panicked and craven decision to collude with Peter Dutton to jam through draconian, anti-refugee laws will be Anthony Albanese’s Tampa moment, the Greens say.

“These are draconian laws that provide the minister with powers never before seen in Australia and the Greens will not be supporting them,” Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said

“Peter Dutton and the Murdoch media have confected an emergency and Labor has predictably collapsed under the pressure just as they did when the MV Tampa hove over the horizon.”

“Instead of standing firm against Dutton’s fear-mongering, Labor has collapsed and is pursuing harsh and punitive measures against refugees.”

“These laws allow for visa conditions to be imposed which are detention by another name, and criminalises breaches of those conditions with a prison term of up to 5 years.”

“It creates a two-tiered justice system where some migrants, including those not convicted of a crime, will face arbitrary punishment at the stroke of a politician’s pen that cannot be imposed on citizens.”

“This is a disgraceful collapse by Labor which undermines key principles of our liberal democracy.”

Humanitarian assistance for Nepal earthquake

The Australian Government will provide $600,000 in humanitarian funding following the recent earthquake in western Nepal, which was the largest since the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015.

The funds will be provided through existing multilateral and local partnerships to deliver emergency humanitarian supplies and life-saving protection and assistance.

Australia’s assistance will also contribute to early reconstruction efforts to restore damaged public infrastructure, including health care facilities.

The Australian Government extends its deepest condolences to the people of Nepal and those whose lives and livelihoods have been affected.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“We are saddened by the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in western Nepal. These funds will help provide emergency supplies and assistance to the people of western Nepal as they recover from this devastating event.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“Australia is supporting those affected by the tragic earthquake in Nepal. We are working with our multilateral and local partners to ensure Australia’s support reaches those who need it most.”