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Crickets from Labor on Women’s Sport Funding

It has been 12 months since the Play our Way program was announced to provide funding towards female sports facilities, but community sporting organisations have been left in the dark by the Albanese Labor Government.

It has been reported today that applicants to the program have not received any update on whether they have been successful, leaving community sport representatives frustrated by the slow process and funding uncertainty.

The Government committed to this funding package as a back-foot response to the Coalition’s $250 million announcement to support community sporting infrastructure across the country.

The Coalition’s commitment sought to capitalise on the inspiration provided by the Matilda’s World Cup success, to deliver long-term benefits by boosting female participation in sport and supporting grassroots sport.

Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator Anne Ruston said that this unexplained delay with the Government’s program is incredibly disappointing, particularly at a time when the sporting prowess of Australia’s female athletes is once again in the spotlight.

“We already knew this announcement was just more rushed policy on the run from Labor. They clearly felt the pressure of being on the back foot as the Coalition took the lead on supporting women’s sport.

“The Albanese Labor Government’s failure to now provide any significant update after all this time just proves their announcement was all about politics. This government must stop prioritising photo opportunities over the real action needed to support sports participation in Australia.

“It is critical that the Government supports the sporting infrastructure communities need as more young Australians are inspired to get out there and get active,” Senator Ruston said.

Aim high and work hard: High profile alumni inspire NSW students for Public Education Week

What do former High Court Justice Michael Kirby, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock, Matildas star Emily van Egmond, astrophysicist Kirsten Banks, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and bestselling author and educator Kylie Captain have in common?

They are all former NSW public school students and among dozens of high profile alumni who have agreed to join a program, led by Justice Kirby, showcasing the benefits of a public school education.

Launched today to mark the start of Public Education Week, the alumni program reflects this year’s theme, Proud to Belong, and aims to inspire students to think big and see they are part of a community of achievement that extends beyond their school gate.

The program seeks to strengthen students’ sense of belonging and pride, a key step in the NSW Government’s goal of advancing outcomes, opportunities and experiences for all NSW children.

Across almost every industry NSW public school alumni are leading the way, whether at the Reserve Bank, the High Court, or the Olympics; in business, military, arts and entertainment, or as experts in health, education, science and construction.

This year Public Education Week will also kick-off with the inaugural NSW Public Education Awards at Sydney Town Hall to recognise students, teachers, school staff and parents for their exceptional achievement and contribution to public education.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“It is exciting to see the diverse and exceptional range of former public school students stepping forward to support our public school communities through this alumni program.

“I am so proud to see the success stories that come from our incredible public school alumni and I cannot wait to see how they inspire the next generation of students to aim high, work hard and follow their dreams.

“With Public Education Week coinciding with the Paris Olympics, this is also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the more than 50 public school alumni, staff and current students in the Australian team – some of whom have now won medals in Paris.”

NSW Education Department Secretary Murat Dizdar said:

“As the saying goes, ‘students need to see what they can be’ and through this alumni program we hope to lift their horizons and inspire them to embrace the vast opportunities a public school education will open for them.

“Our incredible alumni will also highlight to parents that a public school education will enable their children to achieve their ambitions and reach the pinnacle in any field they choose.

Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby said:

“I’m still, in my heart, Strathfield North Public School. I haven’t changed in the values I received from my school, my teachers, and my parents – values of kindness, of reaching out, and working for a better society and equality.”

Chef and Powerhouse Museum Associate Kylie Kwong said:

“Education is transformative for the lives of individuals, their families, and the wider community, and I am incredibly passionate about supporting public education to ensure that everyone in society, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn and grow and thrive.”

Seniors ‘time to shine’ at the 2025 NSW Seniors Festival

The biggest celebration for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere is back in 2025 with the theme ‘Time to Shine’.

The annual Seniors Festival is the government’s way of thanking seniors for their contributions, as well as providing a variety of opportunities for them to get involved, and stay active and connected.

Flagship events include the Premier’s Gala Concerts and Seniors Expo, which will both be held from 12-13 March 2025 at the ICC Theatre in Sydney. There will be 4 free concerts featuring Australia’s best talent for senior audiences to attend, and a wide range of stalls and exhibits to explore.

Last year, the Premier Gala Concerts sold out, with 32,000 seniors attending. Seniors also showed their strong support for events around NSW, with an estimated 500,000 attending various activities over the whole Festival fortnight.

The NSW Government’s Ageing Well NSW: Seniors Strategy vision is for all people in NSW to experience the benefits of living longer and enjoy opportunities to participate in, contribute to and be included in their communities.

In addition, comedy shows are being planned for seniors living in metro and regional NSW.

As was the case this year, there will also be a livestream of the Premier’s Gala Concerts for those unable to make it to the event in person.

The 2025 NSW Seniors Festival will run from 3 to 16 March.

Keep up to date with announcements of the stars for the Gala Concerts and all that’s happening in the NSW Seniors Festival at https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival.

Grants open for Seniors Festival events

The fortnight-long Seniors Festival will also see various organisations running activities across the State to engage seniors.

The Seniors Festival Grant fund of $200,000 is now open for applications. Local organisations can apply for up to $5,000 and Local Councils for up to $10,000 for their programs and events.

The 2025 program will have a continued focus on programs that offer unique and engaging intergenerational activities, connect seniors with a range of community organisations and activities that are tailored to Aboriginal communities and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Applications are open now and close on 6 September. Apply for the NSW Seniors Festival Grants Program at https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/seniors-festival-grants-program.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Seniors Festival is one of the highlights of the year and is the biggest and most joyous celebration of seniors in the state.

“Seniors should save the dates and make sure they look out for further announcements on when the much sought-after tickets to Premier’s Gala Concerts are available.

“We are also encouraging community organisations and local councils to show us your best ideas for events and activities that will encourage our seniors to get excited, get out and get involved.

“The NSW Government is really proud to host a festival that embraces everybody and recognises the important contributions seniors make in our community.”

NSW emergency services boost winter blood supplies

Frontline emergency staff are going the extra mile to save lives this winter, rolling up their sleeves to donate blood and plasma as part of the 2024 Emergency Services Blood Drive.

Minister for Health Ryan Park and Minister for Police Yasmin Catley will today join NSW Ambulance, NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW staff at the Lifeblood Sydney Town Hall Donor Centre to donate blood and encourage the community to join them in saving lives this winter, when donations are needed most.

The Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive has been sparking friendly competition between emergency service teams since 2012, with almost 115,000 donations collected since it began.

This year’s challenge has so far seen 2,606 donations of blood and plasma from NSW emergency service teams to provide life-saving treatment to people around the country, helping save up to 7,818 lives.

The Emergency Services Blood Drive runs until 31 August and anyone can take part by picking an emergency services team to join when you make your booking.

To make a booking, visit lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Our paramedics, firefighters and police serve and care for the community every single day and see first hand our ongoing need for blood to save lives.

“Blood donations help patients across the state in times of trauma, major surgery, cancer treatment and pregnancy.

“One in three Australians will require blood or blood products in their lifetime but only one in 30 donate, making drives such as this to help boost supplies across the country even more important.”

Minister for Police Yasmin Catley:

“I’m very proud to stand alongside our police and other emergency services staff today who are leading by example, but the call to action is for everyone.

“Donating blood is a quick and easy way to be a hero in your own right.

“By donating blood, you’re joining a tradition of care and community spirit. It’s a small act that changes lives. If you can, I’d encourage you to play your part.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“When it comes to donating blood, it takes a small amount of time to make a significant impact on someone’s life.

“Emergency services personnel are always there for the community, and through some friendly rivalry between the agencies, we aim to strengthen the blood supply available across NSW and Australia to help those who need it.”

Lifeblood CEO, Stephen Cornelissen:

“Our emergency services personnel know all too well about our ongoing need for blood, being first on the scene at road accidents and other trauma-related incidents.

“Their life-saving efforts don’t stop there. All throughout the year, and especially during the Emergency Services Blood Drive each winter, their generosity continues when they roll up their sleeves and donate their own blood that can be used for numerous life-threatening conditions, including cancer, trauma and during life-saving surgery.

“With demand for blood, plasma and blood products increasing, Lifeblood is so grateful to all the teams who join this critical and generous blood donor community.”

Background check fees banned to ensure a fairer go for renters

The Minns Labor Government will change the law to stop renters being slugged with charges for background checks when they’re applying for a rental property.

There are 2.2 million renters in NSW, and they’re increasingly being asked to pay for their own background checks just to apply for a home.

At the moment, some online rental property application apps encourage renters to pay between $25 – $30 to cover the cost of their own background checks, on top of providing detailed information to the leasing agent.

These ‘optional’ charges often come with the promise that they’ll increase an applicant’s chances of securing a home.

The Minns Labor Government will change the law to make it clear that renters cannot be charged for background checks.

Under these changes, the only payments renters can be charged when applying will be those specifically listed:

The deposit
The rental bond
Rent for the property
Any fee for registration of a lease longer than 3 years.

Landlords will continue to have the right to check or make reports to third party tenancy databases, in line with the strict rules already in place.

Tenants can only be listed on a database for two reasons, either they have left the property and owe money, or the Tribunal has made an order to terminate the agreement because the tenant has done the wrong thing.

The changes will form part of a package to update and modernise the NSW rental market, including reforms to finally end no-grounds evictions, which will be debated by Parliament later this year.

Currently, renters’ lives can be upended at any time, with owners able to end a residential periodic lease for any reason or no reason.

Under our proposed reforms, expected to begin early next year, homeowners will now need a reason to end a tenancy for both periodic and fixed term leases.

The Minns Labor Government has also invested $6.6 million to develop and deliver the nation’s first portable rental bonds scheme.

The scheme is currently out to public tender, with upgrade of the existing rental bonds system expected to be completed in 2025.

This new system will allow tenants to digitally transfer their existing bond to their new rental home. This will mean they will no longer need to pay a new bond before their old one is returned.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“With the rental market so competitive, many renters have felt pressured into paying for these checks.

“Owners will still be able to make sure their prospective tenant hasn’t done the wrong thing at a previous rental.

“But you shouldn’t have to pay for your own background checks just to apply for a place.

“This gets the balance right between renters and homeowners and is part of our plan to build a fairer rental market in NSW.”

Minister for Fair Trading and Better Regulation Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“A renter shouldn’t have to pay just for the privilege of securing a home.

“We need a more modern and fairer rental market in NSW because renters are being punished by a system that hasn’t kept up with change.”

Ticketless parking fines surge 49% as councils double-down on controversial system

Local councils are issuing ticketless parking fines at record rates, with a 49% jump in use of the system in the 2023/24 financial year.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos first raised concerns with councils about the Print & Post system in March 2024 saying it failed to meet community expectations.

Under the ticketless parking fine system, introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government, councils can issue fines without first giving drivers an immediate notification at the time the parking infringement is identified.

This makes gathering evidence difficult, reduces the impact of a fine to act as a deterrent, and means a driver could receive multiple infringements for parking in the same spot before receiving a notification.

Despite that, councils have doubled down on their use of the system, issuing 822,310 ticketless parking fines in the 2023/24 financial year, compared to 551,441 in 2022/23.

Overall, all council-issued parking fines in NSW (both ticketless fines and paper fines), increased by more than 110,000 – around 9% – between 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Since March 2024, Minister Houssos and Revenue NSW have been engaging with councils to understand how they use the ticketless parking fine system and share her concerns about its shortcomings.

Thirty councils across NSW have indicated to Revenue NSW or stated publicly they have already, or plan to, change adjust their operations to leave an instant, on-the-spot notification to drivers.

Some councils have stated they are unwilling to make changes unless compelled through legislative change.

With consultation on the issue drawing to a close, the NSW Government will explore next steps to ensure a consistent, fair and transparent approach for drivers.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“I’m grateful to the councils that have recognised the significant issues with the ticketless parking system introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government.

“I have spoken to mayors and councils from across the state and many agree there is a fundamental issue with a failure to notify drivers at the time of the fine.

“The community feedback has been overwhelming in favour of councils providing drivers with on-the-spot notifications of parking fines.

“Councils should come to the table and deliver a solution which embraces transparency and fairness.

“If councils aren’t willing to provide a common-sense fix, the NSW Government will step in and use our policy levers to ensure the ticketless parking fine system meets community expectations.”

Data table:

Type of council-issued parking fine	2022/23 tickets	2023/24 tickets	% change	# change
Ticketless parking fines	551,441	822,310	+49%	+270,869
Non-ticketless (ie traditional) parking fines	716,148	558,634	-22%	-157,514
Total	1,267,589	1,380,944	+9%	+113,355

Type of council-issued parking fine	2022/23 $ value	2023/24 $ value	% change	$ change
Ticketless parking fines	$102,874,208	$158,015,513	+54%	+$55,141,305
Non-ticketless (ie traditional) parking fines	$119,242,411	$95,590,868	-20%	-$23,651,543
Total	$222,116,619	$253,606,381	+14%	+$31,489,762

Suburbtrends Rental Pain Index August 2024: Rental Crisis Remains

The latest Suburbtrends “Rental Pain Index” for August 2024 highlights the ongoing rental crisis in Australia. With rising rental prices and a shortage of homes, urgent action is needed to alleviate the stress on renters nationwide.

Kent Lardner, founder of Suburbtrends, warns, “The massive growth in house prices since in recent years has created a significant gap for most first home buyers, making homeownership increasingly unattainable without familial financial support. Those stuck without such support are likely to remain trapped in the private rental market. This month’s data signals a looming reckoning for the political class, who continue to adopt policies that continually drive up house prices.”

The data reveals alarming trends in Western Australia (WA) and Queensland (QLD), with rental pain indices at 82 and 83 respectively, and significant increases in South Australia (SA) and Victoria (VIC). The national average also remains high, indicating widespread rental stress across the country.

Kent emphasises, “The risk of displacement and homelessness is on the rise, as evidenced by the increasing demand on specialist homelessness services. Immediate measures are needed to provide emergency accommodations and support for those at the brink of losing their homes or already homeless.”

He concludes, “The real drivers of this problem are the huge disconnect between population growth and housing supply. Population growth and housing supply cannot be left as independent policies; they must be closely linked to ensure sustainable development. Without aligning these policies, the rental crisis will only worsen.”

The full August 2024 Rental Pain Index data is available at this link.

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Appeal to locate missing girl – Port Stephens- Hunter PD

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a girl missing in the Port Stephens area.

Ellah White, aged 12, was last seen leaving a school on Salamander Way, Salamander Bay, about 9.30am today (Tuesday 6 August 2024).

Unable to be located since, Ellah was reported missing to officers attached to Port Stephens- Hunter Police District, who commenced inquiries to locate her.

Police and family have serious concerns for Ellah’s welfare due to her age.

Ellah is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of slim build, with long blonde curly hair.

She was last seen wearing blue long pants, a blue polo shirt and blue hooded jumper.

Ellah is known to frequent the Fingal Bay, Shoal Bay and Anna Bay areas.

Anyone with information into Ellah’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Fatal crash – Newcastle

A man has died following a fatal single-vehicle crash in Newcastle today.

About 4.30pm (Tuesday 6 August 2024), emergency services were called to a petrol station on Mailand Road, Mayfield following reports the driver of a Toyota Camry had crashed into a fuel bowser after attempting to drive from the station.

The driver and only occupant – a man believed to be aged in his 80s – was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Calvary Mater Hospital, where he later died.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Officers from Newcastle City Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Teenager charged by NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) following alleged stabbing at Camperdown

A teenage boy has been charged as the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) continues to investigate an alleged stabbing in Sydney’s Inner West last month.

About 8.35am on Tuesday 2 July 2024, emergency services responded to reports of a stabbing at an educational facility along Parramatta Road, Camperdown.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 22-year-old man at the scene. He was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition; however, has since been discharged.

Officers from Inner West Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the incident.

A short time later, officers arrested a 14-year-old boy near Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He has since been receiving health treatment.

Following investigations by the NSW JCTT under Operation Windsor, the teenager was charged today (Tuesday 6 August 2024).

The charges include cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, and three counts of damage property by fire/explosion.

Police will allege in court that the teenager deliberately set fire to a number of bins at two locations in Sydney’s Inner West the day prior.

The matter was heard at a children’s court today where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Tuesday 1 October 2024.

The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or 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.