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New Annual wraps up with weekend of free festival fun

First Nations culture will take centre stage this weekend as City of Newcastle’s 10-day New Annual festival wraps up with a host of free events.

Museum Park will be filled with the sights and sounds of the Awabakal people as part of Ngiarrenbumba Burrai (Our Country), featuring a program of dance, native food and language workshops and special performances.

New Annual Senior Producer & Curator Adrian Burnett, Ngiarrenbumba Burrai (Our Country) curator Luke Russell and Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz attend a First Nations dance workshop in Museum Park as part of New Annual.

The same location will tonight play host to This Land, a free musical showcase of nationally renowned and local First Nations artists presented in partnership with the University of Newcastle, headlined by Kamilaroi-Samoan R&B sensation, Becca Hatch.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the last weekend of New Annual offers great value for families.

“Around 50 percent of performances and activities at this year’s New Annual festival are free or under $25,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This weekend’s amazing events taking place across the city, also include live music and workshops, the exhibition by internationally renowned South Sudanese photographer Atong Atem, as well as the popular Chalk the Walk 3D art trail across the streets of Newcastle.

“Global Gathering at Museum Park on Saturday is a celebration of diverse traditions, food, art forms, and cultural expressions by people from all over the world who now call Newcastle home.”

Wheeler Place will host Shaun Parker’s Found Objects across the weekend, an epic outdoor, family dance theatre work utilising everyday objects. Following each performance there will be a 20-minute workshop giving the audience the opportunity to connect with the performers.

On Saturday, 20 artists will turn Wheeler Place into an urban canvas as part of the Easel’d Live Paint Jam.

Museum Park will also be taken over by up to 70 local drummers, who will feature in Dancenorth’s epic production, NOISE, with shows tonight and tomorrow.

Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said New Annual gives Novocastrians an important platform to showcase their talent.

“Half of the New Annual program is local, including singers, actors, dancers, artists and playwrights,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“It’s so exciting to see local talent on the bill alongside world-renowned arts and cultural practitioners from across Australia.

“Following a few tough years, the festival offers a vital economic boost for Newcastle’s recovering creative arts and live music sectors that were heavily impacted by COVID-19.”

Visit www.newannual.com for more details about the full program.

$10 million for Aboriginal organisations to Close the Gap

Expressions of interest are now open for Aboriginal organisations to apply for the next round of Community and Place Grants.

$10 million funding for the grants, to deliver immediate and tangible on-ground activities to support Closing the Gap, were confirmed in the first Minns Labor budget handed down on Tuesday 19 September.

In launching the grant round, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs David Harris said Aboriginal controlled organisations could apply for up to $250,000 in funding for new programs, infrastructure, equipment and vehicles.

“Aboriginal organisations know what their communities need to thrive and that is why this grants program is so important,” Mr Harris said.

“It gives Aboriginal communities a direct say and direct access to funding to make tangible differences on the ground.

“We know that to close the gap, Aboriginal people must determine, drive and own the desired outcomes in partnership with government and that is exactly what this program is all about.

The Closing the Gap NSW Implementation Plan 2022– 2024launch commits to drive tangible change against all 5 Priority Reform areas and 17 Socio Economic Outcome targets agreed in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Community and Place grants support communities to deliver locally led solutions. $10 million in funding is available in this round.

Applications will be assessed via a 2-step process:

  • Stage 1: EOI from Monday 2 October to 30 October 2023. EOI applications will be assessed for eligibility and program alignment, with applications being approved to provide a full application by AANSW Deputy Secretary.
  • Stage 2: Full applications from 4 December 2023 to 29 January 2024.
  • Projects must be delivered between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. 

Closing the Gap is a top priority for the Minns Labor government. The first Minns Labor government budget delivers $1.5 billion in targeted programs across the whole of government to Close the Gap and empower Aboriginal communities across NSW.

“We know that when Aboriginal people have a direct say on issues that affect them, we get better outcomes, and that is what we intend to do in government,” Mr Harris said.

Details of the grant program can be found at Aboriginal Affairs NSW: Grantslaunch.

NSW Government welcomes Disability Royal Commission findings and recommendations

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability handed down its final report yesterday.

The NSW Government is reviewing the report, its findings and recommendations.

The final report, which has been made public today, makes 222 recommendations covering a wide range of issues and systems to strengthen the rights and inclusion of people with disability.

Since 2019, the royal commission held 32 public hearings, examined 837 witnesses, and received more than 10,000 submissions.  

The Department of Communities and Justice and the Disability Council NSW are co-convening a forum with stakeholders from the disability sector on October 23 to discuss the royal commission’s findings.

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington will attend the forum.

The NSW Government’s formal response to the royal commission’s final report will be provided within the next 6 months.

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:

“Over the past 4 years, the royal commission has shone a light on the serious abuse, exclusion and injustice that people with disability face across our society.

“The fact that so many people with disability came forward to speak with the royal commission shows that these issues are far too common, and we all have to do better.

“The NSW Government is grateful to every person with disability, their families and communities, who shared their stories with the royal commission.

“We want to honour everyone’s contribution to the royal commission by carefully and methodically considering each of the 222 recommendations.”

Remembering police lives lost in the line of duty

Today we honour and remember all the people of the NSW Police Force who have died in the line of duty.

September 29th holds special significance across Australia and the Pacific as National Police Remembrance Day.

It is a day to reflect and pay tribute to the bravery of those who dedicate their lives to protect, serve and keep their communities safe.

No new names have been added to the NSW Wall of Remembrance this year, but we pause to remember Constable Matthew Joseph Arnold and Constable Rachel Clare McCrow of the Queensland Police Force and Constable Anthony Woods of the Western Australia Police Force who died while performing their duties in the previous 12 months.

We pay our respects to 14 serving members of the NSW Police Force who have passed away in the previous 12 months and remember the 275 names already inscribed on the Wall.

The annual National Police Remembrance Day service was today held at the NSW Police Wall of Remembrance in the Domain.

Premier, Chris Minns and Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley attended alongside Acting NSW Police Commissioner, Dave Hudson, Lieutenant-Governor of NSW, His Excellency the Honourable Andrew Bell and other distinguished guests.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Police Remembrance Day is a reminder to the entire community of the dangers police officers face every day.

“We owe police a great debt of gratitude and we pay tribute to all the officers we have lost.

“Today is not only about honouring the officers who have died but also showing our support to all serving officers.  We thank you for your commitment to serve our community.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“We can never forget those who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.

“The NSW Police Force do an outstanding job day in, day out. They have a tough job but do it with such dedication, compassion and commitment and for that we thank them.”

“Our thoughts go out to the grieving families of our fallen officers. The scale of their loss is difficult to conceive but the NSW Police family is there to support them.”

Acting NSW Police Commissioner Dave Hudson said:

“Each year on 29 September, we pause to remember these officers for their courage and selfless dedication to protecting the community.

“We also pay our respects to the families, friends and colleagues left behind, who will forever mourn the loss of their loved one.

Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

New research hub to fight heart disease opens in Sydney’s southwest

The NSW Government has partnered with 2 giants of medical research, The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research and the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute to form a strategic partnership and cardiovascular research hub in south western Sydney.

Minister for Medical Research David Harris, who attended the launch, said the aim of the new hub is to make a life-saving impact where it’s needed most, driving changes, and boosting heart disease research.

“This new collaborative hub, the first of its kind in Australia, will be a vital tool in boosting NSW’s reputation as a global centre of innovative heart disease research,” Mr Harris said.

“The hub will enable research to progress faster and deliver new treatments and medications that will improve the lives of people living in southwest Sydney, who have higher risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as well as people living right across Australia.”

This innovative hub made possible with strong support from South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and UNSW Sydney, will significantly boost heart disease research and accelerate future scientific breakthroughs in a region with the highest heart-related hospital admissions in the state.

The partnership will see a new Chair in Cardiovascular Research established by the Ingham Institute, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, SWSLHD and UNSW Sydney. The goal is to appoint a world-class academic clinician-researcher, to be based at Liverpool Hospital, who will drive new research to improve the substantial burden of cardiovascular disease in south western Sydney.

The chair will provide academic and clinical leadership, foster excellence in collaborative cardiovascular research, innovative teaching, and clinical care. The partnership will also see the development of a team of researchers that will be based at the Ingham Institute, a world-class centre for clinical trials. The research team will have direct access to the expertise and cutting-edge technology of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said the establishment of the hub reinforces Liverpool as a fast-growing centre for innovation and research in health.

“The work being done at Ingham Applied Medical Research is game-changing and this partnership with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute will save lives in south-west Sydney.

“The NSW government has committed $150 million over 10 years to support cardiovascular research. As part of this investment, $8.7 million has been allocated to 9 research projects involving expert multidisciplinary teams from several research institutions. Three of these grants include research teams from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and the Ingham Institute.

“Investment in medical research is critical for driving scientific discoveries and supporting the development of innovative therapies to improve health outcomes for all Australians and I am proud to be a part of a government that sees that.

“By attracting quality researchers from interstate and overseas, we are boosting the NSW economy, attracting larger proportions of national research funding to the state, and making NSW the premier state for heart health research in Australia.”

Australia-ASEAN Council Board appointments

Today, I announce the appointments of Professor Sango Mahanty, Ms Audra Morrice and Ms Hayley Winchcombe to the Australia-ASEAN Council.

The new appointments bring together Australians from a diverse range of backgrounds, each with different perspectives and experiences in Southeast Asia.

Professor Mahanty is a human geographer studying the politics of social and environmental change, and has vast environmental and development expertise in Southeast Asia. Her recent Australian Research Council Future Fellowship explored these themes along the Cambodia -Vietnam border, a region of rapid social and environmental change.

Ms Morrice is a chef, author and a television presenter, and has long been an advocate for forging cultural connections. She is an Ambassador with the Singapore Tourism Board and an Ambassador for Sustainable Gastronomic Tourism for the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

Ms Winchcombe will bring a wealth of experience as Chair of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership; her appointment will ensure the next generation continue to forge long-lasting ties with the region. Ms Winchcombe is an Associate at Mandala, and was previously an economics, policy and business strategy consultant with Accenture Strategy.

I am pleased that University of Tasmania Professor Nicholas Farrelly will continue to serve on the board for another term. I thank the outgoing board member Ms Tamerlaine Beasley for her substantial contribution to the Council over the past six years.

The Australia-ASEAN Council generates opportunities to strengthen Australia’s connections with ASEAN member countries, comprising over 675 million people.

For more information visit the Australia-ASEAN Council.

CLIMATE TRIGGER NEEDED AMID CLIMATE COUNCIL REPORT & NEW COAL PROJECT APPROVAL

The Greens have today backed an expert report from the Climate Council calling for climate change to be a key objective in new environment laws, as Labor signs off approval for the new South Wambo coal project in NSW. The Greens have slammed the Government for approving more fossil fuel projects as we head into a hot dry summer.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for the Environment:

“Another day, another new coal project approved by the Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.

“The Greens welcome the Climate Council’s expert report today calling for climate change to be a key objective within our environment laws. That’s why we are calling on the Government to work with us on our Climate Trigger Bill currently before the parliament.

“Every time the Minister approves a new coal or gas project it makes the climate crisis worse. That means more frequent and extreme bushfires and extreme weather events.

“Coal and gas approvals wreck our River Murray and our Great Barrier Reef

“Australia’s environment laws are broken. We need laws that stop pollution from new coal and gas projects. The Labor government should work with the Greens to fix them with a Climate Trigger that would new stop coal and gas in its tracks.

“Minister Plibersek has one job as the Environment Minister, but rather than protecting the environment, she keeps giving green light to big coal and gas mines and making pollution worse.”

Labor funded lawfare blocks natural gas approvals

Shadow Minister for Resources, Senator Susan McDonald, said today’s Federal Court decision to overturn the regulator’s approval for a significant offshore natural gas project in Western Australia, was another example of Labor’s funding for green activists undermining Australia’s future prosperity.

Senator McDonald said that this Government’s failure to fix their broken offshore approvals process for natural gas, combined with their deliberate decision to fund green lawfare, has made their anti-gas agenda clear for all to see.

“The Government has sat on its hands and done nothing to resolve a known issue which has ground approvals for offshore development to a halt,” she said.

“The Prime Minister needs to apologise to the people of Western Australia for impeding investment and jobs in the west.

“Commonwealth funding for legal action to pick apart the Government’s own broken approvals regulations is a farce that will impact gas production and supply for both domestic manufacturing and energy firming as well as our international partners’ energy security.

“The Government claims it continues to support the gas industry, yet the millions it has spent on the Environmental Defenders Office will lead to more environmental legal activism, destabilising the industry and increasing Australia’s sovereign risk.

“The Government needs to come clean about how much taxpayer money has gone towards torpedoing the future production of Australian natural gas.”

Albanese government’s new attack on small business

The Albanese Government risks burdening Australian small businesses with more complexity and costs in their response to a review of the Privacy Act.

Shadow Attorney-General Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said: “It would be appalling but not surprising if Labor’s new privacy regime targets small businesses by imposing more complexity and costs at a time when they are already struggling.”

“The Government’s own paper acknowledges that privacy laws “disproportionately and unreasonably” burden small businesses – but it has decided to impose those burdens anyway,’’ Senator Cash said.

“We all want better protection for our information, but we’re talking about imposing a complex and difficult regulatory regime on hairdressers, nail salons and mechanics, and potentially making them pay civil penalties if they make a mistake,’’ Senator Cash said.

“The Government has agreed-in-principle that organisations must appoint a senior employee to be responsible for privacy within the entity. How is that going to work for a small business, like a nail salon or a mechanic?” she said.

“We are talking about changing the rules for how we deal with personal information. If we don’t get it right there are potential far-reaching consequences for businesses and families across the country,’’ Senator Cash said.

“We want to know the Government’s proposals will adequately protect Australians’ personal information without creating additional red tape for people who are just trying to get ahead,’’ Senator Cash said.

“This Government has an ambivalent, bordering on hostile attitude to small businesses. They keep hitting small business with complexity, confusion and costs on multiple fronts – just look at the proposed industrial relations laws” she said.

Statement on Army restructure

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) must be ready to defend Australia. They are the ones who are trained to fight and win our wars. The ADF has a vital mission, and failure is not an option.


To prevail in a crisis, the ADF need our support—from the Government, from the Parliament and from the Australian people. The ADF must have clarity from its elected leaders.

Clarity about the threats we face. Clarity about the national strategy. Clarity about the mission. Clarity about capabilities. Clarity about funding. Clarity about resolve. Yet, so far, we’ve seen little clarity from the Albanese government. Instead, we’ve seen dithering and indecision.

The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) painted a deteriorating strategic environment for Australia, yet the Albanese government response was underwhelming. There was no new money. Instead, there was cost-shifting. There was cannibalisation of capability. There were yet more reviews. The DSR hinted at a smaller, shrunken Australian army under Labor.

Today’s announcement about the relocation of Army units to Darwin, Townsville and Adelaide confirms that Labor intend to shrink and disperse the Australian Army. This will make us weaker.

We need to be investing in Army, our people, and combat power. Instead we are shrinking our land forces to one armoured brigade. That means we only have one hand to play in a high intensity conflict.

This decision disintegrates the Adelaide based 9th Brigade, through the redeployment of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) to Darwin and the removal and consolidation of personnel and armoured equipment to Townsville.

The shrinking of armour is a consequence of the cuts imposed by the Albanese Government to the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program from 450 to 129. These cuts to Australian armour degrade our land power and weaken our ability to win the close fight. Only fools would rule out the use of armour in future ground wars, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. We ignore military history at our peril.

The Opposition recognises the strategic importance of Northern Australia. We acknowledge our deteriorating strategic circumstances—as we did in the former Coalition government—through the Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan of 2020. Which is why we disagree with this weak approach by Labor.

The Australian Army will be impacted by this decision. Our soldiers and their families will face serious disruptions to family life, schooling, local connections, networks and spousal employment. This will damage morale.

The ADF is struggling to recruit and retain people. It is clear that Labor has no plan for our personnel and their families. We have no details on how the move will be supported by additional housing and infrastructure, and the impact on the communities affected.

Questions that need to be answered include:

  • How will the Labor government recruit and retain people for Northern Australia?
  • What incentives will be offered for service in the north?
  • What is the plan to address the chronic housing shortage?
  • What additional funding will be needed for base upgrades?
  • What will the innovation and experimentation unit do?
  • How will we retain our armoured warfare expertise without tanks?

Without clear answers to these questions, we can expect to see higher separation rates from the ADF. In 2022, ADF numerical strength was 2.7% below guidance. In 2023, that shortfall is expected to double to 5.6% below guidance. We are meant to see the force grow to 62,000 people but under the Albanese Government real numbers will be 3,500 short.

Our people must come first. They are our greatest asset in national defence. Investing in Army, retaining and bolstering presence in our capital cities, and giving certainty to our serving families should be Labor’s focus.