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The NSW Government has confirmed 2 new appointees to the board of Venues NSW for the positions of Chairperson and Member of the Public Service. 

The Cabinet has endorsed former Premier of NSW Morris Iemma as the new Chairperson and has endorsed Emma Hogan as a board member.

The role of Chairperson was advertised after the previous chair vacated the position in February 2023.

The NSW Government instructed the Premier’s Department and the Office of Sport to lead an appointment process for this role.

An assessment panel shortlisted the candidates. The assessment panel was comprised of Office of Sport CEO Karen Jones, Diane Lesson (nominee of the Acting Secretary, Premier’s Department) and Axiom Managing Director Peter Perry.

A selection panel assessed candidates on their skills, experience, suitability and capability. The selection panel was comprised of International Olympics Committee Vice President John Coates AC, Office of Sport CEO Karen Jones and Axiom Managing Director Peter Perry.

A former Premier of NSW, Mr Iemma has 40 years’ experience in public administration and the non-government sector.

Mr Iemma is currently chairman of the NSW Government Cancer Institute, the Usman Khawaja Foundation, Clean Energy Partnerships and the Astra Institute of Higher Education.

The former premier is currently on the boards of Football NSW and the Ingham Medical Research Institute and was previously a trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust (which has since become a part of Venues NSW).

The former government also appointed Mr Iemma to:

• Chair, Greyhound Racing NSW
• Board Member, NSW TAFE
• Commissioner South District, Greater Sydney Commission.

Ms Hogan joins the Venues NSW board after leading the Department of Customer Service since 2019.

She was only months into the role when she guided the department to support the NSW Government’s response during the unprecedented 2019-20 bushfire season, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and flood and storm events more recently.

She is currently a board member at Destination NSW and ReachOut Australia, is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and is a member of Chief Executive Women.

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the work of those involved in the selection process and those who put their name forward for the roles.

“I am looking forward to working collaboratively with Morris Iemma and the entire Venues NSW board to ensure that we can continue our mission to make NSW and our venues the premier destination in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Morris Iemma is an outstanding candidate with a wealth of experience, including as the 40th premier of NSW – and that is something that history shows both sides of politics can agree on.

“Emma Hogan is an incredible leader and public servant. Her work leading Service NSW and the people of NSW throughout COVID-19 was exemplary. She is an outstanding professional who will no doubt bring invaluable customer-focused experience to the board.”

Seven additional trucks will be removed from the road for 6 months with suspended registrations as the NSW Government raises the pressure on companies and owners to stop overheight vehicle incidents in Sydney’s road tunnel network.

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Since Friday 14 July, 6 companies and 1 owner-operator whose vehicles breached height clearance rules and stopped traffic have been served with registration suspensions, part of the Minns Government’s zero-tolerance approach to overheight incidents.

BG Drilling Pty Ltd has been issued with a suspension notice for an incident on 16 June in which a truck registered to the company struck sprinklers in the Airport Tunnel, activating the deluge system. A northbound lane had to be closed and traffic held in both directions while the truck was taken out of the tunnel.

Absperex Services Pty Ltd will also be without a truck after an incident on 29 June when its truck fitted with a self-loading container arm hit the physical barrier ahead of the Cooks River Tunnel before the driver lowered the arm inside the tunnel and proceeded to a breakdown bay on the M5, disrupting traffic.

The 5 other companies that will have 1 less truck in their fleets for the next 6 months are Brisbane Transport Pty Ltd, Recycling Metal Industries Pty Ltd, Transpacific Superior Pak Pty Ltd, D & H Group Australia Pty Ltd and an individual operator.

These follow the first registration suspension in late June since a deal between the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the NSW Government which sees all overheight breaches automatically referred to Transport for NSW for investigation and sanction.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The NSW Government is a supporter of the freight industry and the overwhelming majority of truck drivers who do the right thing, know the height of their load and plan accordingly. These registrations suspensions are necessary because our message of zero tolerance has unfortunately not yet got through to all drivers.

“The message to those who own and operate trucks is if you do not plan properly and your drivers find themselves overheight and being backed into a slip lane then there are severe consequences for your business – not just the individual driver’s licence and bank account.

“Registration suspensions are one way to ensure we see fewer cases in which Sydney traffic is brought to its knees. We have also formed the Overheight Truck Taskforce, bringing together NSW Police, the freight industry, Transport and the Transport Workers’ Union to formulate new strategies to address this persistent problem.”

The Minns Labor Government is fulfilling another election commitment, referring the Anti‑Discrimination Act 1977 to the NSW Law Reform Commission for review.

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The Law Reform Commission has been asked to consider whether the Act could be modernised and simplified to better promote the equal enjoyment of rights and reflect contemporary community standards.

In the terms of reference, the Commission has also been asked to consider:

• whether the range of attributes protected against discrimination requires reform
• whether the areas of public life in which discrimination is unlawful requires reform
• whether the existing tests for discrimination are clear, inclusive and reflect a modern understanding of discrimination
• the adequacy of protections against vilification, including whether these protections should be harmonised with the criminal law
• the adequacy of protections against sexual harassment and whether the Act should cover harassment based on other protected attributes
• whether the Act should include positive obligations to prevent harassment, discrimination and vilification, and to make reasonable adjustments to promote full and equal participation in public life
• exceptions, special measures and exemption processes
• the adequacy and accessibility of complaints procedures and remedies
• the powers and functions of the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW and its President, including potential mechanisms to address systemic discrimination
• the protections, processes and enforcement mechanisms in other Australian and international anti-discrimination and human rights laws, and other NSW laws
• the interaction between the NSW Act and Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws
• any other matters the Commission considers relevant to these Terms of Reference.

The NSW Law Reform Commissionlaunch is opening the call for preliminary submissions from today.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“There have been monumental shifts in society, demographics and attitudes since the Act came into force nearly half a century ago.

“We have come a long way since 1977 and it is time for the anti-discrimination laws to come under scrutiny so we can assess whether they are still fit for purpose.

“We are a far more multicultural and accepting community than we were when the current laws were drawn up almost 50 years ago and social mores and our way of life have changed.

“It is essential to conduct reviews of this nature to ensure our laws represent who we are today as a community.”

The design and construction of the new state-of-the-art Mardi Water Treatment Plant is locked in with Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd winning the contract to deliver the project.

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The NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program has invested $6.85 million along with over $75 million from the Central Coast Council to build a world-class water treatment plant that will provide up to 160 million litres of clean water every day.

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said it is the first time since 1992 the plant has been upgraded which was great news for the community because it will help secure the region’s water future for the next 5 decades by improving treated quality and reliability.

“While it has been a faithful workhorse for the past 40 years, the time has come to overhaul the technology and modernise the infrastructure to keep up with the demands of a growing community while shoring up water security,” Ms Jackson said. 

“Water treatment plants are a community’s first and last line of defence when it comes to producing safe drinking water. It is crucial the infrastructure can cater for an increasing population and be a reliable source of water in both the wet and dry times.

“Bringing the plant’s technology into the 21st century will enable it to treat raw water to an even higher standard, particularly during low flow periods when there are increased levels of sediment and organic material, including algae, that need to be treated.”

Minister for Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said the upgrade is a major win for the Central Coast community.

“Our community is growing and a modern, secure water supply is a must,” Mr Harris said.

“These important infrastructure upgrades are vital for the health of our community, economy and environment.”

Central Coast Council Director of Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the project is now moving into the design phase with construction just around the corner, which will be a huge milestone.

“The Mardi Water Treatment Plant provides about half of all drinking water to the Central Coast and transfers extra supply to the Hunter region, so future-proofing this asset and delivering safer and more secure water is a key priority,” Mr Loader said.

“It’s exciting to see progress being made and we’re looking forward to the finished product which will treat up to the equivalent of 64 Olympic swimming pools of top-notch treated drinking water for 210,000 homes and businesses across the Central Coast and parts of the Lower Hunter.”

This is one of the largest water infrastructure projects undertaken by council since the Mardi to Mangrove pipeline which was completed in 2011.

Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2024 and be completed in late 2025.

Clinicians and healthcare professionals will come together at a pivotal forum in Murrumbidgee region to discuss the future of healthcare in regional NSW and the expansion of the Single Employer Model (SEM).

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Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health, Dr Michael Holland, will deliver a keynote address at the In Rural, By Rural, For Rural forum on 20 – 21 July in Wagga Wagga.

“The forum will focus on the experiences gained during the implementation of the SEM and the model trialled in the Murrumbidgee region, known as the ‘Murrumbidgee Model’,” Dr Holland said.

“The Murrumbidgee pilot has shown that an expansion of this scheme makes rural general practice a more attractive option for doctors as well as making it easier for people in regional New South Wales to see a doctor close to home.”

The SEM provides a tailored, coordinated pathway for doctors wanting to become Rural Generalists during their training in public health facilities and private GP practices.

The NSW Government will be able to access exemptions under Section 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1974 for up to 80 Rural Generalist trainees per year, as part of a 2022/23 federal budget commitment.

The initiative will commence at the beginning of the 2024 training year.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, said the experience gained during the Murrumbidgee trial would help shape the expansion of the SEM, which was recently announced by the federal and NSW governments.

Mr Park said this specific training ensures GPs have the right skills to work in the unique environments of regional and rural NSW.

“After the successful trial in Murrumbidgee, we are looking forward to expanding the scheme into other regional and rural areas of New South Wales,” Mr Park said.

“This forum is an opportunity for clinicians and healthcare professionals to learn from the team at Murrumbidgee that piloted the program.”

A partnership between the Commonwealth, NSW Government and Community Housing Provider, BaptistCare has delivered 162 new social and affordable homes in Carlingford for hundreds of people in need.

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This project will see 97 social housing applicants moved from the waiting list and into secure accommodation. The remainder of the apartments will be allocated to eligible affordable housing applicants.

The Commonwealth has delivered $70 million through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) to community housing provider BaptistCare, helping to deliver more homes under the NSW Government’s Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF) Program.

In addition to developing the Carlingford site, BaptistCare will manage the property and provide wrap-around support services to tenants under their 25-year contract term to empower tenants to lead more independent and satisfying lives.

The new estate has 162 new state-of-the-art homes comprising 82 one-bedroom, 63 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments for over 55s and single-parent families at risk of homelessness, in unsafe housing and those impacted by domestic violence.

The NSW Government is committed to delivering housing that people are proud to call home. The Carlingford housing community features a children’s playground, community spaces, underground carparking and native landscaping.

The Albanese Government recently announced a new $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of new social homes across Australia, including $610 million for NSW.

This will enable the construction of even more homes like the ones being opened in Carlingford.

The apartments are independently certified to the Liveable Housing Australia Guidelines Silver standard, ensuring that the homes are accessible for tenants.

Tenants have started to move into their new homes which became available in June.

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“The housing crisis is real and growing, and it’s through innovative partnerships like this one, which leverages the expertise of the community housing sector and vital Commonwealth funding, that we’ll deliver more social and affordable housing sooner.

“Our priority is to continue to deliver more social and affordable housing across NSW. We want to get more people off the housing waitlist and into homes.

“In addition to providing safe and secure housing, the wraparound services are crucial to ensure we are supporting some of our most vulnerable with access to the help they need to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

“Achieving better outcomes starts with having a safe place to live. We are not only delivering homes, we are giving people who need them the best opportunity for a brighter future.”

Federal Minister for Housing Julie Collins said:

“This exciting partnership between different levels of governments, along with this community housing provider shows what is possible when we’re working together.

“I’m proud that our government’s new Social Housing Accelerator will enable the construction of even more homes like these in NSW.

“It’s also a great example of the kind of projects we could be helping build under the Housing Australia Future Fund.

“But this secure, ongoing pipeline of funding for social and affordable housing is being blocked by the Greens and the Liberals in the Senate.”

BaptistCare CEO Charles Moore said:

“Community housing providers like BaptistCare are an important part of the ecosystem in delivering quality social and affordable housing and wrap-around services that support people facing rental stress and homelessness across the state.

“Having a secure place to call home is vital, but housing is more than just having a roof over a head. BaptistCare is focused on creating genuine communities for our tenants and encouraging friendships, connection and support networks for the people who live there.

“Tenants will have access to a suite of support services such as counselling, group programs and chaplains, no interest loans, and aged care services where relevant, as well as the reassurance that our staff are onsite and available to assist with their independence and wellbeing.”

The NSW Government and the Public Service Association (PSA) have agreed to a 4 per cent salary increase for over 80,000 public sector employees in the Industrial Relations Commission yesterday.

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More than 80,000 NSW Public Sector employees will now receive a 4 per cent salary increase and a 0.5 per cent increase in superannuation backdated to 1 July 2023.

This includes prison officers, park rangers, school support staff, child protection workers, case workers, Rural Fire Service employees, State Emergency Service employees, Service NSW employees, and public servants covering a range of occupations across all Government departments and agencies.

The decision is the culmination of successful collaboration and negotiation between the Government and the PSA in reaching agreement to improve pay for NSW public sector employees.

The 4 per cent increase under the Government’s Fair Pay Policy is the biggest pay increase for NSW public sector employees in over a decade.

The Government is continuing to work with other public sector unions on the resolution of other negotiations.

The wages cap is obsolete following the NSW Government’s 4 per cent pay offer.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“The Minns Government is getting on with the job of fixing the recruitment and retention crisis.”

“The Liberal-National’s wages cap eroded trust between essential workers and government, suppressed wages and led to the staffing crisis. The wages cap is dead.”

“This will benefit the people that keep the state’s essential services like schools, prisons, and national parks up and running.

“The people of NSW deserve world class public services. We will continue to keep people at the heart of all of our work.”

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope has called on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on which cost of living measures and services it will now cut to pay for its unfunded $3.4 billion public sector wages blowout.

“The Minns Labor Government is crowing that the wages cap is dead and obsolete. What is really dead and obsolete is Labor’s promise that any public sector wage rise beyond the 3% cap for 2023/24 would be fully offset by productivity gains. To say the wages cap is dead does not absolve Labor of that promise,” Mr Tudehope said.

“Minns’ deal with his PSA union mates announced today, along with the even higher unfunded wage rise offer currently being voted on by the HSU, will together cost the NSW taxpayer $3.4 billion more over the next four years than provided for in Labor’s pre-election budget costings,” Mr Tudehope warned.

“Four months into Minns’ four year term and we can see that Labor’s priorities are wrong, Minns’ is delivering jobs for the boys, deals with union mates and broken promises. The people of NSW deserve better.” Mr Tudehope said.

On the eve of the Matildas opening game at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Sydney’s train network is again in chaos with commuters forced to pay for union industrial action in the lead up to this year’s election.

The Labor Government’s Train Review1 released earlier this year concluded the cause of the significant increase in the backlog of infrastructure inspections and maintenance was due to ongoing union industrial action in 2022.

With a sold-out crowd of over 80,000 fans descending on Homebush tonight, Shadow Minister for Transport, Natalie Ward is calling on Minister Jo Haylen to guarantee that Sydney Trains will provide safe and reliable transport.

In an unbelievable move, the Minns Labor Government has appointed Josh Murray, a former Labor staffer and Party member, to become the new Secretary for Transport.

Mr Murray has no experience in operating or managing any public transport system, with his main qualification for the role seemingly being a former Chief of Staff to a Labor Premier.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented:

“The complete destruction of Sydney Trains’ reliability under the new Labor Government is a joke. Sydney is on the world stage for the Women’s World Cup, and the Transport Minister can’t get the trains to run on time.

“These maintenance repairs are only required because the trade unions prioritised political industrial action in the lead up to an election ahead of regular maintenance, and commuters are now paying the price.

“The Transport Minister chose a PR spinner over qualified candidates to lead Transport for NSW, if this is the level of reliability under Labor, Sydney will grind to a halt.”

Give your view on how to make renting fairer.In NSW, nearly one in every three people rent their home. The NSW Government is working to improve rental laws to support renters, landlords and the community. Better rules for rentals will help give more stability for renters and certainty for landlords.If you live in, own or manage a rental property, or are interested in renting rules in NSW, we want to hear from you.Your feedback will help us make changes that consider anyone in NSW affected by these laws.

https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw-rental-laws