Category: NSW News

More than 40 stakeholders from mining companies, unions, energy producers, industry groups, manufacturers and universities today joined the Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos at a roundtable conversation.

The event was an opportunity for local stakeholders to discuss the region’s core priorities as the NSW Government continues to establish Future Jobs and Investment Authorities in coal-producing regions in NSW.

The stakeholders provided their insights on how their sectors should be supported into the future as the region becomes less reliant on the coal industry.

It was a valuable opportunity for local stakeholders to discuss the region’s core priorities, including future employment and economic opportunities.

The Illawarra roundtable follows successful events in the Hunter and Central West in 2023. It is an important step as the NSW Government establishes authorities in the Central West, Hunter, Illawarra, and North West. 

The NSW Labor Government has committed $5.2 million over 4 years to establish these local authorities. They will work with the Commonwealth Government’s Net Zero Authority to support workers, industries and NSW coal mining communities.

A further roundtable will be held in the North West next month as the government finalises the Future Jobs and Investment Authorities model.

Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said:

“This roundtable is a great opportunity to consult with workers, the community and industry about how to tailor the local authorities for the Illawarra.

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to making sure that coal-producing regions, like the Illawarra, are supported to find new opportunities. 

“We’re working closely with local stakeholders to identify ways we can help workers and their families prepare for a strong and prosperous future. 

“We only have one chance to get the framework right to support workers and communities. The feedback from these conversations will provide important input as we create it.

“Our future productivity will rely on the workforce planning and economic diversification we do now.  The best way we can support coal producing regions like the Illawarra into the future is to get the right supports in place. 

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to ensuring we get this right, and that only comes from listening to the workers, the industry, and communities.

“The coal sector as we know it in NSW is changing. As part of this consultation I have heard a wide range of views from local stakeholders as to how we can best support new economic opportunities and new industries in the Illawarra region.”

Minster for the Illawarra & South Coast Ryan Park said:

“Beyond its natural beauty, the Illawarra is a hub of economic activity and jobs from a diverse range of industries.

“The NSW Government is determined to ensure our region and its families continue to prosper, remain agile and seize on the opportunities of the future.”

The NSW Government has today acted to fix the long-running crisis in NSW cemeteries and crematoria sector with improved consumer protections for customers and communities while providing long-term certainty for the sector.

Under the former government, the cemeteries and crematoria sector were severely mismanaged, allowing indecision and infighting to trump the needs of people at their most vulnerable when they have just lost a loved one.

Instead, they let a problem evolve into a crisis that left multiple religious groups set to run out of burial space within 3 years, crown cemetery operators accumulating more than $300 million in debt, and rogue operators left largely unregulated in the sector to prey on vulnerable individuals.

The former government failed to implement key recommendations from the Statutory Review of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 11th Hour Report, including to ensure the sustainability of Crown operators, which was handed down in 2020.

The NSW Government is addressing this crisis by acting on the recommendations of the IPART review and the Statutory Review’s 11th Hour Report. The priority areas identified in the strategic statement include:

• strong consumer protection for customers and communities
• supporting sustainable burial practices and identifying more cemetery land, and
• providing certainty for managing Crown cemeteries by finalising a two-operator model.

Changes being implemented in response to the reports are focused on strengthening the industry regulator Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW (CCNSW), allowing it to proactively address bad operators, improve consumer protections and manage risks for the government and community.

To support this the government will implement a recommendation from IPART and the Statutory Review of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act to expand the former Government’s Interment Industry Levy from Crown cemeteries to all active industry operators, driving equity and levelling the field in the sector. Revenue from the levy will be no higher than that required to provide the regulator with the resources it needs required to protect consumers at a particularly vulnerable time.

This change will come into effect on 1 July 2024. Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW will begin consulting with industry shortly through in-person workshops and webinars commencing 9 April 2024.

To give further confidence, the government will also:

• Develop a contemporary approach for the perpetual maintenance of cemeteries so enough funding is set aside by cemeteries to keep them adequately maintained into the future.
• Investigate legislative changes that can further modernise and streamline the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 to better support consumers and industry.

CCNSW is also currently rolling out a statewide licensing scheme for cemeteries and crematoria – the first ever for NSW – that sets new performance standards and consumer protections.

This new scheme will benefit consumers by providing more transparency around pricing and contracts, setting standards for maintenance and customer service and ensuring compliance with religious, cultural and spiritual requirements.

These standards will be further strengthened through clear rules and support to ensure cemeteries and crematoria remain financially sustainable and are operated and maintained in a consistent, transparent, and accountable way.

Operators will be required to have clear language and standard terms and conditions for contracts, which will also minimise the likelihood of rogue operators gouging vulnerable people.

The strategic statement has been published on the Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW website.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“We need a strong cop on the beat, for too long cemeteries were neglected by previous governments leading to a critical lack of supply for burial space in Sydney, with bad operators left unregulated and customers left vulnerable.

“We want all people in NSW to have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services that are respectful of culture and faith, and which are provided in a compassionate, consistent, transparent, and accountable way.

“Losing a loved one can be the most difficult time in a person’s life. We need to lift the bar with stronger regulation and better planning to ensure cemetery and crematoria operators and the public have transparency around pricing, service quality and future certainty.

“The sector has joined us on this transformation, and we thank them for their contribution, and we will continue to engage in genuine consultation on this journey as we shape the future of internment services to better serve the people of NSW.”  

The $11.6 million upgrade of the Corowa Saleyards, one of NSW’s largest sheep markets, has today been offically opened by NSW Minister Tara Moriarty.

The NSW Government is prioritising the resilience of our agricultural industry, and this upgrade will ensure the saleyard continues to play a critical role in supporting the industry and local communities across the Riverina.

About 600,000 head of sheep pass through the saleyards annually, generating average sales of more than $81 million.

The upgrade has been jointly funded by the NSW Government ($10.1 million) and the Federation Council ($1.5 million). It will provide a safer, more efficient, and more attractive facility for livestock buyers, sellers and the general public.

The government’s upgrade project to the 60 year old saleyards include:

• multi-purpose learning centre and administrative building for localising skill pathways
  new roof, which will better protect stock, staff and visitors from extreme weather conditions
• water catchment system and upgraded lighting system
• truck wash to provide improved biosecurity protections.

The upgrades will draw additional traders and visitors into Corowa and surrounding centres, spending money in local stores and providing downstream benefits for businesses and suppliers.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“Corowa Saleyards is already one of the biggest saleyards in NSW, and the government’s funded expansion will ensure it goes from strength-to-strength.

“It’s important to have major hubs like this facility in our regions because they futureproof our agricultural sector, support local economies and create opportunities for training and work.

“The flow-on impacts from the upgrades benefit sheep and lamb producers, as well as the transport and logistics and the education and training sectors.”

Federation Council Mayor Patrick Bourke said:

“The Corowa Saleyards redevelopment project has been a significant project for council to deliver and has resulted in our overall masterplan for the site coming to fruition.”

“This project has a strong focus on animal welfare, environmental responsibility, growth, and safety, and upon delivery will allow further future opportunities for the Corowa Saleyards to be unlocked in a holistic and strategic manner.

“This delivery of the new Corowa Saleyards precinct will not only improve the Saleyards facility moving forward but will go a long way in supporting the resilience of our local economy and wider agricultural trading market.”

Three outstanding women have been revealed today as the finalists for the 2024 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, showcasing the breadth of talent and innovation of rural and regional women.

Rebecca Keeley, Rae Knopik and Ruby Riethmuller have been recognised for their impressive contributions to rural and regional communities.

The winner of the NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, to be announced on 2 May, will receive a $15,000 Westpac grant to support a project, business or program that will benefit rural industries, businesses and/or communities. The winner will also go on to compete for the national award in September.

Find out more information on the award

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“Congratulations to Rebecca, Rae and Ruby for their outstanding contribution to their regional and rural communities. I’m pleased the NSW Government continues to support growing the talent of impressive women who are inspiring our regional communities.

“The diverse projects, businesses and programs these amazing women have founded is testament to their unique backgrounds, experiences and expertise. It is important awards like this acknowledge and celebrate women who are leading the long-term success of our regional communities.”

NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“Congratulations to the finalists who are excellent examples of strong, resourceful and resilient regional women.

“The NSW Government is investing in the people of rural and regional NSW. We are proud to support the award and celebrate the hard work and dedication of the three finalists.

“The finalists all share a passion for advocating for a better quality of life for the people living in our regions, whether it is providing wellbeing education and support for adolescent girls and gender-diverse young people, integrating sustainable practices in the fashion industry within rural communities or using innovative technology to improve healthcare across rural and remote Australia.”

ACT Minister for Women Yvette Berry said:

“Congratulations to all finalists – your work is making a difference but will also inspire future generations to step up with their own ideas to improve the life for those living in rural and regional Australia.

“Women are so often the unsung heroes in regional communities, working quietly to improve the lives of others with no expectation of acknowledgement.

“These Awards are a fantastic way to recognise the great contributions of women in our rural and regional communities.”

Managing Director of AgriFutures John Harvey said:

“The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award provides our state and territory winners a platform to build on their leadership skills to drive change in rural and regional Australia.

“This award acknowledges the future-shaping work these women are carrying out in their communities, and importantly, provides them with the support and leadership skills to keep building towards a stronger regional Australia.”

Finalist Rebecca Keeley said:

“I’m incredibly grateful to be considered among such profoundly impressive, trailblazing women from rural and remote parts of NSW/ACT.

“It is a blessing to be recognised with other women demonstrating tenacity and change in their respective fields like we hope to do in the allied health space, and I cannot wait to learn and grow with the other finalists.”

Finalist Rae Knopik said:

“Recognising rural women, in both their achievements and in their lived experiences, serves as a reminder of the power of collective action in creating lasting environmental and social change.

“Celebrating rural women for their work is vital because people in rural areas stand at the frontlines of experiencing and tackling the dual challenges of environmental injustice and economic inequality.”

Finalist Ruby Riethmuller said:

“Being recognised made me feel even more committed to continuing to improve the access young people living in rural areas have to effective, engaging and largely-preventative mental health support.

“I would love to think that any girl who calls the country home can look up to the women involved in this award as role models, and feel a stronger sense of hope, belief, inspiration and promise for themselves.”

NSW’s overdue planned surgery waitlist has been slashed by 85% since the NSW Government’s Surgical Care Governance Taskforce was first established in March 2023.

The outstanding commitment of our highly-skilled health staff, combined with the determined work of the Taskforce, has been instrumental in reducing the number of people exceeding the clinically recommended timeframe for planned surgery.

The taskforce, established in the early days of the NSW Labor Government, has seen over 12,000 less people waiting for an overdue procedure.

The most recent Bureau of Health Information Healthcare Quarterly reported 83.6% of all planned surgeries were performed on time in NSW public hospitals during the October to December quarter in 2023.

NSW public hospitals performed 59,422 planned surgeries during this time, with 99.5% of the urgent planned surgeries performed on time.

One of the ways the taskforce was able to achieve these results was by expanding the category of procedures eligible for same day surgery. These include hernia repair, gallbladder removal, tonsil removal, deviated septum surgery and sinus surgery.

The surgical care taskforce is one of a range of measures the NSW Government is using to take pressure off our hospitals. Among these measures is rolling out 25 urgent care services across NSW, empowering pharmacists to prescribe certain medications, increasing the use of virtual care, and making it easier for doctors in regional health districts to work in both GP and hospital settings.

We are also delivering major boosts to the workforce across NSW by rolling out safe staffing levels and making 1112 temporary nurses permanent.

Premier Chris Minns:

“One of the very first things I did as Premier was set up the Surgical Care Taskforce, so I am glad to see waitlist times moving in the right direction.

“Our healthcare system has been under incredible pressure in recent years, but we are committed to ensuring our public health services deliver the best possible health services for the community.

“There’s still more work to be done but I want to acknowledge the efforts of the taskforce – and the countless number of health professionals all over NSW – in ensuring people are getting the care they need as quickly as possible.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Establishing the taskforce was one of the first things after we did after coming into government and we’ve seen a remarkable turnaround.”

“There are close to 12,000 less people awaiting an overdue planned procedure, an achievement to be proud of and a testament to the taskforce’s commitment and effort to ensure the health system bounces back from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“None of this progress would be possible without the dedicated efforts of our clinicians and healthcare workers, who have worked so hard to perform so many procedures, as well implementing a wide range of innovative strategies, in order to see the wait list return to pre-pandemic levels.”

Chair of the Surgical Care Governance Taskforce and Program Director of Surgery at South Western Sydney Local Health District, Professor Neil Merrett

“We’ve seen planned surgical activity go from strength to strength as facilities across the healthcare system put in place a range of innovative strategies to build resilience and improve performance across surgical services.”

“This has been achieved by safely expanding capacity for same-day procedures which reduces the demand for overnight beds in busy public hospitals, additional surgery sessions, and partnering with private facilities to increase surgery capacity.

“We’ve also seen how state-wide strategies such as the Surgery Demand and Capacity Dashboard can provide greater visibility of planned surgery demand and identify operating theatre capacity issues.”

Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren:

“I’m really proud Campbelltown Hospital has had a major reduction in overdue surgeries, it’s a real testament to the workforce here and I am proud no one in our community is waiting longer than they need to for healthcare.”

Families in regional NSW can now access specialist cardiac care closer to home, thanks to a new outreach clinic providing echocardiograms for regional children with heart conditions.

The outreach clinic is an initiative of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) and is being hosted at South East Regional Hospital (SERH), Bega.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the clinic will play a crucial role in connecting high quality healthcare to children in the region.

“Children with congenital heart disease, rheumatic disease, or acquired cardiac disease often require regular heart screening via an echocardiogram, which must be performed by a specialist paediatric cardiologist,” Mr Park said.

“The specialised services provided by SERH’s outreach clinic will support the health and wellbeing of children from the beginning, therefore allowing us to attend to the long-term health of the community.”

Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland said that the outreach clinic will utilise specialists from SCHN visiting SERH with the equipment to perform echocardiograms.

“The clinic provides an excellent opportunity for us to enhance health accessibility in the area by collaborating with our regional colleagues, connecting specialised services and upskilling their teams in paediatric care,”  said Dr Holland.

SERH Paediatrician, Dr Caroline Stewart, said the 3-day clinic, which launched this month, will run four times a year and is expected to help more than 20 families per clinic avoid a trip to Sydney.

“We see children from birth to 16 years old with complex conditions from as far south as Mallacoota, north to Bateman’s Bay and west to Jindabyne, so to save even 1 trip per year makes a huge difference to regional families and the child’s quality of life.”

Dr Philip Roberts, Head of the Heart Centre for Children at SCHN, said keeping kids closer to home is the ultimate goal.

“We know the strain placed on a family when they are required to travel hundreds of kilometres from home for medical treatment, so our hope with this outreach clinic is that we can help avoid that inconvenience for some of our families, by bringing our care directly to them,” Dr Roberts said.

Southern NSW Local Health District Clinical Lead Paediatrics, Dr Susie Piper, said being able to offer the service locally is an incredible achievement.

“We have 23 families who would otherwise have to travel to Sydney or Canberra. For the families, knowing the clinic is going to be here every three months, and being able to come to a local clinic is great,” Dr Piper said.

“Our 5 paediatricians and nursing staff will also benefit from this specialist screening on site and there are teaching opportunities as well with our medical students from the Australian National University.”

For four-year-old Isaac Shearer and his family, having the test at Bega will save them the long, overnight trip from Bateman’s Bay to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney.

Isaac has a genetic condition called Marfan Syndrome and has regular appointments in Sydney for his condition. Mum Sarah Brierley is happy this new clinic will now save them at least one trip per year, when Isaac was younger and had more regular tests it would have saved them multiple trips.

The outreach clinic forms part of the Cardiac Care for Kids Outreach Program, a pilot program run by SCHN in collaboration with federal Department of Health. The program aims to extend outreach medical and nursing support services to rural and remote communities and their local health care facilities.

Up to 250,000 community sector workers would see their leave rights expanded under a landmark draft bill released today by the NSW Government for consultation.

The reforms will allow community sector workers to access long service leave sooner and accrue leave based on time employed in the sector, rather than time employed by a single employer.

Workers in disability care, family and domestic violence services, homelessness services and many other essential services will benefit from the reform.

The move responds to the rise of insecure work in the disability and community sectors and forms part of the government’s commitment to attract and retain key workers in NSW. Community services workers across NSW are known for their dedication to promoting social inclusion and wellbeing.

However, many workers face issues such as stress, burnout, and job insecurity, with high levels of casualisation. Information provided by employers suggests a portable leave scheme will help to address these issues.

And 75% of the 250,000 strong social services workforce in NSW are women.

Key elements of the scheme include:

• offering paid long service leave after 7 years, rather than 10 years
• allowing workers to accrue long service leave across multiple employers within the sector (leave is portable). Under existing rules, community service workers lose their long service leave if they change employer, despite the nature of the sector seeing workers frequently shift between employers or working for multiple employers.
• having 1 central agency administer long service leave, including records and leave payments.

Our plan will bring NSW in line with other jurisdictions (ACT, Victoria and Queensland) that have already established portable leave schemes for these sectors. NSW cannot be left behind and must value these essential workers.

A draft of the Community Services Sector (Portable Long Service Leave) Bill 2024 and a regulatory impact statement outlining the proposed model is now available for public consultation.

The public consultation opened on 26 March 2024 and is due to close on 30 April 2024.

To make a submission or complete a short survey on the proposed scheme, visit Have Your Say.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis:

“Community sector workers are often on short-term contracts with multiple employers and do not have access to long service leave, despite some working in the sector for more than a decade.

“By basing long service on time employed in the sector, workers will be able to accrue long service leave no matter how often they change jobs, providing an added incentive to choose and remain in the sector.

“A portable entitlements system aims to reduce the high level of staff turnover among community service workers, provide these essential workers with greater financial security and improve the level of care provided to clients.

“Whether you are a worker, employer, or someone interested in the scheme, I encourage you to have your say on how we can build a fair and robust scheme that better supports our community and disability service sectors in NSW.”

The NSW Government is continuing to prioritise the diverse needs of our agricultural industry. Landholders in western NSW have a great opportunity to have a say in how support services for drought, pest animals and other land management issues are delivered by the NSW Government by participating in the Local Land Services (LLS) Regional Landholder Survey.

Landholders who submit a survey will also be supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service with LLS to make a donation for each survey completed.

Previous survey results have played an important role shaping the programs, projects and planning of Western Local Land Services to ensure its meeting the needs of landholders across Western NSW as well as identify regional trends.

Some of the interesting findings from the 2020 survey include:

• 15,000 hectares — average property size
• 340km — average distance to the closest market for farm products
• 88% — of landholders experienced issues with pest animals.

In addition to the Regional Landholder Survey, Western Local Land Services is calling for input into its Aboriginal Community Survey, with results to be used to inform the delivery of future projects and programs.

The Regional Landholder Survey can be completed online via Western Local Land Services Regional Landholder Survey

The Aboriginal Community Survey will be completed via a hardcopy form at organised community events.  

The surveys take approximately 60 minutes to complete and results will be pooled so participants cannot be identified.

For more information, contact Sam Field on 0427 256 501 or sam.field@lls.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“These surveys are an opportunity for western NSW farmers and land holders to have a say in shaping the services and support provided by the NSW Government.

“They are also a way for aboriginal communities to add their voice to shaping projects and programs across the Western Local Land Services region.

“Landholders also have the added incentive of knowing they can complete a survey and it supports the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

“I encourage western NSW communities to get involved and complete the Western Local Land Services Regional Landholder Survey today.”

The NSW Government is reminding consumers to behave respectfully towards retail workers as shoppers and retailers prepare for the rush ahead of stores closing on Good Friday (March 29).

A 2023 survey of more than 4600 retail workers reported 87% of workers experienced verbal abuse from a customer, 12.5% reporting physical violence, and 52% reporting they had the same customer act abusive or violent on more than one occasion.

Workplace violence can be via a threat or action which causes either physical or psychological harm or injury.

In the retail industry workplace, this includes intimidating behavior which creates a fear of violence such as verbal threats, throwing objects or shoving, spitting or other physical contact.

Retailers should have systems and policies in place to help staff respond when faced with violence and aggression from customers.

SafeWork NSW is continuing to respond to an incident on February 18 where a 64-year-old worker was allegedly assaulted at a supermarket in Western Sydney. While NSW Police are investigating matters related to alleged criminal conduct, SafeWork NSW are reviewing the incident to see if there are breaches of WHS laws.

Tougher penalties for assaulting retail workers were introduced by the NSW Government last year with some offences receiving a maximum penalty of 11 years.

For further advice and resources relating to safety in the retail trade please visit the SafeWork website.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis, said:

“Easter is a great time of the year – it’s a major religious event, a public holiday and a major shopping opportunity for people of this state who are preparing for community celebrations, hosting guests at home or just trying to get away for a break.

“Let’s all remember – the people who are serving you this Easter are from our local community and they are the relatives of the people who live and work around you.

“If 1 person gets agitated while shopping it is hard enough on staff members, but when you are dealing with hundreds of customers a day the agitation absorbed by front line workers accumulates.

“Whatever pressure you may feel when going shopping please respect every retail worker who serves you.

“Retail workers have the right to feel safe when they go to work and there are now strong laws in place to protect them.”

Head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin, said:

“Workers’ compensation data over the last 3 years shows us most claims in the retail sector are made by sales assistants at fuel retailers, supermarkets and retail department stores – and around 60% are made by female workers.

“We are asking customers to maintain appropriate behavior when interacting with retail workers, and to have a little patience and understanding this Easter. We are asking employers and managers to notify SafeWork NSW of any incidence of violence in the workplace.”

Secretary of SDA NSW, Bernie Smith, said:

“Customer abuse is rife in Australian shopping centres, with 87% of workers being subjected to abuse including physical violence, with 1 in 10 reporting being spat on. This must change. Everyone has a right to feel safe at work.

“We ask customers to stop, reflect and do the right thing in shops this Easter so everyone including retail workers can feel safe and celebrate this special time.”

CEO Australian Retailers Association, Paul Zahra, said:

“This Easter, in NSW, criminals will face jail time if they assault or harass our frontline workers.”

“No one deserves to be spat on, threatened with weapons, intimidated or harassed for simply doing their job. So let’s shop up big this Easter but let’s shop respectfully.”