Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is today releasing the nation’s first State Disaster Mitigation Plan (SDMP), developed by the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

The plan reveals the cost of building and infrastructure damage from natural disasters could hit $9.1 billion per year by 2060 if mitigation steps are not taken, as more frequent and severe events take an increased toll on homes, businesses and government infrastructure.

This is up from an estimated average annual cost of damage at $3.1 billion per year in NSW.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority was established following the 2022 NSW Independent Flood Inquiry, led by Professor Mary O’Kane and Mick Fuller.

The State Disaster Mitigation Plan was issued pursuant to the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, which requires the NSW Reconstruction Authority to prepare and implement a state disaster mitigation plan to provide guidance about the mitigation of disasters across NSW.

The Plan outlines how the rising costs of disasters can be addressed by refocusing government policy towards risk-reducing actions, and details how government agencies can work together to help communities prepare for worsening bushfires, heatwaves, floods, storms and coastal erosion.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority will help coordinate delivery of the actions to improve community resilience and mitigate against disasters.

Since 2019, NSW residents have endured over 65 declared disasters, costing taxpayers more than $6 billion, with more than 20,000 homes damaged in 2022 alone.

Climate change is expected to increase the severity and frequency of natural disasters.

The SDMP includes a toolkit of measures to reduce communities’ exposure and vulnerability to disasters through awareness and preparedness campaigns, evacuation infrastructure and warning systems.

The actions include:

• Boosting the State’s “Get Ready” preparedness campaigns to ensure communities are better equipped.
• Building a new local government toolkit to guide councils in preparing for disasters and the impacts of climate change.
• Developing local Disaster Adaptation Plans that will help communities become more aware and prepared and will inform future planning processes and rebuilding and reconstruction efforts after a disaster occurs.
• Developing early warning systems so communities are better prepared when disaster strikes.
• Identifying mitigation infrastructure strategies and approaches to funding.
• Working with industry to review building codes to factor in greater building resilience through materials and design.
• Reviewing insurance levy arrangements and working with the insurance sector to factor in affordability in adaption planning.

The first 3 local Disaster Adaptation Plans are currently being developed for the Northern Rivers and Hawkesbury Nepean, while work will commence soon for a Central West plan.

In developing the SDMP, detailed analysis was undertaken to determine the biggest threats to NSW. The results showed that storms and floods present the highest risk to homes, businesses and infrastructure, while heatwaves and bushfires present the greatest risk to life.

Research for the plan shows the top 20 local government areas in NSW currently most at risk from multiple hazards are the Central Coast, Tweed, Clarence Valley, Ballina, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Hawkesbury, Sydney, Lake Macquarie, Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Sutherland Shire, Newcastle, Bayside, Liverpool, Wollongong, Parramatta, Lismore, Shoalhaven and the Inner West.

The authority will deliver the next State Disaster Mitigation Plan (SDMP) in 2026, which will identify projects for the longer term.

A copy of the plan can be viewed on the NSW Reconstruction Authority website from 9am AEST.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Historically, the state’s ability to prevent and prepare for disasters hasn’t worked as there has been only 3% of funding spent on prevention and 97% spent after an event.

“But we know that every dollar we invest in better preparing communities reduces future costs and will help make communities more resilient.

“The cost of inaction is too great: we need to better prepare and plan for disasters so we can lessen the burden on our communities. It gives us the tools we need to make better, more informed decisions about planning, so we can deliver more resilient homes away from areas of high risk.

“This is our opportunity to build better so that we can better deal with disasters that come and equip communities with what they need.”

Minister Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“We’re shifting the dial in how we address disasters as well as making sure we do not inadvertently put people in harm’s way through bad planning decisions. For the first time, NSW finally has a plan to begin turning that around with information on how we can invest in reducing risks before disasters occur to better protect communities.

“Successive years of unprecedented natural disasters have highlighted the need for NSW to meet the challenges of the future by working to reduce both the actual and social costs of natural hazards to our communities. The first-ever State Disaster Mitigation Plan outlines the actions NSW collectively needs to take to reduce the risks our communities face, from bushfires and floods to storms and coastal hazards.

“There is no easy or simple solution to these challenges. The focus of the State Disaster Mitigation Plan is to provide a framework and clear actions for reducing risk where we can, and adapting where we can’t, through improved warning systems and a focus on resilient infrastructure.

“The increasing risk of natural disasters also increases pressure on our emergency services staff and volunteers, who put themselves on the line keeping communities safe. This plan will help to manage that risk by reducing the impact of disasters before they occur.”

Deputy CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Simone Walker said:

“The NSW Reconstruction Authority is the first entity of its kind in NSW with the dual responsibility of proactively reducing the impact of future disasters before they happen, as well as responding after.

“This milestone plan gives NSW communities the first ever roadmap to reduce the risk of future disasters.

“This is critical because every dollar we invest in reducing risks will help people recover faster and reduce the cost of future disasters.”

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is moving ahead, with planning approval granted for the game-changing megaproject for Western Sydney.

It comes after the NSW Labor Government invested $200 million in the 2023-24 NSW Budget to expedite the project’s planning processes so construction can begin this term of Parliament.

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will connect Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via the growing communities of Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

The 10-kilometre extension will include 14 new light rail stops that will provide residents with a long-awaited public transport link and unlock future housing growth.

The approved light rail corridor includes alignment changes around Rydalmere that will make connections to the Rydalmere Ferry Wharf easier and improve travel times.

Passengers will be able to travel from Sydney Olympic Park to Camellia in around 30 minutes, and on to the Parramatta CBD in another 7 minutes.

Construction will be phased, with initial work to begin later this year on a new 320-metre public and active transport bridge over Parramatta River, between Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

Procurement to deliver the $602.4 million bridge is underway, with the initial contract for enabling works expected to be awarded later this year. This is the first stage in delivering Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, with main construction work on the bridge expected to start in 2025.

The bridge will connect the growing communities of Melrose Park and Wentworth Point, located north and south of the river. It will be the first significant bridge crossing over Parramatta River since the completion of the southbound Ryde Bridge in 1987 – nearly 40 years ago.

Enabling works on the bridge are subject to approval by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, and the NSW Government looks forward to a positive outcome of this process in the coming months.

Find out more about the Parramatta Light Rail project

Find out more about the Determination and Conditions of Approval 

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will be part of Parramatta’s first tram network in over 80 years. Tram testing is currently underway on Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 between Carlingford and Westmead via the Parramatta CBD.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“This is a major step forward for the city-shaping Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project, meaning our growing communities in Western Sydney will be more connected than ever before.

“With around half of local residents and a third of local employees projected to live and work across the project corridor, this new track will serve a population of close to 280,000 by 2041.

“Stage 2 will directly link residents in Parramatta to the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and give communities like Wentworth Point the public transport they’ve been promised.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“It’s great news that the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project has been given the green light. Density in our cities is only possible if we can provide the supporting infrastructure, and that includes transport.

“The previous government announced and re-announced this project 17 times, we’re getting on with it.

“People bought in growing communities in the centre of our city on the promise of future public transport links. The previous government couldn’t deliver on that promise, we will.

“The NSW Government will continue to work closely with its partners and stakeholders so that the Conditions of Approval are met for the ongoing delivery of this vital megaproject.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP said:

“I am thrilled the NSW Government has reached this milestone in the planning of Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2.

“I will continue to work with residents, businesses, and local groups to ensure vital transport links this one are delivered for our community.

“Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will connect communities on both banks of the Parramatta River directly to the Parramatta CBD. This will be a real game changer for the way people move around our city and I can’t wait to see work begin.”

The NSW Opposition welcomes additional protections the Government has announced for our State fish, the blue groper.
 
Since 11 January the Opposition has been calling on the Minns Labor Government to invest in greater education campaigns, to improve signage where spearfishing is occurring and to review penalties to ensure they’re a sufficient deterrent.
 
“We welcome the increased penalties for fishing blue gropers announced by the Government this morning,” Mr Speakman said. “However, the announced measures are incomplete.
 
“Banning line fishing will do nothing to stop the main problem – spearfishers illegally targeting gropers and being slapped with pathetic fines.
 
“While the Government has announced increased maximum penalties, it has failed:
·           to explain why it has not reviewed the inadequate $800 fine imposed on the illegal spearfisher who killed Gus the Groper in Cronulla;
·           to explain what education activities it will carry out; or
·           to commit to improved signage especially around known spearfishing spots.”
 
“My local community in Cronulla was outraged by the illegal spearfishing of the iconic Gus the Groper. They want our waterways to be a safe home for these ‘Labradors of the sea’.”
 
Shadow Minister for Environment Kellie Sloane said there have been numerous blue gropers killed across the NSW coastline in the past few months.
 
“While most fishers do the right thing, there needs to be better measures in place to protect these wonderful animals,” said Ms Sloane.
 
“The Minns Labor Government needs to explain what its proposed education campaign will involve and ensure improved signage so people are properly informed about these iconic fish and the new protections they enjoy.”

As more than 80,000 fans descend on Accor Stadium each night of the Eras Tour, new AI technology will be used to ensure Swifties are safe, calm and moving smoothly for the massive event.

Staff at Sydney Olympic Park and Transport for NSW will be working hard behind the scenes on each of the 4 nights, acting as eyes in the sky to support crowd control at the stadium’s high-tech coordination centre.

The AI program combines features such as de-identified CCTV footage, weather data and social media to accurately predict crowd movements and mood around the stadium.

This allows teams to prevent problems before they occur and implement a range of measures like opening more exits, redirecting people, giving live updates, deploying more staff or playing music to keep the mood up.

This will be the biggest test yet for the trial, which kicked off in 2023 as part of the NSW Government’s $45 million Smart Places Acceleration Program.

The technology has been successfully used for other events including the recent Laneway Festival and Big Bash League cricket.

Signs with QR codes have been placed around the stadium for people keen to learn more about the technology and provide feedback. 

The trial has been rigorously assessed under the NSW Government’s AI Assurance Framework to ensure the use of the new technology is ethical and real benefits are delivered to the community without compromising privacy or data security.

How to get to the concert and home swiftly:

Public transport is not only the most efficient way to get to the event, but we are making it part of the concert experience.

• A total of more than 1200 extra public transport services will run across the 4 nights.
• This includes more than 700 extra buses and 550 extra trains.
• Tay Tay Express Train Services will run from Central to Olympic Park every 8 minutes until 10:30pm then every 5 minutes until 1am.
• Central Station will shimmer as the concourse is decorated and the clock tower will be lit in a lavender haze for the occasion.
• The Eras Tour will continue onboard, with Taylor tracks to be played on the Swift Express runs.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“The Taylor Swift Eras Tour will be one of the biggest ever turn-outs at Sydney Olympic Park, with unprecedented crowd levels expected inside and outside the stadium.

“Crowds of this magnitude can be unpredictable, and we want to do everything we can to make sure people are safe and comfortable while moving around.

“The shows will be unforgettable for tens of thousands of Swifties, and this technology will help staff ensure the mood stays positive even when people are stuck in foot traffic leaving the venue after the superstar has belted her final note.

“These kinds of events are a huge test for our public transport network, and I want to thank Swifties in advance for their patience and understanding, and our frontline staff for their massive efforts.

“Embracing world-class technology is essential to making people’s journeys easier, safer and more reliable than ever before.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This new technology provides real-time insights, to help make every experience at Sydney Olympic Park a great one.

“With large events drawing crowds of more than 10 million visitors to the precinct each year, it’s important we use state-of-the-art tools to inform operations, keep people comfortable and avoid serious incidents.

“The software gives precinct staff an idea of crowd movements and capacities. It cannot be used for surveillance, tracking, or facial recognition, meaning individuals are never identifiable.”

A record amount of slope remediation and stabilisation work will take place this year to improve resilience along major roads through the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, starting this month with work on the Bells Line of Road.

Funding for the works is being provided by the Albanese and Minns governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This major effort to improve road safety will begin with remediation work at Mount Tomah from Monday 26 February, and it will be followed by remediation of 2 slope failures at Kurrajong Heights in March.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the works were focused on improving safety at multiple locations and enhancing the overall resilience of major road corridors.

“As most motorists would be aware, some slopes along the corridor were damaged by torrential rainfall between 2021 and 2022 that wrought havoc on the road network,” Minister Watt said.

“These works are about helping to improve the public road network and other critical assets so communities aren’t impacted as severely when more frequent weather events strike

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the primary area of focus will be Bells Line of Road, which is an important transport link for communities in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Central West.

“We have completed emergency work at 3 locations around the Botanic Gardens at Mt Tomah, while work to remediate a fourth site just west of the gardens should take place later this year,” Minister Aitchison said.

“Stabilisation work is also well under way to the slope failure on the Great Western Highway near Fairy Bower Road in Mount Victoria.

“This latest work kicking off will further remediate separate slopes at Mt Tomah and Kurrajong Heights – and with work beginning to address another slope failure at Victoria Pass in mid-2024, we are really improving safety at multiple locations and enhancing the overall resilience of the corridors.

“Other areas we will work on this year include Putty Road, which is another vital transport link for Blue Mountains and Lower Hunter communities, the Great Western Highway and Hawkesbury Road.

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said local residents recognised the need for this work to ensure they have a reliable and resilient road.

“We have seen through bushfires, storms and floods just how vital the Bells Line of Road is for locals, including the businesses who rely on customers being able to reach them. And it’s also vital as one of 2 direct links between Sydney and the central west.

“I note that this disaster recovery funding is on top of the $100 million that we have provided to NSW for additional upgrades to Bells Line of Road.

“We need this road to be safe and reliable, and that’s what the Albanese government will continue to work with the NSW Minns government to achieve.”

State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle welcomed the works.

“Road stabilisation and safety improvements to address damage caused by natural disasters in and around the Blue Mountains is essential and welcomed.

“In acknowledging the disruptions this may cause my community at times, I’m pleased to see the NSW and Commonwealth Governments working together and making good on our commitments to road safety.”

Remediation methods such as rock bolting, shotcreting and steel mesh installation will ensure the slopes are less likely to pose a hazard for road users.

While this work is essential for improving resilience and safety and will be coordinated to minimise inconvenience wherever possible, it also unfortunately means localised traffic delays will be unavoidable for much of the year.

Traffic impacts will include up to 3 separate lane closures along Bells Line of Road for much of 2024, and up to 2 lane closures along Putty Road mostly from the second quarter of this year.

Most remediation work will take place between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and, less frequently, on Saturday mornings. This will be communicated as necessary.

No work will take place on Sundays or public holidays, unless otherwise communicated. Portable boom gates will be used while work takes place to close lanes. Vehicles will be diverted into a single-lane with stop-start traffic control.

There will be traffic controllers and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h for the safety of workers and road users. 

More information on the program can be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Attorney General Michael Daley today announced the appointment of two new members to the NSW Sentencing Council, Melissa Burgess and Adam Hennessy.

Ms Burgess is committed to delivering reform to create better outcomes for Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and brings a strategic, collaborative and results-driven approach to the Sentencing Council.

For the past 17 years she has worked in the criminal justice system as a solicitor with the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) and Legal Aid NSW, including as Deputy Director of the Criminal Law Division since 2022.

Ms Burgess has been appointed to the statutory position of member with expertise or experience in Aboriginal justice matters.

Throughout his career Mr Hennessy has been dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and is committed to promoting fairness in the criminal justice system.

For the past decade he has worked in a range of areas, including state and federal public sectors, mental health and academia. Prior to that, Mr Hennessy worked with NSW Police for thirteen years as a lecturer and program coordinator teaching students and running training courses.

Mr Hennessy has been appointed to the statutory position of member representing the general community.

The Sentencing Council advises the Attorney General on sentencing matters, including undertaking consultation and reporting on issues referred to it by the Attorney General and providing an Annual Report on sentencing trends and practices. It comprises 16 members with diverse experience, including judicial officers, prosecutors, criminal defence lawyers, police, victims’ advocates and members of the community.

The appointments follow a public recruitment process in 2023 and both members will serve for three years.

Find out more about the Sentencing Council

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I would like to congratulate Ms Burgess and Mr Hennessy on their appointments to the Sentencing Council.

“The Sentencing Council plays a vital role in delivering justice in NSW and both individuals will bring a rich range of skills and experience to their positions. I would like to thank them for joining the Sentencing Council.”

The NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to provide additional support to wildlife hospitals, koala protection and research with more than $3.5 million in new funding provided to three regional wildlife care facilities.

Koalas in the state’s north will have a more secure future with $1.4 million allocated to complete construction of the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital in Wollongbar.

Friends of the Koala, based in Lismore, will receive a $110,000 grant to vaccinate 300 koalas against chlamydia, and develop a koala database.

This funding builds on previous NSW Government commitments to protect koalas in the northern rivers from vehicle strike and degraded habitats.

Grants totalling $460,000 were awarded to Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Tweed and Clarence Valley councils for signage to alert drivers to slow down and watch for koalas in vehicle strike hotspots.

Koala habitat restoration is also underway in the Northern Rivers region, with $810,000 invested to restore 660 hectares across private land and national park estate.

In addition to grants for Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital and Friends of the Koala, the NSW Labor Government is providing a $2 million grant to Port Stephens Koala Hospital to increase wildlife veterinary capacity.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the long-term survival of koalas in the wild and each partnership with councils, land managers, community organisation and wildlife groups is an important step toward achieving that goal.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“There are many reasons why a koala may be taken into care, including vehicle strike and disease.

“The NSW Government is taking steps to prevent koalas needing to be in veterinary care, and this funding helps to ensure that native wildlife have the best possible outcome when treated and returned to the wild.

“It is important that koalas have a bright future in NSW.”

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said:

“Koalas are a much-loved member of our community, and an iconic part of our region.

“This funding is a welcome announcement for our community which cares deeply for koalas and will greatly assist the amazing army of volunteers at Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

“Together we can help secure the future of koalas and other wildlife in our beautiful part of the world.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital is wonderful. We have already turned the first sod but this $1.4 million in funding ensures its place within our network of native wildlife care.

“Our local communities love our iconic koalas and the $110,000 in funding will help protect them against chlamydia, and importantly, keep track of them.

“Friends of the Koala in East Lismore is a fantastic organisation, professional, with compassionate and competent volunteers.

“I am proud to have advocated for and secured funding for these projects and very pleased to join Minister Sharpe to announce them here in the electorate.”

More than 175,000 people seeking non-life threatening medical care have avoided NSW hospital emergency departments (EDs), Healthdirect data from NSW Health reveals.

More than 315,000 people in NSW contacted Healthdirect between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Of these, more than half – or over 175,000 people – were referred to a healthcare service other than the ED or Triple Zero (000):

• 90,474 were referred to a GP;
• 35,243 were referred to virtual care or urgent care;
• 3,412 were referred to virtualKIDS care (a statewide service since 19 Dec 2023);
• 9,682 were referred to other pathways, such as pharmacies or allied health;
• 18,095 were provided with information; and
• 19,229 were provided guidance on self-care at home.

The NSW Government is encouraging people to contact Healthdirect for all non-emergency medical queries.

By phoning Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, callers will speak with a registered nurse. From there, the nurse can refer them to a GP, virtual or urgent care; a pharmacist or allied health professional; or provide guidance on how to care for their condition from home.

The NSW Health Single Front Door, delivered by Healthdirect, is a critical initiative providing alternatives to emergency department care. It is part of a broader range of measures the NSW Government is undertaking to ease pressure on EDs and improve the accessibility of appropriate care, including:

• Rolling out 25 urgent care services.
• Establishing the emergency department taskforce to explore ways to safely reduce ED wait times.
• Boosting staff and treatment spaces.

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We don’t want to see people and their loved ones waiting around emergency departments for lengthy periods of time – it’s not good for them, our staff, or other patients.

“All patients are seen and triaged on arrival at the ED and, as always, the most seriously unwell patients are treated first. During busy times, those with less urgent conditions can experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.

“We are embracing new and innovative ways to relieve pressure on our emergency departments by diverting unnecessary presentations.

“When you phone Healthdirect, you will speak to a qualified registered nurse who can organise an appointment with a GP for you, have a GP give you a ring, or guide you on how to care for your condition from your home.

“We want the Healthdirect number to be as second nature as Triple 0.”

Road safety experts from Australia and overseas, along with advocates for motorists and road victims will today gather at the NSW Government’s 2024 Road Safety Forum.

More than 90 experts are being brought under the same roof for the first time – and many more joining online – to focus on ways to improve safety on roads right across NSW.

Like all other Australian states, NSW has experienced a rise in fatalities on our roads since the COVID era and the forum will be an invaluable setting to consider solutions and innovations, drawing on the experience of Scandinavian countries that have had success in lowering their road tolls over the past decade or more.

The NSW Government is determined to co-operate with the Commonwealth on the national conversation on road safety, with a particular focus on data sharing among the states.

The Government has this week agreed to begin sharing crash information with motoring group NRMA to ensure continued transparency of road safety trends in NSW.

The forum’s keynote address is to be delivered by Dr Johan Strandroth who was instrumental in the implementation of Sweden’s “Vision Zero” approach which has been credited with lowering fatalities there since its introduction in the late 1990s.

According to the Australian Government, Sweden has the second lowest road fatality rate in the world behind only Norway. Australia was ranked 18 out of 31 OECD nations.

A key focus of today’s forum will be regional road safety and the effect of speeding, drink and drug driving. A third of the NSW population resides in regional areas, but just over two-thirds of the state’s road fatalities take place in our regions, including urban centres in regional areas.

The NSW Labor Government has been active in introducing new road safety measures, including the expanded use of mobile phone detection cameras that will this year begin enforcing the use of seatbelts.

The Government has also pioneered the carrot-and-stick approach through the demerit point scheme. More than 1.2 million NSW drivers will be rewarded with having a demerit point removed from their licence from April in return for maintaining a spotless record for 12 months from 17 January 2023.  

In conjunction with the forum, Transport for NSW is running an online survey to allow the public to have a say on a range of road safety topics.  

Have your say on road safety until 4pm Wednesday 6 March 2024

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“NSW is pleased to host this most important forum and I look forward to hearing from the most pre-eminent experts from Australia but also from countries that have had success in reducing fatalities on their roads in recent decades.

“Road fatalities have increased across Australia and many parts of the world after Covid. This forum is an opportunity to tap into the best ideas to counter that trend and make sure everyone gets home to their loved ones every time.

“The enhanced sharing and use of data around road crashes is an important element in improving safety in NSW and other states which is why our Memorandum of Understanding to share more information with the NRMA is another advance that we can build on.

“I want to remind the wider community that your input into this important issue is welcome and urge you to take part in the online survey being run in conjunction with today’s forum.”

Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Today’s forum is an important opportunity to collaborate and share ideas to help reduce fatalities and improve safety on our roads.

“I’m acutely aware that too many people are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, or in the passenger seat, and never coming home.

“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and has a lasting impact on not only the friends, families and communities of those involved but on our first responders who attend far too many fatal incidents.

“The NSW Police Force are out there day and night working to protect the community but they can’t do it alone. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to keeping our roads safe.

“Everyone has a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other roads users every time they get behind the wheel.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Today is an important day in NSW road safety history, as we gather together many different experts and stakeholders in the road safety space for the first time.

“Any death on our roads is a tragedy and as Regional Roads Minister I am particularly concerned that more than two thirds of these deaths take place on regional roads.

“We know country driving can be challenging – drivers in regional areas often drive longer distances on higher speed roads compared to those driving in the city. We know they’re often in older vehicles and environmental factors such as roadside hazards and bends in the road mean that a poor decision or mistake can be fatal.

“This is a conversation that I have been having across regional NSW since I came to office. I look forward to hearing the expert advice and to continue to work with rural, remote and regional communities to improve road safety in country NSW.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility and I urge every single road user to help us make sure everyone makes it home safely.”

Senator Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport said:

“Today’s road safety forum is an invaluable gathering that I hope will provide ideas and outcomes can be carried through to the National Road Safety Conference coming up.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility- from local, state and territory governments as well as the Australian Government and individual road users.

“The National Road Safety Conference has been convened to bring together Road Safety Ministers and Police Ministers from across the country to engage on the worrying trends we are seeing on our roads.”

The NSW Government will transform SafeWork into a standalone regulator following a 12-month inquiry by former judge The Hon. Robert McDougall KC.

The government has released the independent report as it continues work to create a modern, strong and fit for purpose work health and safety regulator.

The government has endorsed the report’s recommendations with further work underway to determine specific implementation details.

Many of the recommended reforms started after March last year, including reviewing SafeWork’s capabilities in triaging of incidents, improving the responsiveness of contact centre staff and pulling together SafeWork staff previously spread across the Department of Customer Service.

Other critical recommendations include:

• Requiring SafeWork to keep those affected by workplace incidents, including families of deceased workers and those seriously injured at work, informed of progress of investigations and prosecutions.
• Training more inspectors in dealing with psychosocial hazards in the workplace such as extreme workload and bullying.
• Reviewing complaints handling policies.
• Formalising data collection and analysis to make better compliance and enforcement decisions.

In opposition, Labor fought for the establishment of this inquiry to ensure that workers were protected, following a spate of scandals under Liberal-National Ministers such as an inadequate response to the emerging silica threat.

The Independent Review was informed by public consultation including submissions by former and current SafeWork staff, families of injured and deceased workers, unions and peak bodies, employer groups and SafeWork itself.

Detailed options are being developed on the possible design of the standalone regulator for the Government’s consideration.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“This government commits to all NSW workers that it will never allow the health and safety regulator to be compromised so badly again.”

“Worker safety is not red tape, it is not a tick a box function, it is not a cost of doing business.”

“It is a fundamental right for every worker to go to their job and come home safely.”

“We are committing to ensuring for family members that SafeWork will create improved processes to ensure they are informed at all steps of an investigation.

“We are committing to SafeWork’s inspectors that they will get the support they need to do their vital work.”

“I thank the Hon. Robert McDougall KC and those who made submissions to the review for their work.”

SafeWork NSW’s Trent Curtin said:

“SafeWork NSW is entering a new era. Our dedicated and passionate staff want to make sure that everyone that goes to work can come home safely.”

“The recommendations set out by the Hon. Robert McDougall KC will assist SafeWork to become a strong and responsive work health and safety regulator for NSW.”

“With work already underway, SafeWork NSW will take all steps necessary to analyse our regulatory approaches and support systems to ensure best-practise work health and safety regulation for NSW workers.”