Category: NSW News

Bronte surf life savers have 1 million reasons to smile today after their club was awarded $1 million towards the redevelopment of the iconic surf life saving club in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The club is among 32 across NSW to share in more than $5 million towards the upgrade, restoration or construction of facilities under the NSW Government’s Surf Club Facility Program.

The $3.39 million ground floor redevelopment will form part of a new multi-storey community facility that will increase participation, improve social and community connection, and make Bronte Beach safer.

Other funding awarded under the program includes $632,000 for upgrades to North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club, $398,000 for an education and training room at Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club and $151,000 to replace the roof at Narooma Surf Life Saving Club.

The Surf Club Facility Program helps surf life saving clubs develop facilities that encourage increased participation and facility usage as well as improve community safety.

Get more information on the Surf Club Facility Program, including the recipients in the 2023/24 Program.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“NSW Surf Life Saving Clubs deliver a world-class service, protecting swimmers in the water and keeping people safe at the beach.

“Rain, hail or shine, surf lifesavers never waver in their commitment to protecting the community and likewise, the NSW Government will not waver in its support of these incredible volunteers.

“That’s why we are providing $21 million over 4 years to ensure our surf life saving clubs have modern, inclusive and accessible facilities.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Our Surf Life Saving volunteers might have hung up their hats for this patrol season, but they were critical over the warmer months in keeping the beach-loving communities of NSW safe.”

“It is important that surf clubs are kept in good condition so that our dedicated volunteers have a safe and modern base to operate from, and I’m proud to be part of the government that invested a record amount in Surf Life Saving NSW in the budget announced last year.”

“The NSW Government has also invested in new and replacement jet skis, as well as Emergency Response Beacons up and down the coastline to help SLSNSW volunteers reach more areas to conduct life saving rescues.”

Member for Coogee, Dr Marjorie O’Neill said:

“Bronte Surf Life Saving Club volunteers are the unsung heroes of our community, protecting locals and visitors in the water.

“This grant will contribute towards the development of a modern, fit for purpose facility that enables surf life savers to better protect the community.

“Both this grant and other funding awarded to surf life saving clubs in the Eastern Suburbs will ensure they can continue to deliver a world-class service.

Surf Life Saving NSW President, Peter Agnew said:

“The volunteer patrol season has only just finished, with our more than 20,000 active surf lifesavers performing over 4600 rescues, 1 million preventative actions and almost 20,000 first aid treatments. It has been one of our busiest patrol seasons in years.

“The Surf Club Facility Program has always contributed greatly to the ongoing important community service our lifesavers deliver, through enhanced facilities to ensure our lifesavers are rescue ready, trained and equipped appropriately, and it’s excellent to see 32 clubs benefitting from the latest round of funding.

“Our surf clubs also act as key community hubs, promoting inclusivity and social cohesion, so this investment benefits all the community.

“We have 129 clubs across the state, with 78,000 members, and this program allows those members, who do such important work volunteering at our beaches, to focus on saving lives.”

The NSW Government will introduce significant legal reforms that will make it more difficult for those accused of serious domestic violence offences to get bail.

The reforms include:

Reversing the presumption of bail for serious domestic violence offences, by expanding the category of “show cause” offences. This will require alleged offenders to demonstrate why they should be out in the community. This test will now apply to the following offences:

• serious domestic violence offences committed by intimate partners, including sexual assault, strangulation with intent to commit another offence and kidnapping, with a maximum penalty of 14 or more years jail; and
• coercive control, which will be a criminal offence from 1 July 2024.

Requiring electronic monitoring of people charged with serious domestic violence who are on bail. This means that this cohort is either held in remand or electronically monitored.

Expanding the categories of offences for which bail decisions can be ‘stayed’, that is the accused person remains in custody while prosecutors challenge their release in the Supreme Court. This will act as an additional safeguard to prevent the release of dangerous domestic violence offenders.

For all other domestic violence related offences, requiring bail decision-makers to consider, where relevant:

• domestic abuse risk factors, including ‘red flags’ such as behaviour that is physically abusive or violent; behaviour that is sexually abusive, coercive or violent; behaviour that is stalking; behaviour that causes death or injury to an animal; behaviour that is verbally abusive; behaviour that is intimidation.
• the views of victims and their family members, where possible, about safety concerns for all domestic violence offences.

Changes to make it easier to prosecute perpetrators who use tracking and surveillance devices as a tactic to maintain control over their victim.

Changes to weekend bail courts across NSW, to ensure bail decisions are made by magistrates (for example, using audio visual links) with consultation on the design and rollout of the scheme.

These legislative reforms come after the NSW Government announced a $230 million package to improve the response to domestic and family violence through primary prevention, early intervention and crisis response measures.

In addition, NSW signed up with the Commonwealth Government in a share of $1 billion in new federal funding for emergency accommodation for people fleeing domestic violence, to be included in the upcoming Federal budget.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“These new reforms will make it more difficult for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail.

“These are long overdue, targeted and will help keep women and children safer.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Today, we are sending a clear message: that the safety of victims is the paramount consideration of the justice system.

“We will continue to consult legal and sector stakeholders to strengthen the law, to better support the safety of women and children.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“This reform complements the $230 million package the NSW Government announced last week to improve NSW domestic violence prevention and support.

“We consulted with stakeholders as we developed this package to strengthen bail laws.”

Patients, visitors and staff will soon have improved access to Port Macquarie Base Hospital with construction set to begin on new and free car parking facilities to boost capacity at the campus.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said the work is part of the NSW Government’s $33.97 million Helipad and Car Park Project, to enhance accessibility to local health services.

“Work will shortly begin on a new street-level car park and an expansion to existing parking spaces, which will deliver more than 180 additional parking spaces on site,” Mr Park said.

“The new facilities will provide safe and convenient access to hospital services for patients, visitors and staff, now and into the future and be a welcome addition for the Port Macquarie community.”

Eire Constructions has been awarded the contract to build the car park, following a competitive tender process, with construction to begin on site next week.

The new car park will be located on the site of the old helipad, which was recently replaced by a new rooftop helipad completed last year.

Member of the Legislative Council and Labor spokesperson for Port Macquarie Cameron Murphy said the progress on the new car park was an exciting milestone for the community.

“The new car park facilities will further support recent enhancements at Port Macquarie Base Hospital, including the new rooftop helipad which is improving the safety and efficiency of transfers of critically ill patients,” Mr Murphy said.

The car park project is expected to be completed in early 2025.

Traffic management plans and signage will be in place throughout construction and the community is thanked for their patience while work is carried out.

For further information about the project please visit Health Infrastructure’s website.

The NSW Opposition will move to stop Minns Labor Government regulations that are set to increase rubbish and recycling costs for households across the state. 

Shadow Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the Opposition will move to disallow the Local Government (General) Amendment (Tendering) Regulation (No 2) 2023, that will drive up council costs which will be inevitably passed on to ratepayers. 

“Due to their poor design and a lack of consultation with stakeholders, Labor’s regulations forced operational inefficiencies on waste management contractors, and will potentially force councils to pay double for accrued employee entitlements,” Mrs Tuckerman said. 

“Pushing through poorly thought amendments without consultation or advice from councils, waste contractors, or peak industry bodies has resulted in a terrible outcome for everyone – particularly NSW ratepayers who will end up having to pay for this mess.” 

Shadow Minister for Environment Kellie Sloane said the failure to ensure transparency and fairness within the regulation has already impacted councils’ waste tendering process. 

“Labor’s rushed plan is stifling competition and innovation across the waste management and resource recovery sectors,” Ms Sloane said. “This will have long-term repercussions for the providers, councils and our environment.” 

“We urge the Government to engage with stakeholders, and work together on a new and effective solution,” Mrs Tuckerman said. 

“Councils and communities across the state are calling for certainty, simplicity and cost efficiencies – these regulations from the Minns Labor Government is the exact opposite”. 

The NSW Government is today announcing that it will issue a formal state apology to those convicted under discriminatory laws that criminalised homosexual acts.

This comes as we mark the 40th anniversary of the Crimes (Amendment) Bill 1984 passing in the Parliament of NSW, which decriminalised homosexuality in our state.

The decriminalisation of homosexuality by former Premier Neville Wran, marked a significant step forward in the journey of law reforms for gay and lesbian communities.

As we reflect on this historic occasion, the NSW Government acknowledges the challenging history that LGBTIQ+ communities have faced in our state.

We recognise the trauma people of diverse sexualities have endured, and continue to live with, because of past decisions that criminalised and persecuted them based on their sexuality.

While we have made significant strides of progress over time, we acknowledge that there is still much work to be done to ensure the equal rights for all members of our community.

As we commemorate this significant anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to building a NSW where every individual is valued and respected.

NSW is the last state to issue an apology. Victoria and South Australia formally apologised in 2016, followed by Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania in 2017.

The formal state apology will be made in NSW Parliament.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“I know that to many this apology will not remedy discrimination of the past, but I hope that it brings some semblance of closure to those that were unfairly targeted by laws of the day that criminalised gay and lesbian people for being who they are.”

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Penny Sharpe said:

“Decriminalisation of homosexuality was a significant step that smashed through the wall of laws that allowed discrimination against gay men and the LGBTQ community.

“A formal apology to those who suffered at the hands of the law that criminalised homosexuality recognises the harm done to many and acknowledges that it was wrong.”

More than 100 paramedics have boosted their skills in delivering emergency maternity care in the community after completing a maternity training program developed by Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) and NSW Ambulance.

The program pairs paramedics with midwives for a full day’s placement at Nepean Hospital’s Birth Unit to support paramedics to manage out of hospital birthing and maternal emergencies by offering interprofessional education and clinical placement support.

A typical day of activities in the program sees paramedics assist in all types of birth scenarios including vaginal births (including water births) and emergency caesareans, as well as how to provide care during obstetric emergencies such as shoulder dystocia.

The training program enables paramedics to provide care throughout labour, birth and early postnatal period.

Midwives are able to share their expert knowledge to help paramedics further develop their skills to provide care during birth in the community, this includes in the event of an obstetric emergency.

NSW Ambulance Paramedic, Tim Timmer, has completed the training program and already applied skills learnt from his experience working with the hospital midwives.

Minster for Health Ryan Park said:

“For midwives, provision of labour and birth care are day to day experiences, but paramedics experience labour and birth less often in the community.

“When they do, the births are often unexpected and may sometimes be emergencies.

“This training ensures that our paramedics are best placed to provide care and treatment in these circumstances, fostering improved health outcomes.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said:

“This partnership with Nepean Hospital will further optimise maternity care in the local community.

“This is a great example of highly skilled paramedics working collaboratively with hospital maternity clinicians to share their skills and knowledge to provide the best possible care to women and their babies.”

Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said:

“I am so proud that this life saving training is taking place right here at Nepean Hospital.”

Nepean Hospital Divisional Manager of Women and Children’s Health and midwife, Kerry Tosswill said:

“This program is a great opportunity for these two highly skilled professional groups to come together to learn and share knowledge to improve patient care.

“This program demonstrates innovation in action within our health system.

“The program is leading quality improvements to ensure safer patient care through partner agency engagement and inter-professional learning.

“The skills transfer that occurs within this clinical placement support is immediate, delivering instant benefits to maternal outcomes and experiences.”

NSW Ambulance Paramedic, Tim Timmer said:

“You develop a heightened confidence and when you apply that out in the field you can systematically go step by step knowing that you’ve seen this before, you know what happens next and this is what I need to do.”

Wollongong Hospital is significantly improving wait times through innovative use of the Short Stay Unit in the emergency department (ED), almost tripling the use of these beds in the past 12 months.

ESSA (Emergency Short Stay Area) operates like a ward within the ED itself – one designed to provide a short period of ongoing treatment and observation of a patient’s condition, avoiding an unnecessary hospital stay.

Wollongong Hospital is prioritising patients needing treatment for moderately complex conditions through the ESSA, freeing up beds in the ED for more seriously unwell patients and enabling the earlier discharge of patients who don’t require admission to hospital.

In the month of January 2024, almost 770 patients were treated in Wollongong Hospital ESSA, compared with 282 patients treated in January 2023. Performance has further improved in March, with 831 patients managed though ESSA.

In the 3 months to December 2023, 43,216 people attended EDs across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and the number of ambulance arrivals was 12,532, which represents the second highest quarter on record.

Despite this increased demand, ED staff achieved some remarkable results, including a 27.5%-point improvement in the number of patients transferred from ambulances to the ED within 30 minutes at Wollongong Hospital, compared with the same quarter in 2022.

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“These improvements have come about thanks to excellent collaboration of staff across ED, hospital wards, transit lounge, patient flow teams and multidisciplinary working groups.

“Together, they’ve implemented more robust analysis, better communication pathways and focused on the availability of transition-to-ward beds that better aligns with peak ambulance arrival times and maximised the efficacy of the short stay model of care within the ED.

“Collectively, these initiatives are having an impact.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“The innovations undertaken by frontline health staff at Wollongong Hospital to improve patient access to care is clearly working and I’m incredibly grateful for their efforts.

“The stronger focus on the use of the short stay area means people in our community are being seen and treated faster.”

Motorists in Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Marsden Park, Auburn and Merrylands are among the biggest beneficiaries of the NSW Government’s $60 toll cap.

Motorists are claiming an average $264 in cash back from the signature cost-of-living relief scheme that began on 1 January.

Drivers in Auburn ($600.51), Lakemba ($516.33) and Wiley Park ($465.87) have received some of the largest average toll relief returns during the first month of claims.

More than 47,600 claims have been lodged by drivers who are able to claim for the first 3 months of the toll cap period.

A total of $46.8 million is available to 350,000 toll account holders to be claimed after the first quarterly period.

Claims will open for future quarters on 9 July 2024, 9 October 2024 and 9 January 2025.

Get more information and claim Toll relief.

Top 20 suburbs ranked by total claim amount

Suburbs	Count of Claims	Total Claim Amount ($)	Avg Claim ($)
Baulkham Hills	706	$222,463	$315.10
Blacktown	659	$212,152	$321.93
Marsden Park	555	$196,844	$354.67
Auburn	324	$194,564	$600.51
Merrylands	445	$190,828	$428.83
Quakers Hill	496	$155,753	$314.02
Castle Hill	525	$153,210	$291.83
Kellyville	468	$134,130	$286.60
Greystanes	460	$129,795	$282.16
Lakemba	235	$121,337	$516.33
West pennant Hills	285	$100,813	$353.73
Glenwood	303	$97,365	$321.34
Bankstown	299	$96,948	$324.24
Schofields	295	$95,646	$324.22
Glenmore Park	381	$89,775	$ 235.63
Wiley Park	184	$85,720	$465.87
Punchbowl	217	$83,763	$386.00
Seven Hills	266	$83,013	$312.08
Melonba	196	$81,248	$414.53
Mascot	276	$77,782	$281.82

Minister for Roads John Graham said:  

“The $60 weekly toll cap is working just as it was designed – getting relief to where it is needed most.”

“This means much-needed dollars in the pockets of drivers across western Sydney, those areas where people have little other choice than to use toll roads and where public transport alternatives are not as viable as in other parts of Sydney.

“The NSW Government’s number one priority is delivering cost of living relief and I urge those drivers who are eligible for toll relief to link their toll account with Service NSW.”    

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:  

“The Labor Government’s toll relief scheme is helping households save money, and people can easily access this using the Service NSW website.”  

“There is a video on the Service NSW website which walks customers through the steps of the claim process. People need to link their toll account to their MyServiceNSW account, follow the prompts and submit a claim if eligible.”  

“Toll relief customers have found the online claim process seamless and accessible, and team members at Service Centres are also available to assist people or you can call 13 77 88 for assistance. I encourage people to jump online and make a claim.”  

The NSW Government is continuing to invest in meaningful action to increase support for victim survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence across the state, with the opening of a NSW Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety.

Committed to during the election, the NSW Government has partnered with Settlement Services International (SSI) and invested $4.4 million to establish the centre. This will increase accessibility to services and safety for migrant and refugee women by having holistic, well-informed and culturally appropriate responses to domestic, family and sexual violence.

The NSW Government recognises the unique needs of migrants and refugees whose domestic, family and sexual violence experiences are overlaid and further compounded by other factors, including social and institutional barriers that inhibit access and present challenges that services and systems must address and overcome.

With thousands of women to be assisted each year, the centre will be based in South Western Sydney but operate statewide, including outreach into regional and rural NSW.

Recognition of the need for specialisation of services is a key element of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32, with the plan highlighting the need for nuanced and cultural responses informed by the knowledge of and connection to communities.

SSI is a national organisation working with culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities in NSW with subject matter expertise in domestic, family and sexual violence.

This announcement follows the government’s commitment this week to provide $230 million over 4 years as part of an emergency package to enhance support for domestic, family and sexual violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.

This package includes:

• $48m to roll out the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program statewide and to expand the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS).
• $45 million has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence with measures to be announced in coming weeks. 
• Nearly $24 million for specialist DV support workers within the justice system.
• $2 million over 4 years to support the Domestic Violence Death Review Team and its work to deliver robust research around risks factors, trends and impact of service delivery.
• $2.1 million over 2 years to improve and continue the Corrective Services program EQUIPS Domestic and Family Violence, delivered to offenders in custody and under supervision in the community to prevent reoffending.
• $48 million to secure and increase funding for workers who support children accompanying their mothers to refuges. These specialist workers support them, including with education and mental health measures.
• Support of $700,000 for the NSW Domestic Violence Line (DV line).
• $38 million for the implementation of NSW’s first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy. The Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2027 will develop a range of initiatives to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.
• $8.1 million over 4 years for the ‘All in’ early childhood pilot, to prevent domestic violence by teaching young children about healthy relationships.
• $5m in funding for research into perpetrators and effective interventions.

Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“This announcement is part of how we are coming good on our election commitment to close a service gap by providing a vital statewide service for migrant and refugee women and their children experiencing domestic violence.

“NSW and Western Sydney in particular is made up of diverse communities with unique needs that we must address to tackle the scourge of domestic violence head on.

“This is 1 of a suite of initiatives the NSW Government is implementing to respond to the ongoing crisis of violence against women.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“Domestic, family and sexual violence is an issue that impacts all communities. In order to properly address this issue we need to make sure we are delivering for all communities.

“The Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety will help deliver much needed services to our culturally and linguistically diverse communities in a manner that is accessible and respectful of their culture.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The centre would drive better support for diverse communities and deliver on an election commitment.

“Domestic and family violence is a scourge which stains all sections of our community and the response must be tailored to communities in all their diversity in order to be effective.

“Not only are women from multicultural backgrounds more vulnerable to abuse, sadly they are less likely to seek help due to a range of cultural and language barriers.

“This centre will bring together the state’s best minds in multicultural women’s safety to address immediate risks to women and children and create long term positive change for the whole community.”

Settlement Services International CEO Violet Roumeliotis said:

“The centre will address a critical need for migrant and refugee women and children.

“All communities in Australia experience domestic and family violence. But we don’t have equal access to support.

“The centre will collaborate with other services to address the diverse needs of migrant and refugee women and their children who are at risk of, or experiencing, domestic, family and sexual violence. It’s about creating equity and ensuring support is accessible to all victim-survivors, no matter their language, culture or visa status.”

The centre commenced operation in April.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic, family or sexual violence, please call the toll-free number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for support on 1800RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au. 

45 community projects will share in more than $6.6 million in funding in the latest round of the ClubGrants Infrastructure Grants Program.

ClubGrants Category 3 directs profits from registered clubs’ gaming machines into community projects, while clubs receive a tax concession in return.

A total of $12.5 million in funding will be made available through the program this financial year, including to a women’s shelter, evacuation centre and an indoor futsal stadium.

This round of Infrastructure Grants includes sport and recreation facilities, disaster readiness projects, community infrastructure, and arts and culture-related works.

Key projects supported in this latest funding round include:

• $250,000 for Foodbank NSW & ACT to purchase a flat deck freezer trailer with insulated frame to help deliver more food relief to regional NSW. Foodbank already distributes more than 327,000 tonnes of food each week to community partner networks.
• $188,600 contribution to an evacuation centre in the grounds of Gooloogong Public School which will provide an essential venue in times of emergency for the community and surrounding areas. It will also provide a space for community family daycare throughout the year for local working families.
• $184,700 to refurbish the outdoor toddler play-therapy space at Karitane Early Parenting Service at Campbelltown.
• $93,500 to upgrade the gates and security system at the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter enabling staff to better respond to security breaches and improve accessibility for women staying in the shelter.

The Government’s review into the effectiveness of Clubgrants is ongoing as the Government continues working to improve integrity and public trust in government grants.

This is the first formal review into the scheme since 2013.

See the complete list of Infrastructure Grants Program recipients

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“These grants support local communities with projects that help rebuild community spirit by increasing participation in sports and recreation, encouraging participation in the creative arts and museums, and helping communities prepare for natural disasters.

“I am especially pleased that we have been able to support the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter to upgrade their gates and security system, which will help keep women and children escaping domestic and family violence safer as they try to rebuild their lives.

“I am also pleased that eight disaster readiness projects will receive more than $900,000 to help ensure communities are better able to withstand emergencies.

“We received a large number of funding applications in this round and I commend all of those who committed their time and energy into preparing such high-quality submissions.”