Category: NSW News

The NSW Treasurer will today reveal that privatising the state’s ports has left the people of NSW saddled with a potential liability of between $600 million and $4.3 billion.

Port privatisation contracts, along with boxes of other privatisation deeds, will be tabled in the Parliament today as part of the NSW Labor Government’s commitment to provide transparency to the people of NSW.

The Liberal National government sold off Port Botany and Port Kembla to NSW Ports in 2013. The Port of Newcastle was sold off a year later to a separate buyer.

Under the former government’s ports deal, the state would be liable to compensate NSW Ports if the Port of Newcastle were to develop a competing container terminal.

In a report commissioned by NSW Treasury, preliminary estimates by Deloitte Access Economics suggest that liability to the government could range between $600 million and $4.3 billion in today’s dollars out to the end of the contract in 2063.

Last October, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey wrote to port owners requesting consent to release these contracts.

The public should know the details of these sales for transparency and to understand if they got a good deal.

Documents to be tabled today also outline details of a port commitment deed signed with the Port of Newcastle.  This requires the Port of Newcastle to reimburse the state, should the state be required to pay NSW Ports.

IPART is currently working to set what the price of a 1-off payment to the state would be, to enable the Port of Newcastle to extinguish the reimbursement provision should it wish to do so.

IPART’s determination does not affect the Port Commitment Deeds with NSW Ports – the owner of Port Botany and Port Kembla.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will deliver a Ministerial Statement and table the contracts in Parliament today.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“After more than a decade, the people of NSW are finally seeing what the impact of selling off their assets looks like.

“They shouldn’t have had to wait this long to see these contracts. All this government had to do was ask.

“The public deserves to know exactly what is in the agreements made when public assets were privatised.

“The NSW Labor Government promised to end the secrecy and today we’re delivering on that promise.

“I thank all contractual parties for helping us show the people of NSW the reality of these privatisation deals.”

Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, Australia’s biggest annual ticketed event, starts tomorrow (Friday 22 March) at Sydney’s Olympic Park highlighting the best of our state’s regional communities, produce and livestock.

Over 12 days, more than 820,000 visitors will pass through the gates to participate in this celebration of the very best of NSW agriculture and primary industries, which last year achieved a gross value of production of $21.2 billion.

The Show offers a unique opportunity for communities, farmers, and aquaculturalists to submit their produce for judging to find the best in show, with 15,000 trophies, certificates and medals awarded.

School students, exhibitors, and regular attendees travel from all over NSW to Homebush so they can participate in events or just enjoy strolling through the pavilions and sideshow alley. This great event provides professional acknowledgment that helps define our state.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries sponsors the iconic produce displays, designed to highlight the unique produce from four districts. Along with the best fruit and vegetables, visitors can see impressive displays of oysters, cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats, working dogs, honey, alpacas and the widely Instagrammed award-winning poultry.

This year the woodchop competition reaches an impressive milestone of 125 years with a first time women’s world championships in both the underhand and single handed sawing events.

Other highlights of this year’s Show include the family favourite Farmyard Nursery, the Grand Parade, alpaca sheering, the livestock judging, Country Women’s Association tea and scones, dagwood dogs, scary rides, show bags and fireworks.

The iconic Easter Show, and associated activities of the Royal Agriculture Society, generate more than $617 million towards the NSW economy each year.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The Sydney Royal Easter Show puts our world class NSW agriculture and primary industries front and centre in a showcase for visitors from all over.

“NSW farmers work hard to create the finest food and fibre of which our reputation is second to none, and this is a chance to recognise and highlight the ways they strive for excellence. 

“I look forward to presenting the Shows longest standing perpetual trophy for the Best District Display – the RAS Perpetual Shield – it’s a highly competitive field where dozens of people work tirelessly to make their pumpkins, corn, apples and wheat shine and tell a story.

“This year’s Show offers city lovers and bush lovers a chance to come together and experience great food and sights – it’s not to be missed, and wear a hat.”

On World Down Syndrome Day, the NSW Labor Government has announced $28 million in funding to ensure ongoing support and advocacy for people with disability.

Funding for the Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP) will continue for a further 2 years to ensure approximately 1.4 million people with disability can access NSW Government funded services.

The DAFP provides funding to support people with disability navigate local services on a 1-to-1 basis, to fund organisations working towards long-term social change, and to fund policy advocacy groups run by, or on behalf of, people with disability.

The DAFP commenced in 2022 following a recommendation from the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission’s Review into Disability Advocacy Funding in NSW.

The program focuses on all people with disability in NSW who need support to access NSW Government funded services, regardless of whether they are participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

In addition, the DAFP also provides 1-off funding grants for special projects and sector development.

Find out more information about the DAFP

Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington said:

“Almost 1 in 5 people in NSW lives with a disability but only a small proportion of them are supported under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“The DAFP provides crucial support and representation for all people with disability to ensure they can access the services they need to reach their full potential.

“The extension of the DAFP will ensure ongoing support for the sector to drive better outcomes for people with disability through effective and inclusive advocacy.”

CEO of Down Syndrome NSW, Emily Caska said:

“We warmly welcome this much needed investment in advocacy for a further 2-year period, with advocacy organisations forming such an essential part of the ecosystem of trusted and independent supports for people with disability.

“The DAFP to date has had a significant impact on our community, ensuring that people with disability, their parents and siblings are informed, confident and connected.

“This in turn contributes greatly to our overarching aim of ensuring that people with disability are valued and active citizens within their thriving, vibrant and diverse communities across NSW.”

Scientists and researchers have discovered a juvenile platypus in the Royal National Park, less than a year after 10 platypuses were returned to the park where they had been locally extinct for more than 50 years.

The female was captured during a survey to assess the health of the translocated platypuses and confirm potential offspring.

Over 3 nights, researchers from UNSW Sydney, Taronga Conservation Society Australia and WWF Australia, with the support of NSW National Parks and Wildlife, laid nets in ‘hot spots’ along the waterways of the Royal National Park. They were placed in areas where monitoring had indicated regular activity.

The little platypus is in excellent condition, weighed in at 850 grams and is estimated to be about 6 months old. Her age aligns with the end of the platypus breeding season and means she would have only just emerged from her burrow. She will be named by the local Indigenous community.

Before she was returned to the river, researchers assessed her body condition, took several samples and fitted her with a microchip for future identification.

During the surveys, researchers also captured an adult female platypus named Delphi in the same area, who was also in good condition. Genetic analysis will confirm the juvenile’s parents, providing valuable insights into the breeding patterns and genetic health of the population.

Ongoing monitoring and tracking have confirmed all 10 of the original platypuses are still active, with a couple recently venturing beyond the detection range. The research team has not ruled out the possibility of more juveniles in the area.

The waterways in the Royal National Park have been extensively monitored, with results indicating habitat, food availability and water quality is suitable for supporting healthy populations of platypuses.

The breeding success is a significant milestone for the program and testament to the health of the park. Further reintroductions are planned over the coming years.

The return of platypus to the Royal National Park was the first translocation program for platypus in NSW and aimed to re-establish a self-sustaining and genetically diverse platypus population. The platypuses were sourced from across NSW to ensure genetic diversity and taken to Taronga Zoo’s purpose-built platypus refuge before being released into the park.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“This is a wonderful discovery by our dedicated scientists and researchers, who have spent their nights patiently monitoring the Hacking River for signs these platypuses have survived in their new home.

“Not only are they surviving, but the discovery of a juvenile platypus shows they are thriving, which means the Royal National Park is in great shape. Invasive species are being dealt with and water quality is good.

“We have a biodiversity crisis in NSW. We can’t run away from that. We need to protect all the different species living within this unique landscape. Programs like this show it is possible to bring animals back from the brink, and what we learn here will be applied across NSW in the future.

“This gives me great hope that our collaborations are working; that we can protect what’s left and restore what has been damaged. Thank you and congratulations to UNSW Sydney, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, WWF Australia and NSW National Parks and Wildlife.”

UNSW conservation scientist and project lead Dr Gilad Bino said:

“Finding the juvenile platypus is a clear sign the reintroduced population is not just surviving but thriving, adapting well to their environment, and contributing to the genetic diversity and resilience of this iconic species.

“The success of this reintroduction underscores the vital role that targeted conservation actions, such as translocations, rescues, and reintroductions, play in the preservation of the platypus across its range.”

Taronga Conservation Society Australia Conservation Officer Dr Phoebe Meagher said:

“The platypus is such an iconic and enchanting animal, but sadly is being hit from all sides – from climate change, droughts, bushfires and floods, through to habitat fragmentation and pollution.

“Being able to refine and learn from conservation translocations so we can step in and assist vulnerable populations in times of need is absolutely critical.

“To have such success in the first-ever translocation of platypus in NSW fills me with hope for the future of this species.”

WWF-Australia Rewilding Program Manager Rob Brewster said:

“Proof of successful breeding is about much more than the happy news of discovering a healthy juvenile platypus.

“This whole project embodies what ‘rewilding’ is. The community coming together and saying that we don’t accept species and ecosystem decline. That we can return those vital missing elements that make our world so interesting to us all.”

A major milestone, seven years in the making, to improve safety in the combat sports sector was achieved following the passing of the Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2024 in the NSW Parliament.

The Bill provides important safety reforms in the combat sports sector through improvements to the sports’ legislative framework and reduced red tape.

The Bill was prepared in response to recommendations from a review of the Combat Sports Act 2013 and Combat Sports Regulation 2014 by the Combat Sports Authority of NSW following the death of professional boxer David Browne in 2015 and the recommendations from the subsequent inquest by the Deputy State Coroner in 2017.

The Bill includes mandatory concussion and other serious head injury training for the sector, the introduction of attending medical practitioner accreditation and the mandatory suspension of a contest to conduct an assessment where a head injury is suspected to have occurred.

The Bill also includes the creation of a public register of registered persons to make the process of matching contests simpler for promoters and matchmakers.

These reforms will be progressively implemented over a 12-month period from 1 July 2024.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The NSW Government takes the health and safety of combat sports combatants seriously.

“In particular, we recognise the impact of concussion and other serious head injuries and want to ensure there are safeguards in place to protect combatants.

“This legislation will reduce the risk of concussion and other serious head injuries, it also modernises the regulation of combat sports, reducing red tape for promoters and combatants.

“I would also like to acknowledge the tragic circumstances which started this process, and I hope that by strengthening the laws we can ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.” 

The NSW Government is moving ahead with its election commitment to recruit an additional 250 (FTE) school counsellors, with 86 new school counsellors and psychologists starting work in NSW public schools at the beginning of this school year amid a 35% drop in vacancies since last year.

The improvement comes after the NSW Government abolished the wages cap and delivered a once-in-a-generation pay rise to school counsellors and psychologists last year, which saw starting salaries lift from $75,791 to $95,317.

At the beginning of Term 1, 2023, under the former Liberal National Government there were 92.8 FTE vacancies. Positively, as of Term 1, 2024 that number has dropped to 60 FTE vacancies.

A recruitment push will also commence in the coming weeks, further boosting the number of counsellors and psychologists in NSW schools to support the mental health and wellbeing of students and improve educational outcomes.

These highly skilled practitioners play a crucial role supporting children and young people to thrive and succeed in education, providing a free psychological counselling, assessment and intervention service in public schools.

School counsellors hold dual qualifications in teaching and postgraduate qualifications in psychology. School psychologists hold postgraduate qualifications in psychology.

Every NSW public school student has access to the School Counselling Service, which includes counsellors and psychologists registered as general psychologists with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, at no cost to families.

The School Counselling Service has 1,253 FTE positions in the 2,000-strong student wellbeing workforce in NSW public schools, which also includes wellbeing nurses, student support officers, student wellbeing officers and school chaplains.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“NSW schools are now one of the largest employers of psychologists in NSW, providing invaluable, free support to students in their local public school.

“Our schools care deeply about the wellbeing of all our students and support students so they can reach their full educational potential.  

“The Minns Labor Government has given school counsellors and school psychologists significant pay rises this year to address the shortage, and in recognition of their unique skills and the valued contribution they provide to the mental health and wellbeing of NSW public school students.”

The NSW Government is committed to the ongoing management of biosecurity threats in the state. Management of pest animals and weeds while maintaining crop productivity is a core focus for Local Land Services board members.

This May, Local Land Services will hold an election in each of the 11 NSW regions to fill 34 paid local board member roles across the state.

This is an opportunity for Local Land Services ratepayers to put their hand up and participate so their local board reflects the needs of their unique region.

Local board members work closely with their communities to help identify and shape the wide range of services offered by the Local Land Services teams such as:

• Providing best practice advice to manage pest animals and coordinating wide scale pest control activities, such as the Feral Pig Program 2023-24.
• A network of district veterinarians who offer advice and services on livestock disease surveillance, animal emergency management and biosecurity.
• Offering the latest information and guidance to improve agricultural productivity and support landholders through times of drought.
• Managing and improving natural resources on-farm for a healthy environment.

Each local board has 3 positions available, except for Western where there are 4 available positions.

To nominate yourself or someone else as a candidate, read the Candidate Election Pack and submit a nomination on the Local Land Services website.

Candidate nominations close Sunday 14 April 2024.

To be eligible, you must be an individual who is 18+ years old and an occupier of a rateable holding under the Local Land Services Act 2013. The holding may consist of wholly or partly rateable land.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said:

“Local Land Services board members play a crucial role influencing the key services provided by the organisation so they best meet local needs.

“Local board members are a voice for their communities, helping shape local priorities and developing strong relationships with landholders and partners.

“It’s important to have a diverse range of members, views and perspectives on these boards so they can drive positive change.

“For Local Land Services ratepayers across NSW, this is a great opportunity to get involved and work with others from your community to ensure your local board truly reflects your needs.

Musicians and artists are set to receive a boost under the NSW Labor Government with the opening of grants focused on rebuilding the NSW touring circuit.

Sound NSW’s new Touring and Travel Fund and Recording and Promotion Grants will inject $3 million into the local contemporary music sector to deliver more new and original music, enable touring opportunities, and open doors for career-defining professional development.

With a focus on fostering growth and sustainability for the contemporary music industry, the programs support NSW artists to be globally competitive, develop industry networks and connect with new audiences locally and internationally.

Touring and Travel Fund

Designed to address the time-sensitive nature of venue availability and performance opportunities, Sound NSW’s $2 million Touring and Travel Fund offers quick response grants of up to $2500 per person for domestic activity and up to $7500 per person for international activity.

Applications for Sound NSW’s Touring and Travel Fund will be assessed on a quick-response basis against eligibility criteria.

Applications open on 20 March via nsw.gov.au/sound-nsw and close 20 May 2024.

Recording and Promotion Grants

Sound NSW’s $1 million Recording and Promotion Grants program will support NSW contemporary musicians to record and release new, original creative projects. NSW artists can apply for grants of:

• up to $25,000 for short-form releases, such as a single or EP
• up to $50,000 for long-form releases, such as an album
• up to $25,000 matched funding for artists signed to a major label. 

Applications open 20 March and close 17 April 2024 at nsw.gov.au/sound-nsw

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“We are determined to rebuild the touring circuit, up and down the NSW coast, through our inland tours and suburbs. This fund will do just that.

“We’re delivering on our commitment to bring music back in NSW with this much-needed investment. These fast-response grants will support more new and original music from our musicians, enable tours across Australia and the world, and move NSW a step closer to being a global powerhouse for contemporary music.”

Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins said:

“Recording, releasing and performing new music is essential to the contemporary music industry and the growth and sustainability of artists’ careers, but the upfront costs are often greater than the income generated for many musicians.

“Sound NSW is excited to help bridge this gap by providing this vital funding, removing these prohibitive barriers and supporting NSW artists to do what they do best – making great music.”

The NSW Government continues to support our state’s primary producers through long-term and ongoing initiatives such as the development of the Weed Control in Winter Crops guide.

The latest information for growers is now available, supporting decision making for a profitable cropping season, in the free 2024 Weed Control in Winter Crops management guide published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

The guide has been published early to support growers planning for sowing their winter crops and the supporting herbicide program.

New content and resources include:

• supporting data on adoption of optical spray technology, which has seen an increase in adoption over time
• herbicide advice for weeds specifically to faba bean, lentil and vetch crops, with each crop becoming more popular in a winter cropping regime
• a list of new products available to the industry is listed at the front of the guide, with their use patterns included in the relevant tables in the book.

The Weed Control in Winter Crops guide can be found online, from DPI offices or from the upcoming GRDC Grower Updates across the state.

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said:

“The regular and reliable support provided by the Weed Control in Winter Crops management guide is available again, such as weed control methods, using herbicides successfully and reducing herbicide spray drift.

“Our growers expect publications such as this every year, which I am happy to support because more informed farmers mean more profitable farmers, and that’s great for our economy.”

NSW DPI Project Officer and Weed Control in Winter Crops author, Penny Heuston said:

“The Weed Control in Winter Crops guide is a vital resource that supports farmers to keep on top of weeds.

“Whilst a significant proportion of NSW is still experiencing drought conditions, many areas have seen widespread rainfall, helping start to set up a promising growing season.

“Planning ahead, including reviewing farm management plans using a range of information sources is critical for the cropping season this year.”

Work will soon begin to repair the largest of 9 landslip sites on the Snowy Mountains Highway at Brown Mountain.

Work will be carried out from Monday 8 April 2024 about 800 metres west of the Brown Mountain Power Station, to repair significant damage caused by severe weather events in 2022.

The Albanese and Minns Governments are funding this $2.6 million project through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Transport for NSW has appointed specialist ground engineering contractors, Piling & Concreting Australia (PCA), to repair the landslip damage and fully restore the road at this location.

PCA will drill and install more than three kilometres of seven-metre-long steel rods, known as soil nails, to anchor the section of failed slope before applying a layer of spray-on concrete to prevent further erosion.

The work, which will take about 20 weeks to complete, has been planned to keep traffic moving as an important link between the ACT and South Coast while also ensuring the safety of motorists and workers.

The repair work will be carried out with large machinery and workers operating in an area about as wide as a standard single car garage to repair a site about the size of a suburban house block, which creates some unique challenges and risks.

For this reason, a 200-metre section of the highway will be reduced to a single lane, with temporary barriers and traffic lights in place 24 hours for the duration of the work.

In addition to this latest work, contracts are expected to be finalised soon for more repairs to be carried out this year at another 3 landslips on Brown Mountain.

Tenders are also being assessed for a site about 1-and-a-half kilometres east of the Fred Piper Memorial Lookout that has been limited to a single lane due to the extensive damage on the road.

Transport for NSW has made significant progress on its natural disaster recovery work, with repairs completed on more than half of the 100 landslip sites it is managing on several key state roads across the Illawarra and South Coast.

During the repair work, motorists are advised to allow an extra 5 minutes to travel times and drive to conditions and Transport for NSW thanks the community for their patience while these important repairs are carried out.

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain:

“The ongoing closures associated with landslips and rockfalls on Brown Mountain are frustrating for all of us who use the highway, which is why the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are working together to kickstart this crucial repair work.

“This is one of Brown Mountain’s biggest ever repair jobs and will be fantastic for locals and tourists – with this new infrastructure to go a long way to preventing further erosion and to improving road safety on the busy Snowy Mountains Highway.

“I’ll continue to advocate for longer-term planning for Brown Mountain, because it’s important that frequent and intense weather events don’t impact the reliability of this key road network.”

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Member for Monaro Steve Whan:

“As the major arterial road connecting the NSW Sapphire Coast with Canberra, Brown Mountain is used not only by tourists during the Winter and Summer seasons, but by ambulances and transport services each-and-every day.

“The closures over the last couple of years due to landslips caused by unprecedented rain, have greatly impacted the electorates of Monaro and Bega, and I welcome the commitment from the Minns and Albanese Governments to complete remediation work to ensure the road is safe and reliable for all those who use it.

“I will continue working with my colleagues in both state and federal government to advocate for a long term solution to the Brown Mountain section of the Snowy Mountains Highway.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This latest repair work on the Snowy Mountains Highway at Brown Mountain marks a significant step towards restoring the region’s vital transport infrastructure — Dr Holland, Minister McBain and Minister Whan have been fantastic advocates for their communities on progressing these repairs.

“Through the joint efforts of the Australian and NSW Governments, we are investing $2.6 million in this project to repair the largest landslip site.

“This funding underscores our commitment to supporting the communities affected by natural disasters and reinforces our dedication to infrastructure resilience.”

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Regional Health and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland:

“It’s great to see work progressing on Brown Mountain.

“The Australian and NSW Governments are making steady progress in our natural disaster recovery efforts along several key state roads.

“The completion of repairs on over half of the 100 landslip sites managed by Transport for NSW in the Illawarra and South Coast regions is a testament to their dedication to restoring connectivity and resilience in our communities.”