Category: NSW News

NSW seniors will have more opportunities for social activities and learning new skills thanks to a $600,000 NSW Government initiative.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said the Connecting Seniors grant program would fund projects aimed at engaging older people and keeping them engaged with their communities.

“These grants support activities which can provide a social lifeline for seniors, especially those who live alone,” Minister Harrison said.

“Our population is growing older and we want to make sure our seniors age well by providing opportunities for them to socialise while enjoying engaging experiences.”

The grant program, which opens today, is divided into 3 categories.

Not-for-profit community organisations can apply for:

• Category 1: Creation grants for new projects, with $20,000 awarded to 5 innovative projects with an overall value of $100,000.
• Category 2: Enhancement and/or expansion grants for existing projects, with $30,000 each for 10 different organisations with an overall value of $300,000.

Local councils are only able to apply for:

• Category 3: Local council grants for local council projects, with $40,000 each for 5 different councils with an overall value of $200,000.

The Connecting Seniors grant program builds on previous grants, which have been proven to reduce social isolation for thousands of seniors in NSW.

Some grant-funded initiatives include a family history research project, dancing lessons, art classes and wellness workshops.

“I am looking forward to seeing what fantastic ideas evolve from the Connecting Seniors grant program and I encourage eligible organisations to apply,” Minister Harrison added.

The Connecting Seniors grant program delivers on the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021-2031, with the government committed to creating a more inclusive community and addressing isolation and loneliness.

Grant applications will close on 25 October. Successful projects will commence in early 2024.

For more information go to Connecting Seniors grant program.

The Minns Labor Government will work with the innovation sector, leading experts including universities and business to produce a blueprint to guide how we support the NSW innovation sector.

According to the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council, NSW’s performances in university-industry collaboration and commercialisation outcomes haven’t moved in years. At the same time R&D intensity is in freefall. 

As the NSW Government works to restore the state’s fiscal position and rebuild essential services, there’s no room in the budget for spending that might not be delivering for the people of NSW.

The Innovation Blueprint will be drafted alongside sector leaders and experts to give NSW the leading edge in the global battle to attract new investment, ideas, industries and talent.

As part of developing the blueprint, the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology will lead roundtables, including on venture capital, non-monetary government support, how to best encourage startup growth, industry adoption of innovation and attraction of skills and talent. 

Roundtables discussions will help guide the development of the blueprint.

The Innovation Blueprint will put us in the best position to jump start innovation in new sectors and in important enabling technologies like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, data, cyber, sensors and robotics across sectors like energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and agrifood, all of which will be part of our future economic growth.

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“We support a strong innovation sector that delivers new, higher paid and productive jobs in high growth industries for people in NSW. 

“Getting this right will help us foster a strong innovation sector, create the industries that will fuel the jobs of the future, and attract talent.”

Women from across rural, regional and remote NSW can register now for the revamped 30th annual Rural Women’s Gathering.

The milestone event was moved from August to the weekend of the 25 and 26 November 2023 to take advantage of the warmer weather, as it returns to the home of the first gathering in Orange.

The theme of this year’s gathering is ’30 years, still going strong and getting stronger’, and provides rural women with support, information and skills to address the myriad challenges they face living in a rural location in Australia.

The new-look event is set to bring women together to hear from and connect with inspirational women in sport, health and business.

It is also a valuable opportunity for women to share their insights and ideas for their communities with key decision makers in the NSW Government.

Opening the event will be NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison.

Keynote speakers include Australian Rugby Union Player Grace Hamilton and ABC News rural reporter Sarah Hawke, who both hail from Orange. Joining them is founder of The Rural Naturopath, Hayley Dawson.

The gathering is an annual state-wide, community-run event and includes a diverse program of speakers, display stands, workshops, networking and a gala dinner.

The event is hosted by Australian National Field Days and organised by a committee of volunteers, with support from the NSW Government’s Rural Women’s Network.

Tickets are $80 and limited, so register now at the NSW Women’s Gathering websitelaunch.

NSW Minister for Regional NSW and Agriculture Moriarty said:

“Women in our rural communities are doing extraordinary things. The Rural Women’s Gathering is the perfect space to share their experiences, and in turn help other women to better support their communities.

“I am already looking forward to celebrating rural women’s achievements and seeing everything that’s on offer at the relaunch of this exciting new look event.

“Over the last 30 years the gathering has brought women together to share experiences, learn and support one another and I urge women to register now to make sure they don’t miss out.”

NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“Our regional communities have seen more than their fair share of challenges over the past year, but they have never lost their spirit. Regional women continue to show resilience, strength and a sense of pride in where they come from.

“We are mindful of the increasing pressures of cost of living, so we have worked hard to keep ticket prices as low as possible. I think we have put together a great weekend of activities for regional women to enjoy.

“I’m looking forward to attending the relaunched Rural Women’s Gathering, my first as the Minister for Women, and excited to meet amazing women from across the regions and hear their stories and vision for the future.”

In today’s Budget Reply the NSW Opposition Leader outlined practical housing policies that would make a real difference to tackling in NSW the Australia-wide housing crisis.
 
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Minns Labor Government’s projected $14 billion tax revenue windfall should have been used to deal with the housing crisis in a meaningful way.
 
“Chris Minns’ Budget has had $14 billion tax revenue windfall, but he’s chosen to put these funds towards union wage deals that he’d promised would cost nothing, missing a golden opportunity to help deliver the housing that NSW needs,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“We wouldn’t have squandered this opportunity – we would have delivered policies with vision for a better future for this state. That’s why my Budget Reply has outlined policies to tackle supply, improve housing affordability and reduce rental stress.”
 
“First home buyers deserve choice and that’s exactly what the Liberals and Nationals would have provided. We would have kept and sought to expand the First Home Buyer Choice scheme and kept the Government’s reduced threshold and rates of stamp duty – providing our next generation with choice in how they enter the housing market and giving them the best possible chance of realising the Australian dream.”
 
“The Minns Government has told communities to ’get out of the way’, while we would have sought to engage with local councils and communities to review housing targets and establish a Community Benefit Fund of $2 billion or more to incentivise and reward local communities which achieve their targets.”
 
“We also believe in supporting opportunities for one generation to help another – and would have sought to help empty nesters downsize and to free up appropriate housing supply for younger families, with a stamp-duty exemption for older downsizers,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Planning and Housing, Scott Farlow, said the Budget failed to deliver measures to support increased supply and address affordability.
 
“Under the National Housing Accord the NSW Government has signed up to deliver 314,000 homes and the Premier has recently committed to an increased target of 378,000 homes to be delivered by 2029,” Mr Farlow said. 
“Local communities and councils are going to be essential to achieving those targets and they should see the benefit. The Commonwealth Government has put $3 billion on the table and that needs to be directed to local communities.”
“Our Community Benefit Fund would be available to local councils that met their targets, to fund the improvement of public open spaces through new and improved walking and cycle paths, parks, trails, boardwalks, lookouts, foreshores, riverbanks, play spaces, civic plazas, and outdoor event spaces. The fund could also be used to upgrade local sporting facilities and community recreational facilities.”
 
“There are nearly a million people in NSW over the age of 55 who are occupying a home of three bedrooms or more either alone or as empty nesters.”
 
“By introducing a stamp duty exemption for older buyers, with appropriate thresholds, we have an opportunity to encourage seniors to downsize to a smaller property and help them in finding more suitable accommodation.”
 
“This could be a measure to stimulate additional supply instantly, reducing housing affordability pressures by making more suitable homes available to meet the needs of younger families.”
 
“The Government’s Budget was supposed to deliver more housing, but instead it delivered higher taxes and the mirage of more housing by 2040,” Mr Farlow said.

The Minns Labor Government will invest $30 million in improving grassroots sports facilities to turbocharge the growth of women and girls sport across NSW through a brand new Level the Playing Field program.

This program will support the growth of women and girls sport in NSW after a recordbreaking FIFA Women’s World Cup during which the Matildas inspired the nation, and an unbelievable 12th World Cup championship win by the Diamonds at the Netball World Cup.

The Level the Playing Field program will allow grassroots sporting groups to access funding to upgrade and build sporting facilities for women and girls in their local communities.

The program is expected to fund 100 new and upgraded facilities and will contribute to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for women and girls to train and play, by delivering fit-for-purpose facilities and amenities such as change rooms, accessibility improvements, and improved lighting.

As part of the budget, the Minns Labor Government is also delivering on its promise to support local community and school sports through a number of other initiatives.

The Football in Schools Program in Western Sydney will also receive $14.5 million, partnering with the Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur Bulls to support local school sporting teams.

The Central Coast will receive $3.7 million to improve football infrastructure and programs.

This will include a synthetic playing field in Tuggerah, as well as training facilities for the new Central Coast Mariners A-Leagues Women’s team. Funding for these projects will be matched by the Central Coast Mariners.

This funding also includes $1 million for the Central Coast Mariners community programs for at-risk youth and disadvantaged adults.

The budget will more than double funding for state sponsored organisations (SSOs), such as Football NSW and Sport NSW, from $2.45 million to $5 million in 2023–2024, and $10 million in 2024–2025 and 2025–2026.

These new agreements will include incentives for SSOs to achieve specific outcomes in increasing female participation in their organisations and improving their governance.

The National Management Group (NMG), driving the Varroa mite program across Australia met yesterday, and has decided to transition its approach to addressing this biosecurity issue confronting the nation’s beekeepers and pollination industry.

After considering the latest scientific data and advice, governments and industry organisations have unanimously decided to move from an eradication program to a management approach.
 
The NSW Government has agreed with all industry and government partners that the potential to eradicate is no longer possible and that we now need to work collaboratively to manage and minimise the impact of varroa.
 
Despite the comprehensive $101 million spend and effort to eradicate the mite, the transition from an ‘eradication’ program to a ‘management’ program was concluded because of the many factors working against a possible eradication in Australia. 
 
The NSW Government will work with all the national players and reallocate resources to slowing the spread of the pest and providing management options to help minimising its impact. 
 
Communications are being developed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and industry partners to explain to all stakeholders what this shift in program means and how the government will guide and assist affected stakeholders.
 
The NMG considered the following major factors for why eradication has not reached its desired objectives:
 

• Non-compliance by some bee industry actors with the NSW Movement Orders and the mandatory hive testing (alcohol washes), and evidence of illegal movement of bees resulting in further spread of the varroa mite. 
• The recent spike in new detections, have made it clear that the Varroa mite infestation is more widespread and has also been present for longer than first thought.
• The increase in new detections and generation of a control area greater than 16,000 km2, has stretched the eradication team’s responses to their technical limit.

 
Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales, Tara Moriarty said:
 
“The priority now is for the NSW Department of Primary Industries to communicate with all the stakeholders of the beekeeper and pollination sectors and advise them what the change in program means for their industry. 
 
“I’ve directed the Department of Primary Industries to immediately engage industry stakeholders and beekeepers to provide guidance and assistance so that they can quickly respond to the transition of the Varroa mite management program.”
 
Director General of Department of Primary Industries Scott Hansen said:
 
“The department will move swiftly to transition our team and all our stakeholders to this new approach and will be providing information and support to the industry.
 
“The 2399 DPI people and staff from supporting agencies and industry in the Varroa mite response team have been working around the clock since last year on this program and I thank them for their incredible effort. They have succeeded in delaying the spread of Varroa mite for more than a year which needs to be recognised.”
 
Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, Danny Le Feuvre said:
 
“While eradication was the original goal, the focus will now shift to supporting beekeepers in the transition to management.
 
“I thank all the beekeepers for their cooperation throughout the response and especially those who have felt the emotional and financial impacts of this response.

“There is still lots industry can do to contain and slow the spread of Varroa mite, which is why NSW will operate under an interim management strategy until the National Management Plan for Transition to Management is agreed upon.
 
“At the same time, AHBIC will continue to work with NMG to ensure any support measures offered to beekeepers are fit for purpose.”

Additional taxes and charges in Labor’s Budget will make home ownership less achievable for the people of New South Wales.
 
Shadow Minister for Housing Scott Farlow said that more housing is a mirage under Minns. Labor’s best effort to build more homes is for Landcom to deliver a measly 88 affordable homes and 206 market homes per year through to 2039-40.
 
“Housing was supposed to be the centrepiece of this Budget, yet the Labor Government’s only answer is to impose more taxes for those building new homes, which makes homes less affordable. It also imposes more costs and increases the difficulty for the private sector, which provide the vast majority of housing supply, to deliver more homes,” Mr Farlow said.
 
“The Government’s infrastructure centrepiece is funded by a tax on new homes, with the associated infrastructure not tied to the area in which the development occurs.”
 
“Rather than outlining new vision and focussing on measures to increase supply, the Government has increased taxation.”
 
“The Housing and Productivity Contribution could add up to $37,000 to the price of a new home in Western Sydney if it attracts both a strategic biodiversity component and transport project component.”
 
“The money raised by this contribution isn’t tied to the geographic area, with the potential for funds raised from a new development in Penrith paying for a bike path in Petersham.”
 
“There has been no revised feasibility assessment of this charge since 2020 and since that time interest rates have risen by 400 basis points and construction costs have increased by 30%.”
 
“Worse still, the Government is not undertaking any further contributions reform and is applying this charge at the Construction Certificate stage, the point in the construction where financing is most difficult and will add additional financing costs on builders.”
 
“The Budget papers also reveal that Sydney Water’s development servicing plan (DSP) will not just be used for infrastructure recovery costs, but be used to increase Sydney Water dividends by 4.5 times over the forward estimates with no commensurate savings to consumers.”
 
“This is a great big tax on industry and consumers that will make new homes in Western Sydney more expensive and not save users any money on their water bills.”
 
“The last Liberals and Nationals budget delivered a $2.8 billion Housing Package that helped first home buyers, created a shared equity scheme, accelerated the delivery of new infrastructure to support housing and upgraded and enhanced NSW’s social housing stock,” Mr Farlow said.

The Minns Labor Government’s Budget fails to provide energy certainty for NSW, limiting energy relief, ripping away subsidies for EVs and failing to include any provisions for the extension of the Eraring Power Station, potentially risking a future energy blackhole.
 
As families and businesses struggle under Labor’s cost of living crisis, higher inflation and increased interest rates, 1.5 million households will miss out on energy bill relief, leaving people across NSW to fend for themselves.
 
There are also more than 500,000 small businesses in NSW that do not qualify for energy relief from the Minns Government.
 
“The Government have not provided a single cent to the ongoing operation of the Eraring Power Station which could cost up to $3 billion. This is completely at odds with their commitment pre-Budget to discuss extending the aging power station.”
 
“And despite allocating $1 billion to their state-owned energy corporation, Labor can’t explain how it will function or when it will begin providing relief.”
 
The CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council has said that he doubted the people who voted for this government thought they were voting to cut electric vehicle incentives to fund handouts to coal-fired power stations.
 
“Not only has the Minns Government put us in reverse when it comes to Electric Vehicles by scrapping the $3,000 rebate and reintroducing stamp duty, they continue to leave households in the dark by providing meagre relief from energy bills,” Mr Griffin said.

The Minns Labor Government’s first Budget lays a foundation for a better and more secure future for women and girls in NSW. 

By removing barriers that prevent women from realising their full potential we are paving the way for a more resilient economy.

We cannot take a siloed approach to address the various challenges women in NSW face.

The 2023-24 Budget takes a holistic view – from creating economic opportunities through participation and empowerment, to providing essential healthcare and appropriate support services.

Women’s health and wellbeing:

The NSW Government is increasing women’s access to healthcare with over $100 million to support new essential services including:

• $18.6 million for 29 new and eight existing McGrath Foundation breast cancer nurses.
• $34.3 million boost in support for 20 Women’s Health Centres providing health and mental health services for women.

$52.7 million for 48 new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and medical and forensic officers to fill critical gaps in healthcare services for victims of sexual assaults across New South Wales.

Responding to family and domestic violence:

• $13 million to expand access to the Shared Equity Home Buyer Helper trial to include domestic and family violence victim-survivors.
• Continued provision of free ambulance services for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse.
• Private Rental assistance through Rent Choice, Advance Rent, Bond Loan and other programs to help eligible persons, including those escaping domestic violence, set up and maintain a tenancy in the private rental market.
• $4.4 million over 3 years, to establish a new specialist multicultural domestic and family violence centre in southwest Sydney which will be able to help over 4000 refugee and migrant women a year access services that are culturally responsive. To ensure sustainable results, the centre will also work with multicultural communities on primary prevention.

Improving gender equality:

• $13.8 million to improve Women’s participation and empowerment in the workforce through a Working Women’s Centre and a Future Women’s Jobs Academy.
• $30 million for the Level the Playing Field Facilities Fund for new and upgraded facilities to empower women to participate in sport.

​​
The Minns Labor Government is the first government in NSW with a Cabinet comprised of 50% women.

In addition to these commitments, the Budget has also delivered major commitments for female dominated sectors like health and early childhood education and care programs that support gender equality outcomes.

The Minns Labor Government is setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget so we can deliver essential services for women and progress gender equality across our State.

Every person across NSW should have access to a safe and secure place to call home.

Housing affordability and availability is the biggest single pressure facing the people of NSW, with mortgage payments or rent the largest expense for most households.

The Minns Labor Government recognises housing as essential infrastructure and the 2023-24 Budget, lays out a plan to rebuild a neglected system through immediate support and critical long-term planning.

Long-term housing supply

A $2.2 billion Housing and Infrastructure Plan is at the centre of this budget, to begin addressing the historic neglect of new housing supply.

The plan includes:

• $300 million reinvested in Landcom to accelerate the construction of thousands of new homes, with 30% of these to be affordable housing.
• $400 million reserved in Restart NSW to deliver the infrastructure that will unlock housing across the state.
• $1.5 billion committed for housing related infrastructure through the Housing and Productivity Contribution.
   

Faster planning program

The budget furthers our long-term reform in housing with the creation of the new $38.7 million Faster Planning Program.

This program delivers:

• $24 million for a NSW Building Commission to protect home buyers from substandard buildings.
• $9.1 million to assess housing supply opportunities across government-owned sites, including for new social housing.
• NSW Budget 2023-24 budget.nsw.gov.au.
• $5.6 million on artificial intelligence to make planning systems more efficient.
• Overhauling and simplifying the planning system by redirecting resources from the Greater Cities Commission and Western Parkland City Authority.
   

Homes NSW backed by the Essential Housing Package

The Minns Labor Government will establish Homes NSW to deliver better outcomes for public and social housing tenants, deliver more affordable and social housing and reduce the number of homeless people in NSW.

An investment of $224 million will support the Government’s Essential Housing Package which includes:

• $70 million debt financing to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private homes, primarily in regional NSW.
• $35.3 million to continue to provide housing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through Services Our Way.
• $35 million to support critical social housing maintenance.
• $20 million reserved in Restart NSW for dedicated mental health housing.
• $15 million to establish a NSW Housing Fund for urgent priority housing and homelessness measures to confront the housing crisis.
• $11.3 million to extend the Together Home program.
• $11 million urgent funding injection to Temporary Accommodation in 2023-24 to address rising homelessness.
• $10.5 million urgent funding injection to the Community Housing Leasing Program.
• $10 million Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing.
• $5.9 million urgent funding in 2023-24 to allow Specialist Homelessness Services to address increasing demand.

In addition, the Commonwealth’s $610 million Social Housing Accelerator program will permanently increase social housing by around 1500 dwellings.

Rental reform

Renters are receiving immediate support with their rights bolstered right across NSW.

Tens of thousands of people renting will receive extra protection from the recent appointment of a state-first NSW Rental Commissioner.

The Commissioner will work with government to make renting fairer, more affordable and more secure.

We are committed to implementing a Portable Rental Bonds Scheme to ease financial pressure.

Renters will also be protected from unfair evictions by creating reasonable grounds for ending a lease. And we’re making it easier for renters to have pets in homes.

And new Build to Rent trials will be supported on the South Coast and in the Northern Rivers with $60 million.

First Home Buyers

From 1 July 2023 our First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme expanded stamp duty exemptions and concessions to help 5 out of every 6 first home buyers pay no stamp duty, or a concessional rate.

Early figures reveal this immediate support has been taken up by more than 1000 first home buyers purchasing in the $650,000 to $800,000 range, who enjoyed a full exemption from stamp duty in July alone.

Preliminary data also shows some 650 first home buyers received a stamp duty concession in the $800,000 to $1 million range in July.

These buyers would previously have had to pay full stamp duty or opt into an unfair annual property tax.

A foundation for a better and more secure future for NSW

Addressing a chronic housing shortage requires a long-term plan.

After 12 years of neglect, the Minns Labor Government is working to provide relief now while putting in the proper planning to ensure we’re ready for the challenges of the future.

We are a government with a clear focus – managing our finances responsibly so we can provide support when you need it most and improve the essential services that we all rely on, now and into the future.