Category: NSW News

Shadow Minister for Sport Eleni Petinos has called on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on the figures behind their decision to cancel the full redevelopment of Penrith Stadium.
 
“Penrith is a critical city centre located in the heart of the Western Parkland City, the closest established CBD to the new international airport and the gateway to the Blue Mountains,” Ms Petinos said. “The Penrith community deserves to know if the Minns Labor Government is being fair dinkum or playing with figures to justify their decision to walk away from delivering the redevelopment that the stadium needs.”
 
“Labor must release the full costings behind this decision, to explain how a stadium just over half the size of Allianz Stadium can cost around $100m more and nearly three times more than Commbank Stadium which cost $330 million.”
 
“Given the low value of the recreational zoned land occupied by the Paceway, there is a genuine concern that Labor has deliberately inflated the price to justify cutting the project.”
 
Ms Petinos said the new local Labor MP needs to be honest with her community and clearly spell out what the future of the Penrith stadium looks like.
 
“Karen McKeown needs to detail how the funding will deliver the needed Penrith stadium upgrades, and whether it will provide the sporting facilities that the community deserves,” said Ms Petinos.
 
“The Minns Labor Government has also left the future of the Penrith Paceway under a dark cloud. With no prospect of a rezoning for other uses and no funding for a relocation the future of the Paceway now hangs in the balance.”
 
“Rather than trying to roll out rubbery figures to justify their decisions, the Minns Labor Government needs to be honest with the community.”

Premier Chris Minns must commission an independent investigation into the Josh Murray affair including Minister Jo Haylen’s failure to disclose any conflict of interest under the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

The Code states:

A Minister must not, without the written approval of the Premier, make or participate in the making of any decision or take any other action in relation to a matter in which the Minister is aware they have a conflict of interest.

Minister Haylen’s refusal to answer questions in Parliament, refusal to front the media and refusal to appear before tomorrow’s Legislative Council hearing mean serious questions about her conduct and obligations under the Code are unanswered.  

This is a test of Premier Minns and his Government’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and accountability.

The NSW Productivity Commissioner’s latest report confirms the NSW Government’s approach to housing is on the right track.

The NSW Government welcomed the release of the latest housing study – Building more homes where infrastructure costs less – which confirms that it costs less to build in areas with existing infrastructure.

The NSW Productivity Commissioner’s conclusion that building closer to Sydney’s CBD can save up to $75,000 in infrastructure costs per new home reinforces the NSW Government’s commitment to rebalance housing targets around transport links to deliver more well-designed, well-located homes in places where people want to live.

The government has made housing a key focus since taking office, introducing:

• an audit of government-owned land to identify properties available for housing
• incentives to encourage the delivery of more social, affordable and market housing
• expanded capacity for government agencies to deliver more affordable housing
• support for councils with more resource to get more planners into the system
• delivery of built to rent pilots by Landcom on the South Coast and in the Northern Rivers
• reforms to first home buyer stamp duty arrangements and delivering rental reforms.

Additionally, the government’s reforms to infrastructure contributions will help to provide funds to deliver the additional infrastructure needed to support housing growth.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The NSW Productivity Commissioner evidence shows that the housing crisis inherited from the previous government is linked to their focus on building out rather than up, instead of focusing additional housing around existing infrastructure and networks.

“We need help to deliver housing that people can afford with a fairer distribution of housing in infill locations where people want to live and work, near jobs and services and where it costs considerably less to deliver the infrastructure needed to support those homes.

“Essential workers like health workers, teachers, police, firefighters, cleaners, security guards, truck, bus and train drivers deserve the opportunity to live closer to where they work.

“Density done well is the focus of the Minns Government’s recent announcements.

“More infill development means people can stay in their communities and neighbourhoods through different stages of their life. Everyone wants family and friends to be able to afford to live nearby.

“It’s vital we look at different ways to deliver more homes, including focusing on inner city suburbs with existing infrastructure that can be scaled relatively quickly and easily.

“We reformed infrastructure contributions to close the gap between housing growth and the infrastructure needed to support that growth.

“Investing on scaling up infrastructure for infill development means we’re able to spread every dollar further.

“The Productivity Commissioner notes that established suburbs already have good access to roads, schools, health services and open spaces and to existing water and wastewater services, so it makes much more sense to increase density in those places.”

Legacy Week was officially launched at a commemorative service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place today, commemorating 100 years of Legacy in Australia.

Minister for Veterans David Harris attended the commemoration alongside Legacy Sydney Acting President Tim Becker and other members of the veteran community to lay a wreath in memory of our veterans, and to show support for the widows, widowers, and children whose loved ones served our country.

“This Legacy Week we pay special tribute to Legacy for their support for the families of those Australian Defence Force personnel who served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice as a result of their service.” Minister Harris said.

“Legacy was built on a promise to a dying soldier, to look after his family and 100 years on that promise continues to be kept, an amazing achievement and one we are all thankful for.”   

The Legacy badge is a special emblem of support for our veterans’ families, it symbolises our nation’s greatest values of mateship, compassion, and courage. Legacy badges will be sold throughout the Sydney CBD and across NSW over the coming week.

“I encourage everyone to purchase a Legacy badge this week. Your donation will help widows and families of defence forces personnel who gave their lives serving our country,” Mr Harris said.

Today, Legacy ensures that 43,000 partners and children of our servicemen and servicewomen across Australia do not suffer financial or social disadvantage as a result of the loss or serious injury of their loved one.

Acting President of Sydney Legacy Tim Becker acknowledged Legacy Week as exceptionally meaningful as they mark Legacy’s centenary.

“As we reflect on the past 100 years, we stand ready to support our veterans’ families for as long as they need us,” Mr Becker said.

To all those donating, volunteering or spreading the word this Legacy Week – thank you. Your contributions are the heart of our mission. With your continued support, we can fulfil our promise that was founded in the trenches of World War One to care for the families of our veterans.”

Legacy beneficiary Kelly Randall spoke at the commemoration, sharing her story about the support her family has received.

“I am extremely grateful for the public’s support each Legacy Week. Your support helped my family pay for my school uniform growing up. You supported me through uni with textbooks and lab equipment,” Ms Randall said. 

It’s nice to see the unity between the community and volunteers, with everyone coming together with the same aim of supporting veterans’ families.”

Find out more about the work of Legacy and how to donatelaunch

Wiley Park station is more accessible than ever before, as new lifts are put into service for the first time in the station’s history.

After years of community campaigns, passengers on the 128-year-old Bankstown Line are starting to see the benefits from major accessibility upgrades that have been delivered as part of the Sydney Metro Southwest project.

Having changed very little since it opened in 1938, Wiley Park station visitors will now benefit from a renovated concourse, a new station entry plaza with seating, lighting and extra bicycle parking, new platform canopies and re-surfaced platforms and platform access ramps.

The installation of the lifts took place during weekend trackwork closures, using a 350-tonne crane to lift the shafts into place.

New lifts will also be operational at Punchbowl, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park and Dulwich Hill before the end of the year, making the stations fully accessible for the first time.

When the Bankstown to Sydenham Metro Southwest line opens in 2025, Wiley Park will be one of 10 stations that will see a modern, frequent and reliable metro services in Sydney’s southwest.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“This is an exciting milestone for the south-west Sydney community, as their local stations finally see long overdue upgrades to improve accessibility.

“This upgrade is part of Wiley Park station’s transformation from an under-served train station with 4 trains an hour, to a modern metro station with 15 trains per hour.”

Member for Bankstown Jihad Dib said:

“For decades, Wiley Park was the forgotten station on the Bankstown line. There was no shelter from the rain or sun, terrible lighting and the whole place looked like it was frozen in time.

“After strong community campaigns along the Bankstown line forced action, it’s great to see vital accessibility upgrades finally being delivered.

“Mums with prams, elderly people, kids with bikes and people with disability who didn’t want to try their luck with the steep ramps will finally be able to make the most of the newly accessible train station.

“A big congratulations to Canterbury Bankstown Council and the community who have held this government and previous governments to their commitments to improve station accessibility across Sydney’s south-west.”

A new era for agricultural research has germinated in Narrabri, NSW with today’s official opening of the world-leading $15.2 million International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture.

Featuring digital, genetic, agronomy and soil laboratories, plus teaching and industry briefing spaces, the research centre has been delivered by the NSW Government in partnership with the University of Sydney, Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and NSW Wheat Research Foundation.

Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said the centre will enable Australian industry to grow more resilient crops essential for feeding future Australians.

“The International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture in Narrabri cements NSW’s reputation as a regional, national and international agricultural research hub for groundbreaking grain research,” Ms Moriarty said.

“Using the hi-tech facilities, researchers will focus on adapting crops for drought-tolerance, providing food security solutions and boosting the productivity of farmers.

“This world-class facility also enhances collaboration between researchers and growers to progress our knowledge and practical implementation of robotic farming and data-driven agriculture.”

The University of Sydney Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Emma Johnston said the mission of the centre is bold: to help transform global food security, environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

“The research undertaken at the International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture will focus on adapting crops for drought and heat tolerance, providing sustainable food security solutions and boosting the productivity of farmers,” Prof Johnston said.

“We have been leading agricultural innovation at Narrabri for 60 years and we are focused on delivering for the next 60 years and beyond.”

AGT CEO Dr Haydn Kuchel said the expansion of research capacity at Narrabri has highlighted the importance of the IA Watson Grains Research Centre to agricultural improvement in the north.

“We are proud of our contribution to this investment in northern Australian agriculture, which will help to bring more talented people into the region, working together to find solutions to the challenges that face Australian farmers,” Dr Kuchel said.

“AGT is committed to delivering better varieties for farmers in the north, and our collaboration with other researchers at the IA Watson Grains Research Centre is a key part of that.”

GRDC Chair John Woods said an additional $1 million had been invested by GRDC, on behalf of Australian grain growers, to improve and expand these vital research facilities.

“We appreciate the NSW Government recognising the need for an industry-led approach to improving and expanding the research capacity in Narrabri which is one of the state’s oldest, most strategically important and successful centres.” Mr Woods said.

“With our long-standing relationships with each partner, we are pleased to contribute to this opportunity where, on behalf of our growers, we can co-invest in a world-class facility and deliver long-term research outcomes in northern NSW and benefit Australian grain growers.”

NSW Wheat Research Foundation Chair Rob Long said the state-of-the-art labs and offices are a massive boost for grains research in regional Australia.

“Located on WRF’s owned IA Watson Grains Research Centre, leased to University of Sydney for over 60 years, these new facilities complement the research farm which plants over 40,000 irrigated plots every year on Narrabri’s rich vertosol clay soils,” Mr Long said.

“What an enticement for postgraduate students, national and international researchers and industry leaders to come together in Narrabri for the purpose of improving crop performance for Australian farmers. WRF led this building project and there are plans for additional future collaborative developments.”

The International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture was made possible by $10.5 million from the NSW Government, $1.7 million from the University of Sydney, $1.5 million from AGT, $1 million from GRDC and $500,000 from NSW Wheat Research Foundation.

The NSW Government is planning to transform underutilised government land at Bega’s former TAFE site into a new 97 dwelling diverse housing project with 30% of the homes to include much-needed social and affordable housing.

A new Bega TAFE facility was opened in late 2021, meaning there will be no impact on tertiary education in the area as a consequence of this acquisition.

This is part of the government’s plan to help ease the ongoing housing crisis by unlocking surplus government land that can be repurposed to create more housing supply across the state.

The NSW Government is today announcing:

• Subject to planning approval, almost 8 ha of NSW Government-owned land at Barrack Street in Bega, already zoned for residential use will be redeveloped by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) to provide about 97 new social, affordable, and private homes.
• The mixed tenure development proposes to deliver approximately 8 affordable homes, 65 private homes and 24 social homes, including a 20-unit complex specifically designed for senior social housing residents to meet the needs of this growing cohort of the community.
• It will create a modern, diverse community that is close to key amenities and deliver new infrastructure including, roads and footpaths that deliver positive social and economic outcomes for the Bega community.

Bega is currently experiencing a housing shortage with the social housing priority waitlist increasing 56% in the 12 months to June 2023. 

Bega also has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in all of NSW at just 0.24%.

The NSW Government is committed to easing the housing pressures faced across NSW and has already taken immediate action including:

• Implemented planning reforms to expedite the delivery of more housing as building more homes is essential to reducing homelessness.
• Extended temporary accommodation from an initial period of 2 days to 7 days.
• Removed the 28-day cap ensuring vulnerable people are able to access support when they need it most.
• Increased the cash assets limit from $1000 to $5000 when assessing eligibility for temporary accommodation.
• Removed the cash asset limit assessment entirely for people escaping domestic and family violence.
• Extended Specialist Homelessness Services contracts for 2 years, to 30 June 2026.
• Appointed a rental commissioner to work with us in designing and implementing changes that rebalance the rental market, making it fairer and more modern.
• Put a 12-month freeze on the requirement for people in temporary accommodation to complete a rental diary, while the scheme is reviewed.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“We have a housing crisis in NSW and it is on all of us to work together to address the challenges.

“Part of that challenge is the lack of supply.

“Today’s announcement is an important step towards unlocking supply to deliver housing relief in regional NSW.”

Deputy Premier and Minister Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Prue Car said:

“There is a shared responsibility across government to tackle our housing crisis and we will continue to identify government-owned land, including former TAFE sites, that help meet that demand. It is an opportunity to transform these sites into crucial housing.

“We would never reduce access to education facilities to deliver this. The NSW Government has already opened the Connected Learning Centre and a Multi Trades Hub in Bega managed by TAFE NSW.”
 
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“The scale of the challenge to resolve the housing crisis across the state is massive so if there’s an opportunity to deliver more housing, especially social and affordable homes – we will take it.

“There are simply not enough houses for the people who live and work here. We welcome innovative solutions to deliver more housing and will continue to work across the board to find more opportunities just like this one.

“This development will also create a senior’s living complex, which will provide fit-for-purpose social housing for our aging community. These modern homes will include well-located 1- and 2-bedroom units, will be easier to maintain and more economical to run.

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said:

“Bega has one of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the state and as the social housing waitlist continues to increase, we must do everything we can to support the Bega community and part of that work means delivering more homes. 

“Not only will the development deliver more housing, it will also create 55 more local jobs during its construction.”

A new website on coercive control has been launched by the NSW Government to help raise awareness and educate the public about this abuse, which is a known precursor to domestic violence deaths.

Attorney General Michael Daley said the website provides information to broaden the public’s understanding of coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships.

It provides accurate descriptions and examples of coercive control and includes information about what the legislative reforms mean, who they apply to, how to recognise patterns in behaviour that could lead to this abuse and where and how to seek help.

“The Domestic Violence Death Review Team found that about 97% of intimate partner domestic violence homicides in NSW between 2000 and 2018 were preceded by coercive control where the perpetrator used emotional and psychological abuse towards the victim,” Attorney General Daley said.

“And on average, 1 woman is killed in Australia every 10 dayslaunch by an intimate partner.

“It is for this reason that the NSW Parliament passed the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022launch to criminalise coercive control in current and former intimate partner relationships.”

These new laws will come into effect in 2024 and, if found guilty, perpetrators can face up to a maximum of 7 years in prison.

Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said there is very poor understanding of what coercive control is in the community.

“Independent research commissioned by the Department of Communities and Justice found that while 2 in 5 people claimed to know what coercive control means, only 1 in 5 could correctly identify at least 1 aspect of coercive control,” Minister Harrison said.

“Coercive control is a pattern of behavior used against an intimate partner that impedes on their freedom and liberty, and can include controlling the way they dress, who they communicate with and even their access to finances.

“It is behaviour designed to exercise domination and control over another, and can be hard to spot because it can be deeply contextual.

“Coercive control laws will have a profound impact on the way that our justice system assesses and manages domestic violence cases come 2024, and the government is now making sure people recognise the signs and know what it is.”

Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel OAM said the website is critical to providing people with accurate information so they can spot the signs of coercive control in their own or others’ relationships.

“While some coercive and controlling behaviours can seem minor on their own, when they’re repeated or continuous, they can cause serious harm to the victim, affecting a person’s sense of safety and independence, and making them feel trapped, powerless and alone,” Ms Daniel said.

“A history of coercive and controlling behaviours in a relationship is also a known precursor for intimate partner homicide. So, if anyone is worried about coercive control in their own, or someone else’s relationship, please know, there is help.”

If you are experiencing or know of someone who is experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECTlaunch 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

To learn more, visit the coercive control website.

Netball NSW is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Netball NSW Judy Dunbar Media Awards.

The Judy Dunbar Media Awards recognise individuals and/or outlets that have demonstrated an outstanding media contribution to the sport of netball between the period; 1 September 2022 – 31 August 2023.

Judy Dunbar was an avid and long-serving Member of Netball NSW having served on the Board of Directors as well as various committees. Until her passing in July 2002, she was also the Media Officer for the Baulkham Hills Shire Netball Association and was responsible for building the image and increasing the exposure of netball in her local area.

To recognise her dedication to the sport over the years, Netball NSW named its media awards in her honour.

The Netball NSW Judy Dunbar Media Awards are presented annually at the Netball NSW State Dinner, this year to be held on Saturday 4 November at the Waterview in Sydney Olympic Park.

Nominations can be made in the following categories;

• Best Overall Media Coverage
• Community Media Excellence

Eligible nominations from accredited media outlets will be accepted whereby the content (print, radio, online, broadcast, photo) refers to individuals or teams representing or participating in the following competitions and/or activities:

• Netball NSW competitions, programs or events.
• Netball NSW affiliated Association (local) netball competitions.
• NSW State Teams 
• NSW Swifts
• GIANTS Netball
• Suncorp Super Netball & Australian Diamonds 
• National Championships

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY

Closing date for nominations is 5pm AEST, Monday 4 September 2023.

The NSW Premier Chris Minns has ended COVID rules for cruising as the industry prepares for a busy summer.

Premier Minns has signed paperwork formally removing the Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols.

The cruise protocols were introduced in April 2022 to support the safe resumption of cruising following the lifting of the Commonwealth’s ban during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The participating state governments – NSW, Victoria, QLD and WA – approved the cruise protocols, which have been implemented by the cruise industry on a voluntary basis.

The protocols stated that all passengers aged 12 years and over needed to be fully-vaccinated to board a cruise ship departing or arriving at a port in these 4 states.

It also enforced mask wearing, including when embarking and disembarking, along with mandating negative COVID test results prior to departure.

Governments have agreed there is no longer a need for formal protocols with increasing community immunity to COVID-19 and lessons learned from the cruising industry since voyages resumed.

The Premier’s move follows an announcement late Friday by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

The AHPPC rescinded the current Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) Cruise Guidelines and issued new advice around cruising.

The committee did note that cruise ships remain a higher risk setting for communicable disease and that cruise operators can help reduce the risk, including by managing staff health, encouraging passengers and crew to stay up to date with vaccinations and by promptly identifying and controlling outbreaks.

The NSW Government encourages the cruise industry to continue its work to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other outbreaks on voyages, in line with the updated Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s advice.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“We need to get life back to normal.

“We have scrapped these rules because they aren’t needed any more.

“Passengers can take their own decisions to look after their health before and during a cruise.

“Cruise companies have been looking after their guests and workers and we encourage them to continue that.

“But this change is needed – we could not remain the only country with these rules for cruising.

“These protocols were important at the time to get the cruising industry going again after COVID. They were never meant to remain forever.”

Minister for Tourism John Graham said:

“The 2023 winter cruise season in Sydney is on track to be one of the strongest on record and it is fantastic even more people can now participate.

“These protocols were important after COVID but were not intended to continue in perpetuity and I thank the sector for how they have handled the additional requirements placed upon them.

“The decision to bring the sector in line with other forms of travel is a sensible way to give visitors an unforgettable and safe experience across NSW’s beautiful coastline.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“The decision to repeal the cruise protocols is supported by NSW Health advice and NSW Health will continue to work with the cruise industry to minimise health risks to passengers as much as possible.

“The NSW Government remains committed to safeguarding public health and ensuring that policies are adapted in response to changing circumstances.

“I am confident that the cruise industry will continue to prioritise the health and safety of passengers, crew, and the broader community.”