Category: NSW News

For governments of a long duration, probity in office can often seep away and its members find themselves accused of a lack of integrity or mired in political scandal. It often doesn’t manifest itself in large rackets or kickbacks and bribes – it could also be a culture of spending public money for political ends or misusing taxpayer-funded positions for cronies and pals.

How do I know that? Because as a member of the New South Wales Labor Party I have seen with my own eyes – inside my own party – what happens when a government loses the will to place integrity at the centre of everything they do.

I have seen the drift and the grift, the dramas and the scandals, the self-obsession and self-aggrandising that consumes a government from within when they decide to put their own political hopes and dreams ahead of the public good.

If I have learned anything about integrity from my time in politics, it’s that even though integrity is a noun, as a politician – and as the leader of a party – you are better off thinking of it as a verb. It’s not an outcome you reach, it is a continuous and relentless determination to place integrity at the heart of all your decisions and actions, and that’s precisely what all sides of politics in New South Wales need to do.

That’s why from opposition we have introduced a private members bill that makes the grants process fairer and more accountable by imposing new reporting requirements on ministers and agencies; conferring new powers on the auditor-general to follow the money; and introducing new grants guidelines.

We can’t afford to wait for the next election to start acting on integrity. We need to begin that work today. I have not hesitated to back Gladys Berejiklian or Dom Perrottet when I thought they were on the right path, and I call on the premier to do the same thing and back this important, considered, and urgently needed bill.

At the end of the day, public funds are not the government’s own piggy bank. We want to work with the premier and the government to realise these reforms now.

I’ve said before and I’ll keep saying it – NSW Labor supports the Independent Commission Against Corruption not because it investigates our opponents but because it investigates us. Knowing ICAC is watching helps people have faith and trust in their government and political leaders. I believe in many cases its presence stops corruption before it even begins.

Under a government I lead, Labor will legislate to guarantee independent funding for ICAC. We need a strong and independent ICAC, free to continue its important work unencumbered. If the premier wants to implement this policy before the next election, he will have my full support.

I’ve also announced that Labor will abolish the Liberals’ and Nationals’ senior trade and investment commissioner roles. If Labor wins government in March these $500,000-a-year contracts will not be renewed.

We all know this money could be better spent and the public has the right to know that if Labor does form government we won’t turn around and appoint our own former MPs to jobs that pay more than the premier.

From hard experience, Labor has learned that the pursuit of integrity is not a burden we absolve ourselves of, but an unwavering commitment to always be probing ourselves, and others, to ensure there is integrity in public life in NSW.

The measures outlined here are a good start and will help bring integrity back into the centre of state government decision-making. But they are the beginning of the job, not its end. It also goes to culture.

A senior minister told me at the conclusion of Labor’s time in office that Labor had lost the sense that we are only custodians of high office; that we have no proprietorship, that it can be taken away at any time by the people and we have a duty to hand it back better than how it was when we inherited it.

That’s a lesson I will take into government if we are able to secure the public’s confidence after 12 years in opposition.

Aboriginal people will benefit from the expansion of a grants program, which will create more opportunities for education, training and employment in the NSW public service and local government agencies.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the NSW Government has expanded the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grants to provide more tangible and meaningful pathways for Aboriginal people.
 
“This initiative enables the public service and local councils to deliver more education, training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“The NSW Government’s record investment in skills in the 2022-23 Budget means we can expand the program to support 250 School Based Apprentices and Trainees and more than 20 permanent, temporary or post-high school roles.”
 
The annual grants are named in honour of community leader Elsa Dixon who played a critical role in improving social outcomes for Aboriginal people in the 1970s and 1980s.
 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said the program aligns with Closing the Gap targets to increase the number of Aboriginal people engaged in sustainable employment, education and training pathways.
 
“This is an incredible expansion and will see more Aboriginal people secure employment or greater opportunities and choice in their local communities,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“We encourage government agencies and local councils to come forward with their innovative ideas and help remove barriers to education, training and employment for Aboriginal people.”
 
For more information about the grants and how to apply, visit the website.

Up to 6,000 native trees are on offer to residents across Greater Sydney this month, with the latest round of the NSW Government’s Tree Giveaway kicking off today.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said it was great to see the program continuing in partnership with Bunnings Warehouse stores.
 
“I’m thrilled that Sydney residents can head into spring with this new round of tree giveaways,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“We’ve seen incredible progress in tree planting numbers since we began this project in 2020.
 
“This latest round will give us a final push towards achieving the Greening our City Premier’s Priority of planting one million trees in Greater Sydney by the end of the year. We are closing in on that target with 922,814 already planted.”
 
This month’s giveaway focuses on providing a range of native trees, including Fringed Wattles, Lilly Pillies and Bottle Brushes. With the hope to secure some more varieties later in Spring.
 
Mr Roberts said trees are vital to maintaining health and wellbeing, as well as keeping backyards nice and shady and our homes cooler.
 
“They make the air we breathe more pure and healthier not to mention the beautiful wildlife they attract,” he said.
 
“With summer fast approaching, now is a good time for community to get involved in planting efforts.”
 
The Tree Giveaway is open to residents from all 33 council areas in Greater Sydney, who have not already received a free tree this year.
 
For more information and to claim your free tree, visit: dpie.nsw.gov.au/free-tree

Communities in South Western Sydney will be better protected following the delivery of a new $2.5 million aerial firefighting truck to Revesby Fire Station.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the Compressed Aerial Pumper (CAP) features an air foam system, a 2,000 litre water tank, a 24.5 metre extendable ladder with an outreach of 11 metres, and has the capability to haul 330 kilogram loads.
 
“While the skyline across South Western Sydney continues to grow with new residential and business developments, it’s important firefighters are equipped with state-of-the-art appliances to support and protect people and property in a range of emergency situations,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“The delivery of this aerial pumper delivers on the NSW Government’s $37 million commitment to increase and upgrade the FRNSW aerial fleet.”
 
Member for East Hills Wendy Lindsay today handed over the truck’s keys to firefighters at Revesby Fire Station.
 
“Whether it’s large-scale fires in shopping centres, industrial complexes and multi-storey residential buildings or other operations like rescues and evacuations, this pumper will give our Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) personnel the equipment they need to better protect the community,” Ms Lindsay said.
 
“This is the first of 11 aerials pumpers being rolled out across the State and I’m so proud it’s based at Revesby.”
 
Each CAP is also fitted with thermal imaging cameras to detect heat signals which can be transmitted in ‘real-time’ to the FRNSW Command Centre.
 
FRNSW Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Darryl Dunbar, said the new asset provides firefighters with the best tools to do their work and protect the irreplaceable.
 
“We are always on the lookout for new equipment and technologies to help our crews adapt to the changing needs of the communities they serve,” Chief Superintendent Dunbar said.
 
“The addition of the CAPs to the FRNSW fleet allows firefighters to quickly reach the seats of multi-storey blazes and extinguish them more efficiently and effectively.”

The most ambitious rewilding project in Australia is achieving incredible results, with 10 locally extinct species now thriving after being reintroduced to three feral-free areas in NSW national parks.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said within three years of animals being reintroduced to their native habitats, NSW is already turning back the tide on extinctions.
 
“We set out a bold plan backed by science to create areas where we could eradicate feral predators and reintroduce locally extinct animals like the bilby and numbat, which have been extinct in the wild in NSW for more than 100 years,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“Feral cats and foxes are a huge threat to our native species and are a key driver of high extinction rates, with cats alone responsible for killing 1.5 billion native animals nationally every year.
 
“This is a world-leading program of rewilding, with a goal of returning the bush to how it was before feral animals were introduced 200 years ago.
 
“It’s incredible to see that in such a short period of time, we’re on track to remove at least 10 animals from the NSW extinct list – the first time this will have happened anywhere in the world.”
 
To help threatened species thrive into the future, the NSW Government is establishing seven feral-free rewilding sites in NSW.
 
Once they’re complete, 65,000 hectares of national parks will be free from feral predators, providing a significant conservation benefit for more than 50 species.
 
The three established sites so far are the Pilliga State Conservation Area, Mallee Cliffs National Park and Sturt National Park.
 
In partnership with NPWS,  Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) delivers the Mallee Cliffs and Pilliga rewilding programs, and University of NSW Wild Deserts delivers the Sturt National Park site program.
 
Regular monitoring has found that across the three feral predator-free sites, all species reintroduced into their native habitat are thriving and breeding successfully.
 
AWC Chief Executive Officer Tim Allard said the feral free areas in NSW are helping reverse the trend of biodiversity decline and extinctions of our most vulnerable species.
 
“Effective partnership between Government and conservation organisations is helping deliver the resources and expertise required to provide conservation at scale and this is critical to restoring our country’s unique biodiversity,” Mr Allard said.
 
UNSW Wild Deserts lead Professor Richard Kingsford said it is great to see the whole ecosystem recovering and showing that removal of feral pests can make a real difference.
 
“This is where we are really starting to see the results of not only the season but the benefits of good management and our collaborations, delivering conservation at scale,” Professor Kingsford said.
 
“It really does make a difference to actively manage these landscapes and remove feral animals.”  
 
To read more about the NSW Government’s seven rewilding sites, visit: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-support/nsw-environmental-trust/major-projects/turning-back-the-tide-of-extinction
 

An Australian-first Culture Standard will be piloted at NSW construction sites to improve facilities, working conditions and boost the number of women in construction.
 
New ways of working will be tested at the new Wentworth Point High School and Mulgoa Road upgrade stage 1 construction sites to address cultural issues that can lead to poor mental health, high rates of family breakdown and a lack of diversity in the industry.
 
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said piloting the Culture Standard is an additional measure to the $20.2 million funding allocation in this years’ budget, to attract more women into the construction industry.
 
“With a record-breaking $112.7 billion infrastructure pipeline, it’s critical that we are doing everything we can to make our worksites work for everyone,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to trialing new ways of doing things to boost productivity and secure brighter futures for the 369,500 construction workers across NSW.”
 
Minister for Infrastructure Rob Stokes said the pilot was focused on improving wellbeing and work-life balance, boosting construction efficiency and productivity all without impacting project timeframes. 
 
“Construction sites will be happier, healthier and more productive places to work when there is better work-life balance and diversity, and more access to wellbeing and mental health support,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The industry has one of the worst gender pay gaps in the country at around 30 per cent so we’re going to trial the publication of that data so we can work towards women being fairly paid for their equal contribution.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said this is the first of many initiatives aimed at boosting the number of women in construction to 15 per cent by 2030.
 
“The sad reality is that women on construction sites can be subject to sexist slurs, offensive graffiti and second-rate amenities that don’t accommodate their needs, including a lack of sanitary bins or private spaces,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“The Culture Standard sets out a basic roadmap to making sites more inclusive because when sites work better for women, they work better for everyone.
 
“We also know another key barrier is construction work is typically a six day, 50 plus hour a week job, which is why this program will seek to improve flexible working conditions for women who are juggling family commitments.”
 
The program is led by the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce – a collaboration between the NSW and Victorian governments, the Australian Constructors Association and industry leaders. The pilots will include measures such as:

• No offensive material on site
• Ensuring appropriate amenities are provided, including toilets for women, sanitary bins and safe changerooms
• Identifying and disclosing of gender pay gaps across roles, as well as implementing plans to reduce gender pay gaps
• Providing mental health first aiders on site
• Setting clear targets for the appointment of women
• A Monday to Friday working program, or when this is not viable ensure all workers are working a 5 in 7 program to give workers adequate rest and recovery time.

 
Outcomes of the pilot will bolster research and the contemporary evidence base of how to best generate cultural change on site and across the construction sector.
 
The NSW Government involvement in the program is being led by Infrastructure NSW and will support its ongoing collaboration with industry, construction firms, sub-contractors, and trade unions to make the construction sector a more inclusive workplace for everyone.
 
You can read the draft Culture Standard and the proposed elements here.

A new state-of-the-art Medium Storm Vehicle will be deployed on the Northern Beaches to bolster the NSW State Emergency Service’s (SES) response to the upcoming storm season.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery joined Member for Manly James Griffin and SES Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin at the Manly SES Unit today to officially hand over the keys to the $245,000 purpose-built truck.

“This fully equipped vehicle has been delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $116 million investment in SES fleet replacement, giving our volunteers the vehicles they need to serve their communities to the best of their ability,” Ms Cooke said.

“The truck includes a ladder loader and ladder, power tools, front and rear anchor points and stowage for an Ark Angel rescue craft. It will help volunteers better respond to a range of incidents, including storm damage operations and flood rescues.”

Mr Griffin said the Medium Storm Vehicle is a welcome boost for the Manly SES Unit which has responded to more than 500 incidents in the past year.

“It’s been an incredibly busy period for our volunteers around Manly with the unprecedented rainfall Sydney has experienced this year,” Mr Griffin said.

“This new asset has arrived at the perfect time, allowing our 136 volunteers from the Manly SES Unit to better protect the community, with the official storm season fast approaching on 1 October.”

Deputy Commissioner Austin said the new vehicle will equip volunteers to carry out critical life-saving tasks.

“It is a significant boost for the area, offering greater response capability for land and in-water flood rescues, storm events and complex storm damage operations,” Deputy Commissioner Austin said.

NSW has recorded the strongest quarterly economic growth amongst all states with State Final Demand (SFD) rising by 1.9 per cent in the June quarter, according to the ABS National Accounts released today.   
 
On an annual basis, the quarterly national accounts showed NSW SFD, a measure of economic activity, rose 4.1 per cent over the year to June 2022.
 
This is much higher than the increase in Australia’s gross domestic product of 0.9 per cent in the June quarter and 3.6 per cent over the year to June 2022.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the figures demonstrated the State’s economy was continuing to rebound strongly despite economic challenges including supply chain issues, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s zero COVID policy.
 
“NSW recorded the strongest economic growth of all states in the June quarter showing the NSW economy is going from strength to strength following last year’s pandemic-related impacts,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Our government’s continued investment in NSW is propelling Australia’s strong economic performance.
 
“Today’s report showed household consumption rose 2.5 per cent in the June quarter, which drove the State’s increase in State Final Demand.
 
“Spending on hospitality, transport and recreation and culture have all increased as households spend more freely post-COVID restrictions.”
 
Business investment also grew by a strong 4.1 per cent in the quarter, with firms investing in machinery and equipment as demand increased.

More than 70 trainees are set to enter the construction sector following the NSW Government Traineeship program, as application open for the next round.
 
The two-year traineeship program is a collaboration between NSW Government infrastructure agencies and industry partners, offering Year 12 school leavers a rounded experience in the infrastructure sector.
 
Trainees run through three rotations of eight months each with government agencies, contractors and consultant organisations. The trainees are now entering their third and final work rotation with a majority of them pursuing a future career in the infrastructure sector.
 
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said that 78 trainees from the 2021 intake are set to graduate in early 2023 and will leave with a diverse knowledge in areas of Business, Project Management, Practice and Procurement and Contracting.
 
“The program has been a great success so far and attracted trainees from all backgrounds from across the state,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“The program expands the benefits of the NSW Government’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, opening up fantastic careers in the sector for our young people.
 
“The success of the program led to the opportunity being extended to school leavers again in 2021 and I am excited to say that we will offer new amazing opportunities for 2022 school leavers with applications now open for the program starting in February next year.”
 
Sapphira Chu from Campsie was part of the inaugural cohort of the NSW Infrastructure Traineeship program. Sapphira is studying a double degree at UNSW, and recently secured employment in the industry.
 
“I’m now in my last third of the program and working with construction company UrbanCore.
 
“I started out with School Infrastructure NSW and my favourite thing was collaborating with a range of consultants and see how a variety of perspectives, whether that be the analytical outlook from an engineer or the contemporary vision of an architect, joined together to work towards an end result – a new school for the community.”
 
Hayley Lennon from Grafton began her traineeship on a Transport for NSW project in early 2021, followed by eight months with a global business specialising in the delivery of public services. Hayley is now finishing the trainee program with Lipman.
 
“I signed up for the traineeship because I wanted to move into project management and now I would definitely encourage others to apply.
 
“This traineeship sets workers up for success while they are being educated on the skills of the job and learning how to apply them at work. I have learnt how to adapt to many different work environments and how to be a time efficient worker.”
 
Applications are now open for the 2023 Infrastructure Traineeship and 2022 high school leavers are encouraged to apply.
 
For more information, please visit: www.apprenticeshipcareers.com.au/infrastructure-traineeships.