Category: NSW News

It is now easier for victims of identity theft to take back control of compromised documents thanks to a new service launched by the NSW Government. 
 
ID Support NSW is a nation-leading service that acts as a one-stop-shop for victims of the crime to seek help and securely recover Government documents and private information, such as their driver’s licence and birth certificate.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the service is about making the process for people to recover more efficient. 
 
“ID Support NSW takes the pressure away by bringing all the key call points into one location—NSW Police, Transport for NSW, Service NSW, The Office of the Children’s Guardian and Births Deaths and Marriages,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Through the service, people can also access counselling services and even advice on how to protect themselves in the future.”
 
Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said this new service will be a great support to older Australians, who are disproportionately affected by the crime.
 
“It can be incredibly distressing having your identity stolen, especially for older Australians who represent 37 per cent of all reported cases,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Victims of the crime can lose an average of $4,000 and spend a total 34 hours talking to individual people to try to solve the problem.
 
“This service will help seniors have more of a fighting chance to recover their documents and information.”
 
ID Support NSW operates between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday via the toll-free number 1800 001 040. For more information on ID Support NSW, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/id-support-nsw

In an Australian first, women in NSW undergoing IVF and accessing other assisted reproductive treatments (ART) will be given a cash rebate of up to $2,000 to reduce treatment costs as part of the NSW Government’s 2022-23 Budget.
 
About 12,000 women who are using private fertility clinics will benefit from the rebate, while another 6,180 women will be given access to publicly supported IVF treatment under the $80 million package.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said about one in 20 births in Australia involve some form of assisted reproductive treatment.
 
“We know that the costs of these treatments can be prohibitively expensive,” Mr Kean said.
 
“No-one should have to face the impossible choice between looking after their household budget and starting a family. I’m so proud NSW continues to lead the nation, helping thousands of families fulfil their dream of having a baby.”
 
The fertility package will also:

• extend rebates for pre-IVF fertility testing
• boost the number of fertility preservation services for patients with cancer and other medical needs
• provide five days of paid fertility treatment leave for teachers, nurses and other public servants across NSW.  

  
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said IVF and fertility preservation can be a difficult process for women, both emotionally and financially.
 
“We want to make sure the costs don’t stop women from accessing fertility services which would give them the best chance of being able to conceive,” Mr Hazzard said.  
 
“This investment builds on the NSW Government’s $42 million election commitment for affordable IVF, which was successfully achieved during the past two years despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 
The $42 million Affordable IVF initiative includes enhanced publicly supported IVF clinics at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Westmead Hospital and Royal Hospital for Women and the establishment of the state’s first publicly-funded fertility preservation service for cancer patients.
 
The NSW Government will also invest funding towards the establishment of a hub and spoke model that expands publicly supported IVF services to regional NSW.
 
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said that one in every six couples experiences fertility issues.
 
“Fertility challenges can be stressful and heartbreaking. I hope that by lowering the cost of treatments, we can help more women on their journey to start a family,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
Eligible families will be able to receive up to $2,000 depending on the cost of their required treatment. Rebates are only available for eligible treatments offered by accredited clinics, ensuring the highest standards for all families.  
 
The $2000 rebate will open 1 January 2023.  Women who have undergone an eligible procedure from 1 October 2022 will be able to submit a claim when the rebate scheme opens.
 
The rebate scheme will initially be open to 12,000 eligible women, after which a full evaluation will be completed to ensure private fees have remained low and competitive before any extension is considered. The NSW Government will also advocate with the Commonwealth to lower the cost of IVF for all families across Australia.
 
The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand and the IVF Directors Group have committed to working in partnership with the NSW Government to implement the rebate and ensure that patients directly benefit from the cost savings.

The NSW Government has committed $43 million to supporting the transfer of a Sydney Harbour island to the Aboriginal community, and commenced the first step in the official transfer process.

In one of the first NSW Budget 2022-23 announcements, Premier Dominic Perrottet said returning Me-Mel (Goat Island) to the Aboriginal community is a personal priority.

“Returning Me-Mel to the Aboriginal community is the right thing to do, and it helps deliver on my commitment of improving outcomes and opportunities for Aboriginal people across all parts of Government,” Mr Perrottet said.

“A big part of my commitment is ensuring the island is remediated before it’s transferred to the Aboriginal community.

“Through the NSW Budget 2022-23, we’re delivering $42.9 million to regenerate and restore Me-Mel, and ultimately pave the way for the transfer back to the Aboriginal community.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the significant NSW Budget funding will go towards important maintenance and safety work that will help ensure Me-Mel can be safely enjoyed for generations to come.

“This $43 million investment from the NSW Government demonstrates that we’re dedicated to improving outcomes for the Aboriginal community,” Mr Kean said.

“This funding over four years will go towards work such as repairing seawalls and buildings, improving the wharf and access, upgrading services such as water and sewers, and removing contaminants like asbestos.”

Me-Mel is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register and has a rich and diverse array of important Aboriginal, historical and natural heritage values, including more than 30 buildings and other structures dating from the 1830s to the 1960s.

Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said the official process to transfer Me-Mel to the Aboriginal community is now underway through the opening of an Expressions of Interest.
“It’s easy to see why Me-Mel is such a cherished Aboriginal site – it sits in the middle of magnificent Sydney Harbour, surrounded by a vibrant ecosystem,” Mr Griffin said.

“This is a significant transfer from the NSW Government to the Aboriginal community and we need to ensure it’s done right, which is why the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is now calling for Expressions of Interest to join the Me-Mel Transfer Committee.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said the Committee will make recommendations for the transfer to Aboriginal ownership, and help determine how the island is managed and used into the future.

“The Me-Mel Transfer Committee includes Aboriginal people and NSW Government agency representatives, and importantly, its establishment is supported by the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC),” Mr Franklin said.

“Me-Mel holds great significance to Aboriginal people, including in the creation story Boora Birra, where the great eel spirit created the water courses known today as Sydney Harbour.”

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council Deputy Chair Yvonne Weldon said acknowledging and respecting all histories so they can be respectfully enjoyed by everyone will help healing and progress.         

“Me-Mel is a place where we can go to be within our culture, pass culture on to our younger generations and share with other people,” Ms Weldon said.

“Me-Mel is an opportunity for truth telling, and it’s about recognising the past and unlocking the future.”

Me-Mel is a complex site and a range of expert advice, including legal, heritage, planning, and governance will be offered to the Committee to help it develop a plan and a business case for future ownership and management of the island. 
Me-Mel will continue being managed by NPWS until the transfer is finalised. It will remain open to the public through NPWS.

Community Representative nominations for the Transfer Committee should be received by close of business on Monday 27 June 2022.

For further details please visit https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/park-management/community-engagement/sydney-harbour-national-park/me-mel-goat-island

Households experiencing difficulty paying their energy bills will be able to access up to $1,600 a year in help after Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean today increased support payments.
 
The Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) program has helped 49,000 NSW households experiencing short-term financial hardship with their energy bills. From Monday, each application will have its limit increased from $300 to $400, up to a maximum of $1,600 a year.
 
“Eligible customers can receive payment assistance of up to $400 per application for electricity and up to $400 per application for gas bills twice a year,” Mr Kean said.
 
“This means the annual maximum limit of vouchers has increased from $1,200 to $1,600 per household.”
 
The boost to assistance for electricity and gas bills comes as the Australian Energy Regulator released its final determination today showing NSW energy customers on standing offers will face price increases from July 1.
 
The price increases are driven primarily by external factors including the Russian invasion of Ukraine which has affected supply and led to global price pressures on coal and gas. Extreme weather events in NSW and Queensland have also had an impact on prices.
 
The extra assistance is part of a $330 million per year package the NSW government is providing which also includes energy rebates to around 1 million households.
 
“With cost-of-living pressures increasing, colder weather arriving and days shortening, we want to make sure households in NSW not only keep the lights on but keep their families safe, warm and comfortable,” Mr Kean said.
 
Eligible households can also apply for different rebates including the Low Income Household Rebate, Gas Rebate, Family Energy Rebate, and Seniors Energy Rebate.
 
Around 800,000 households received the Low Income Household Rebate last year and 286,000 received the Gas Rebate.
 
Customers can see what they are eligible for by using the Service NSW Savings Finder at www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/savings-finder, by phoning 13 77 88 or visiting a Service NSW centre.
 
“I encourage all households to shop around to find the best deal for their energy,” Mr Kean said.
 
Households and small businesses can also use the free and independent Australian Government service – Energy Made Easy to compare energy plans: www.energymadeeasy.gov.au

Construction of the new 12-storey clinical services building at Campbelltown Hospital, the centrepiece of the $632 million Stage 2 redevelopment, is now complete.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons and Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves today toured the new building, which is undergoing final touches in readiness for its 12-week commissioning period, which will further boost first-class healthcare facilities in South-West Sydney.
 
“This major investment in Campbelltown Hospital is strengthening our frontline services to deliver better services sooner and closer to home,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“Our record investment in our health system is ensuring we are building what matters to make daily life better so people have access to the healthcare they need.
 
“The NSW Government is delivering major projects across South-West and Western Sydney to make these communities an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family.”
 
The state-of-the-art building will help service the more than 130,000 new residents expected to call the Macarthur region home over the next decade.
 
It will boost bed capacity across the hospital by more than 50 per cent as well as deliver a raft of new and expanded health services for patients.
 
This will include a new maternity unit, increased medical and surgical services, expanded kids’ services, as well as significantly increased mental health services.
 
Mr Hazzard said the project was part of the NSW Government’s record $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure over the four years to 2024-25.
 
“This project follows completion of the $134 million first stage redevelopment of Campbelltown Hospital and the completion of the new $34 million hospital car park,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“No matter whether you look north, south, east or west across this vast State, the NSW Government is delivering more hospitals and health facilities than any other in history.
 
“More than 170 hospitals and health facilities since 2011, with a further 110 currently underway. It is an extraordinary achievement to support our health staff and patients.”
 
The new 12 story clinical services building includes:

• New state-of-the-art digital operating theatres and procedure rooms;
• A new dental and oral health department – a first for the hospital;
• Double the ICU bed capacity;
• Expanded Cancer Therapy Centre;
• Almost double the number of maternity beds (as well as an almost 60 per cent increase in the special care nursery and 50 per cent increase in birthing suites);
• New and expanded surgical services, including interventional radiology; and
• Significantly expanded mental health services, including a specialised older people’s unit and civil secure unit for adults.

 
Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons said the project was part of the NSW Government’s record investment in South West Sydney’s public hospitals.
 
“This redevelopment will transform local healthcare and ensure people living in and moving into the fastest growing region in our state have better access to a broad range of key health services, closer to home,” Ms Gibbons said.
 
Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves welcomed the expansion of key medical services, including those for children and women, mental health, and the care of older members of the community.
 
“I am incredibly pleased that this redevelopment will not only cater to the needs of our community for years to come, but has also seen the involvement of around 4,000 workers over the life of the project,” Mr Sidgreaves said.
 
A community open day will be held on Saturday 4 June, offering locals a behind-the-scenes tour of the new building before it opens to patients.
 
To register interest in the community open day visit and learn more about the Campbelltown Hospital Stage 2 redevelopment, visit www.campbelltownredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au
 
Over the last three years around 4,000 workers were on the job to support construction for the Stage 2 redevelopment providing a major boost to the local economy and jobs.

Western Sydney will be at the heart of Australia’s high-tech manufacturing capability with the investment of $260 million in a national-first shared-use research facility to be built on the doorstep of the new Western Sydney International Airport.

The full-scale Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) will be the focal point of the new Bradfield City Centre, the 115ha urban and employment area next to the airport.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the AMRF will be at the leading edge of Australia’s advanced manufacturing revolution helping to strengthen our economy now and into the future.

“We are securing a brighter future of our families and our country, right here in Western Sydney,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The NSW Government is building what matters to make Western Sydney an even better place to live, work, learn, play and raise a family.

“The AMRF will create new high-paying jobs of the future in Western Sydney by making Bradfield City Centre the national capital of advanced manufacturing bringing industry and universities together.”

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the AMRF was planned to be operational in 2026.

“Western Sydney has one of the largest concentrations of manufacturing businesses in Australia. The AMRF will allow manufacturers from Western Sydney the support to transition to new ways of doing business, creating the high value components for the next generation of space, aerospace, defence and medical technologies,” Mr Ayres said.

“It will mean more jobs and more investment in Western Sydney. But even more importantly, it puts Western Sydney at the centre of some of the biggest global industrial trends of this century.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the facility will change the face of manufacturing in Australia on the doorstep of the new International Airport.

“The high-tech machines we are purchasing will give businesses and researchers in Western Sydney access to some of the most advanced manufacturing technologies in the world.

“This investment will return dividends for the taxpayers of NSW through private investment and premium jobs as the new city and industries grow together.”

Modelled on examples of successful precincts overseas, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Sheffield UK, the AMRF will have a manufacturing hall and collaborative workspaces.

It will bring together businesses, engineers and researchers to prove out new technologies, scale up and commercialise.

The Western Parkland City Authority will also be releasing the first of a $23 million package of tenders for advanced manufacturing equipment to be installed in the pilot of the AMRF due to open in 2023.

The first tender package, released this week by the Western Parkland City Authority, is for precision additive manufacturing equipment to be used in the aerospace, defence, automotive and medical industries.

The state’s first trial of a hydrogen-powered electric bus will begin on the Central Coast later this year, as the NSW Government transitions its fleet to zero emission technology.

The Government is partnering with local and national industry suppliers to test the future fuel source.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the project would help create a thriving green hydrogen industry in NSW.

“Unlocking hydrogen use in the heavy transport sector is key to creating new industries and achieving the economic prosperity that comes with it,” Mr Kean said.

“A green hydrogen industry will encourage NSW investment in clean technology, grow our economy, boost our exports and support regional jobs.”

The project is a partnership with the Department of Planning and Environment, local bus manufacturer ARCC, Central Coast operator Red Bus, and Origin Energy.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said industry is partnering with bus operators to develop trials, to understand how the technology could be implemented across regional NSW.

“Hydrogen buses have a greater range than battery electric buses, which could make them better suited for use in regional and outer metropolitan areas of the state,” Mr Farraway said.

“This trial is the first step towards us getting a better understanding of how hydrogen buses perform in local conditions, as well as the infrastructure needed to support them.

“The results of the battery electric bus trial on the Central Coast will be compared against the hydrogen bus to understand any key differences, including fuel economy and refuelling times.

“In some regional areas buses need to travel greater distances before they refuel which is why trials like this are important.”

Managing Director and founder of ARCC Peter Murley said the Australian-owned business was committed to a sustainable, zero-emission transport future.

“Our focus is on helping local and state governments reach zero-emission targets with turnkey transport options that are 100 per cent Australian designed, built and supported,” Mr Murley said.

On-road testing will take place on roads surrounding the development facility at Smithfield before the trial begins.

The first hydrogen fuel cell electric bus is expected to arrive on the Central Coast later this year before starting a local trial of the technology.

NSW residents are being urged to book in for their flu vaccine without delay, with winter just a week away and hospitals already seeing a surge in influenza cases.
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW hospitals are facing a triple threat with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, a surge in flu cases and staff furloughing due to illness.
 
“NSW Health has been warning us for months of the likelihood of a horror flu season, so please, help yourselves and our health staff and get a flu shot,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“After two years of COVID, our hospitals do not need the added challenge of avoidable influenza, when flu shots are readily available at GPs and pharmacies.
 
“With almost no exposure to flu these past two years, it is imperative we all get a flu jab to protect ourselves and the community.”
 
NSW’s Chief Paediatrician Dr Matt O’Meara said there is particular concern for children aged six months to five years old.
 
“We are encouraging parents to be alert this flu season as young children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of flu,” Dr O’Meara said.
 
“At least 10 per cent of children admitted to hospital with flu will be so sick that they need intensive care. Parents can reduce the risk of that happening, just by getting their child vaccinated.”
 
Those considered to be at higher risk of severe illness from influenza are eligible for a free flu vaccine. This includes children from six months to under five years of age; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from six months of age; people with serious health conditions, pregnant women, and people aged 65 and over.
 
NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce said emergency departments across NSW are currently under significant pressure due to high numbers of COVID-19 cases and now a surge in flu cases, which is impacting the availability of staff.
 
“Our wonderful frontline healthcare workers are here to help give you the right care if you need it. If you are seriously injured, seriously unwell or have a life-threatening medical emergency, you should call triple zero or attend an emergency department without delay,” Ms Pearce said.
 
“We are urging the community to support us during this challenging period by making sure those who need emergency medical care can receive it by saving ambulances and emergency departments for saving lives. Please do not call triple zero or attend emergency departments for non-urgent issues.”
 
If you are not sure if you should go to an emergency department, visit Healthdirect.gov.au or call Healthdirect for free on 1800 022 222 for fast, expert advice on what to do next. Healthdirect is a 24-hour telephone health advice line staffed by registered nurses. You can also get in touch with your GP for advice and support.
 
So far this year in NSW, there have been 14,812 reported flu cases and 3,349 people have presented to emergency departments with influenza-like illness.
 
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged the community to continue to do the little things that can make a big difference when it comes to curbing the spread of viruses this winter.
 
“It is important people continue to take simple precautions to protect themselves and each other. This includes wearing a mask indoors when you can’t physically distance, staying at home when you’re unwell, and remembering to practise good hand hygiene,” Dr Chant said.
 
We can help reduce the COVID-19 and flu risk to ourselves and others by:

• Staying home if we’re unwell, taking a COVID-19 test straight away and self-isolating.
• Wearing a mask indoors or wherever we can’t physically distance
• Getting together outdoors or in large, well-ventilated spaces with open doors and windows
• Practising good hygiene by washing or sanitising our hands often
• Taking a rapid antigen test to test for COVID-19 before visiting vulnerable loved ones or going to large gatherings and events
• Staying up to date with our vaccinations – for both flu and COVID-19.

Marking a major pivot away from single-use plastics, the NSW Government’s ban on lightweight plastic bags will come into force next week.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the lightweight plastic bag ban is the first of many plastic items being banned in NSW this year.
 
“I think all of us can see the impact plastic pollution is having on our environment, which is why we’re making major changes in NSW this year,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“The ban on lightweight single-use bags comes into place from 1 June, and then from November, we’re banning more problematic plastics, such as cutlery and plates.
 
“Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics.
 
“Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW. By stopping the supply of problematic plastic in the first place, we’re helping prevent it from entering our environment as litter, or going into landfill.
 
“We each have the power to make positive environmental change at an individual level, and I encourage everyone to choose to go plastic-free as often as they can.”
 
The NSW Government passed the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 in November, and introduced the Plastics Action Plan last year.
 
The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years.
 
In addition to the 1 June lightweight plastic bag ban, from November the NSW Government is banning:

• single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds
• expanded polystyrene food ware and cups
• rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

 
So-called “compostable” and “bioplastic” alternatives to the above items are also being banned. That’s because they don’t biodegrade unless they’re treated in an industrial composting facility, creating just as much of a problem as conventional plastic.
 
To ensure small businesses are ready for the changes this year, the NSW Government engaged the National Retail Association (NRA) to deliver a comprehensive retailer education campaign.
 
Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos said the NSW Government is supporting more than 40,000 businesses across NSW to phase-out single-use plastics.
 
“The NSW Government has worked with stakeholders to support small businesses to understand how they will be affected, how to comply with new laws and what alternatives they can use to single-use plastics,” Ms Petinos said.
 
“Through the NRA, we’re running a retailer education campaign, conducting store visits, and providing online webinars and resources to help businesses make the adjustment away from single-use plastics.”
 
The NRA has launched a free hotline (1800 844 946) to offer businesses, community organisations and consumers advice on the single-use plastic bans.
 
For more information about the NSW plastics ban, visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban

Customers travelling on North Coast XPT services between Sydney and Brisbane are once again able to enjoy the entire journey by train, after months of weather-related disruptions.  

As well as damage to the track in NSW, flooding also delayed Queensland Rail’s completion of the Brisbane Cross River Delivery Authority project, meaning passenger trains were not able to run into Roma Street Station. 

Infrastructure repairs have now been completed, so coaches will no longer be needed to replace trains on the XPT service between Casino and Brisbane. 

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said it was great news for customers and the north coast region as it recovers from flooding. 

“I thank NSW TrainLink regional customers for their patience over recent months of disrupted journeys due to unprecedented flooding and severe weather,” Mr Farraway said. 

“The north coast route between Sydney and Brisbane is NSW TrainLink’s longest XPT service, covering 1,012 kilometres over 15 hours and stopping at 24 locations. 

“It’s also one of the most popular regional train trips in the country, with a total number of passenger trips in both directions of around 100,000 a year, pre-COVID. 

“NSW TrainLink crews are delighted to be once again back on the tracks the entire distance between Sydney and Brisbane, serving customers on the North Coast XPTs. 

“This service is so important in connecting people across state borders, including those travelling for school, medical appointments or to see family.” 

Customers can book a trip on the North Coast XPT or any NSW TrainLink regional service by calling 13 22 32 or online at transportnsw.info/regional-bookings .