Category: NSW News

Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson today announced a new plan to reduce cases of the deadly lung disease silicosis, caused by ingesting harmful dust when dry-cutting manufactured stone.
Under the plan, NSW’s workers will be better protected by the introduction of on-the-spot fines for those who engage in unsafe dry-cutting practices, the creation of a Silicosis Health Register and the introduction of a new workplace exposure standard from 1 July this year.
“Dry-cutting is an offence and for those who choose to ignore the law and put their employees at risk, SafeWork inspectors will issue tough new fines for non-compliance,” Minister Anderson said.
“Wet cutting prevents dust from escaping into the air and could significantly reduce the number of silicosis cases in NSW.”
“To help purchase new equipment the NSW Government will offer rebates of up to $1,000 to manufactured stone businesses until 30 June.”
The NSW Government will make silicosis a notifiable disease, creating a Silicosis Health Register to allow SafeWork to track and investigate the workplaces of those diagnosed with the disease.
“To protect workers from the dangers of silica dust we need more oversight of diagnosed silicosis cases, which is why it will now be a notifiable disease, with all cases listed on a single register.”
“SafeWork NSW will be notified when patients are diagnosed so they can immediately investigate the patients’ current and previous workplaces and determine the source of the unsafe work practice that led to the disease.”
The NSW Government previously announced the introduction of a new silica workplace exposure standard of 0.05mg/m3, which will be effective in NSW from 1 July.
“NSW takes silicosis seriously, which is why we will be protecting workers by implementing the new exposure standard on 1 July, more than two years before the nationally agreed start date,” Minister Anderson said.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee today joined Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey in Nambucca to announce a new initiative to help apprentices in bushfire and drought-affected areas.
From today, apprentices in bushfire and drought-affected areas whose employers are unable to keep them on will still be able to access the training component of their apprenticeships for up to 12 months for free.
Mr Lee said the initiative means out of work apprentices in our regions will not be left behind while seeking new employers.
“We want to encourage regional youth to stay connected with their communities while on the pathway towards their future careers. We don’t want our regional apprentices to be forced to pack up and move out of their communities,” Mr Lee said.
“An apprentice who started training last year will be a fully qualified tradesperson within four years, so this is planning ahead. We will need future tradespeople in our regions.”
Minister for Regional Youth Bronnie Taylor says the inaugural Regional Youth Taskforce made it clear that young people want opportunities to be job ready in the community they love.
“At a time where we are losing young people from the regions this is exactly the sort of initiative we need to allow them to stay,” Mrs Taylor said.
This initiative is uncapped and will apply to as many apprentices as needed.
Training Services NSW will work with apprentices in drought and bushfire-affected areas to support them with ongoing training and help connect them to potential employers.
For more information, visit your local Training Services NSW office or call 13 28 11.

Visitors to the historic Hyde Park Barracks will be able to experience NSW’s convict past in vivid new detail as it reopens to the public this week.
A year-long renewal has transformed the Barracks with immersive activities across three floors and innovative audio technology allowing visitors to stand where convicts stood and hear their stories.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin says the UNESCO World Heritage listed site tells a major part of Australia’s convict story and the upgrades offer a new way to view Sydney’s complex and fascinating past.
“This is an historic day with the reopening of such an important heritage landmark – a building that has been central to many chapters of Sydney’s emergence as a rich, multicultural city,” said Mr Harwin.
“It’s brilliant to see how technology is enhancing the visitor experience for our cultural institutions. This is going to be a dynamic learning experience for school children and adults alike.
“Importantly, the impact of the site on Aboriginal land, culture and communities is also documented in this fascinating immersive experience.
Commissioned in 1817 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, Hyde Park Barracks saw almost 100,000 people passed through its gates.
Sydney Living Museums has delivered the upgrades predominantly self-funded through revenue raised by a heritage conservation scheme managed by the City of Sydney.
A 20% discount will be offered to NSW residents in the opening months of the new experience to assist locals in being reacquainted with the history of their State.

The production of fresh food in climate controlled greenhouses in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Agribusiness Precinct has the potential to transform food production in Australia and take produce from Western Sydney to the world.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said a new report has found the Agribusiness Precinct, announced by the NSW Government in March last year, could enable producers to deliver locally grown fresh produce at prices competitive on a global scale.
“The Agribusiness Precinct provides Western Sydney growers with the unique opportunity to export produce from their farms and have it on a plate on the other side of the globe in just 36 hours,” Mr Ayres said.
“With more than 50 per cent of the world’s population within a 12 hour flight from the Western Parkland City, the Agribusiness Precinct will create endless opportunities for families and businesses in Western Sydney.”
The report, commissioned by the Western City & Aerotropolis Authority, compared the cost of producing tomatoes in a greenhouse in Australia to the global market leader, the Netherlands.
The analysis shows it currently costs 52 per cent more to produce a kilogram of greenhouse tomatoes in Australia, but the creation of a large scale precinct for intensive integrated fresh food production in the Western Parkland City would reduce the difference to just eight per cent.
Australia’s proximity to Asia provides an additional benefit due to lower transport costs when compared to European producers.
“We have had a look at how the best greenhouse producers in the world operate and with the creation of the Agribusiness Precinct on the doorstep of a new international airport we have the chance to compete on an international stage,” Mr Ayres said.
“Western Sydney can be the next global leader in high-tech farming and smart climate controlled glasshouses, providing jobs for Western Sydney and fresh and value-added food for both domestic and international markets.”
Large scale greenhouse production, or an Integrated Intensive Production Hub, over 500 hectares has the potential to create 2,500 direct jobs, 12,000 indirect jobs and the capacity to produce 96,000 tonnes of fresh food. This could generate $2.8 billion in additional revenue over a 10 year period.
Planning of the Agribusiness Precinct is underway, with the first businesses expected to be operating ahead of the opening of the Western Sydney Airport.

The production of fresh food in climate controlled greenhouses in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Agribusiness Precinct has the potential to transform food production in Australia and take produce from Western Sydney to the world.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said a new report has found the Agribusiness Precinct, announced by the NSW Government in March last year, could enable producers to deliver locally grown fresh produce at prices competitive on a global scale.
“The Agribusiness Precinct provides Western Sydney growers with the unique opportunity to export produce from their farms and have it on a plate on the other side of the globe in just 36 hours,” Mr Ayres said.
“With more than 50 per cent of the world’s population within a 12 hour flight from the Western Parkland City, the Agribusiness Precinct will create endless opportunities for families and businesses in Western Sydney.”
The report, commissioned by the Western City & Aerotropolis Authority, compared the cost of producing tomatoes in a greenhouse in Australia to the global market leader, the Netherlands.
The analysis shows it currently costs 52 per cent more to produce a kilogram of greenhouse tomatoes in Australia, but the creation of a large scale precinct for intensive integrated fresh food production in the Western Parkland City would reduce the difference to just eight per cent.
Australia’s proximity to Asia provides an additional benefit due to lower transport costs when compared to European producers.
“We have had a look at how the best greenhouse producers in the world operate and with the creation of the Agribusiness Precinct on the doorstep of a new international airport we have the chance to compete on an international stage,” Mr Ayres said.
“Western Sydney can be the next global leader in high-tech farming and smart climate controlled glasshouses, providing jobs for Western Sydney and fresh and value-added food for both domestic and international markets.”
Large scale greenhouse production, or an Integrated Intensive Production Hub, over 500 hectares has the potential to create 2,500 direct jobs, 12,000 indirect jobs and the capacity to produce 96,000 tonnes of fresh food. This could generate $2.8 billion in additional revenue over a 10 year period.
Planning of the Agribusiness Precinct is underway, with the first businesses expected to be operating ahead of the opening of the Western Sydney Airport.

More than 1,100 students at Arthur Phillip High School are settling into their new innovative and state of the art school in Parramatta following its official opening.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee visited students today at the modern and progressive school.
Ms Berejiklian said that this school is unique and a benchmark globally for schools in dense urban areas.
“Arthur Phillip High School is an example of NSW’s world class education system, and I’m pleased it will serve the community for many generations,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is not a traditional high school, it is at the forefront of education delivering outstanding learning spaces, and specialist Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics levels to ensure all students receive the best education.”
The school has a capacity for 2,000 students and is connected with nearby educational facilities such as Western Sydney University.
Ms Mitchell said she was thrilled to be with the students to see the new Arthur Phillip High School.
“This is a truly unique school building the NSW Government has delivered in the heart of the Parramatta CBD,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The school has been cleverly designed to deliver extraordinary indoor and outdoor landscaped spaces.”
Dr Lee said Parramatta is steeped in history and during construction over 13,000 Aboriginal and European artefacts were discovered and will be incorporated into the school curriculum in history and science.
“I’m proud that the NSW Government has delivered this landmark project for the Parramatta community,” Dr Lee said.
The NSW Government is investing $6.7 billion over four years to deliver more than 190 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. In addition, a record $1.3 billion is being spent on school maintenance over five years, along with a record $500 million for the sustainable Cooler Classrooms program to provide air conditioning to schools. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.

NSW will be at the forefront of the rapidly growing billion-dollar space industry under a new Space Strategy announced today.
The NSW Space Industry Development Strategy will maximise opportunities for NSW businesses to take advantage of the growing demand for space technologies estimated to be worth $420 billion globally.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said industries from the cities and regions would have the support of the NSW Government to ensure the state leads the innovative sector.
“Nearly every industry is looking to increase its output and improve its efficiency through space-enabled technologies,” Mr Ayres said.
“Space is not just about what’s up there, it’s also about what’s down here. These technologies are used in robotics, agriculture, energy, communications, transportation, aviation, advanced manufacturing, information technology and construction. They are in the technology we all use in our daily lives.”
The $5 million Space Strategy will include the delivery of a National Space Industry Hub, located in the Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct, with expressions of interest (EOI) to run the Hub now open.
The EOI process will also include searching for a delivery partner to facilitate access to space for start-ups and researchers looking to commercialise their technologies through a space qualification mission.
The strategy will also support the NSW Government’s commitment to develop a space manufacturing and testing facility at the Aerotropolis. The Western Sydney Aerotropolis will include world-class space, aviation, defence and advanced manufacturing industries and training and research institutions.
NSW currently accounts for 41 per cent of all Australian space businesses and 35 per cent of Australia’s university space research and development.
To download the full NSW space industry development strategy, click here. To submit an EOI for the National Space Hub or space qualification mission, go to the NSW Government eTendering website. Submissions close 22 March 2020.

Frontline officers working in Corrective Services NSW are being rolled out with new cutting-edge body-worn camera technology to improve officer safety and operational transparency.
Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections Anthony Roberts said Immediate Action Teams across the State have begun to use the cameras.
“Our Corrections Officers do a great job under challenging circumstances so it’s vital we provide them with the latest technology to enable them to do that job safely and effectively,” Mr Roberts said.
“Our Immediate Action Teams are the first responders to critical incidents in the correctional environment. This technology will allow them to respond to situations quickly and confidently.”
Officers will primarily use the technology to gather audio and visual evidence in the event of an officer assault, use of force or contraband raid.
The camera is attached to the front of an officer’s uniform in stand-by mode until the officer activates the camera’s record function. Once activated, the camera retains the 30 seconds of video prior to activation and continues recording.
Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said the use of body-worn cameras can help de-escalate incidents and resolve investigations more swiftly.
“These body-worn cameras enable our officers to record high-quality digital video evidence of a contraband raid or use of force with the press of a button,” Mr Severin said.
“Offenders will be on notice. If they try to assault, intimidate or threaten harm to an officer with a body-worn camera, it will be recorded. Our aim is to not only ensure the appropriate documentation of uses of force, but to provide greater protection and assurance to staff.”
The roll-out follows a nine-month trial of body-worn camera technology at several maximum-security centres.

Water restrictions in Greater Sydney are expected to be relaxed to Level 1 on the 1^st of March as Sydney Dam levels reach 80 per cent following recent rainfall.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said Level 2 water restrictions will remain in place for two more weeks to reduce the demand on the water supply network and ensure water quality remains high.
“We recently experienced the biggest rain event in 20 years, which has impacted the quality of raw water in Greater Sydney’s bushfire affected catchment,” Mrs Pavey said.
“A number of initiatives are in place to ensure the water is safe for use, including extensive testing, filtration and nets to catch debris, but we are allowing an extra two weeks purely as a precautionary measure.”
“It will also give the system time to recover and on the 1^st of March we expect Greater Sydney will revert back to Level 1 water restrictions, subject to water quality assessment by Water NSW and Sydney Water.”
Under Level 1 water restrictions, residents and businesses are not able to leave hoses running unattended, wash vehicles and buildings with a hose that isn’t fitted with a trigger nozzle, or use standard sprinklers and watering systems at any time.
Mrs Pavey acknowledged people have been patient and applauded their efforts to reduce the amount of water being used annually – from 200L per person per day in 2017, to 180L today.
“Despite a 26 per cent increase in population, the total demand for drinking water remains lower than it did before mandatory restrictions were introduced in late 2003,” Mrs Pavey said.
Fines will still apply for breaches of water restrictions – $220 for residential breaches and $550 for businesses. Exemptions will be available for non-residential customers with outdoor water use as their core business.
For a full list of requirements for Level 1 and 2 water restrictions visit: lovewater.sydney