NSW motorists are set to benefit from cheaper CTP Green Slip prices by on average $19 per annum in 2022 as the Government’s reform continues to take effect.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Government was committed to helping families and driving down costs with the reform slashing almost $91 million in excess insurance fees for NSW motorists.
“It’s a common complaint that bills only ever go up, but in this case we have managed to drive the cost of premiums lower and that means money stays in your bank account,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As we continue our economic recovery from COVID-19 every dollar people save counts and this reflects our focus on helping families.”
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the landmark 2017 reform to the CTP scheme – which had already delivered the lowest premiums in over a decade – had also been designed to eliminate ‘super profits’ of the past.
“In addition to delivering cheaper premiums through the reforms, we committed to recoup excess insurer profits over 10 per cent and return them to motorists,” Mr Dominello said.
“Today we have delivered on that commitment, with an average $19 being returned to CTP policy holders across NSW, bringing the average premium to below $470, the lowest it’s been in more than a decade.
“From a state-wide average high of $635 in 2016, the Government’s reforms will have delivered a 27 per cent reduction in premiums by early 2022.”
The 2017 reforms have also delivered continued benefits for injured people, who now receive earlier access to income support, treatment and care.
For instance, under the new scheme, 78 per cent of injured people receive benefits within three months of their accident compared to 26 per cent before reforms.
As the price of Green Slips vary by vehicle type and region, the savings will be applied as a 35 per cent reduction in levies that form part of the price, so that the savings can be shared fairly among motorists.
Motorists can expect cheaper Green Slips from 15 January 2022.
The NSW Government offers more than 70 rebates and savings. People can use the online Savings Finder to work out what they are eligible for.
Author: admin
Record investment in community legal centres
People in need will have better access to free legal support thanks to an investment of more than $83 million for the community legal sector over the next three years.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the joint state and federal funding would help provide long-term stability for these vital legal services.
“Community legal centres play a crucial role in delivering access to justice for people facing disadvantage. This investment will give the sector the financial security it needs to continue helping people suffering hardship to receive critical legal services,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Eligible centres across all parts of NSW can also apply for funding to support more clients. This includes investing in regional areas where we know there is additional need.”
Attorney General and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Mark Speakman said the funding model would provide certainty for the sector and target unmet need across the state.
“It will enable more women and children to escape domestic and family violence (DFV), support people facing financial insecurity and help thousands of vulnerable people across our communities get free legal support during their time of need,” Mr Speakman said.
“Centres will be able to apply for targeted funding, which will be prioritised based on where the demand is. Not only will this ensure better access to legal support for communities, it will also help provide new services where we know there are gaps.”
$64.7 million will be allocated to allow community legal centres to continue delivering core services. Eligible centres will also have an opportunity to apply for $18.6 million earmarked for areas of greatest need, including for rural and remote communities and DFV services.
Community Legal Centres NSW Executive Director Tim Leach welcomed the funding.
“COVID-19 has presented significant challenges for the community legal sector. Our centres have adapted in order to continue delivering their life-saving work,” Mr Leach said.
“This investment will provide critical funding security to our members so they can remain focused on helping vulnerable clients facing disadvantage and discrimination.”
Applications for the targeted funding will open in early November. Legal Aid NSW manages the funding which will operate from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025.
NSW goes for gold in vaccine milestone
The Perrottet Government is urging people who are yet to get their first COVID-19 vaccine to roll up their sleeves and get the jab as we edge closer to the 90 per cent double dose milestone.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard today toured a new vaccination clinic at The Granville Centre in Western Sydney, which will open on its doors on Monday, as NSW Health ramps up its booster shot program.
“NSW has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and the people of western and south-western Sydney helped lead the charge,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our COVID-19 vaccination clinics have played an important role in helping fast-track our vaccination rates, which is helping us return to normal in a safe and measured way.
“We’re leading the nation out of the pandemic and this new centre will bolster the number of NSW Health vaccination hubs across the State as we roll out our booster program and make the final push to reach the 95 per cent milestone and hopefully even higher.”
After administering more than 360,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses, Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre returns to its sporting and entertainment function tomorrow.
Mr Hazzard again praised the more than 2,700 health and support staff who worked at Qudos, who were administering 26 vaccine doses per minute during its busiest period.
“What NSW Health staff achieved not only at Qudos Bank Arena Vaccination Centre but across the State during the Delta outbreak has been extraordinary,” Mr Hazzard said.
“They helped lift vaccination rates in western and south-western Sydney to the highest levels across the State but even if we surpass our new goals we must remain vigilant.
“COVID has killed more than five million people globally so far but the true figure is likely much higher, so please come forward for your jab and book in for your booster.”
Bookings are strongly encouraged for the Granville Centre vaccination clinic, which will also offer boosters, and can be made here. Walk-in vaccinations will also be available.
People aged 18 years and older can receive the Pfizer booster dose at least six months after receiving their second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines registered for use in Australia.
Regional NSW to benefit from $84 million investment in police and emergency services
Police and emergency services workers and volunteers in Northern NSW are set to benefit from an $84.5 million investment by the Government to better equip them to protect their communities, particularly against bushfire and drownings this summer.
The announcements by Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott in the Tweed today brings an end 9 days of travel across regional NSW, including:
- 37 public engagements with NSW Police Force, NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW, NSW State Emergency Service and Volunteer Rescue Association squads;
- Over 3,700 kilometres travelled;
- 23 villages and townships across 11 regional electorates visited;
- Various meetings with police men and women, Mayors, local MPs, chaplains, councillors, lifesavers, firefighters, farmers, miners, aviators, small business owners and publicans; and
- A total investment of over $84.5 million into regional NSW.
Minister Elliott joined Member for Tweed Geoff Provest, Marine Rescue NSW (MRNSW) Commissioner Stacey Tannos, Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) Commissioner Mark Gibson, and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter to hand over two new appliances and unveil the design of a new fire station for the region.
Mr Elliott said boating safety on the Far North Coast would improve with the delivery of a new $819,000 rescue boat to the Marine Rescue Point Danger Unit as well as a $200,000 high-tech fit-out of the MRNSW base.
“This new vessel is one of 38 rescue boats funded as part of a record $37.6 million, four-year State Government investment to support the life-saving work of Marine Rescue NSW volunteers,” he said.
Commissioner Tannos said the base fit-out will include a new antennae, VHF radios and radio equipment, emergency generator and office fittings; creating a state of the art space to coordinate emergency communication and response on local waterways.
“This support means we can continue to deliver our volunteers the modern, safe and reliable boats and state of the art communications facilities they need to meet the needs of the local boating community,” he said.
Mr Provest welcomed the delivery of a new $229,000 quick response rescue vehicle to the Tweed District VRA squad.
“This vehicle which comes fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment ensures that the Tweed District squad can respond to calls for assistance in a fit-for-purpose vehicle specifically designed for the roles they perform,”
Commissioner Gibson said that with many people returning to the Tweed tourism hub, the risk of accidents requiring extrications also increases.
“It is important to equip our dedicated members with the best technology and equipment so they can provide the best service to the community and they can operate safely while doing so,” he said.
Mr Elliott also unveiled the design of the innovative new $4.7 million Kingscliff Fire Station which is due to be completed in 2022.
“The new two-storey fire station will improve efficiencies in the region’s emergency response and capability. The NSW Government is committed to providing our firefighters with the best possible facilities and equipment, so they can get on with the job they do best – protecting life and property,” he said.
Mr Provest said the new fire station will provide improved response coverage for Kingscliff and surrounding communities.
Commissioner Baxter said the new station is the latest design to improve firefighter safety and is configured to accommodate both permanent and on-call firefighters.
“The layout of the station is a result of studies of best practice around Australia and the world, and consultation with firefighters who live and breathe at the stations.”
NSW national parks commits to net zero by 2028
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is set to become the first national parks agency in Australia to commit to being carbon positive, with today’s release of the NPWS Carbon Positive Plan.
Environment Minister, Matt Kean said this is another great first for NSW, by 2028 NPWS will remove and store more carbon than it creates, reaching net zero emissions and then becoming carbon positive.
“By 2028 the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by our national parks will exceed the emissions generated by NPWS in managing those parks,” Mr Kean said.
“This is a visionary plan that highlights the importance of the national parks in combatting climate change alongside the critical role they already play in the conservation of biodiversity providing home to 85 per cent of threatened species in the state.
“It’s all designed to position NPWS at the forefront of global environmental efforts.”
NPWS will implement actions to reduce its carbon footprint including switching to 100% renewable energy, electric passenger vehicles, installing onsite solar PV, reducing waste and updating refrigeration and air conditioning assets with high efficiency models.
NPWS will also trial electric vehicle charging stations in key park areas to support the community to continue to visit National Parks using electric vehicles.
National parks also represent one of the largest carbon stores in the State, protecting over 40 per cent of all forest carbon. NPWS will protect these existing carbon stores through effective fire management, and invest in a suite of biodiversity-friendly carbon sequestration projects.
One of these is at Koonaburra, recently registered with the Clean Energy Regulator, where a regeneration project will boost investment in carbon and conservation works (enhanced feral animal management across the park) to remove around 900,000 tonnes of CO2 in the next 25 years.
The launch of the Plan coincides with the tabling of the Protected and Conserved Areas Joint Statement in Climate Change and Biodiversity at the United Nations climate meeting (COP26) in Glasgow, a declaration by protected area managers from around the world, including the NPWS.
“In signing this Statement the NSW Government acknowledges the critical importance of national parks and the commitment the NPWS has to implementing global nature-based solutions, such as revegetation, to managing our twin environmental crises: the accelerating destruction of nature and climate change,” Mr Kean said.
NPWS will also be one of the first government agencies to report biennially on climate-related financial risk, as part of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure and rigorous carbon accounting in alignment with national and international accounting standards.
NPWS is currently investigating the level of annual carbon sequestration by national parks and additional data once analysed, may demonstrate a carbon positive position achieved before 2028.
The Carbon Positive by 2028 Plan is at :
https://environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/park-policies/carbon-positive-by-2028
A man and a woman charged over aggravated break and enter – Beresfield
A man and a woman will face court today following an aggravated break and enter in the state’s north.
About 1.50am today (Monday 8 November 2021) a man and a woman – both aged 23-years-old – forced entry into a house on Beresfield Road, Beresfield.
The occupants of the home – a man and a woman – who were asleep at the time, were awoken to sounds of items being knocked over.
Their 8-year-old child was also home at the time, but no-one was injured.
A short time later, police attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and located the man and woman walking down Beresfield Road.
They were taken to Maitland Police Station where they were charged with aggravated break and enter in company.
They were bail refused and will appear before Maitland Local Court today (Monday 8 November 2021).
$62 million in grants to improve Australians health
The Morrison Government is supporting nine Australian researchers with almost $62 million to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by accelerating research knowledge and outcomes into health care and practice.
Funded through the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the 2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART) Grant Opportunity is investing $216 million over 10 years and focuses on turning research findings into real health benefits that help Australian patients.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said Australia continues to be a global leader in health and medical research, which will help us improve and save lives.
“These research projects range from helping the youngest to the oldest Australians, in the biggest cities to our smallest and most remote communities,” Minister Hunt said.
“Our Government continues to provide unprecedented support to health and medical research, as we back our best and brightest researchers to transform today’s ideas into breakthrough treatments for the patients of tomorrow.”
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health will receive $9.9 million to lead work to improve the lives of young people who have a stroke, who are often misdiagnosed and underserved in the current health system.
Led by Professor Julie Bernhardt, the team is developing an innovative digital service for this group to overcome geographic barriers and respond to the user’s needs. It will foster the individual’s ability to take control, engage in and direct their long-term care by helping them with communication and cognitive challenges.
This work has the potential to improve lives and reduce the burden of strokes on young people, their families and carers, and on the Australian community.
Additionally, Western Alliance Health Research (WAHR) will receive $9 million to deliver better health care at home for older people living in regional and rural Australia.
Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said the WAHR project would help to improve health outcomes for elderly Australians in regional, rural and remote areas.
“Offering more support and health care to aging Australians in their own home, means they’re able to comfortably and safely stay at home longer without the need to re-locate into a care facility,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Working initially in Western Victoria, the researchers are identifying the key challenges to providing health care at home and testing new ways to deliver part of that care virtually. They’ll find local solutions and develop a blueprint to scale it nationally.”
The Morrison Government’s $20 billion MRFF, is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research, helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.
Further information about the Medical Research Future Fund is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff
2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation
| Project | Recipient | Funding |
| Scaling up infectious disease point-of-care testing for Indigenous people |
University of New South Wales | $9,967,326.00 |
| Implementing holistic burn care through a culturally safe integrated model |
The George Institute for Global Health | $2,410,958.00 |
| Pathway to use of immunotherapy in clinical practice for type 1 diabetes |
St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research | $2,676,000.00 |
| Building Australia’s First Young Stroke Service |
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | $9,932,108.00 |
| P-OMICs-flow: Integrating precision oncology into clinical programs |
The Garvan Institute of Medical Research | $5,868,917.00 |
| Transforming Wound Care through Telehealth in Aged Care | Coviu Global Pty. Ltd. | $6,499,695.00 |
| Aboriginal prosperity through community driven translational research |
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation | $9,760,245.00 |
| Top End Partners: translational research to improve health outcomes (TOP R) |
Menzies School of Health Research | $5,802,202.00 |
| Delivering enhanced healthcare at home for older people in rural Australia |
Western Alliance Health Research Ltd. | $9,067,407.00 |
| TOTAL | $61,984,858.00 |
Morrison sacrifices Great Barrier Reef for fossil fuel cash
The Greens say today’s report that more than 98% of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral reefs have suffered bleaching is a damning indictment of the Morrison Government’s climate inaction and exposes the sickening cynicism of its campaign to keep the Reef off UNESCO’s “in danger” list earlier this year.
Greens deputy leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Climate change and pollution have already killed off half of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cover, endangering this precious natural asset and the 60,000 jobs that rely on it.
“Today’s report from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies now reveals that only 2% of the Reef has escaped bleaching – and this is in the same week that the PM went to an international climate summit to flog fossil fuels on behalf of his donors.
“Morrison’s climate policies, enabled by Labor’s bipartisan support for public subsidising of new coal and gas, are cooking the Reef and our future.
“The commitments given at Glasgow give the world a fifty-fifty shot at limiting global heating to two degrees, but that would be catastrophic for the Reef. At two degrees we would lose 99% of coral reefs worldwide; even at 1.5 degrees we would lose 90%.
“If the PM really wants to keep the Reef off the ‘in danger’ list when the World Heritage Committee convenes in Russia next year, he should shut his door to fossil fuel lobbyists and adopt ambitious and science-based 2030 targets to constrain the climate crisis.”
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“Report after report continues to paint the most tragic and bleak picture for the Great Barrier Reef unless radical climate action is taken immediately.
“The high-profile Great Barrier Reef is a barometer for the declining health of marine ecosystems everywhere.
‘While the Great Barrier Reef deserves the world’s attention and significant funding for its restoration, Australia’s Great Southern Reef system also suffers yet goes largely unnoticed.
“This massive temperate-water reef system, similar in size and significance to its northern sister, connects much of Southern Australia including Tasmania and has also suffered devastating impacts from warming oceans.
“Tasmania’s giant kelp forests were listed as endangered under EPBC laws a decade ago, yet have now largely vanished. The government still hasn’t produced a recovery plan for this critical habitat, indeed it receives virtually no federal research or adaptation funding.
“Signs of the climate emergency are everywhere along Australia’s coastlines, and we now have our eyes wide open to this belligerent government who refuse to take necessary climate action.”
Growing and supporting Australia’s health system and aged care capacity
The Australian Government is supporting the states and territories to increase the capacity of the health system, as the country enters the next phase of the National Plan to re-open and live with COVID-19.
In total, the Government has committed more than $32 billion in additional health expenditure in response to COVID-19.
To further support the states and territories, the Government will extend the Minimum Hospital Funding Guarantee for an additional year (to 30 June 2022) in recognition that COVID-19 is still having a significant impact on public hospitals, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria.
The funding contribution for public hospitals services in all states and territories under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) has grown substantially, from $13.3 billion in 2012–13 to $25.5 billion in 2019–20, a 92% increase. Over this same period, state and territory funding for their own hospitals has only recorded 44% growth.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said “The extension will provide security of funding for our critical public hospitals while the National Plan is implemented.”
“Australian’s can rest assured, they have access to a world class health system whenever and wherever they need it,” Minister Hunt said. “As restrictions are easing around Australia, particularly in areas which have experienced outbreaks of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021, many hospitals are returning their focus on the jobs they do so well, emergency care, cancer care, elective surgery and all the critical services which have been less of a priority during the pandemic.”
The 2019–20 minimum hospital funding guarantee delivered a $532 million increase to the states’ 2019–20 National Health Reform Agreement entitlements.
Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said the Government will facilitate the migration of health practitioners with confirmed employment in the state and territory health system, including in regional areas, through above-cap places on commercial flights to boost the health workforce.
“The Government is investing a further $8 million to extend support to AUSMAT, for its domestic deployment capacity to support remote and vulnerable communities facing future COVID-19 outbreaks,” Dr Gillespie said.
“AUSMAT’s deployment to western and far western New South Wales earlier this year improved access to health care and vaccines for local communities during outbreaks.”
To support senior Australians move from hospital into their homes or residential aged care more quickly, the Government is providing $16.6 million funding for an extra 357 temporary Transition Care Programme places.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck said, “The additional capacity will help an additional 1,000 senior Australians to access transition care between now and 30 June 2022.”
“The Transition Care Programme provides up to 12 weeks of short-term post-hospital restorative care for senior Australians, providing services such as allied health and nursing support to enable people to return to their own homes or an aged care home, or a mix of both, rather than having to remain in hospital,” Minister Colbeck said.
Specifically, the Northern Territory will also receive 10 new permanent Transition Care places with an annual investment of more than $780,000 from the Australian Government, to support more than 40 additional senior Territorians each year.
These announcements build on the significant funding of more than $180 million already announced to support the primary care health sector that includes:
- National COVID Triage, Management and Escalation Infrastructure: readying the national health call centre Healthdirect to connect COVID-positive people who receive a positive COVID-19 laboratory test result are contacted as early as possible and connected to the right level of care and support.
- COVID Community Care Pathways: providing clear plans on where and how COVID positive people will be managed through primary and community care services, and when care needs to be delivered through hospitals.
- Additional MBS item for general practitioners: providing a rebate of $25 which can be claimed in addition to existing general consultation items, to support face-face care of COVID-19 positive patients.
- Home visits for patients recovering at home: commissioning home visits by practice nurses, nurse practitioners and medical deputising services for patients requiring home visits or after hours services while under GP management with a particular focus on regional and rural areas.
- National Medical Stockpile supplies to support primary health care: procuring supplies of pulse oximeters and strengthening distribution arrangements for personal protective equipment (PPE) to general practice and other primary health care settings seeing COVID-positive people, with particular emphasis on strengthening the supply chain for rural and remote practices.
- General Practice Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs): Extending the reach and the role of our network of GPRCs so that COVID-positive people without an available usual GP, or where access to GPs is limited, have a general practice that they can safely attend for assessment and management rather than presenting at an emergency department in non-urgent circumstances.
- COVID-19 Management Guidelines: the RACGP is urgently updating its COVID-19 Management Guidelines for GPs to include treatment of COVID positive patients with moderate symptoms and to support care for COVID-19 positive people at home.
- Continued dispensing arrangements: extending the temporary Continued Dispensing (Emergency Measures) for the dispensing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) until 30 June 2022.
Combined, these measures further support the continued implementation of the National Plan and deliver on the Government’s commitment to a timely and safe re-opening of Australia.
Transition Care Program to ease NT hospital pressure
The Morrison Government will invest more than $780,000 for 10 new permanent transition care places to better cater to the needs of senior and vulnerable Territorians.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, and Senator for the Northern Territory, Dr Sam McMahon said the additional places, made available through the Government’s Transitional Care Program offered peace-of-mind for those seeking care and their families.
“The Northern Territory is a small, remote jurisdiction, and the new places recognise the challenges this brings by helping more than 40 additional people to access transition care every year,” Minister Colbeck said.
“These additional transition care places are also expected to ease some of the current capacity pressure being experienced by Royal Darwin Palmerston Hospital.”
Minister Colbeck said the Transition Care Program provides vital restorative care for senior Australians after hospitalisation.
The additional places mean more people can be discharged from hospital and receive transition care in their own home an aged care home, or a mix of both, rather than remaining in hospital.
Senator McMahon said the permanent care place would offer recipients services such as allied health and nursing support to enable people to return to their own homes, where possible.
“Navigating the care needs of seniors can be extremely challenging but these additional places will ensure the health and wellbeing of older Territorians remains a priority,” Dr McMahon said.
“It is reassuring for families knowing their loved one may be able to return to their own homes or aged care homes after a hospital stay.”
