NSW will take its first steps towards reopening as the State passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target.
With the first vaccination milestone being reached, the NSW Government is also easing a number of restrictions as part of the Reopening NSW roadmap, which will allow fully vaccinated adults to enjoy more freedoms from next Monday, October 11.
The changes to the 70 per cent roadmap will allow up to 10 visitors (not counting children 12 and under) to a home (previously five), lift the cap on outdoor gatherings to 30 people (previously 20), and increase the cap for weddings and funerals to 100 people (previously 50).
Indoor pools will also be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities.
On the Monday after the State clears the 80 per cent double vaccination hurdle further restrictions will be relaxed, with people able to have up to 20 visitors (excluding children 12 and under) to a home (previously 10), and up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors (previously 20).
Up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500), nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only (no dancing), and masks will no longer be required in office buildings. All roadmap freedoms at 70 and 80 per cent will continue to be for fully vaccinated people only.
All school students will also now return to on site learning with a range of COVID-safe measures in place by October 25, with the second and third stages of the return to school plan now combined. Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 students will still return to face-to-face learning on October 18, with all other years now returning one week later on October 25.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the common-sense changes would help life return to normal as soon as possible.
“Vaccinations are the key to life returning to normal and the changes today will help family and friends reconnect, get kids back to school and get businesses back up and running sooner,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW is putting in the hard yards and it’s important people continue to turn out in droves to be vaccinated.”
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said workers in regional areas who have received one vaccination dose will be permitted to return to their workplace from October 11 and will be given a grace period until November 1 to receive their second dose.
Regional areas are those outside Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast.
“This move ensures we get businesses in the regions re-open and local economies buzzing again. It’s about ensuring we make this a roadmap that works for everyone,” Mr Toole said.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said these changes would help get more people back into work, especially in Western Sydney.
“We’re on the road back to normal and most importantly reaching these vaccination targets means people can reunite with family and friends, celebrate key moments in their lives and businesses can open their doors and get back to work in a safe way,” Mr Ayres said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW residents 12-years-old and over have led the charge to get vaccinated and ensure NSW is among the safest places in the world.
“Getting to 70 per cent double dose is a badge of honour for every fully vaccinated NSW citizen to wear proudly but we can do so much more and 90 per cent is within our grasp,” Mr Hazzard said.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said schools were ready to welcome students back.
“The return remains safe and sensible with enough time for schools to prepare for a faster return of students over two weeks instead of three,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Principals have received detailed guidance and checklists of everything required to ensure COVID-safe settings in their school. Parents and carers will also receive a detailed guide today and more specific information from their school in the coming days.”
If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.
Note also that as the stay-at-home orders will be lifted next Monday and replaced by the roadmap settings, the list of Local Government Areas of concern will cease to exist.
For the latest information visit the COVID-19 pages on nsw.gov.au.
Author: admin
New Hardship Panel To Provide More Businesses With Covid-19 Financial Support
A new Hardship Review Panel has been established to consider financial support for businesses experiencing financial hardship that do not qualify for COVID-19 business support measures.
The panel will assess on a case-by-case basis businesses which did not meet the eligibility requirements for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant, Micro-business Grant and JobSaver payments.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the Review Panel would help those businesses experiencing genuine financial hardship that were previously ineligible for support payments and grants.
“COVID-19 has affected so many businesses in NSW and even though we have a number of support measures in place, there are still some businesses under severe financial strain that aren’t eligible for assistance for a number of reasons. We want to plug that gap as much as we can,” Mr Tudehope said.
The Review Panel will include representatives from Revenue NSW, NSW Treasury and Service NSW and will make recommendations on businesses’ eligibility for relevant support payments and grants.
It will consider a broad range of factors in determining whether a business has experienced financial hardship, with the Chief Commissioner of Revenue NSW to be ultimately responsible and make the final determination for applications.
“My message to small businesses is this – no matter what corner of the state you’re in, we will be there with you all the way as we navigate this global health pandemic,” Mr Tudehope said.
Factors that the hardship panel will consider include, for example, whether the business is an employer, in a highly impacted industry, in an LGA of concern or has unavoidable costs for which no other support is available.
Businesses will be back paid to the fortnight where they can demonstrate the required decline in turnover with the Panel. Hardship applications for JobSaver are now open with hardship COVID business grants and Microbusiness grants to open later this month. See more here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-businesses/covid-19-business-support-hardship-review.
NSW Ministry to Deliver Safe, Strong Recovery
Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a new NSW Cabinet team to continue the Government’s work to keep people safe, open up the economy and secure a strong recovery.
Mr Perrottet said minimal changes had been made to Cabinet, to ensure stability and continuity for the people of NSW as the state rapidly approaches it’s reopening targets.
“Despite the challenges of recent days, our Government has not stopped working for the people of NSW, and the Ministry sworn in today will hit the ground running.”
“Our undivided focus is getting the people of NSW back on their feet, getting kids back in school, people in jobs and businesses open, so we can reclaim the freedoms we have all had to sacrifice for so long.”
A small number of necessary changes in Ministerial portfolios include the appointment of Paul Toole as Deputy Premier; Matt Kean as Treasurer and Minister for Energy and the Environment; and Rob Stokes as Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Minister for Transport and Roads.
“This is a team with the energy and experience to lead our state out of lockdowns to a safe, strong, successful recovery, and then get back to building a better future for NSW, Mr Perrottet said.”
The new Cabinet was sworn in at Government House today.
NSW Cabinet Ministers
The Honourable Dominic Francis Perrottet MP
Premier
The Honourable Paul Lawrence Toole MP
Deputy Premier
Minister for Regional New South Wales
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
The Honourable Stuart Laurence Ayres MP
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney
Minister for Trade and Industry
The Honourable Bronwyn Taylor MLC
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women
The Honourable Matthew John Kean MP
Treasurer
Minister for Energy and Environment
The Honourable Donald Thomas Harwin MLC
Special Minister of State, Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
The Honourable Mark Raymond Speakman SC MP
Attorney General
Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence
Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly
The Honourable Damien Francis Tudehope MLC
Minister for Finance and Small Business
Leader of the House in the Legislative Council
The Honourable Bradley Ronald Hazzard MP
Minister for Health and Medical Research
The Honourable Robert Gordon Stokes MP
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Minister for Transport and Roads
The Honourable Victor Michael Dominello MP
Minister for Customer Service
Minister for Digital
The Honourable Sarah Mitchell MLC
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning
The Honourable David Andrew Elliott MP
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
The Honourable Melinda Jane Pavey MP
Minister for Water, Property and Housing
The Honourable Adam John Marshall MP
Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales
The Honourable Anthony John Roberts MP
Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections
The Honourable Shelley Elizabeth Hancock MP
Minister for Local Government
The Honourable Kevin John Anderson MP
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation
The Honourable Dr Geoffrey Lee MP
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education
The Honourable Natalie Peta Ward MLC
Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans
The Honourable Alister Andrew Henskens SC MP
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services
Man presents with knife wounds – Wallsend
Police are investigating after a man presented to paramedics with knife wounds in Newcastle.
About 6.35pm last night (Tuesday 5 October 2021), Newcastle City police were called to Bunn Street, Wallsend, after being notified that a 41-year-old man had presented to NSW Ambulance paramedics with wounds to his wrist and chest. He was later taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Around the same time, police were called to reports of an alleged brawl outside a home on nearby Bousfield Street.
Detectives from Newcastle City Police District have commenced an investigation into how the man came to be injured, including whether the incidents are linked.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the nearby area between 5.30pm and 7pm is urged to contact Waratah Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Dominic Perrottet media statement on the election of NSW Nationals leadership team
On behalf of the NSW Liberals, I welcome the election of Paul Toole as leader of the NSW Nationals and as Deputy Premier, and Bronnie Taylor as the party’s deputy leader.
In electing Paul Toole to lead their party, the NSW Nationals have sent a strong signal that the NSW Liberals and Nationals will continue to build a better future for the bush with energy and optimism.
As a loyal deputy in the NSW Nationals to departing Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Paul knows what it takes to lead, and I want to again thank John for his service to the people of NSW.
Paul is a fighter and a pragmatist who has a strong track-record of delivering for regional and rural NSW, most recently as the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads.
He has been a strong voice within the Government and has stood up for regional farming communities in times of drought, flood and fire, and is a staunch advocate for investing in new opportunities for people in the bush.
I have worked closely together for many years with Paul, and I know he will bring a steady hand to our efforts to get NSW safely back open and on the path to recovery.
Bronnie Taylor has been a powerhouse and worked tirelessly as Minister for Mental Health at a critical time, ensuring vital support is there for people who need it in the aftermath of drought, bushfires and the pandemic.
In Bronnie the NSW Nationals have elected the first female deputy leader of the party in more than 100 years, and she will continue to be a voice for progress within the Government.
As we emerge from the pandemic, we have an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen our regions and make them even more attractive places to live, work, run a business and raise a family.
I look forward to working with Paul and Bronnie to lead a strong and united Liberals and Nationals Government with the energy and experience our state needs to come through this challenge stronger on the other side.
The Greens support WA Labor’s motion to raise the age
The West Australian Labor party has passed a motion to raise the age of legal responsibility to 14 at their State conference. The Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations: Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe has called it, “A step in the right direction.”
“It’s good to see WA Labor listening to the evidence from the Australian Medical Association, the United Nations Human Rights Council and adopting the Greens policy. Children belong in classrooms and playgrounds, not in handcuffs, courtrooms or prison cells.
“The justice system doesn’t work for us, it works against us. It has done this for over 240 years. We need to provide cultural preventative pathways for our young people. Community-run services have proven to be more effective at prevention and building strong and healthy communities.”
In a national first, the Greens secured a commitment to raise the age of legal responsibility in the Australian Capital Territory in August last year, while the Victorian and Queensland Greens have introduced bills to raise the age in their respective state parliaments.
“We can do this, we have to continue to apply the pressure on state and territory governments to do the right thing and get our kids out of the courts or prisons and back into community.” Said Thorpe.
Quotes attributable to the Greens Senator for Western Australia, Yamatji-Noongar woman Dorinda Cox:
“This is a significant human rights issue; and it is pleasing to see WA Labor listening to the 70 organisations who have been calling for this change but we now need to see that policy translated from the Party to the Parliament.
“Ten years of age is when a child is still learning, so we must be preventing them from entering the justice system in the first place and diverting them to on country programs designed and delivered by First Nations people in their own communities.
“Every parent with a child under 10 understands how very vulnerable they are and if they are set on the right path of education, their way of living and their understanding of their world. We can start work early with other parts of the system to build positive, contributing adults later on.
“Social reinvestment in the community is the solution to youth justice. The system now is not a restorative justice process, that is not driven by trauma informed practice, or the social issues that is driving justice.
“We need alternatives to prison, detention is not the only solution. From a system level we need a legislative policy reform and we need to be innovative in the way we work with First Nations communities and the capacity they have to work with young people.” Said Cox.
Greens to force debate on National Integrity Commission Bill
In the wake of the NSW ICAC investigating former Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the Greens will move a concurrence motion in the next parliamentary sitting week to force the House to debate the Greens’ National Integrity Commission Bill, which the PM has refused to bring on despite the Senate passing it more than two years ago.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:
“The NSW ICAC has seen a Premier appropriately stand down so an investigation can be completed, but there is still no federal equivalent body, despite more than half the Morrison Cabinet having been the subject of integrity scandals.
“The Australian public know that corruption and lack of integrity are rife at the federal level, and they know the Government’s long overdue proposal is deliberately weak.
“Under the Morrison proposal many of the misconduct scandals involving current and former Government MPs would not be caught.
“It wouldn’t hold public hearings nor be able to initiate investigations without a referral from the government – a toothless watchdog by design.
“The PM’s comments this morning that the NSW ICAC assumes guilt before an investigation are patently wrong and are designed to justify his pathetically weak proposal for a toothless body that wouldn’t have applied to or stopped many of the scandals we’ve seen plaguing his government.
“By contrast, the Greens’ bill to establish a strong, independent, effective National Integrity Commission allows for public hearings, retrospectivity and the ability to investigate anonymous tip-offs, balanced with appropriate safeguards and privacy provisions.
“It passed the Senate more than two years ago – the PM just needs to bring it on for debate in the House and the Australian people could have a federal anti-corruption body in place by Christmas.
“When parliament resumes, the Greens will attempt to force the PM’s hand by moving a concurrence motion, compelling the government to bring on my National Integrity Commission Bill in the House of Representatives.
“The PM needs to listen to the Australian people and get this done.”
Environment Minister approves third coal project in a month and more environmental destruction
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the announcement the Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley has approved another new coal project, the third in a month:
“Australia’s so-called Environment Minister is at it again, approving another coal mine that will destroy the environment, endanger wildlife and pollute the climate.
“Approving this coal mine a month out from the global climate summit in Glasgow shows a complete disregard by the Environment Minister for the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.
“While the rest of the world is committing to strong targets to reduce pollution and plans to move away from fossil fuels, the Morrison Government is expanding coal in the middle of the climate crisis.
“Sussan Ley also continues to show she has zero ambition to end Australia’s extinction crisis and protect our wildlife from mines, developments and pollution.
“The Minister has approved the destruction of the habitat of endangered regent honeyeaters and vulnerable grey-headed flying fox that call the site of this mine home.
“Sussan Ley is failing as a Minister for the Environment and our environment laws are letting her get away with it.
“The Samuel Review recommended immediate changes to offsets to ensure they do not contribute to environmental decline – yet the Minister has changed nothing and again approved another project with offsets.
“This madness of approving new coal mines and more land clearing must stop. Australia should be joining countries around the world and pledging a zero extinction target, together with a strong 2030 emissions reduction target.”
City of Newcastle welcomes its 500th citizen in 2021 online
City of Newcastle welcomed its largest number of new citizens yet via group virtual ceremonies on Tuesday, conferring Australian citizenship upon 190 people from 39 countries.
Following the success of earlier online ceremonies, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen presided over a further two ceremonies each via Zoom to allow our newest citizens to take the pledge of commitment whilst the Hunter Region is still under lockdown.
Despite changing COVID-19 restrictions impacting the traditional face-to-face ceremony format, the City has gained 500 citizens in 2021, significantly reducing the waitlist for the Newcastle Local Government Area.
Cr Nelmes said becoming an Australian citizen was not only an important ceremonious occasion, but a vital step towards exercising the democratic right to vote as well as apply for jobs and an Australian passport.
“The COVID-19 global pandemic has displaced many people in many different ways, be it through job losses or a reduction in work, illness, or separation from loved ones,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Adapting our face-to-face citizenship ceremonies to online was a simple measure City of Newcastle could take to provide practical support to our new citizens at this challenging time.”
Newcastle’s newest citizens hail from all corners of the globe, from Afghanistan and Iran to Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Among them was Steve Barretto who was born in England, raised in South Africa, and moved to Ireland when he was 19. Steve met his now wife Nadine from Newcastle in Belfast and relocated to Newcastle in 2008 to start a family.
“Newcastle is the best place in the world, without a doubt. I remember as a kid watching cricket and wondering what it would be like to live in Australia. I’m really happy it’s all official, I’ll be having a little lockdown celebration at home with my family tonight, with some beers I have in the fridge and a meat pie.”
The city proudly welcomes refugees and people of all cultural backgrounds, with 14 per cent of Novocastrians born overseas and more than 14,000 speaking another language at home.
In 2021, City of Newcastle has awarded Rapid Response Grants funding to Hunter Multicultural Communities to assemble welfare packs and produce a multilingual newsletter, as well as a combined $13,000 in Quick Response funding to STARTTS to assist in the organisation of the Unity and Diversity Festival, Afghan Community Festival, Congolese Community Festival, and Syrian Community Festival.
Dominic Perrottet media statement
I want to start by acknowledging the events of the last few days have been difficult for a lot of people – and I think we all understand why.
Unexpected change can bring uncertainty and sometimes that can feel unsettling.
But as hard as it may be, we all have a duty to keep going.
Today begins a new chapter in the story of NSW. One that we will all write together.
I am honoured that my colleagues have asked me to help write that chapter as Premier – and I thank them for the confidence that they have put in me.
The first thing I want to do is acknowledge and pay tribute to my predecessor Gladys Berejiklian, whose strong and steady leadership has seen us through so many challenges.
Everyone would agree that her hard work, tireless dedication and total commitment is second to none.
She’s been an inspiring role model for many – especially women and migrant communities and – that’s just one of the reasons why there’s been such an outpouring of support over the last few days.
It is my hope that I will continue to live up to the strong leadership Gladys has shown throughout this pandemic.
Secondly, I’d like to acknowledge and congratulate my Deputy, Stuart Ayres, who’s long been a fighter for Western Sydney – and that’s where the heart of this government will be.
Thirdly, to my wife Helen and our kids: without your love and support I simply would not be here today.
Being Premier is a great honour – but I want to be clear that the job I have committed to today is not just to lead NSW, but to serve the people of our State.
Today is not about us, sitting in Macquarie Street, it’s about the 8 million people who call our great State home.
For the past 18 months together we have been battling the storm that is COVID-19.
Some have lost their lives. Many have lost their livelihoods. So many sacrifices – big and small – have been made by so many for so long.
Not being able to leave our homes, not being able to go to work, not being able to see our loved ones.
Parents having to work and homeschool at the same time. Many have missed weddings, many have missed funerals, and the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones.
These sacrifices are never easy and we know they have taken a huge toll – physical, financial and psychological.
In our regional communities, this has also come on the back of droughts, floods and fires.
You don’t get to choose the times in which you live – and this is one of the most challenging times the people of our state have ever faced.
But NSW has never shied away from a challenge. And we’re rising to this one as well.
For long months, we have fought the good fight – helped by the quality of our health care, and our strong economic foundations that have kept people in jobs and business in business.
And now, while there are still more challenging days to come, there is light at the end of the tunnel – thanks to the way our community has responded.
We want NSW to bounce back, stronger, safer and more successful than ever before.
To get back to the life we love and the freedoms that we hold dear. As a former Treasurer, I know that a strong society needs a strong economy.
That’s why our first priority will be to continue the plan we have started – keeping people safe, opening up the economy and securing our recovery.
Up until now, all of our Liberal leaders have been infrastructure premiers – building roads, rail, schools and hospitals for communities right across our State.
That won’t change with me.
But I’ll also be a family premier – focusing on how we can make life better for working families – living the Liberal values of opportunity, aspiration and hard work.
The true strength of NSW is in its people. Our tradies, working mums and dads, small business owners, community groups, and frontline workers – our teachers, nurses, doctors, paramedics, firies and police.
Our state is a rich tapestry with a rich heritage – from our proud First Nations people, to those who have come here from every corner of the globe.
No matter who you are, where you’ve come from or what you believe, it is the greatest privilege of my life to represent and serve all of you.
I know how big the challenge ahead is – but I love NSW – and that is the passion that will fuel me and my team.
A stable, united government is vital to getting on with the work we have begun, so there will be no cabinet reshuffle until we are through this challenge.
Our team will bring the energy and the experience to get our safely open state, and then take it to the next level.
We live in the best State in the best country in the world, and together, we will make it even better.
Dominic Perrottet
Premier of New South Wales