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Lockdown lifted in parts of regional NSW

Parts of regional NSW currently deemed low risk and which have seen zero COVID cases for at least 14 days will emerge from lockdown at 12:01am Saturday 11 September, but will continue to operate under restrictions to ensure the safety of regional communities.
Local Government Areas (LGAs) still seeing COVID case numbers will continue to follow stay-at-home orders and will be monitored by NSW Health with updates provided as circumstances develop.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said regional communities are doing an incredible job following health advice and getting vaccinated which has made the easing of lockdown in some areas possible.
“Today, I can announce that while unfortunately many regional LGAs will remain in lockdown due to COVID case numbers, for other parts of the state, stay-at-home orders will be lifted allowing more freedoms for those communities,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This decision is based on NSW Health advice, and the LGAs which remain in lockdown will continue to be monitored and we will update those communities on a regular basis.
“My strong advice to everyone in regional NSW is to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Our communities need to continue to get vaccinated so that when NSW reaches 70 and 80 per cent, restrictions can ease significantly.”
The following freedoms will be available to all people in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders have lifted:
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

  • Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
  • Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:

  • Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
  • Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
  • Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
  • Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
  • Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Schools:

  • Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:

  • Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
  • Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
  • Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship:

  • Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
  • Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
  • Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.

Travel:

  • Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
  • Carpooling will be permitted.

Masks:

  • Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
  • Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
  • Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

Stay-at-home orders will remain in place in the following LGAs:

  • Bathurst
  • Bega
  • Blayney
  • Bogan
  • Bourke
  • Brewarrina
  • Broken Hill
  • Cabonne
  • Central Coast
  • Central Darling
  • Cessnock
  • Dubbo
  • Dungog
  • Eurobodalla
  • Forbes
  • Gilgandra
  • Goulburn Mulwarre
  • Kiama
  • Lake Macquarie
  • Lithgow
  • Maitland
  • Mid-Coast
  • Mid-Western
  • Muswellbrook
  • Narrabri
  • Narromine
  • Newcastle
  • Orange
  • Parkes
  • Port Stephens
  • Queanbeyan-Palerang
  • Shellharbour
  • Shoalhaven
  • Singleton
  • Snowy Monaro
  • Upper Hunter
  • Walgett
  • Wingecarribee


For more information, please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Major training program to upskill assistant principals

The largest professional learning program in Australia for assistant principals and head teachers will begin next year to build leadership excellence and help lift student outcomes across public schools.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said research shows that middle leaders – assistant principals and head teachers – play a crucial role in leading excellence in teaching practices and in student outcomes.
“Our new 18-month professional learning program will help middle leaders strengthen their leadership skills, develop their practice and expand their influence and impact in their classrooms and beyond,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The program is the first time a comprehensive development program for middle school leaders has been implemented across an entire public school system in Australia.
“We’ve developed this in partnership with academic experts from the University of Wollongong and the University of Newcastle. The program will be world-class and ground-breaking in the impact it will have in our schools.”
Applications for the first cohort of the MLDP are now open, with the first seminar to be held in February 2022. Up to 200 middle leaders will be part of the first program and over time it will be offered to up to 500 middle leaders per intake.
Participants in the program will take part in a series of leadership conferences and online sessions, covering six learning modules, and will work in teams with the support of experienced principals and deputy principals. Middle leaders who complete the program can receive recognition of prior learning for further tertiary study.
“We have more than 10,000 assistant principals and head teachers across our system, leading learning in classrooms and leading their staff. This program will help them grow as leaders and help lift student achievement across NSW public schools,” Ms Mitchell said.

Appeal to find man missing from Lake Macquarie area

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Lake Macquarie area.
Jade Maybury, aged 25, was last seen leaving a house on Bridge Street, Morisset, about 9am yesterday (Wednesday 8 September 2021).
Police were notified about 5.30pm and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced an investigation into Jade’s whereabouts.
A search of the surrounding area commenced, with assistance from specialist police including PolAir, the Dog Unit, Police Rescue and State Emergency Service (SES).
There are serious concerns for the welfare of Jade, who lives with Asperger’s syndrome and another medical condition.
Jade is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, of medium build, with red/ginger hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-coloured t-shirt with faded writing on the front.
As the search continues, anyone who sees Jade or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Four men charged after cannabis seized – Hunter Valley

Police have charged four men and seized $1.5m worth of cannabis as part of an ongoing investigation into cultivation of cannabis in the Hunter Valley area.
In July this year (2021), officers attached to the Hunter Region Enforcement Squad commenced an investigation into the hydroponic cultivation of cannabis in the Hunter region.
Following extensive inquiries, officers executed a search warrant at a property on Cessnock Road, Abermain, about 12.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 8 September 2021).
During the search, officers found a sophisticated indoor hydroponic set up and seized 157 cannabis plants.
Police arrested four men, aged 34, 27, 24 and 23 years old, at the property.
The men were taken to Cessnock Police Station, where they were each charged with take part enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis commercial.
They were also issued a $5,000 fine each for breaching the Public Health Order.
The men were bail refused to appear before Cessnock Local Court today (Thursday 9 September 2021), where they were formally refused bail.
As part of inquiries, about 3.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 8 September 2021), police executed a second search warrant at a property on Wollombi Road, Cessnock, where they found another sophisticated set-up and seized a further 148 cannabis plants.
Investigations continue.

Four arborists charged after allegedly returning to Lake Macquarie area in breach of PHOs

Police have charged four arborists after they allegedly returned to the Lake Macquarie area, breaching the Public Health Order for the second time this month.
Last Wednesday (1 September 2021), police received reports from members of the public via Crime Stoppers about a group of arborists who had been canvassing the Lake Macquarie area for work.
The following day (Thursday 2 September 2021) police spoke to the men, who told police they’d been working in the region on weekdays and returning to Greater Sydney on weekends, including to LGAs of concern.
Further inquiries revealed one of the men had provided inaccurate information to obtain a Service NSW permit to leave Greater Sydney and enter Regional NSW, another man did not have a permit at all, and other employees hadn’t had a COVID-19 test prior to leaving Greater Sydney as required under the Public Health Order.
Seven men were subsequently issued with PINs totalling $33,000 and directed to return to their homes in Greater Sydney.
About 2.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 September 2021), police received information that a group of six arborists were doorknocking homes at Cardiff.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and spoke with the group before four of the men were arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.
They were subsequently issued Court Attendance Notices for not comply with noticed direction and not ensure true and accurate information provided to Service NSW.
Police will allege the 41-year-old from Kingswood, 25-year-old from Leumeah, 57-year-old from Colyton and 37-year-old from Whalan had previously been issued with PINs for breaching the Public Health Order.
Police will further allege the men were operating under a different business name and had removed all company identification from their vehicles.
They are due to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 2 November 2021.
A fifth man – a 33-year-old from Ropes Crossing – was issued with PINs totalling $6000 for breaching the Public Health Order and providing inaccurate information in his permit application.
Investigations remain ongoing into the sixth man.

PM’s Women’s Safety Summit just more political theatre

The Greens say day one of the Women’s Safety Summit was yet another exercise in political theatre for a government that remains completely out of touch with Australian women.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Bless the experts at the Women’s Safety Summit for so patiently saying the same things they’ve said so many times before!
“If the government had actually been listening to women, nothing said at today’s summit should have been news to them.
“Women need more than yet another performative talkfest, they need a commitment to action.
“In his opening word salad the PM talked about opening eyes and hearts — well what about opening wallets? If he really cared about preventing violence against women he’d restore Our Watch’s The Line campaign and invest in respectful relationships education in all schools.
“If he wanted to actually provide women with the frontline domestic and family violence services they need he’d stump up the $1 billion dollars a year that the sector is calling for, address the housing crisis, and raise JobSeeker to provide income security for women.
“If he really wanted to talk about respect, his government would not have voted against implementing key Respect at Work recommendations just last week.”
“And if he was genuinely interested in hearing from people affected by violence, he would have invited survivors to the Summit, he would include National Family Violence Prevention Legal Service in the National Plan advisory group, and he would support a separate First Nations plan that aligns with the Closing the Gap goals.
“An evidence-based, properly funded, comprehensive National Plan is crucial to stopping violence against women. But it’s clear from today that the Morrison Government just wants a showpiece summit and a National Plan for Trying to Win Back Women Voters.
“Once again, they underestimate our intelligence.”

1000 days waiting for a federal ICAC

The Greens have slammed the government for its thousand day failure to introduce a federal corruption watchdog, saying that the four-digit delay demonstrated that it couldn’t care less about taking action on corruption.
The Greens have a bill to establish a federal ICAC that has passed the Senate, and could be brought on for debate in the Lower House immediately, if the Government stopped blocking its passage.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Every day that passes since the government promised a federal anti-corruption watchdog is a reminder of the contempt with which the Liberals hold our democracy,” Mr Bandt said.
“In the thousand days since the Liberals made this promise, we’ve been hit by SportsRorts, Watergate, the Car Park Rorts and dodgy deals for gas donors.
“People have watched the government get more brazen, cocky and corrupt, all while the hopes of a federal ICAC get dashed.
“Times up on the Prime Minister’s delays. Scott Morrison needs to end the rorts, and bring on a federal ICAC.
“Governments of all stripes push back against corruption watchdogs because they’re terrified of what they may find. We need to kick the Liberals out, and put the Greens into balance of power where we can make sure that Labor introduces a federal ICAC with teeth.”
Australian Greens Democracy Spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said:
“One thousand days after promising Australians an anti-corruption body this government has nothing to show for it but deeply flawed legislation trapped in an endless cycle of review.
“It took 10 years of pressure by the Greens and civil society groups to get the government to accept the need for a corruption watchdog, but the PM is still spinning his wheels.
“Since they made that promise 1000 days ago the Senate has passed my National Integrity Commission bill, but the government has refused to allow it to be debated in the House.
“Perhaps that’s not surprising given that 12 of the 23 current members of his Cabinet have been implicated in integrity scandals!
“We need to clean up politics so we can be sure that politicians are working in the public interest, not the interests of their donors and their re-election campaigns.”

A Human Rights Commissioner should care about human rights

Lorraine Finlay had been appointed as the nation’s new Human Rights Commissioner. Formerly an upper house candidate for the West Australian Liberals and president of the state’s Liberal women’s council, Finlay was appointed to the role without it being advertised.
This could affect the Australian Human Rights Council’s “A status” with the United Nations.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, The Greens Justice and First Nations Spokesperson said:
“Lorraine Finlay’s appointment flies in the face of the United Nations Paris Principles, which require ‘a clear, transparent and participatory selection and appointment process of commissioners.’
“The Morrison government should be looking for the candidate with the most in-depth experience and expertise, instead of parachuting their mates who are clearly inappropriate for the role. If Finlay has any integrity, she should decline and step down.
“This is someone who wrote a book calling for Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to be abolished, opposes gender-based quotas and called affirmative consent laws ‘dangerous’ in an interview with men’s rights activist Bettina Arndt.
“The Morrison government announced this on the same day that the Women’s Safety Summit began. So often, violence against women is the result of an abuse of power. This appointment is an abuse of power.
“People in this country deserve an independent, objective Human Rights Commissioner who won’t play party politics with people’s rights!”

National Summit sets priorities to end gendered violence in Australia

The National Summit on Women’s Safety has asked all Australians to confront the unacceptable scourge of family, domestic and sexual violence and provided meaningful and constructive actions for change.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne and Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston thanked all the panellists, speakers and delegates as well as all Australians who joined the national conversation.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chair Donnella Mills, Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance chief executive Sandra Creamer handed down a comprehensive Statement on behalf of all delegates which outlines key priorities to underpin the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
Minister Payne said the Summit demonstrated all levels of government, business, educators, justice and frontline workers were committed to long-term, continuous action to end all forms of gendered violence.
“The new National Plan will pave the way to achieving our shared goal to end violence against women and children,” Minister Payne said.
“It will build on evidence and achievements from the current plan while addressing new and emerging issues such as technology-facilitated abuse and coercive control.
“It must also be targeted to the unique needs of communities affected by multiple forms of discrimination or inequality and will better address complex forms of violence and harmful cultural practices.”
Minister Ruston said the Statement brought together the key issues discussed across all panels and roundtables.
“The next National Plan to end violence against women and children must turn your insights into practical action because lives depend on it,” Minister Ruston said.
“We all must come together and be united to achieve this goal. That means each and every one of us – politicians, business and community leaders and all Australians – must accept we can do more and promise we will do more.”
For more information about the National Summit on Women’s Safety and to read the Summit Statement visit: Women’s Safety Summit

National Summit key step towards ending violence against women

The Morrison Government is hosting the National Summit on Women’s Safety on 6 and 7 September which is the culmination of extensive consultations to develop the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
The Summit will include keynote addresses, panel discussions and a series of roundtables focused on key issues affecting women’s safety including economic security and financial independence, perpetrator interventions, and responding to sexual violence.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the Summit was an opportunity for a diverse range of people with lived experience, advocates, services providers, academics and other stakeholders to come together to inform the next National Plan.
“The Summit is an important step towards a future free from family and domestic violence and sexual assault in Australia,” Minister Payne said.
“I encourage every Australian to take part in this important national conversation, so together we can create change.”
Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the key themes, issues and recommendations discussed by Summit delegates would be captured in a Summit Statement which would be released at the end of the two days.
“The Summit will further elevate the important national discussion we are having about women’s safety and ensure that we bring all people along with us as we develop the next National Plan,” Minister Ruston said.
“We are pleased to have Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and Our Watch ambassador Arman Abrahimzadeh among others joining us as speakers.”
All key panel discussions and presentations will be live streamed on 6 and 7 September via womenssafetysummit.com.au. Written submissions and feedback on the topics discussed at the Summit can be provided at engage.dss.gov.au/national-summit-on-womens-safety until 15 September 2021.