16 News

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet today welcomed a package of measures announced by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) to support small businesses and homeowners affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.
The ABA package is aimed at helping eligible customers significantly impacted by restrictions, and includes up to three-month repayment deferrals for small businesses, refunds of merchant terminal fees for up to three months and loan deferrals on a month-by-month basis for eligible homeowners and small business customers.
“This is a vital step by the banking industry and a strong show of support for businesses and homeowners during a particularly tough period,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It will help give peace of mind to many and shows that the banks are willing to work with people who are doing it tough and help find solutions.”
The ABA represents Australia’s largest financial institutions and it estimates the package may cover to up 98 percent of small businesses across the country.
“The banking industry recognises that keeping businesses in business, people in jobs and in their own homes is vital to the economy and our future,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Government, business and the community must all work together and the banks have acted quickly and shown leadership and a strong commitment to help.”
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government continued to work with the broader business community to identify areas that most needed help, and would continue to build on the COVID-19 support package, which is worth up to $1.4 billion, announced last week.
The Government’s package includes support grants of between $5000 and $10,000 for eligible businesses impacted by the recent restrictions. Applications will open later in July. More information on eligibility criteria is available here.
More information on the ABA’s package of measures – which is subject to re-authorisation by the ACCC – is available here.

Given the growing number of infectious cases in the community and unlinked cases of community transmission, COVID-19 restrictions will be tightened across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
From 5pm today (Friday, 9 July) the following additional restrictions will be in place:

• Outdoor public gatherings limited to two people (excluding members of the same household);
• People must stay in their Local Government Area or within 10kms of home for exercise and outdoor recreation, with no carpooling between non-household members;
• Browsing in shops is prohibited, plus only one person per household, per day may leave the home for shopping;
• Funerals limited to ten people in total (this will take effect from Sunday, 11 July).

The four reasons to leave your home remain in place:

• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person only);
• Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons);
• Exercise with no more than 2 (unless members of the same household);
• Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

Restrictions in regional NSW will remain unchanged.
These tightened restrictions are based on health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.
They are necessary due to the increasing number of unlinked cases in the community.
We understand this is a difficult time for the community and businesses. We thank them for their understanding and patience.
High testing numbers are key to finding unrecognised chains of transmission in the community, so please continue to come forward for a COVID-19 test, even if you have the mildest of symptoms.
For the latest information visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Based on Health advice, the first week of Term 3 for schools in NSW will either be under a learning from home model or with strict COVID restrictions.
Beyond the first week of Term 3 strict COVID safe restrictions will be in place.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said she understood it was a challenging time for students, staff and parents, but she has complete confidence that schools are prepared to manage the restrictions.
“For the first week of Term 3 we will have different settings in schools impacted by the stay-at-home orders to those that are not,” Ms Mitchell said.
For schools inside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour):

• For the first four days of Term 3 students will be learning from home.
• This will stay in place until Friday 16 July.
• Schools will remain open for students and families who need it.
• Masks will be required for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

For schools outside areas impacted by the stay-at-home orders (Regional NSW):

• For the first week of Term 3 students will be back at school for face to face learning.
• Schools will restrict non-essential visitors at school sites, including parents.
• Adjustments will be made to some activities, such as choir and band.
• Masks will be recommended for all staff in all school settings, and students from Year 7 upwards.

“All students across NSW will return to face to face learning from Monday 19 July,” Ms Mitchell said.
Schools across areas impacted by stay-at-home orders are ready to operate learning from home for their students.
“All schools recently completed a readiness assessment to prepare for any potential return to learning from home,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I’m confident our schools are prepared for learning from home for the first four days of Term 3, using combinations of digital and printed learning packs similar to those used last year.”
The HSC continues as planned, with the HSC oral language, performance and practical exams scheduled to go ahead in Term 3 and written exams in Term 4.
“To our HSC students I say please stay calm, focus on your studies and look after each other.
“NESA has arrangements in place to ensure no student is disadvantaged if they have been unable to work on HSC major projects during the holiday period, or they are affected by extended stay-at-home orders.”
More information is available at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

Police across the state are continuing to conduct compliance operations targeting metropolitan residents travelling to regional NSW in contravention of Public Health Orders.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said now is not the time to move out of Greater Sydney.
“We want to make it clear that police in Greater Sydney and our regional locations are sharing information and will continue to patrol transport hubs to check that people are complying with the stay-at-home direction,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
Of note, about 10pm yesterday (Wednesday 7 July 2021), officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District spoke to a 38-year-old man on Denison Street, Mudgee, following reports from a member of the public he was acting suspiciously.
Inquiries revealed the man, from Kingswood, had travelled from Penrith Railway Station to Lithgow Railway Station, before boarding a bus to Mudgee earlier the same day to meet a person he had met on social media.
He was subsequently issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) for travel from Metropolitan Sydney area to NSW outside area.
In a separate incident, police are appealing for information after reports a 51-year-old man was spat on by an unknown man at a hardware store on the corner of Pennant Hills Road and Phyllis Avenue, Thornleigh, just before 7am yesterday.
Officers from Kuring-Gai Police Area Command have been told the man was waiting to be served when he spoke to another man, who was not wearing a mask.
Staff intervened and as the man was leaving the store, he spat on the other man.
Investigations are continuing.
In total, 56 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 26 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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.

Netball NSW is delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Lamb to the organisation’s Board of Directors.
An experienced executive with a strong background in Human Resources, Lamb currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of the NSW Public Service Commission, the largest employer in Australia. He joins the Board in a casual vacancy Director position until the 2022 Annual General Meeting following the retirement of Carol Murphy.
For the past two decades Lamb has held senior HR roles in a diverse range of sectors including banking and financial services, property, construction and retail.
Among his many accomplishments Lamb has previously served as Global Head of Organisational Development and Chief People & Culture Officer, Australia, for the Lendlease Corporation where he worked for 12 years leading a successful seven-year partnership with the NSW women’s cricket team, The Breakers.
Prior to that he worked as a Senior HR Executive at American Express during which time was Vice President of HR for the company’s UK, Ireland and Eastern Europe operations.
Lamb has also held numerous non-executive roles and is passionate to promote diversity and inclusion in all areas. For nine years (2010-19) he was a non-executive director of Diversity Council Australia, including five years as the Chair of the People and Culture subcommittee.
For the last two years he has been on the Advisory Board of the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute and obtained a post-graduate qualification in Aboriginal Studies to improve his own knowledge and increase his ability to advocate for reconciliation.
Lamb’s wife and two now adult daughters have kept him close to the Saturday netball courts at Hills District Netball Association for many years and he has been an avid supporter and regular attendee of the elite game for the past 30 years.
Netball NSW President Louise Sullivan welcomed him to the organisation.
“On behalf of Netball NSW I congratulate Chris on his appointment and we look forward to working closely with him,” she said.
“Chris is an expert in the field of Human Resources and Culture and brings a wealth of knowledge in this area.
“Our people, both at Netball NSW and across the state-wide netball community, are our greatest asset so having extra expertise in this field is vital as we continue to navigate our way through this period of uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and following that for our game to prosper.”
Lamb said he was excited to be joining a sport which was a leader in both the grassroots and elite spaces.
“I have been delighted to watch the growth of elite netball in recent years and am excited to have the opportunity to contribute my skills to ensure this, and the grassroots game, continue to thrive,” he said.
“Throughout my career I have developed talent management and succession strategies, increased diversity and inclusion and designed and delivered leadership programs.
“Netball, like every other sport, is constantly looking to evolve and move with the pace of an ever-changing society and I look forward to working with Netball NSW to help build an even stronger footprint and sustainable future for the game.”