The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Australia’s economic growth outlook in its latest World Economic Outlook. Amid continued “high uncertainty” globally, the IMF has confirmed our economy is recovering from the COVID-19 crisis faster and stronger than previously expected.
Australia’s economy is forecast to grow by 4.5 per cent in 2021, one percentage point higher than the IMF’s interim outlook in January. The IMF then expects economic growth to reach 2.8 per cent in 2022, broadly consistent with its earlier projection.
In upgrading its outlook, the IMF notes that the “Australian economy continues to show a strong recovery momentum” and that a “favourable labour market recovery continues to support a strong rebound in private consumption, added by wealth effects from rising house prices”.
Australia’s GDP is “projected to reach the pre-COVID level by the March quarter 2021, limiting scarring effects of the pandemic” and compares favorably internationally with GDP remaining “significantly below pre-pandemic trends in most countries”.
These forecasts follow the Morrison Government’s unprecedented response to the crisis, providing $251 billion in direct economic support that has helped to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs.
Australia also continues to compare remarkably well to other nations, with the IMF forecasting Japan’s economy to grow by 3.3 per cent, Germany by 3.6 per cent and Italy by 4.2 per cent.
Encouragingly, global growth has also been revised up by 0.5 percentage points to 6.0 per cent in 2021 and by 0.2 percentage points to 4.4 per cent in 2022.
The next stage of the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan will support private sector activity through a number of measures including tax cuts, unprecedented business investment incentives, record levels of investment in skills and training, infrastructure and targeted support for the aviation and tourism sectors.
These household and business incentives will help to unlock the more than $240 billion of savings accumulated throughout the pandemic and sitting on private sector balance sheets.
Having outperformed all major advanced economies on the economic front in the last 12 months, there is no other country you would rather be in than Australia.
Australia welcomes two-way Trans-Tasman travel
Australia’s flight-path to recovery is well underway with the Australian Government welcoming the New Zealand Government’s announcement that it will join the Safe Travel Zone between Australia and New Zealand.
This announcement will enable quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand on both sides of the Tasman helping to reunite families and friends and giving tourism operators a significant boost.
It follows Australia’s opening of a one-way Safe Travel Zone from New Zealand to Australia six months ago, with more than 34,000 arrivals into Australia from New Zealand during that period.
This latest major step in the resumption of international travel has only been possible due to the internationally recognised, world-leading responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by Australia and New Zealand.
The Federal Government’s decisions to close Australia’s international border early last year, declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic before the World Health Organisation did and working with the States and Territories through the National Cabinet to suppress the virus has ensured we are the envy of the world today.
The importance of this announcement is demonstrated by the fact that the Trans-Tasman route is Australia’s busiest international aviation market with more than seven million passengers in the one year ending January 2020 before the effects of COVID-19 hit international aviation.
Throughout this pandemic, the Federal Government has supported more than 40,000 flights through various programs and initiatives. As of last month, flights on common routes in Australia were at 57 per cent of the pre-COVID average, up from a low of 3 per cent at the height of the pandemic and today’s announcement by the New Zealand Government will be a further boost to Australia’s aviation industry.
The announcement also represents a major boost to our tourism industry with around 18 per cent of all international air arrivals from New Zealand annually and with visitors to Australia now having the opportunity to travel without having to quarantine at either end of their journey. In 2019, New Zealand travellers spent $1.6 billion on travel and tourism in Australia.
Should temporary restrictions need to be applied due to a COVID-19 outbreak, both countries will provide as much notice as possible to Government agencies, passengers, airlines and airport operators affected by any such measures.
Given that Australian and New Zealand airlines had already been operating under a one-way Safe Travel Zone to Australia for the past six months operating “green” flights to Australia, we are optimistic that airlines will commence additional services to meet the demand generated by the two-way Safe Travel Zone.
Australian and New Zealand government health and border officials will also continue to work together to facilitate the safe and effective introduction of the two-way Safe Travel Zone.
City seeks early feedback from community on north Stockton CMP erosion management options
City of Newcastle is seeking feedback from the community on erosion management options for the northern area of Stockton Beach as part of work underway on the Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) 2021.
The land to the north of Meredith Street is owned and managed by Defence Housing Australia, Hunter Water, Crown Land and the Department of Communities and Justice, and City of Newcastle is working closely with these stakeholders during development of the 2021 CMP.
A long list of coastal management options for the Stockton CMP 2021 has been assessed with four schemes identified to best complement the mass sand nourishment agreed on in the Stockton CMP 2020 while also providing a buffer from erosion and considering the environment, social amenity and recreational use of the beach.
The four schemes that have progressed for further investigation for the northern end of Stockton Beach from Meredith Street to the Port Stephens Local Government Area boundary include maintenance nourishment, an artificial reef, an artificial headland and sand back passing.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said work is underway on the Stockton CMP 2021, with an aim of identifying additional coastal management options to extend the life of mass sand nourishment.
“We’re investigating the feasibility of these schemes to ensure each is possible and would provide consideration to the entire Stockton Bight,” Cr Nelmes said.
“During this early phase we are gathering feedback from the community on the schemes that have been developed to help prolong mass sand nourishment.
“The Stockton Community Liaison Group has provided feedback on the positives and drawbacks of each scheme, allowing the designs to progress to this point.
“We would now like to hear from the wider community about what people like or don’t like about the options we’re considering, and why.”
City of Newcastle Director Infrastructure Ken Liddell said that following community consultation, the proposed schemes would then be put through rigorous technical tests.
“For schemes that are considered feasible, we will then carry out a viability assessment, which will take the cost of each scheme into account and allow us to carry out a cost-benefit analysis,” Mr Liddell said.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen said the community will have another chance to provide feedback on viable projects before implementation.
“There will be further opportunities for the community to have their say on the schemes being considered for Stockton CMP 2021 later in the year, and we look forward to continuing to work with the local community towards another positive outcome for the beach and the community,” Cr Clausen said.
The Stockton CMP 2021 will update the Stockton CMP 2020 to include the northern end of Stockton Beach beyond Meredith Street, with the City reiterating that this land is owned and managed by Defence Housing Australia, Hunter Water, Crown Land and the Department of Communities and Justice.
City of Newcastle is working closely with these stakeholders during development of the 2021 CMP.
“These stakeholders must agree to the coastal management actions in the Stockton CMP 2021 to allow it to be sent for certification from the State Government. Without agreement, the CMP cannot progress,” Cr Nelmes said.
The community is encouraged to learn more about the management options and provide feedback at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Stockton or by accessing a paper survey at Stockton Library.
Stockton Beach (north) Coastal Management Program options
Maintenance Nourishment
This involves replacing the sand that currently moves north from Stockton Beach along the Stockton Bight each year – about 112,000m3 or 45 Olympic swimming pools. The aim of this scheme is to actively ‘keep the sand moving’ by mimicking/reinstating the natural sand flow, something that has been limited at Stockton.
The benefit of this approach is that the northward movement of sand would provide a buffer for the Stockton Bight coastline. For this to go ahead, we still need to identify a source for the sand and identify the long-term environmental impacts of retrieving and depositing this additional sand on a regular basis. Work on this has started.
Artificial Headland
This involves building an artificial headland that would extend into the ocean by around 150 to 200 metres. The aim of this scheme is to ‘keep sand in the system’ as the headland will slow the northern movement of sand along Stockton Bight. There will also be recreational benefits.
As part of this scheme, sand will build up on the southern side of the headland. Once it has built up, sand will bypass the headland and then feed the beach to the north. Once construction is complete the shoreline to the north of the structure will realign landward.
For this to go ahead, we still need to confirm exactly how the headland will work. Specific scientific modelling will determine sand volumes held by the structure and sand volumes bypassing the structure. Work on this has started.
Artificial Reef
This involves building a submerged artificial reef. The artificial reef would slow the northward movement of sand along Stockton Bight by reducing wave energy reaching the beach, providing a surfing benefit. With the aim to ‘keep sand in the system’ the sand will build up on the southern side of the reef. The reef would not stop sand movement to the north as the artificial headland option initially does. Once construction is complete, the shoreline to the north of the structure will realign.
For this to go ahead, we need to find out if we have the ability/need to build more than one reef and learn exactly how it would work. Specific modelling will determine sand volumes held by the structure and sand volumes by passing the structure. Work on this has started.
Sand Back Passing System
This involves re-circulating sand using machinery that will collect sand, feeding it via a pipe network to the south, to outlets placed along Stockton Beach. This scheme aims to ‘keep sand in the system’ by re-circulating sand, following mass nourishment.
It would be powered by a pump station, allowing wet sand to flow from the outlets onto Stockton Beach. The pumping rate will allow for the water to run into the ocean leaving the sand to fall out, building the beach up during a campaign. During operation, small sections of the beach would be closed to the public, however most of the beach would remain open.
For this to go ahead, we still need to determine the exact location for the infrastructure and run scientific modelling around the volumes of sand that will be used. We are also yet to determine how frequently the system would need to operate. Work on this has started.
HOTEL QUARANTINE COSTS HALVED FOR OVERSEAS AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
With the State’s primary industries sector hard-hit by COVID-induced workforce shortages, the NSW Government has today announced a significant boost for farmers by subsidising half the quarantine costs for overseas agricultural workers.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall announced the subsidy at the iconic Sydney Royal Easter Show today, saying labour shortages in the agricultural sector remained at critical levels.
“We know that our primary producers rely on seasonal and foreign workers, but we have heard loud and clear that the cost of mandatory quarantine is a significant barrier for farming businesses wanting to employ overseas workers,” Mr Marshall said.
“As a result of today’s announcement, we expect to see an increase in applications through the Pacific Labour Scheme and or Seasonal Worker Program as the proposition for farmers becomes a lot more viable.”
Mr Perrottet said overseas agricultural workers entering the country under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) or Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) will be eligible for a 50 per cent subsidy of the cost of mandatory quarantine to reduce the cost to industry from $3,000 per person to $1,500 per person for 2020-21.
“COVID-19 has thrown up all sorts of challenges, and this will help our vital agricultural sector which is worth almost $16 billion to the NSW economy each year,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Assisting Australians who want to return home will continue to be our number one priority, but we can’t ignore the importance of our agricultural sector and its critical need for workers.”
Mandatory hotel quarantine remains a critical part of the State’s COVID defence and any international arrivals are required to enter hotel quarantine in accordance with the Public Health Orders.
Mr Marshall said the NSW Government had already implemented a range of measures to overcome the shortage, but today’s announcement was the most significant.
“Since international borders shut, we have worked with industry to find a solution that is cost-effective and today’s announcement allows industry and government to share the costs of mandatory quarantine,” Mr Marshall said.
“We spearheaded the Ag Workers’ Code, approved almost 1,200 overseas seasonal workers and successfully launched the ‘Help Harvest NSW’ website to connect ag employers with out of work Australians.
“Now, by subsidising half the quarantine costs for overseas agricultural workers, we have made it more commercially viable for the farmers to get the workforce they need.”
All seasonal workers approved to quarantine in NSW during the 2020/21 financial year will be eligible for the subsidy, provided the majority of their work is undertaken in NSW.
NSW TO MODERNISE HERITAGE PROTECTIONS
The NSW Government is taking the first steps to review and modernise NSW Heritage legislation with the referral of a discussion paper to a Parliamentary committee for inquiry and consultation.
This 2021 review is designed to make it easier, more affordable, and more desirable to own a State significant heritage property.
The community are encouraged to make a submission through the inquiry process to have their say on the discussion paper and proposed reforms. The discussion paper proposes initiatives to incentivise investment in heritage conservation, make day to day use of heritage items easier, and introduce a category style of listing to accommodate the different and complex needs of heritage properties.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said “too often we see once cherished heritage properties experience dilapidation by neglect. This Government wants to see heritage not only protected but celebrated and activated for communities.”
“We know that the best way to keep our heritage alive is to use and re-use it. This review is about ensuring heritage listing actively contributes to conservation outcomes in the long-term,” Minister Harwin said.
NSW heritage legislation has had no major system reforms since 1999 and a review is well overdue to ensure heritage is protected now and into the future.
The NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues will undertake a public inquiry and report back later this year, providing an opportunity for all stakeholders and members of the community to have their say.
The discussion paper and more information about the inquiry and how to get involved is available at https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/nsw-heritage-act-review/
Man arrested after armed robbery near Maitland
A man has been arrested following an alleged armed robbery and pursuit near Maitland.
About 1.30pm (Tuesday 6 April 2021), police were called to a takeaway shop on Lawson Avenue, Beresfield, following reports a man – armed with a firearm – entered the store and threatened an employee.
The man fled the scene a short time later in a Mazda 3; no one was injured during the incident.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified and commenced a large-scale search for the man.
Police patrolling the area spotted the Mazda 3 on Woodberry Road and initiated a short pursuit.
The Mazda stopped and a 42-year-old man was arrested without incident.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle, where they located and seized a gel blaster gun. The vehicle has also been seized for forensic testing.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where inquiries are continuing.
A crime scene has been established.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Top Cop lines up for COVID-19 jab
The NSW Police Commissioner has rolled up his sleeve today to receive his first COVID-19 vaccine alongside members of his executive team and the Police Association of NSW.
NSW Health commenced the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in NSW on Monday 22 February 2021 to those who have the highest risk of being exposed to the virus. This includes officers working in quarantine footprint activities, such as quarantine hotels, airport and transportation duties.
More than 3,000 employees from the NSW Police Force have received their first dose of the vaccine since the rollout began. A second vaccine has been administered to around 2,500 personnel, meaning they are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller APM was proud to be part of the cohort of officers putting their hand up to receive the vaccination.
“Many of us have faced struggles in the year since the pandemic began and we are lucky to be in a position in NSW where we are getting back to a level of ‘normal’ that will continue with vaccine rollout,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“As police, we are required to enter environments and engage with members of our community that may pose a risk to our health, so we need to use every tool available to help keep us as safe as possible.
“We are encouraging members of the Force to get the vaccine as a control measure to protect themselves, their colleagues, families and the general public.
“The entire vaccination process was efficiently run by dedicated and friendly hospital staff. I thank all those frontline workers who continue to keep us safe and who are now administering the vaccine.”
Commissioner Fuller was joined by Deputy Commissioners Gary Worboys and Jeff Loy, Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell, Acting Superintendent Rodney Hart, and Acting Inspector Paul Bousfield.
President of the Police Association of New South Wales (PANSW), Mr Tony King, and Secretary, Mr Patrick Gooley, were also among the group to be vaccinated today.
So far, 841,885 Australians have received a COVID-19 vaccine*, including more than 126,000 people in NSW.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to all NSW Police Force employees as part of cohort 1b but it is not mandatory.
Man charged after alleged armed robbery and pursuit – Beresfield
A man has been charged over an alleged armed robbery and pursuit in the Hunter region yesterday.
About 1.30pm (Tuesday 6 April 2021), police were called to a takeaway shop on Lawson Avenue, Beresfield, following reports a man – armed with a firearm – entered the store and threatened two female employees.
The man demanded cash before leaving the store along Beresford Avenue.
Police will further allege the man threatened a 21-year-old man with the firearm a short time later and demanded his phone and wallet.
The man fled the scene in a Mazda 3; no one was injured during either incident.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were notified and commenced a large-scale search for the man.
Police patrolling the area noticed the Mazda 3 on Woodberry Road and initiated a short pursuit.
The Mazda stopped and a 43-year-old man was arrested without incident.
Officers conducted a search of the vehicle, where they located and seized a weapon. The vehicle has also been seized for forensic testing.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was subjected to a breath analysis, which returned an alleged reading of 0.244.
He was charged with five offences including two counts of robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, and one count each of possess unregistered firearm, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and high-range PCA.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 7 April 2021).
He was later taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment, where he remains under police guard.
NDIS TUNE REVIEW NEVER INTENDED TO RECOMMEND INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENTS
As revealed in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Morrison Government’s proposed independent assessments changes to the NDIS were never originally recommended as part of the Tune Review, instead they were inserted by a public servant on behalf of the government.
Australian Greens disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said this shocking revelation was conclusive proof that independent assessments were about saving money, not about making the scheme work for disabled people.
“It is absolutely appaling that this government has the gall to claim that the Tune Review was independent when these documents reveal the government had a direct hand in ensuring the outcomes they wanted were written in by senior publiuc servants,” Steele-John said.
“The Tune Review, unfortunately, no longer has a place in shaping the direction of our NDIS over the coming years. It’s independence has been compromised and its authenticity has been demolished.
“Compulsory independent assessment are a concept that is being imposed on disabled people against our will and we’ve been calling for more trnsparency and consultation throughout this process, with good reason clearly.
“The Morrison government now has no choice but to scrap independent assessments and return to the drawing board, working with disabled people to co-design any changes to our NDIS.
“We should not have to fight the system that was created to support us. Our NDIS needs to be fixed and disabled people must be at the centre of the conversation because we know what the solutions are.”
Australia welcomes two-way Trans-Tasman travel
Australia’s flight-path to recovery is well underway with the Australian Government welcoming the New Zealand Government’s announcement that it will join the Safe Travel Zone between Australia and New Zealand.
This announcement will enable quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand on both sides of the Tasman helping to reunite families and friends and giving tourism operators a significant boost.
It follows Australia’s opening of a one-way Safe Travel Zone from New Zealand to Australia six months ago, with more than 34,000 arrivals into Australia from New Zealand during that period.
This latest major step in the resumption of international travel has only been possible due to the internationally recognised, world-leading responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by Australia and New Zealand.
The Federal Government’s decisions to close Australia’s international border early last year, declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic before the World Health Organisation did and working with the States and Territories through the National Cabinet to suppress the virus has ensured we are the envy of the world today.
The importance of this announcement is demonstrated by the fact that the Trans-Tasman route is Australia’s busiest international aviation market with more than seven million passengers in the one year ending January 2020 before the effects of COVID-19 hit international aviation.
Throughout this pandemic, the Federal Government has supported more than 40,000 flights through various programs and initiatives. As of last month, flights on common routes in Australia were at 57 per cent of the pre-COVID average, up from a low of 3 per cent at the height of the pandemic and today’s announcement by the New Zealand Government will be a further boost to Australia’s aviation industry.
The announcement also represents a major boost to our tourism industry with around 18 per cent of all international air arrivals from New Zealand annually and with visitors to Australia now having the opportunity to travel without having to quarantine at either end of their journey. In 2019, New Zealand travellers spent $1.6 billion on travel and tourism in Australia.
Should temporary restrictions need to be applied due to a COVID-19 outbreak, both countries will provide as much notice as possible to Government agencies, passengers, airlines and airport operators affected by any such measures.
Given that Australian and New Zealand airlines had already been operating under a one-way Safe Travel Zone to Australia for the past six months operating “green” flights to Australia, we are optimistic that airlines will commence additional services to meet the demand generated by the two-way Safe Travel Zone.
Australian and New Zealand government health and border officials will also continue to work together to facilitate the safe and effective introduction of the two-way Safe Travel Zone.