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The NSW Government will develop a new safety net for political staff following a review of policies ordered by Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Professor Pru Goward has delivered her report to the Premier.
Ms Berejiklian said she welcomed the findings of the Goward Review into Policies and Procedures in Ministerial Offices regarding bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct and will be accepting the recommendations made.
“I would like to thank Pru Goward for this comprehensive and forthright report,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It’s very important to me that we stress test everything that exists in and around NSW Ministerial Offices to make sure that we have in place good policies and culture.
“I am keen to adopt all the recommendations and there will be an opportunity for consultation in the next phase of this process. If we’re serious about making change, we have to do it properly and this will involve engagement with NSW Parliament and any survivors.
“I want to have a clear conscience that I’ve done everything I can to make sure that our workplace is supportive, respectful, and fair and that staff are always comfortable in coming forward in a safe setting.”
The review found shortcomings currently exist within the system, and 13 recommendations have been made including:

• The establishment of an independent process for those unwilling to have their complaint handled within a Ministerial Office;
• The establishment of clear and transparent processes to be followed where complaints are made, including where the complaint may constitute criminal conduct;
• Development of a best practice Respectful Workplace Policy, including investigative and reporting procedures to address bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct in Ministerial Offices to enhance the safety and security of staff;
• An increased focus on training for staff and Chiefs regarding their obligations;
• An anonymous survey to be conducted of all Ministers and their staff to establish a baseline for the subsequent impact of the new policies and procedures.
• That the independent structure report regularly to the Premier on emerging trends and proposals to improve the respectful workplace policy.

Full report can be found here: www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/gowardreview

New rules introduced this week for NSW public school principals will mean they must spend all of their record education funding on the students it is intended for.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the move is being supported by additional training and tools to simplify school budgeting so that every dollar allocated is being invested in the current cohort of students.
“We know there are some principals who need more support to effectively spend the funding they are receiving on the students it is intended for,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Our schools are required to plan and spend each year’s budget allocation within that calendar year using new tools and a simplified budgeting system.
The school funding model is student focused, schools receive amounts depending on their student cohort.
“Public schools in NSW are better funded than at any point in history. It is imperative that this money is actually spent on the current student cohort. Gonski funding is there to lift student outcomes – it’s not there to be saved for a rainy day,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The NSW Government’s commitment to record funding in schools has always been student focused. Every dollar allocated must be spent on providing the support and services to the students it was intended for, within that year.”
The Carry Forward Policy was developed in consultation with school stakeholders over a 12-month period and is part of a renewed focus on school success to ensure the necessary supports are in place to drive student outcomes.
The policy will apply to the annual State and Federal budget allocations but does not affect funds from local school and community sources.
“We have fought hard to achieve a needs based, sector blind funding model and we must ensure the necessary system-wide tools are in place to deliver this investment to support the current student cohort.”
In 2021, NSW public schools will receive $10.1 billion to invest in students. Currently $1.49 billion remains unspent from previous years. The changes introduced through this policy will no longer allow schools to rollover funding year to year.
“Principals will no longer be able to rollover funds across years, and measures will be put in place to provide additional support to invest the funding in current students. This may take the form of guidance on teaching practice and learning programs, or extra staff and resources in areas of need,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Introducing this policy also provides our schools with clarity to spend the balances that they have accumulated from past budgets. Schools will be supported to spend these balances evenly over the next four years in alignment with school Strategic Improvement Plans.
“Under the new School Success Model introduced this year, a range of individual targets have been set for schools to meet.
“Schools that have ‘underspends’ who are not meeting targets will receive instruction on how to spend their unspent funding to lift their results.”

The New South Wales visitor economy will get a boost through two new industry support and marketing programs.
Applications are open for the $5.5 million Business Events Industry Support package and $1 million Tourism Industry Marketing Support package through the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and Sydney’s business events bidding specialists BESydney.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said these targeted programs would support the businesses and communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re helping the event owners, businesses, local tourism organisations, regional councils and industry groups that need it most by stimulating activity now and creating a pipeline of events and visitors into the future.
“The business events industry is a powerhouse of the NSW visitor economy because it attracts high yield visitors who stay multiple nights, and these events engage many industry partners from accommodation and catering to staging, AV and other event delivery services.
“The Tourism Industry Marketing Support package offers dollar-for-dollar support to communities that are ready to drive demand that translates to bookings and confidence, for businesses,” Mr Ayres said.
The programs are part of the NSW Government’s Tourism Support Package and include:

• $4 million Kickstart 2021 Sydney Business Events Fund (administered by BESydney in conjunction with Destination NSW): Up to $45,000 for one-day events and up to $90,000 for two-day events in Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, matched dollar-for-dollar by event organisers
• $1.5 million for Regional Conferencing to include an additional round of the Regional Business Event Development Fund: Up to $15,000 for events with up to 150 delegates, and up to $30,000 for events with more than 150 delegates
• $1 million Tourism Industry Marketing Support package – grants program:  Destination NSW will match dollar-for-dollar between $10,000 and $50,000 for operators to deliver marketing activities to promote visitor experiences, attractions, tours and accommodation

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting businesses engaged in the visitor economy, so they have confidence and hope for the future,” Mr Ayres said.
Both marketing programs include digital, social media, print and video media placements, and are supported by publicity and partnership activity to amplify the message and convert interest to bookings.
To apply for the Business Events Industry Support package grants and for more information including eligibility criteria and the LGAs relevant to each fund, visit www.meetinsydney.com.au for the Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong program and www.meetinnsw.com.au for business events elsewhere in regional NSW.
To apply for the Tourism Industry Marketing Support package and for more information including eligibility criteria, visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/tourism-recovery.
Campaign assets are available to download: www.media.destinationnsw.com.au
To apply for the Tourism Industry Marketing Support package and for more information including eligibility criteria, visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/tourism-recovery.

The NSW Government has announced it will support 3,000 training places for women in trades to help boost female representation in construction, manufacturing, engineering, transport and logistics.
The fee-free Built For Women training program will target women aged 16 to 24, female jobseekers, women at risk of unemployment and women in receipt of Commonwealth benefits.
Women currently represent 8.9 per cent of all current learners in trades and just 2.1 per cent of all learners studying a trade in the building and construction industry.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the program would help boost numbers of women working on building sites.
“The Built For Women program is about attracting women to rewarding careers in trades industries that are experiencing skills shortages,” Mr Lee said.
“There has never been a better time to reskill or up-skill and take advantage of the employment opportunities arising from the NSW Government’s record $107 billion infrastructure investment, which is creating hundreds of jobs.”
“Growing housing developments, new road and infrastructure upgrades as well as the new Western Sydney airport are creating skills demands in manufacturing, engineering and transport and logistics, providing an opportunity for women to increase their skills and participation in the industry.”
There are 154 full-qualifications and 408 part-qualifications available in construction under JobTrainer.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said the Built For Women program would help close the gender gap present in the trades industry.
“The NSW Government is committed to increasing the number of women working in non-traditional trades,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Whether you’re a female school leaver looking to pursue a career as an engineer or a woman looking to retrain as a construction worker – now is the perfect time to train and get started in the industry.”
For more information visit education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/built-for-women or call 13 28 11.

The two major pipelines that provide 90 per cent of Sydney’s drinking water will be better protected from development under proposed new planning laws.
The planning guideline is designed to be a comprehensive resource for developers and councils to ensure new developments consider the impacts on the the Upper Canal and the Warragamba Pipelines in Western Sydney.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said there are currently no specific planning provisions protecting these pipelines from urban development and its associated environmental impacts.
“We’re proposing changes to planning rules that would require any new proposed development around the canal and pipelines to consider them as part of the planning and assessment process,” Mr Stokes said.
“This will ensure development is done carefully, enabling the pipelines to continue to supply safe and reliable drinking water as Western Sydney grows.”
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the main risk to the Upper Canal pipeline is the threat of water being contaminated from pollutants arising from nearby developments.
“There is also a risk of developers relying on existing drainage systems to service stormwater runoff from developments upstream of the Canal Corridor,” Ms Pavey said.
“The Warragamba pipelines are most at risk from storm or flood water which can undermine the infrastructure that support the pipelines. This risk is increased by development increasing runoff and the risk of erosion.”
Community feedback is encouraged and to view the proposed changes and make a submission visit www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/draftplans/exhibition/isepp-water-supply

High streets throughout NSW will be revitalised with more than $15 million in grants to boost local business, support jobs and create better public spaces for the community.
The NSW Government’s Your High Street program will provide 19 councils with up to $1 million to help them deliver projects that will permanently transform streetscapes into more liveable, accessible and vibrant public spaces.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the program builds on the success of the Streets as Shared Spaces program, which piloted street transformation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has helped shift our perception of streets as more than just places to walk or drive. One year on from the lockdown, Your High Street is the second phase of the program which cements the role of our streets as places for people to gather, socialise, dine and do business,” Mr Stokes said. .
“From Penrith to Parkes, councils throughout NSW have answered the call to create more welcoming and attractive main streets for their communities.
“Nineteen councils have been successful in securing funding to transform their high streets, with a total of $8.2 million going to 12 regional councils and $6.9 million awarded to councils in Greater Sydney.”
The regional councils to receive funding are Ballina, Gilgandra, Shoalhaven, Maitland, Parkes, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Hay, Tweed Shire, Moree Plains and Newcastle), and in Greater Sydney, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Randwick, Inner West, Parramatta, Hornsby and Penrith.
Projects receiving funding include:

• Lakemba’s Haldon Street will be transformed with wider footpaths, more seating, extra trees and artwork to create creating a safe, comfortable and attractive space;
• Parramatta’s Philips St will become a “smart” street by revitalising the area with condition-responsive lighting, street furniture with built-in USB ports, smart irrigation, public artwork and lighting;
• Lennox Village Vision will upgrade the streetscape of Lennox Head’s commercial centre by slowing traffic, widening footpaths, adding street lighting and seating which will provide places for people to gather while retaining the village atmosphere;
• Heart of Drummoyne builds upon the Streets as Shared Spaces funding to create new public spaces next to Victoria Road by closing Formosa Street and providing seating, more trees, public art and an outdoor dining space;
• The Mill on Miller St in Gilgandra will link the heart of the town with the natural beauty of the Castlereagh River and Windmill Walk by providing landscaping, a new stage area for events, improved lighting and public art.

All 19 projects are expected to be completed within 12 months. Your High Street follows the success of the $15 million Streets as Shared Spaces program launched in 2020.
The Your High Street grant program contributes to the delivery of the Premier’s Priority to increase the proportion of homes in urban areas within a 10-minute walk of quality green, open and public space by 10 per cent by 2023.
For more information visit: https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/premiers-priorities/great-public-spaces/streets/grants-for-councils