16 News

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.

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/

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.

St Peters and Erskineville train stations will receive major makeovers, worth about $40 million, as part of the integration of Sydney Metro City & Southwest.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the upgrades will include new lifts and canopies in preparation for the increase in train services when the new Metro opens in 2024.
“The great news is when Metro comes online, Sydney Trains customers will also see benefits. We’re upgrading key infrastructure to complement the changes we need to make to some existing rail services as a result of the next stage of Metro,” Mr Constance said.
“We’re planning for the future now to ensure customers have a seamless experience from start to end.
“At St Peters and Erskineville, it will mean more modern and accessible stations as well as a boost in train services, however, there will be a change in travel patterns.”
From 2024, customers at St Peters and Erskineville will travel exclusively on the T4 Illawarra Line resulting in new direct connections for customers to Martin Place and the Eastern Suburbs.
With plans to increase peak services in stages on the T4 Illawarra Line by 30 per cent, customers will have more trains to catch and shorter waiting times.
St Peters will benefit from two new lifts. Erskineville station will receive four new lifts and a new pedestrian footbridge and entrance at the southern end of the station.
There are plans for canopies at each station on platforms where customers will receive T4 Illawarra Line services in the future. There will also be other improvements to boost safety and accessibility.
A Review of Environmental Factors for St Peters Station Upgrade was recently on public display. The community feedback received will help inform detailed project design. The Review of Environmental Factors for Erskineville Station Upgrade is still underway. The community can provide their feedback until Tuesday 6 April. Subject to planning approval, construction for both upgrades is expected to start later this year and take around two years to complete.
These improvements build on further rail infrastructure upgrades currently in construction at Erskineville Junction to simplify and modernise the network.
PROPOSED UPGRADE FEATURES
Erskineville

• A new southern entrance at Bridge Street
• New lifts and stairs to provide access to the station platforms
• New canopies at station platforms to provide better weather protection
• New family accessible, and male and female ambulant toilets
• Upgrades to pedestrian pathways throughout the station precinct
• New kiss and ride spaces
• A new accessible parking space
• New bicycle hoops
• A new accessible water fountain
• A new pedestrian crossing on Bridge Street
• New and upgraded platform tactiles to help customers with visual impairment
• Improvements to CCTV, lighting and wayfinding signage

St Peters

• Two new lifts to provide access to the station platforms
• New canopies at the station platforms to provide better weather protection
• A new family accessible toilet
• Upgrades to pedestrian pathways throughout the station precinct
• New and upgraded platform tactiles to help customers with visual impairment
• New kiss and ride spaces
• New bicycle hoops
• Improvements to CCTV, lighting and wayfinding signage

The Tamworth community will soon have a new ambulance station under the NSW Government’s $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Tamworth has been chosen as the optimal location for a new world-class ambulance station to deliver emergency care for all residents in the north western NSW region.
“The NSW Government has injected an additional $100 million into this successful statewide program, to ensure people in regional and rural areas have access to timely out-of-hospital emergency care no matter where they live,” Mr Hazzard said.
“As the largest city in north western NSW, it’s vital Tamworth has robust health infrastructure to ensure local communities receive the medical care they need, when they need it.
“The new state-of-the art ambulance station replaces the Marius Street station and will provide the latest equipment to support our paramedics as they continue to deliver top quality care to local communities.”
The second station located in Tamworth South will remain operational. When the new station is complete, both stations will service the local communities.
Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, said the new ambulance station will be a fantastic asset for the region, helping ensure north west communities receive the most timely emergency care now and into the future.
“I am pleased to have been able to work with local paramedics to deliver on my commitment for a new ambulance station in the city,” Mr Anderson said.
“The Tamworth site will be selected using tried and tested international software which maps Triple Zero (000) calls so the community can feel confident the new station will operate from the most optimal location.”
The Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program is the largest investment in regional NSW Ambulance’s 125-year history, with 24 new or upgraded ambulance stations already delivered or underway as part of the $132 million Stage 1. Another $100 million in ambulance assets is being delivered under Stage 2.
In 2020-21, the NSW Government is investing more than

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance today went for their first test ride on one of the next-generation fleet of intercity trains.
Premier Berejiklian says the New Intercity Fleet will offer unprecedented levels of comfort, convenience and reliability for passengers.
“These trains of the future are now one step closer with testing continuing and the first trains expected to enter service in the coming months,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“An important part of this new fleet was making sure we listen to what longer distance customers want.
“We’re also pleased to announce today that the State’s New Intercity Fleet is being named “Mariyung”, the Darug word for Emu, in acknowledgment of local Aboriginal culture, with the artwork for the train’s exterior designed by Darug woman, Leanne Mulgo Watson.”
Mr Constance said 12 trains in the Mariyung fleet are now in the final stages of testing all the mechanical, electrical and technology systems, and the interfaces with the rail network like overhead wiring, signalling and track infrastructure.
“The new fleet has advanced technology not available on existing intercity trains, including eight internal and four external CCTV cameras in every carriage. It also has on-board help points and significantly improved accessibility for commuters using wheelchairs, prams or with other mobility constraints,” Mr Constance said.
“The proposed operations model has been examined by an independent international expert, in two separate safety reviews, which found it will be safer than current practice and safer than other models currently used around the world.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said rolling out 55 new 10-car trains to Lithgow, the Central Coast, Newcastle and South Coast built upon the NSW Government’s vision to help make public transport a first-choice option for people living in the regions.
“The naming of this new fleet brings us a step closer to rolling out these new services, which is an exciting development for the thousands of customers who travel between the city and these areas every day,” Mr Toole said.
“Boosts to our public transport offering like this show we’re committed to building a safer, stronger regional NSW.”
A date for the train to enter service will be determined once staff training and operational readiness activities have been completed in the coming months.