Families in northern NSW are set to benefit from a brand new integrated education campus in Murwillumbah, the first of its kind for regional NSW, under a plan unveiled today by Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.
Mr Barilaro said this multi-million-dollar investment demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to world-class education in regional communities.
“No matter where you live in this state, we are providing quality educational facilities to ensure our students get the best start in life,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Quality educational facilities, like the brand new campus coming soon to Murwillumbah, ensure families who live in regional and rural areas can remain there and children don’t have to move to metropolitan areas to receive a first-rate education.”
Ms Mitchell said she was delighted to announce that the NSW Government will develop an innovative new Kindergarten to Year 12 education campus for Murwillumbah.
“This incredible project will provide the community with an architecturally designed and built-for-purpose primary and secondary school conveniently located on one campus,” Ms Mitchell said.
The new Murwillumbah Education Campus will bring together students from Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah East Public School, Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School at the Murwillumbah High School site, which will be completely redeveloped.
The Deputy Premier and Ms Mitchell were today joined by Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and Duty MLC for the North Coast Ben Franklin at Murwillumbah High School.
“The new education campus will provide Murwillumbah with the modern, multi-purpose education infrastructure it deserves,” Mr Provest said.
Duty MLC for North Coast Ben Franklin said North Coast students will benefit from access to contemporary facilities that support the delivery of high quality educational opportunities and experiences.
“By ensuring a seamless journey for students from Kindergarten to Year 12, this education campus will set a new standard for future public school infrastructure in rural and country areas,” Mr Franklin said.
Plans for the campus also include partnering with the local community to potentially offer joint-use facilities, as well building ties with industry to offer high school students enhanced vocational training and support improved pathways to employment.
The new campus will also benefit the wider community with possible joint use of sporting, creative and health and wellbeing facilities.
“The new Murwillumbah Education Campus will truly be at the heart of the community, and I look forward to seeing it take shape over the next few years,” Ms Mitchell said.
The project’s next steps include planning and design. Community engagement will be ongoing throughout the duration of the project.
The NSW Government is investing $6.7 billion over four years to deliver more than 190 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
TOP UP FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL PROJECTS
Hundreds of building projects will commence at schools across regional NSW with the announcement of the Regional Renewal Program.
The new $120 million stimulus program, part of the State’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan, will provide a government co-contribution of between 50 per cent to 80 per cent for regional school capital improvement projects including covered outdoor learning areas, science facilities, toilet blocks, administration buildings and canteens.
The NSW Government will partner with school communities to identify projects at each school, providing work for local businesses.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the program will target local contractors and suppliers to ensure that the impact of this stimulus is felt through the regions.
“Our students in the bush deserve access to the best quality facilities and I know school communities across regional NSW have been working hard to raise funds for these additional projects. The Regional Renewal Program will see the NSW Government top-up the funds for these projects to be delivered,” Mr Barilaro said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the program will accelerate projects nominated by school communities and help create local jobs.
“The funding will directly benefit local communities, boost businesses and create and support hundreds of jobs across regional NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Government is committed to making sure local communities have access to modern facilities to support learning outcomes.
“Our regional schools have plenty of projects that they have been fundraising for, and I’m excited that this program will give them the additional funding to see projects realised,” Ms Mitchell said.
Eligible schools will be contacted by the Department of Education about the program.
$7.4 MILLION INVESTMENT TO PROGRESS NSW CLOSING THE GAP COMMITMENT
The NSW Government has announced funding of $7.4 million as a first step to begin State-based actions to support the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin confirmed this new investment at the 400th meeting of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), held at Broken Hill.
“This investment demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to achieving a critical priority under the Closing the Gap National Agreement – strengthening the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations,” Mr Harwin said.
“It is the NSW contribution to a national joint funding pool targeting capacity and expansion of the Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations in the key sectors of early childhood, housing, disability and health.”
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap sets out a new way of working through partnership between Aboriginal peaks and organisations, including NSWALC, and Government. The Agreement commits parties to jointly develop a jurisdictional plan by July 2021 that will set out how NSW will meet new targets and reform goals.
“This investment represents NSW Government commitment to a new way of doing business under Closing the Gap, working with Aboriginal organisations in partnership with sharing decision making, authority and leadership” Mr Harwin said.
Drugs and cash seized; two charged near Newcastle
Two men have been charged after drugs and cash were seized in the state’s Hunter region.
About 10.30am yesterday (Tuesday 27 October 2020), officers attached to the Northern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) and Northern High-Visibility Team attended a home on Woodford Street in Minmi as part of ongoing inquiries.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old man seated in a vehicle nearby, before he fled on foot.
A short foot pursuit ensued before the man was arrested.
Officers conducted a subsequent search of the man’s backpack and located an amount of methylamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, cash, buprenorphine and prescription medication.
A short time later, investigators located and arrested a 30-year-old man wanted on an outstanding warrant inside the Woodford Street home.
Both men were taken to Waratah Police Station, where the younger man was charged with an outstanding arrest warrant for a driving offence and 46 other unrelated drugs offences.
He was refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 27 October 2020), where he was formally bail refused to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 9 December 2020.
The older man was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug, three counts of possess prohibited drug and one count of goods in custody.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 28 October 2020).
Australia Post investigation should review enormous executive salaries and bonuses
Greens Spokesperson for Communications Senator Sarah Hanson Young responded to the Morrison Government’s terms of reference for an investigation into Australia Post:
“This investigation is supposed to establish whether this publicly-owned essential service is acting in the best interests of its shareholder – the Australian taxpayer – and yet the enormous pay packets and bonuses pocketed by executives don’t get a mention in the terms of reference.
“No one working in the public service should be taking home multi-million-dollar salaries and paid bonuses.
“It’s not just the Cartier watches that are the problem, it’s Australia Post becoming a quasi-private, quasi-public organisation that is now out of step with community expectations.
“It’s time to wind back the clock and ensure Australia’s postal service is a truly public organisation acting in the best interests of taxpayers, not millionaire executives.
“The Greens will re-introduce our bill to cap executive salaries and end performance-based pay at Australia Post and across the public service.
“Time’s up for those seeking a luxury lifestyle on the public purse whether its executives at Australia Post or ASIC, and the Parliament needs to do its job and rein them in.”
Greens Statement On Kashmir
The Australian Greens stand with the Kashmiri community on 27 October as they commemorate Black Day. Kashmir is a disputed territory and it is now over a year since the Indian Government revoked its special status and further eroded Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
Kashmir remains in lockdown and access to high speed internet is still blocked by the Indian Government. The Indian Government must restore basic human rights in Kashmir, including freedom of speech. The Indian Government must withdraw its troops, end the restrictions placed on political leaders, end arbitrary detentions and disappearances, and allow humanitarian organisations full access to resume their work. The decision to forcefully reduce the autonomy of Kashmiris must be revoked immediately and the campaign to systemically silence and oppress Kashmiris must end.
The Greens have been and will continue to urge the Australian Government to call on the Indian Government to respect the human rights of the people in Kashmir and their right to self-determination. The human rights crisis in Kashmir should not be ignored.
Steps to Victoria’s reopening
The Commonwealth Government welcomes the announcement by the Victorian Premier to ease restrictions from 11.59pm on Tuesday.
Victorians have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this point. We thank them for their patience and perseverance.
Today’s announcement is a reflection of the dedication and effort of Victorians – taking the next step to reopen Victorian society and the state’s economy.
After a long winter, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Victorians.
As we said yesterday – Victorians have made great progress in reducing the rate of COVID-19 infections from the second wave outbreak in Victoria.
The new National Framework to reopen by Christmas is a clear and transparent, three step national plan which provides the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a COVID Normal Australia, ensuring that we maintain strong health protections and minimise job losses and mental health impacts.
Under the new ‘National Framework’ released last week, Victoria is now moving towards Step 1 – an important step on the pathway to COVID Normal.
Australia has been a world leader in fighting the virus to save lives and to save livelihoods and with today’s announcement, we look forward to Victoria continuing to make progress on the path to reopening and joining the rest of the country at Steps 2 and 3 in the national plan.
It will be important for the Victorian Government to provide even more clarity to Victorians in the coming days and where restrictions do not have a health basis that they are removed quickly.
We congratulate Victorians – this was the announcement that they were expecting and one they have worked hard to achieve.
It is important for Victoria to safely open and stay safely open.
The Prime Minister and Premiers Berejiklian, Marshall and Andrews will continue to take advice regarding hard border restrictions.
The Commonwealth Government will continue to support Victoria through this crisis.
New round of Commonwealth VET scholarships open for young Australians
Young Australians who live in 10 selected regions experiencing high youth unemployment can now apply for a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications scholarship.
Round 3 of the Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians is open in select regions, offering up to $5,000 a year to undertake an approved course of study.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the scholarships offered a life-changing opportunity to study a VET qualification and complete an internship.
“We know that our youth have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” Minister Cash said.
“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring young Australians can upskill and reskill to secure a job.”
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP, said these scholarships are about improving skills to connect young people in areas of high youth unemployment to training pathways and real jobs.
“We want to support young Australians to enter the vocational education and training sector which will help to create strong pathways to jobs in areas of skills needs and real outcomes,” Assistant Minister Irons said.
“Scholarship winners will receive industry-based workplace learning and gain qualifications in growth industries.”
The Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians is part of the Australian Government’s $585 million Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package.
It will award around 400 young Australians from 10 regional locations with high youth unemployment up to $5,000 a year to study a qualification and an additional $3,000 to complete an internship.
Applications are sought from people who are not in full-time work, who are aged 15 to 24 years or people who have left the Australian Defence Force in the past two years.
Scholarships will target occupations identified in projected growth industries and occupations identified as in-demand in 10 regional locations:
| State | Region |
| New South Wales | Grafton |
| Gosford | |
| Northern Territory | Alice Springs |
| Queensland | Maryborough |
| Townsville | |
| South Australia | Port Pirie |
| Tasmania | Burnie |
| Victoria | Shepparton |
| Western Australia | Wanneroo |
| Armadale |
For more information and eligibility requirements please visit: https://www.employment.gov.au/commonwealth-scholarships-program-young-australians
$28 million to support jobs and protect Queensland's environment
From turtle protection and feral pig control in Cape York, to cleaning up beaches across the Fitzroy region, the Morrison Government has announced up to $28 million in funding to support regional jobs and empower reef communities to protect Queensland’s coastal environment.
Funding will be provided under the Reef Trust to support six new on ground projects that help protect our iconic species and improve the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystems.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said that these initiatives will be delivered by people who understand their region and have a proven track record of achieving environmental results.
“The projects are being led by six Reef based Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups through the National Landcare Program Regional Land Partnerships Program, ensuring local knowledge and practical outcomes that help protect on shore environments and the Great Barrier Reef,” Minister Ley said.
“In the Burnett Mary area, sea rangers will work with local communities to protect marine turtles by relocating nests, using cages to deter predators and helping to prevent shoreline erosion to improve water quality.
“Across the coastlines of the Mackay-Whitsundays, invasive pests will be controlled and native vegetation will be restored to protect seabirds and shorebirds. Important beach habitats for marine turtles will also be rejuvenated.
“In Cape York, the community will be supported to monitor turtle nesting sites on priority beaches, install egg protection cages, and control weeds and feral pigs to reduce threats to native species.
“The Wet Tropics region will focus on healthy wetlands and fishways, removing weeds and blockages to ensure fish can have a smooth journey from river to the sea.
“Groups in the Burdekin will install fish ladders in important waterways to help reconnect species like barramundi to the freshwater systems they desperately need to complete their life cycle.
“The Fitzroy region will manage numerous activities including a clean-up of marine debris along the coast, improving regional fire management in the lead up to summer, and controlling feral pigs and foxes.”
Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Warren Entsch said that this important work will help improve awareness and volunteer engagement in Landcare activities and strengthen partnerships with local communities and Traditional Owners.
“This is about working with people and backing local communities and the result will be cleaner beaches, thriving habitats, healthier coastal ecosystems and species, and a more resilient Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Entsch said.
“Work is already underway with people from local communities getting out and about to safely protect Queensland’s coastlines despite the challenges of COVID-19.”
The new investment complements many others made by the Australian Government to support regions and the environment such as the $443.3 million Reef Trust Partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the $100 million Environment Restoration Fund and the $1 billion investment under phase two of the National Landcare Program.
City Taskforce Update 23 October
The City Taskforce, a collaboration of 17 leading organisations and employers, chaired by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes of the City of Newcastle, held its eighth meeting today via Zoom. The Taskforce was formed to develop a collaborative approach to the City’s response to COVID-19, from crisis to recovery and beyond. City leaders focused their discussion on innovation-led economic recovery to ensure new jobs and growth for the region, which is at the centre of the latest Newcastle Response. The Taskforce heard case studies on tech scale-ups Portt and GreenBe, both of which are based in Newcastle, as well as Industry Response Program grant recipient Matt Field of Field Frequency, whose live music initiative Music People is supporting the recovery of the local arts and entertainment industry. Being the Taskforce’s penultimate meeting, members discussed the continuation of work streams through the City of Newcastle’s Strategy and Innovation Committee, chaired by Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, following the final City Taskforce meeting on 4 December 2020.
COVID-19 case update – Hunter New England Local Health District
With further easing of restrictions this week, Hunter New England Health’s Executive Director Partnerships, Innovation and Research, Jane Gray, briefed the Taskforce on the latest COVID-19 case statistics for the region. To date, there have been 300 local cases since the pandemic began and four deaths. There are currently no cases in hospital or in Intensive Care Units within the Hunter New England Local Health District. Recent sewage testing has not detected any active virus being excreted. However, calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre concerning hand sanitiser exposure incidents have increased 2.2-fold from January to June when compared with the same period in 2019.
Economic outlook and the impact on local jobs
Around 37,000 jobs have been lost since February across the Hunter Region, representing an 11% fall. However, the three-month moving average shows a marginal change in employment, with 378 jobs lost. Young people – in particular, the 25-34-year-old cohort – have felt these job losses most profoundly, with the Hunter’s youth unemployment rate rising to 20.7% in September. Across the country, about 500,000 people under the age of 35 lost their job in the early stages of the pandemic, with around 300,000 still out of work in September. Hospitality remains one of the worst affected industries, with a higher proportion of young people employed in this sector.
While the Federal Budget included extended JobKeeper arrangements until March and partly addressed disproportionate job losses to youth through JobMaker and support for apprentices, the efficacy of other measures to stimulate economic recovery, such as tax cuts, will not be known for some time, particularly with the increases in personal saving rates. The lowest-paid occupations have seen the greatest decline in employment, while employment in the highest-paid occupations has increased.
Pioneering innovation-led economic recovery
The innovation economy plays a critical and fundamental role in ensuring economic recovery and sustainable growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. City of Newcastle engaged widely with start-ups, scale-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the University of Newcastle to develop The Newcastle Response – Innovation Economy.
Taskforce members endorsed policy asks of the State and Federal Governments to invest in innovation-led economic activity, including:
- Co-funding the University of Newcastle’s new Regional Transformation Hub within the Hunter STEMM Precinct
- Supporting the development of a Newcastle Innovation Precinct that aligns with the strategic vision of the Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct
- Prioritising smart infrastructure investment in Newcastle as a technology testbed and living laboratory
- Increasing tax concessions for investing in innovation to incentivise entrepreneurship and angel investment to fuel job creation.
Newcastle is Australia’s largest and most mature innovation ecosystem outside of a capital city, where industry, start-ups, local government and the education sector collaborate to validate innovative solutions to global problems.
Case studies: Portt and GreenBe
The Taskforce heard case studies on tech scale-ups Portt and GreenBe to illustrate some of the advantages and barriers to innovation in Newcastle.
Citizen engagement platform GreenBe designed the software layer for the City of Newcastle’s Lean in Newy app, which hosts one of the City’s COVID-19 response measures. Lean in Newy connects our community spirit to the places where it’s needed most and rewards participants with incentives at local businesses. Founded in Sydney, GreenBe also has a Newcastle office, which has not only retained all of its employees during the pandemic, but prioritises investment in and the upskilling of local talent to remain competitive with capital cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. CEO David Catalovski was supportive of putting Newcastle on the map as an innovation hub.
Portt is an intelligent strategic sourcing, contract and supplier management platform, with an office and a staff of 10 in Newcastle, as well as Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Co-CEO and Founder, Andre Pinkowski, outlined some of the resourcing and supply chain challenges that often came with operating from a regional centre, but backed the need to build on the momentum that existed in Newcastle. Portt is also embedding the Taskforce’s Greater Newcastle Youth Employment Charter objectives within its policies to prioritise skills development and early career opportunities for young people.
Industry Response Program update: Music People
Taskforce members received an update from one of the City of Newcastle’s Industry Response Program grant recipients, Matt Field of Field Frequency, whose live music initiative Music People received a share of a $500,000 funding pool. The fortnightly gigs, which showcase Newcastle’s diversity of musical talent, are live-streamed to a network of social media platforms to allow home-grown talent to be discovered. From 17 November, the shows will be open to a live audience at the Civic Theatre as well as online every other Tuesday night through to the end of summer.
Beyond 2020: The Strategy and Innovation Committee
With the final City Taskforce meeting to be held on 4 December 2020, the City of Newcastle’s Strategy and Innovation Committee, chaired by Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, will continue the important work of the Taskforce’s work streams to guide the City’s COVID-19 recovery. Membership is open to all Taskforce members, several of which already sit on the committee.
The final City Taskforce meeting will also workshop the City of Newcastle’s forthcoming Economic Development Strategy, which will incorporate the work that has already been achieved by the Taskforce.
Find out more about the City Taskforce – Industry Representation.