The Morrison Government today reinforces its commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of older Australians with landmark reform to keep seniors safer.
The Aged care legislation amendment (Serious Incident Response Scheme and other measures) Bill 2020 will ensure tangible steps toward the prevention of incidence of abuse and neglect of older Australians in care.
The SIRS legislation will also provide a range of broader powers for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, consistent with the Regulatory Powers Act.
It follows the passing of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No.2) Bill 2020 aimed at improving the way home care subsidies are paid to providers for care recipients.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said the measures reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to prioritising the needs of ageing Australians.
“The Commonwealth continues to build on and strengthen the aged care sector as we anticipate the final recommendations from the Royal Commission later this month,” Minister Colbeck said.
“As the Royal Commission has carried out its important work, we have continued to reform the sector.
“Importantly, these latest measures offer security and peace-of-mind for all older Australians in residential and in-home care settings and for their families.
“The Commonwealth Government is listening and acting to ensure the needs of older Australians are met while Labor continues to deliver nothing but spin and rhetoric.”
Minister Colbeck said the SIRS is intended to drive quality and safety improvements to residential aged care at the individual service and broader system level.
Residential aged care providers will be required to manage all incidents, with a focus on the safety and wellbeing of consumers and reduce preventable incidents from reoccurring.
The SIRS will expand the responsibilities of residential aged care providers in relation to identifying, recording, managing, resolving and reporting assaults and a broader range of serious incidents in residential aged care.
Reporting under the SIRS will include a range of new matters such as sexual misconduct, neglect, psychological abuse, inappropriate use of restraint, and unexpected death amongst others.
Significantly, the SIRS will lift the current exemption on the reporting of resident-on-resident incidents, where the perpetrator has an assessed cognitive impairment.
The first stage of the SIRS will start on 1 April.
Minister Colbeck said consumers expect continuity of care and safeguards across an end-to-end aged care system, which is why the Government has already committed to a prevalence and feasibility study of a SIRS in home and community care settings.
The study is being undertaken by KPMG and is expected to be finalised by late June and will inform Government decisions on a SIRS for home and community care.
Minister Colbeck said the Morrison Government is delivering record investment across the aged care system – from $13.3 billion in 2012-13 under Labor, growing to $24.3 billion in 2020-21 under the Morrison Government.
It is estimated that funding for aged care will grow to more than $27 billion by 2023-24.
“Senior Australians are increasingly choosing to remain in their own homes for longer and the Government is committed to supporting this choice,” Minister Colbeck said.
Since the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has invested an additional $5.5 billion for an additional 83,105 home care packages.
Home care packages are estimated to increase from 60,308 in 2012–13 when we came to Government, to 195,597 during 2020–21.
Author: admin
Increasing ovarian cancer care and support
As part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Morrison Government will provide a further $1 million to Ovarian Cancer Australia for their work supporting those living with ovarian cancer.
Each year in Australia, approximately 1,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Tragically, more than 1,000 will die. While ovarian cancer is more commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 50, it can occur at any age.
Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Teal Support Program is built on a psychosocial support case management model, including using telehealth to provide care and support to both ovarian cancer patients and their families.
Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer face extraordinary challenges: it has the lowest 5-year survival rate of all gynaecological cancers (46%) with recurrence rate of up to 70%. The psychological impact of this prognosis is overwhelming and 40% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer experience clinical levels of anxiety or depression.
Supporting patients and their families now is important, but research remains our best hope of defeating ovarian cancer in the long term.
Since 2011, the Government has invested more than $71 million for ovarian cancer research through the National Health and Medical Research Council and is the single biggest funder of cancer research in Australia.
In addition, through the Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, we are supercharging the growth of Australia’s health and medical research capabilities.
To date, more than $16.9 million from the Fund has been invested in ground-breaking ovarian cancer projects, like the work done by Ovarian Cancer Australia.
Our Government also provides funding for a range of other measures to support women with ovarian cancer and their families, including the listing of life-saving and life-changing medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
This includes the recent extension of the PBS listing of Lynpara, meaning an additional 300 Australian women with ovarian cancer each year will have access to a medicine that would otherwise cost $140,500 per course of treatment. Instead, they will pay as little as $41.30 per script, or $6.60 with a concession card.
In August 2020, we also saw two new Medicare items become available for genetic testing for BRCA variants. This is in addition to Medicare rebates for gynaecology, oncology, radiology and pathology.
While we have made great progress in tackling this disease, there is more work to be done.
Today, at the Teal Ribbon Breakfast, our Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring women with ovarian cancer in Australia know more about the symptoms and risks of this condition so they get the treatment, information and support they need both now and into the future.
2021 also marks the 20th Anniversary of Ovarian Cancer Australia. The Morrison Government congratulates OVA on this milestone and commends its work in supporting woman and their families.
First Pfizer vaccine doses arrive in Australia
More than 142,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COZVID-19 vaccine have arrived at Sydney airport in a major milestone in Australia’s response to the pandemic.
This is the first shipment of 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine the Government has secured as part of Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy.
The doses have been securely transported from the airport. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will batch test the vaccines to ensure they meet Australia’s strict quality standards.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country was on track for the first and most vulnerable Australians to start receiving the vaccine from 22 February.
“The vaccine has landed and we’re stepping up our fight against the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.
“Once the final safety checks are completed we can start rolling out the vaccine to our most vulnerable Australians and to our frontline border and health workers.
“The hard work of Australians has meant we’re in an enviable position in our fight against the pandemic so we’ve been able to take the time to properly assess our vaccine decisions and give our world-class regulator the time they need to review the safety of the jabs.
“While we’re taking the time to get the rollout right, I am confident all Australians who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will receive a vaccine this year.”
Approximately 80,000 doses will be released of the Pfizer vaccine in the first week. Approximately 50,000 vaccines will be made available for the states and territories for hotel quarantine and border workers and frontline healthcare workers. Approximately 30,000 vaccines will be made available for the Commonwealth vaccine in-reach workforce to aged care and disability care residents.
It is expected that of these, at least 60,000 will be administered by the end of February with others to be continually administered thereafter.
Subject to TGA approval and shipping confirmation of the international AstraZeneca vaccine, it is expected these numbers will double from early March. Phase 1a remains on track for first round doses to be delivered within a six week period.
In lessons learnt in rollouts around the world and on the advice of experts, approximately 60,000 vaccines will be provisioned to ensure consistent supply and sufficient stock for second doses. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered at 21 days after the first dose.
The Phase 1a priority groups will ensure our quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers and aged care and disability care residents and staff that the most vulnerable will receive priority access to the vaccine.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said, “The Pfizer vaccine will save lives and protect lives.”
“Australians can be reassured this vaccine has gone through rigorous, independent testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to ensure it is safe, effective, and manufactured to a high standard,” Minister Hunt said.
“These vaccines will now go through further batch testing to further check for quality and efficacy, ensuring all Australians have confidence in the vaccines they receive.”
The Pfizer vaccine will be delivered through hospital ‘hubs’ across Australia, and in residential aged care and disability care facilities.
Logistics company DHL has been engaged to support the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine across Australia.
The company, along with a network of 200 ultra-low temperature portable freezers, will ensure Australians across the country, including in rural and remote areas, are able to access the Pfizer vaccine, which needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees.
By following the medical advice, Australia has maintained a diverse portfolio of vaccines, and are constantly engaging with international counterparts and vaccine sponsors to access the best available information on vaccine developments worldwide.
Pending TGA approval, the Government has also secured 53.8 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses and 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. Each is sufficient to vaccinate every Australian who chooses to be vaccinated in 2021.
The Australian Government has also signed up to the international COVAX facility, which provides access to a range of vaccines to immunise up to 50 per cent of the Australian population.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the first vaccine to receive provisional approval for use in Australia by the TGA. The TGA bases such decisions on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine candidates.
Concept for new Foreshore Park open for feedback
City of Newcastle is seeking community feedback on a new concept for Foreshore Park which sees the site’s community playspace increase by almost eight times.
The new concept shows a fenced regional-level accessible and inclusive playground the size of eight basketball courts and a significant waterplay space that links back to Newcastle’s Indigenous heritage including representation of the original shoreline of the harbour foreshore.
The concept has been developed based on consultation with the community over the past year and delivers a versatile space including community gardens, open areas for children to skate, scoot and splash, and designed to allow a variety of major events in the city centre.
A headline feature of the preliminary concept for Foreshore Park is the inclusive ‘Variety Livvi’s Place’ playspace which is being delivered in partnership with Variety the Children’s Charity.
The design will include a cultural heritage walk that provides the opportunities to tell both Awabakal stories like Mulubinba, the place of many sea ferns, Awabakal canoe hunting on the harbour, as well as recognising post 1880 stories and the redevelopment of Newcastle as we know it.
These stories are intended to replace the 1988 pond which represented the original fresh water source and one of three man-made wells known as “The Frog Pond”.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that the local community’s valuable feedback has been reflected in the draft plans.
“It’s wonderful to have an incredible regional scale inclusive playground based on input from our community as the cornerstone of the preliminary concept for our city’s iconic Foreshore Park.
“Now more than ever, we value our open spaces and parks, and this project is a great collaboration between City of Newcastle, Variety the Children’s Charity and our community which will transform the Harbour Foreshore into a more inviting recreational space and major event venue for everyone to enjoy.
“We have consulted with our Indigenous stakeholders on the key heritage elements of the concept including the removal of the Frog Pond and provision of an exciting water play area linked to our heritage.”
The addition of the new cultural elements at Foreshore Park was strongly supported by Luke Russell from Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee.
“I’m really pleased there is a significant increase in the representation of Guuri culture in the Foreshore Park concept with the plan reflecting equal parts Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage. City of Newcastle’s engagement on this project has resulted in a positive outcome for the community,” Mr Russell said.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Declan Clausen, who sits on the Foreshore Park Community Reference Group said the level of community feedback already received has been fantastic, and has encouraged all Novocastrians to now have their say about City of Newcastle’s plans.
“I encourage community members to view the designs which pay tribute to Newcastle’s history, culture and environment, as well as the origins of trade and exchange in the city, and provide feedback via our online mapping tool, or in person at a drop-in session.
“Our Community Reference Group has been a great way to understand the different uses of Foreshore Park, and to also gain the valuable views of key stakeholders and user groups of such an important public space. Now we want to hear from the broader Newcastle community about the things they would love to see and do in Foreshore Park.”
The ‘Variety Livvi’s Place’ playspace which will be great for kids of all ages and all abilities is being delivered in partnership with Variety and has been bolstered by $500,000 from the Newcastle Port Community Contribution Fund and announced on 5 February by Deputy Premier Hon John Barilaro.
Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT Inclusive Play Manager, Kim Becherand, said “Variety believes all kids deserve a fair go, including the opportunity to play.”
“Variety is pleased to partner with City of Newcastle in the creation of a truly inclusive playspace where all kids will play together, feel welcome, safe and that they belong.”
The concept also considers the interrelationship between the different spaces within the park and their connections to the harbour.
Community engagement is open until Friday 26 February 2021. The community can view the concept and have their say at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay
Feedback will assist in the finalisation of the draft masterplan, which will be placed on public exhibition later in 2021.
Summary of community engagement to date:
- Project announced in December 2019 and community engagement on the Foreshore Precinct Masterplan begins.
- Large scale community engagement occurred in July 2020 including a survey and social pinpoint plus Variety undertook additional engagement with schools and other key stakeholders regarding the playground. Engagement included questions about what people love about the area, what they want to see in the future and how they use the park.
- Community Reference Group (CRG) was formed and includes community members, stakeholders and representatives from community groups. First meeting was held in August 2020 about the visions and principles guiding the masterplan.
- CRG meeting occurred in December 2020 for feedback on an early draft concept.
- Drop in session for adjacent residents occurred on 13 February at Foreshore Park.
- Community engagement begins on concept designs in February 2021 including social pinpoint, drop in sessions, free texts submissions and survey.
HIGH SCHOOLERS TO STUDY SKILLS OF THE FUTURE
Real estate, robotics and entrepreneurship are just some of the 20 new virtual Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses to be made available to every NSW Government high school by 2022.
As part of the Curriculum Review, the NSW Government committed to providing opportunities for credit towards qualifications in apprenticeships in high demand areas such as engineering and robotics. The virtual courses are the first stage of delivering on this commitment.
In addition to existing face-to-face VET, Year 11 and 12 students will have the opportunity to study teacher-led, digitally-enabled virtual TAFE NSW courses that will give them in-demand skills for the workplace. These courses will form part of their HSC and contribute to their ATAR.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new courses are part of the NSW Government’s Curriculum Reform.
“We want to ensure NSW students receive world-class skills training to prepare them for the jobs of the future,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“These courses will help students build skills across emerging industries such as advanced manufacturing, technology and engineering.”
The new virtual VET courses, specifically designed for high school students with digitally-enabled and interactive lessons, cover a range of future-focussed industry sectors including cyber security, big data, accounting, gaming, community and health services.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the NSW Government is committed to meeting skill shortages and enhancing access to exciting industries.
“These new virtual courses are a win-win for students. Not only does it make them instantly employable, they also have the choice to pursue further education in fields with plenty of career opportunities,” Mr Lee said.
“Demand for jobs like cyber security specialists is huge and growing, and these courses are designed to help meet that need. From 2022, a student interested cyber security will have access to this new online course to get started in the fast-growing tech sector.”
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said developing these online courses was also about making VET more available in regional NSW.
“These are exciting areas for young people to be studying and puts them in the best place to find a job in dynamic industries. Students with a keen interest in future-focussed courses will be able to link up with others, no matter where they go to school across NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.
Students will graduate with a nationally recognised VET qualification that forms part of their HSC and contributes to an ATAR.
$6 MILLION BOOST FOR NSW VISITOR ECONOMY
The NSW Government is giving the State’s visitor economy a $6 million boost through funding and marketing programs to turbocharge Sydney and regional economies and create more jobs.
Three funding streams to support regional businesses engaged in the visitor economy open today, while an expanded multi-channel tourism campaign profiling Greater Sydney includes a new television commercial launched over the weekend during the Australian Open.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said these activities, led by Destination NSW, would help position the NSW visitor economy for recovery and long-term growth.
“NSW is open for business and welcoming visitors, and business owners and entrepreneurs are hungry for growth and new opportunities – these programs will help visitor economy stakeholders to achieve just that,” Mr Ayres said.
“We are confident our $2.5 million investment in the marketing campaign, ‘Sydney Love It Like You Mean It’ will complement other Government initiatives such as Sunset Piazza and Dine & Discover to restore vibrancy to Greater Sydney and be a welcome boost to get businesses back on track.
“The campaign has generated more than 42,000 leads to visitor economy businesses since launching late last year. Now we’re extending through to April, calling on Sydneysiders to book a multi-day staycation, enjoy a meal, a performance or retail therapy, and to visit an attraction to get city tills ringing again.
“We are also supporting the regions with $3.5 million to kick-start investment in attractions and visitor infrastructure, refresh existing tourism products and secure or create new business event opportunities.”
The $6 million NSW Government visitor economy initiatives are:
- Tourism Product Development Fund ($3 million – closes 31 March)
o Stream 1 – Refresh and Renew Fund: offering $10,000 grants to regional tourism operators to update their product or experience
o Stream 2 – Experience Enhancement Fund: provides between $50,000 and $150,000 in matched funding to assist operators upgrade existing accommodation to improve their star rating, upgrade business and leisure event venues and facilities, repurpose existing infrastructure to provide new facilities or experiences not currently available within the destination, or to create new tourism attractions or experiences
- Regional Business Event Development Fund ($500,000 – closes 30 April): grants of up to $30,000 to create, attract and support business events for regional NSW, and to motivate business event owners to incorporate regional NSW in their plans
- ‘Sydney Love It Like You Mean It’ campaign ($2.5 million): full program includes radio, billboards, digital and social advertising promoting experiences and attractions across Greater Sydney. Television commercial airing from 14 February.
For information about the funding programs and to apply, visit www.destinationnsw.com.au.
For more inspiration from ‘Sydney Love It Like You Mean It’, visit www.sydney.com/love-sydney.
16.5 MILLION FOR MORE GREEN SPACE
More than $16 million from the NSW Government’s COVID-19 stimulus fund will help deliver more quality green public space on Crown land across Greater Sydney.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the new Greater Sydney Crown Land Open Space Activation Program would fund upgrades to Crown land and community facilities.
“The last 12 months has taught us the importance of green open space and creating public places where people can safely meet, congregate and relax,” Mr Stokes said.
“It makes good sense that by improving Crown land and public infrastructure we can make better use of the assets we already have to create more open space for the community to enjoy.
“These projects will also support local jobs and economies with work for tradespeople and materials suppliers.”
In addition to the funding, Crown land will be reviewed to identify sites for future activation.
Local councils will be invited to participate in partnership opportunities for activation and ongoing management of shortlisted sites for activation, which will include new or improved public parkland reserves, foreshore precincts and civic spaces such as town squares.
The program will also complement the Sydney Green Grid, which was bolstered by a $3 million metropolitan green space program launched in July to create more walking trails, bike paths and picnic spots that would build links between green spaces throughout Sydney.
An additional $500,000 over the next two years will be used to protect sensitive nature reserves being impacted by unauthorised activities such as four-wheel driving, dirt bike riding and rubbish dumping.
Mr Stokes said the funding will contribute to the installation of fencing, bollards, cabling, gates and signage on reserves where these activities have caused environmental damage.
“This funding will help local councils trying to manage hotspots where these inappropriate activities occur. Fencing and gates will also help manage bushfire risk by keeping reserves free of accumulated rubbish,” Mr Stokes said.
The projects are among a range of stimulus projects being funded on Crown land sites across Greater Sydney, with others including:
- $2 million to upgrade the Hungry Point walking track at Cronulla including construction of a coastal viewing platform;
- $1.5 million towards restoration of a former railway tunnel at Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains so it can be reactivated as a recreational trail;
- $1.5 million to help Penrith City Council restore a historic former police cottage at Emu Plains;
- $1.5 million to undertake essential maintenance work on the historic Meadowbank Bridge and its pedestrian path and cycleway;
- $1.5 million to remove dilapidated cottages from the Georges River foreshore at Illawong to restore the land to public open space;
- $1.135 million for maintenance and repair work at the former Prince Henry Hospital site at Little Bay including heritage-listed structures;
- $1 million to restore the heritage-listed South Head Signal Station at Vaucluse;
- $500,000 for improvement works at Bidjigal Reserve in Baulkham Hills including bushland restoration and upgrades to walking trails, signage and stormwater infrastructure;
- $250,000 to clean up and assess land at Northmead for contamination on the site of a mechanical workshop.
NEW PATHWAY FOR STATE’S BEST TEACHERS TO BECOME PRINCIPALS
For the first time the State’s best teachers will have an opportunity to fast track their careers and become principals in half the time.
Each year 30 excelling teachers and 20 teaching graduates can apply to participate in a new NSW Government program to turbo-charge their careers to the level of principal within 10 years.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the rigorous program will require participants to learn from leading teachers at selected schools, participate in a regional placement and excel in a leadership position.
“The Fast Stream program will raise education standards across the State by training our best teachers in our best schools and then requiring them to continue teaching in areas of higher need,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The program will be a competitive and selective employment pathway in Australia. Participating teachers will have to achieve a number of milestones and demonstrate their leadership ability to be successful.”
“Setting a clear pathway to success for people who might otherwise choose a different career sends a strong message – excellent teaching is essential, valued and rewarded in NSW.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said bringing our best teachers to regional NSW will benefit both the students and the community.
“Once these teachers get a taste of rural living, the hope is that they will stay regional and take up the better quality of life we have on offer,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This is about building a safer and stronger regional NSW by giving our kids the best education possible while creating valuable teaching jobs in the bush.”
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Fast Stream program is unapologetically selective, competitive, and incredibly rewarding in the long term.
“To enter the Fast Stream you have to be the best, and you must remain the best,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We want the future leaders – the ones that will transform the education system of tomorrow through academic excellence, outstanding ability in front of a class, and ambition.
“Ensuring our best graduates and teachers spend time in regional NSW will help lift our regional schools. In line with our Rural and Remote Education Strategy, this policy is focused on securing a safer and stronger regional NSW through improved student outcomes in the regions.
“For those who are successful, they will be fast-tracked into a principal role – which can take 20 years – in under 10.”
The Fast Stream program is a component of the School Success Model and will start in Term 1 2022. Teachers and graduate students will complete a rigorous selection process. Teachers will participate in the program for up to 10 years before being offered the opportunity of a Principal position.
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE PLACES
Forty seven schools across NSW will open Out of School Hours Care Hubs by June as part of the NSW Government’s Before and After School Care election commitment.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian opened a new hub today at Camden Public School and said that more than $20 million Out of School Hours Care Hub Program will benefit families across NSW.
“The new hubs are an innovative way of providing additional before and after school care for more than 2,400 students across the state,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We know families are concerned about the cost of living following the pandemic, and I want to ensure affordable and convenient before and after school care is available to everyone who needs it and at a location that is convenient.”
Since July 2019, the NSW Government has created more than 11,000 after school care places and these new hubs will add to this capacity.
The Out of School Hours Care Hub Program, which will deliver modular buildings custom-designed for Out of School Hours Care services, will cut waiting times and allow more families to access before and after school care services.
Rental subsidy of the hubs will ensure affordable care is available.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said she was delighted to be launching the vital program that would benefit so many families in NSW.
“The NSW Government is committed to looking after families, and part of that is providing the infrastructure to expand Out of School Hours Care services,” Ms Mitchell said.
“This initiative supports NSW families – it will allow more students to have safe, fun environments before and after school and during vacation periods, and for their parents to have the flexibility to participate in the workforce.”
The new Out of School Hours Care Hub Program aims to fill gaps in access to services across the state, particularly in regional areas, as well as to clear waiting lists in areas of high demand.
Each Out of School Hours Care hub will have facilities for student activities as well as administration and storage areas.
The Out of School Hours Care Hub Program is part of the $120 million investment over four years to expand access to Out of School Hours Care for public primary school children.
The after school care hubs initiative is on top of the NSW Government’s record $7 billion school infrastructure program to deliver more than 200 new and upgraded schools to support communities. Nineteen of these projects are located in the Macarthur area.
STAMP DUTY EXEMPTIONS HELP THOUSANDS MORE FIRST HOMEBUYERS TURN THE KEY ON AUSSIE DREAM
More than six thousand additional first homebuyers have gained a foothold on the property ladder in just six months following the NSW Government’s decision to provide additional relief on stamp duty and help boost the economy and jobs.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the latest data indicated the great Australian dream of home ownership remained strong, with the total number of stamp duty exemptions and partial concessions granted rising 30 percent over the year, from more than 31,500 in 2019 to more than 41,000 in 2020.
“We all know how challenging 2020 was and our suite of COVID-19 support and stimulus measures – the largest of any state or territory – has helped cushion the worst economic impacts of the pandemic,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Additional stamp duty relief has delivered the twin benefit of helping more people achieve their dream of homeownership, while continuing to boost the economy.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Government’s continued focus on housing affordability had seen first home buyers as a share of the total owner occupier residential market increase from below 15 percent in 2016 to around 30 per cent.
“Stamp duty is a significant financial barrier to those buying a first home and this program has helped thousands of people go from renters to homeowners without saving for years to pay stamp duty,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Record low interest rates are putting upwards pressure on prices, but it’s clear if we can lower the financial burden the dream of home ownership burns as strong as ever.”
The total value of stamp duty concessions and exemptions granted by the NSW Government increased from $485.9 million in 2019 to $559.7 million in 2020.
Under the temporary changes the cap on the value of new homes at which stamp duty exemptions apply increased from $650,000 to $800,000, with concessional duty applied on higher values before phasing out at $1 million.
For vacant land purchases, the threshold for an exemption increased from $350,000 to $400,000 with concessional duty rates applying on purchases up to $500,000.
This additional relief will remain in place until July 31, 2021.
In the five months following the changes – from August to December 2020 – the number of stamp duty exemptions and concessions granted topped 21,436, compared to 14,967 in the same period in 2019.
According to NSW Treasury stamp duty adds about $34,000 to the upfront cost of buying the average NSW home.
It now takes around 12.6 years compared to 8 years in 1990 for the average person to save for a deposit.
Stamp duty was introduced to NSW in 1865 and has continued for more than 150 years.
On 1 July 2019, NSW became the first state in Australia to index stamp duty brackets to the Sydney Consumer Price Index, to limit the taxation cost due to inflation.