The commencement of the NSW Government’s $500 million Dine & Discover stimulus program is a step closer, with testing starting in The Rocks and Broken Hill today.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the program will help turbocharge local economies.
“We’ve heard loud and clear just how challenging it has been for businesses during the pandemic and this investment is exactly what the economy needs with things quietening down after a busy summer period,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Whether it’s a café, restaurant, museum or wildlife park, small businesses are the lifeblood of NSW, and we encourage people to embrace Dine & Discover and help support their communities and boost jobs.
“The testing phase will give businesses and customers an opportunity to test the technology and provide feedback, before the vouchers are rolled out across the state.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello encouraged eligible businesses to register and customers to download the Service NSW app now.
“These vouchers will provide customers with much needed hip pocket relief and encourage them to get out and about safely,” Mr Dominello said.
“Business registration is simple and can be done online in a matter of minutes.
“We are using technology to make life easier for people and I urge customers to download the Service NSW app now in advance of the wider rollout. The app can also be used to download a Digital Driver Licence, renew registrations and check-in safely to venues.”
Only businesses who have registered for the program will be able to accept the Dine & Discover vouchers, and customers are encouraged to check in advance.
Phase 2 is expected to start later this month with pilots in the Northern Beaches, Sydney CBD and Bega Valley Shire Council. The state wide rollout is expected to take place in March.
Following the state wide rollout, every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses.
Registered businesses will be able to access a new app that will enable them to read, validate and accept vouchers. They will also be able to check transaction history and payments pending through their MyServiceNSW Business Profile.
Further information or to register for the program visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/dine-and-discover-nsw
Author: admin
HISTORIC SYDNEY PRECINCT JOINS NATIONAL HERITAGE LIST
A slice of Sydney’s historic parks, gardens, streets, and buildings dating to the first several decades of British settlement and associated with several people of importance in Australia’s cultural history including Bennelong, Governors Phillip and Macquarie and Francis Greenway has been added to Australia’s National Heritage List.
The 100 hectare site on the eastern side of Sydney’s Central Business District known as Governors’ Domain and Civic Precinct covers the First Government House site, Hyde Park Barracks, the Conservatorium of Music (former government stables), the Mint and Parliament House (former Rum Hospital), Hyde Park, the Domain, Macquarie Place and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the precinct contains a rich collection of historic and archaeological sites representing important milestones in our national history.
“Governors’ Domain and Civic Precinct is a layered landscape which can vividly show how the area has evolved over time, from its earliest use by Aboriginal people through to its role as a penal colony and early European settlement, and vibrant modern city,” Minister Ley said.
“For the first several decades after the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, Aboriginal people and colonisers lived in close proximity, establishing relationships with each other within a wider story of Indigenous contact and colonisation.
“The precinct depicts a society in transition and its range of archaeological assets provide a rare and valuable source of research into Australia’s early colonial history.
“Among the treasures are Australia’s first hospital, Parliament and civic institutions, public parks, gardens and places of worship that ultimately helped to cultivate Australia’s independence from Britain.”
NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said, “many individual places within the precinct are already state listed, however National Heritage listing unites the shared history and better links the buildings as a heritage precinct.”
Nominations for new National Heritage listings are currently open until 25 February 2021 and Minister Ley has asked the Australian Heritage Council to prioritise Indigenous cultural heritage for the upcoming assessment period.
“Our First Nations people have lived here for tens of thousands of years, and I want to see more places listed for their Indigenous values,” Minister Ley added.
The National Heritage List recognises and protects places that reflect our unique landscapes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and our development as a nation. Each year, more places are included on the List as our national story unfolds and understanding of our heritage deepens.
To find out more about Governors’ Domain and Civic Precinct visit: https://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/governors-domain-civic-precinct
To nominate a site for inclusion on the National Heritage List visit: http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/nominating-heritage-place
Greens call for ALL Crown licenses to be reviewed by state regulators
The Greens say that as Crown Resorts has been found to be unfit to operate in Sydney then there are questions around their operations in other states too.
“The culture and operation of Crown Resorts in Western Australia and Victoria were part of the NSW assessment process and need to be assessed, ” Greens spokesperson on Gambling Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“If there are sweeping cultural changes required in Sydney then there are questions around what is going on in this company across the country. Victorian and Western Australian regulators need to take this very seriously.
“This also goes to the heart of why we need a national independent regulator as so many states rely heavily on the income gambling generates.
“We need to know what’s going on in Perth and Melbourne.”
Crown corruption highlights urgent need for political donation reform
The Greens say that proper regulation of the gambling industry requires a ban on the industry donating to political parties.
“The gambling industry is just rife with conflicts of interest,” Australian Greens spokesperson on Gambling Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“We urgently need a national independent regulator, with gambling companies operating across the country we need a national body regulating them.
“States which rely heavily on the income gambling generates cannot be in charge of regulating the industry as there is a clear conflict of interest.
“A person owes Centrelink a few hundred dollars and the Government spends billions pursuing them and we are seeing next to zip from the Federal Government when it comes to the very serious findings of what is happening at Crown.
“There are some very serious findings in the NSW report on the conduct and operations of Crown relating to its Melbourne and Perth operations and we need to see action from the Federal Government and an independent investigation into what’s going on in all of Crown’s operations.
Western Australian Greens spokesperson on Gambling Alison Xamon said:
“Since 2012-13, more than half of all money donated by Crown to political parties in Australia has come to parties in WA.
“Crown has spent nearly $800,000 in WA alone, with WA Labor raking in $312,430 and the WA Liberals taking $437,509.
“And that’s just the money we can see. The weak political donations laws we have in Western Australia provide no real transparency or accountability around who is lining the pockets of those in power. We know that there is a lot of dark money donated to political parties that goes unaccounted for.
“The activities of Crown in Western Australia are a major part of the reason why Crown has been found unsuitable to operate in New South Wales.
“We need our politicians to be representing the interests of our communities, not their billionaire corporate donors. The WA Labor and WA Liberal parties must immediately commit to stop taking donations from gambling businesses including Crown.
“Gambling organisations should not be allowed to buy political influence.”
Smiling Minds boost to support rural and regional schools
School children across six hundred of Australia’s rural and regional primary schools will have access to expanded mental health supports through the Morrison Government’s $2.5 million funding for the Smiling Mind evidence-based mindfulness social and emotional learning program.
Half of all mental health issues emerge before the age of 14 years and poor mental health affects learning. Our Government knows that prevention and early intervention – both early in life and in the development of a condition – will minimise the impact of mental illness across a lifetime.
Smiling Mind Regional and Rural Schools Program will benefit thousands of children a year. The online program runs over three school terms each year, involving both school staff training in mindfulness and resources to sustain the program and its benefits for the school.
It will also include assistance for schools to gauge the positive impact the program is having on each school community, as well as ongoing support from psychologists and mindfulness experts.
Australian school students and their families have faced many challenges over the past year as the nation responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Smiling Minds will ensure more children can access mental health supports, which will help keep their education on track.
Smiling Mind is a world leading program, building healthy minds, engaged classrooms and equipping a generation of children with skills they need to thrive in life.
The program will be available in government, Catholic and independent primary schools in rural or regional communities experiencing disadvantage.
Rural and regional schools in South Australia and Queensland joined the program in November 2020, which is now open across the entire country.
Further information on the program is available online at: www.smilingmind.com.au/regional-and-rural-schools-program
Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of our Government’s highest priorities. We have prioritised mental health and suicide prevention services, with record investment in mental health estimated to be $5.9 billion in 2020–21 alone.
Anyone worried about their mental health, loneliness, finances, family, or other circumstances can contact the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service for free advice and counselling on 1800 512 348 or online at beyondblue.org.au. Immediate advice and support is also available through Lifeline (13 11 14) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).
Providing hope for Australians suffering from Neurofibromatosis
The Morrison Government is investing $8 million to support the Children’s Tumour Foundation and research into neurofibromatosis, a devastating condition which can cause cancer, blindness, deafness and chronic pain.
The $7 million Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Neurofibromatosis Research Grant Opportunity will support ground breaking research projects to develop new interventions and improve healthcare and outcomes for people living with neurofibromatosis.
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic condition that can causes tumours to form around nerves, including in the brain and spinal cord. It is more common in children and young adults and while there currently is no cure, treatments can help manage this condition.
There are three types of neurofibromatosis and the most prevalent, neurofibromatosis type 1, affects up to one in every 2,500 Australians.
The 2021 Neurofibromatosis Research Grant Opportunity funding is part of the Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research (EPCDR) Initiative.
The initiative helps to support high quality biomedical, clinical, health services and population health research that improves patient care, find new diagnoses, treatments and cures for those suffering from rare and debilitating conditions and translate new discoveries into clinical practice.
In addition to the MRFF funding, we are providing $1 million over four years to the Children’s Tumour Foundation. This will help the foundation continue its important work in advocacy, research and support for families with children who live with neurofibromatosis.
The MRFF is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system. It is also a capital preserved fund, which matured at $20 billion in July 2020.
Further information on the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff and on the grant opportunities is at www.grants.gov.au.
National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing gets underway
The Government has launched the first phase of Australia’s $89.5 million Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study – the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing. This comprehensive survey aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the mental health challenges that Australians are facing.
Almost half of Australians experience some form of mental illness at some point in their lifetime. In addition, the 2019 bushfires and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly affected the mental health and wellbeing of many people across the country.
The National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing will provide unrivalled depth to our understanding of these mental health challenges and conditions.
It will capture, among other aspects, new information on self-harm, eating disorders and services used by people at risk of suicide. It will help us better understand how Australians manage their mental health and how they access support, playing a vital role in the planning and delivery of better local services now and in the future.
Up to 17,000 Australians, aged 16 to 85 will take part in the study, with the first results expected by the end of 2021.
The work is the first part of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study, a multi-year study of approximately 60,000 Australians which will run until 2023 and provide the most complete picture ever of our health. It includes four national studies covering mental health, general health, nutrition and physical activity and biomedical health status.
The remaining national studies will begin from 2022 after the next Australian Census.
Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of our Government’s highest priorities. We have prioritised mental health and suicide prevention services, with record investment in mental health estimated to be $5.9 billion in 2020–21 alone.
Anyone worried about their mental health, loneliness, finances, family, or other circumstances can contact the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service for free advice and counselling on 1800 512 348 or online at beyondblue.org.au. Immediate advice and support is also available through Lifeline (13 11 14) or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).
EXXONMOBIL CLOSURE – A DEVASTATING BLOW FOR WORKERS
Labor demands that Scott Morrison intervene to save thousands of jobs in Victoria following the announcement of the closure of ExxonMobil oil refinery at Altona.
This is devastating news for hundreds of local workers and for the future of Australia’s fuel security.
This decision will cost hundreds of direct jobs and impact thousands of workers in downstream industry. This is further proof that the Government has no plan for workers affected by these decisions.
Australia’s petrochemical manufacturers all rely on by-products produced from the ExxonMobil refinery. These manufacturers will likely need assistance, given the year they’ve had through COVID, to ensure they don’t close.
Following just months after the closure of the refinery at Kwinana in Western Australia, the Morrison Government has overseen the closure of half of our domestic refineries in the last six months.
The Government announced a $211 million so-called fuel security package in September last year to keep refineries on line.
Six months later another refinery will close its doors.
Morrison and Angus Taylor said their fuel security plan would ‘create 1,000 new jobs and protect workers in the fuel sector and in fuel-dependent industries’.
Instead, their ‘stewardship’ has seen the loss of 600 jobs at Kwinana, and the imminent loss of 350 direct jobs at Altona, and many thousands more if they continue to sit on their hands.
Another hollow headline and empty promise never delivered by Scott Morrison.
Labor warned then that the package was inadequate and failed to address Australia’s fuel security needs. Today’s announcement clearly shows this Government has no real plan.
Scott Morrison’s policy vacuum has left hundreds of workers without jobs and the nation without a sovereign supply of domestic fuel.
City transformed as Newcastle embraces New Annual festival
Final preparations for the inaugural million-dollar New Annual festival are almost complete as City of Newcastle prepares to kick off its flagship cultural event this Friday.
With a massive pop-up installation known as The Hangar creating a theatrical-style carnival atmosphere in Civic Park and the Pavilion of Sand installation providing a base for indigenous cultural expression in Wheeler Place, Newcastle’s Civic precinct is putting on a new look for the 10-day event.
But it’s not just the city’s cultural heart undergoing a transformation for New Annual, with dozens of cultural shows to play their part throughout the city extending as far away as the Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Other locations include the Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle Museum, The Station, the Carriage Sheds at Foreshore Park, Miss Porter’s House, The Lock Up and Timeless Textiles.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said New Annual was a transformative, citywide event that would enhance Newcastle’s reputation as a hub of art and culture.
“After months of planning, it’s wonderful to see this amazing infrastructure taking shape,” Cr Nelmes said.
“By transforming well-known sites across Newcastle and using both traditional and non-traditional venues to deliver the artistic program, New Annual gives locals and visitors the opportunity to see the city in a new light as they discover new work, fresh perspectives and unexpected performance spaces.
“Over time the festival will grow to become a significant generator of cultural tourism, positioning Newcastle as an innovative and creative community with a vibrant cultural history, an amazing depth of talent within its performing and visual arts sector and a bright future as a smart, liveable and sustainable global city.”
New Annual provides a much-needed opportunity for local and touring artists to get back on stage and in front of audiences following COVID-19’s debilitating impact on the performing arts sector.
More than 100 visual and performing artists will take part in over 50 free and ticketed events during New Annual, which runs from 12 – 21 February. It will include dance, live music, art displays, exhibitions, presentations, talks, and activation events.
New Annual’s program has been designed with the flexibility to operate as a COVID-19 Safe event depending on Public Health Orders. To find out more visit www.newannual.com.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS UPDATE 10 FEBRUARY 2021
Restrictions will be eased and the 2sqm rule reintroduced across the Greater Sydney region following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.
The following measures will be effective from 12.01am Friday, 12 February for the Greater Sydney region including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains:
- 1 person per 2sqm will apply at all venues, except for gyms. Weddings and funerals will still be subject to a 300 person cap.
- Masks will only be mandatory on public transport, but will strongly be encouraged in other indoor venues where social distancing is not possible.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this is about striking the balance between keeping the economy going and boosting jobs whilst ensuring COVID-19 is kept under control.
“We want to continue to give the community and businesses the confidence to move forward, especially with the expansion of the 2sqm rule which will allow most venues to double their capacity,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“However, as we ease restrictions it is important we don’t let our guard down – the community needs to continue to play their role in being COVID-Safe and coming forward for testing with even the mildest of symptoms.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said restrictions could be eased thanks to the great work of the people of NSW who have followed social distancing guidelines and continued to get tested.
“It is vital people continue to maintain their social distance, come forward for testing, don’t go to work if they’re unwell and wear a mask where they cannot guarantee social distancing,” Mr Hazzard said.
Dr Kerry Chant said we cannot become complacent when it comes to COVID-19 despite there being no recent cases of community transmission.
“We need to continue to practice COVID-Safe behaviours and stay home and get tested if unwell,” Dr Chant said.
For the latest information and COVID-19 testing sites please visit:
www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19