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NEW RULES TO ALLOW GREATER MOVEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE WORKERS

The NSW Government will work with the Commonwealth to allow greater movement of agriculture workers between States.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said while it’s disappointing a number of States did not sign on to the framework proposed at National Cabinet today, NSW will look to implement the principles of the new Agricultural Workers’ Code.
“Notwithstanding that National Cabinet could not reach a consensus on this issue, NSW will work towards new rules to allow movement of agriculture workers to benefit our regional communities,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I thank the Deputy Premier and the NSW Minister for Agriculture for their work and their advocacy on this issue.
“Subject to the health advice, we want to be able to provide more certainty for farmers and agriculture workers in NSW. We’re expecting a bumper harvest in many parts of the State this year and I don’t want our farmers and agriculture workers to lose that opportunity.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said NSW will continue to work towards ensuring our State’s agriculture sector has the workforce it needs to keep powering ahead in the midst of improving seasonal conditions.
“NSW is an agriculture production powerhouse and this needs to continue to help the economy recover after COVID-19, and bring many communities and farmers back from the brink after years of drought,” Mr Barilaro said.
“These measures will make sure that we seize the opportunity to convert a potentially huge harvest into dollars for our farmers.”
The NSW Government will work with the Commonwealth, Victoria and South Australia on the implementation of the principles of the new code including:

  • Ensuring the agriculture industry, ancillary services and activities is not unnecessarily impeded by border arrangements for the movement of workers.
  • Applying health and safety practices in the agriculture industry, services and activities as appropriate to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission and support responsiveness where transmission occurs.
  • Allowing movement across borders will provide for animal health and welfare and biosecurity to be maintained.

14 arrested, 81 Penalty Infringement Notices issued during unauthorised protest activity across the state

A police operation has now concluded following unauthorised protest activity in Sydney and Byron Bay today.
About 11am, (Saturday 5 September 2020), 19 Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued by officers from Sydney City Police Area Command during an unauthorised gathering at Hyde Park on Elizabeth Street.
During the operation, three people – two men and a woman were arrested.
A 54-year old man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction, assault officer in the execution of duty and resist officer in the execution of duty.
In a separate incident, a 44-year-old man allegedly resisted a senior constable after failing to comply with a move-on direction.
He was also taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction and resist officer in the execution of duty.
A 56-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with not comply with police direction.
All three people granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 21 October 2020.
A 16-year-old boy was issued with a youth caution for not complying with Public Health Orders.
About 2pm (Saturday 5 September 2020) 57 Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued at an unauthorised protest at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.
Two men were arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station where charges are expected to be laid later today.
Meanwhile, nine people have been arrested at parks on Jonsons Street and Bay Street, Byron Bay, during an unauthorised protest in Byron Bay earlier today.
Seven males and two females were taken to Byron Bay Police Station where charges are expected to be laid later today.
Among those arrested was a 34-year old man police will allege assaulted a senior constable.
Five Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued for alleged breaches of the current NSW Public Health Orders.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Officer charged – Northern Region

A police officer will face court next month following an investigation into an alleged neglect of duty.
In March 2020, an investigation was launched by Northern Region’s Professional Standards into the alleged mishandling of a report of a domestic violence-related incident.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators issued a Court Attendance Notice for neglect of duty to a 38-year-old female senior constable just after 3pm yesterday (Friday 4 September 2020).
The officer, who is attached to a command in the Northern Region, is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 15 October 2020.
The officer’s duty status is currently under review.

Man charged over alleged attempt to bribe police at NSW/Victoria border

A man has been charged over allegedly attempting to bribe a police officer at the NSW/Victoria border yesterday.
Just before 2pm (Friday 4 September 2020), a vehicle was stopped by NSW Police at the Barmah Bridge checkpoint.
Officers spoke with the driver, a 66-year-old man, and requested his border permit to enter NSW.
Police will allege in court that the man could not provide a valid permit and instead offered an envelope with $1000 to the officer.
The Victorian man was arrested and taken to Deniliquin Police Station, where he was charged with give/offer bribe to member of NSW Police.
He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear before Moama Local Court on Wednesday 4 November 2020.

Nine PINs issued over movements of vessel through NSW waters

Nine Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) have been issued after crew members and passengers on board a vessel travelling along the NSW coast from Victoria disembarked onto NSW soil, contrary to current Public Health Orders.
On Tuesday 25 August 2020, NSW Police Force’s Marine Area Command launched an investigation into the movements of a vessel, which was travelling from Victoria to the Gold Coast, while it was in NSW waters.
Inquiries revealed three occasions in which individuals had disembarked the vessel in contravention of the Public Health Order – at Eden on Wednesday 12 August, Port Stephens on Sunday 16 August and Yamba on Friday 21 August 2020.
As a result, officers from Tweed Heads Water Police, with the assistance of Queensland Police, spoke with the six individuals concerned today (Friday 4 September 2020) and advised them they would be issued with PINs as follows:

  • A 64-year-old man, the skipper of the vessel, was issued with three $1000 PINs for failing to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order at Eden, Port Stephens and Yamba;
  • A 61-year-old man, the owner of the vessel, was issued with two $1000 PINs for failing to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order at Eden and Yamba;
  • A 51-year-old woman, a passenger of the vessel, was issued with one $1000 PIN for failing to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order at Eden;
  • A 20-year-old woman, a passenger of the vessel, was issued with one $1000 PIN for failing to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order at Eden;
  • An 18-year-old woman, a passenger of the vessel, was issued with one $1000 PIN for failing to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order at Eden;
  • A 40-year-old woman, a crew member of the vessel, was issued with one $1000 PIN for failing to comply with the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order at Eden.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related Public Health Order is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Trillions of litres of water missing from Murray-Darling on LNP's watch

Today’s report showing two trillion litres of water is missing from the Murray-Darling Basin shows the Liberal-National Government has mismanaged the River and set it on a trajectory to a slow trickle and ultimately death, the Greens say.
Greens Water Spokesperson and Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The report by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists today is devastating.
“Two trillion litres of water is missing. Why? Because of theft, corruption, corporate greed, floodplain harvesting, mismanagement and lack of action on climate change.
“The Liberal-National Party has overseen seven years of mismanagement of Australia’s biggest river system.
“Environmental water is necessary for the survival of the River and should be the priority of all governments, not helping out upstream corporate irrigators.
“As a South Australian I’m very angry that once again we have another report showing the River is being ripped off.
“The Murray-Darling Basin has suffered on the watch of the National Party for far too long while River communities and small family farms are left high and dry.
“Their mess needs cleaning up and we need a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of what’s gone so badly wrong.”

Sensational Gov Backdown Sends Uni Bill To Inquiry

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the Liberals have sensationally backed down and sent their university fee hikes and funding cuts legislation to a Senate inquiry.
This followed a Greens motion on Tuesday which showed Labor, Greens and crossbench support for an inquiry.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is a sensational backdown from the government. The Liberals had every intention of pushing this legislation through before the budget.
“Not only did the Liberals gag debate in the House to ram the bill through, they voted against my inquiry referral motion just two days ago. They’ve now been dragged to the table, kicking and screaming.
“It’s critical that the Senate hear from universities and everyone who is impacted by this dud legislation.
“An inquiry will help take this rotten bill apart so we can block it once and for all in October,” she said.

Lidia Thorpe confirmed in last-minute joint sitting

Lidia Thorpe has today been confirmed by the Victorian Parliament, clearing the way for the Greens Senator-Elect for Victoria to make her first appearance in the Senate in October.
With Victoria’s ongoing Stage 4 lockdowns leaving Victorian Parliament sitting on a reduced schedule, the last-minute confirmation was made possible through a joint sitting.
“This is a proud day not just for me, but for Aboriginal people across the country,” Senator-elect Thorpe said.
“It’s now official. I’m bound for Canberra in October as the first Aboriginal person elected to the Senate to represent Victoria. But the work doesn’t wait until then, and it doesn’t just start today.
“Black women fight for their community from the day they’re born. When I was growing up in public housing, the thought that someone like me could be in Parliament was laughable. My promise to the people of Victoria is that I will fight for you, no matter who you are. I know what it’s like to go through the hard knocks and I will never forget where I came from.
“I have fought my whole life for those without a voice – no matter what your background or where you come from. I’m proud to be able to take that fight to the highest office.
“While days like this are just boring parliamentary procedure to some people, to Aboriginal people across the country, it’s a sign of hope. It shows that our parliament can be representative, and that Blak voices can be heard.
“This couldn’t have come at a more important time, and there’s so much to be done when I’m sworn in.
“Aboriginal communities across the country are being hit hard by the consequences of the pandemic. We’re being shut out of talks about how to fix the crisis and the government’s plans for a gas-led recovery would frack and destroy more of our precious heritage and drive the climate crisis.
“After caring for this country for more than 60,000 years, our land is being destroyed by unprecedented bushfires driven by climate change.
“Too many people are being left behind by this government. It’s time for leadership. It’s time for a parliament that truly represents the Australian community,  and understands the challenges we face.
“I’ll be fighting for action on climate change, an end to entrenched economic disadvantage and of course, Treaty and justice for First Nations people.  I can’t wait to get into Parliament to shake things up.”
Lidia Thorpe is a mother and grandmother from the Gunnai and Gunditjmara nations. She was the first Aboriginal woman in the Victorian parliament, is the first Aboriginal Senator for Victoria and first federal Aboriginal MP for the Greens.
The confirmation process occurred 3:00pm today, via a joint sitting of the Victorian House of Representatives and the Legislative Council.
Lidia Thorpe will now be sworn in to Federal Parliament during the October sitting, pandemic allowing.

Human Biosecurity Emergency Period Extended By Three Months

The Australian Government will extend the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 by an additional three months.
The emergency period, which has been in place since 18 March 2020, will now be in place until 17 December 2020.
The extension of the emergency period was informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).
AHPPC has advised that the international and domestic COVID-19 situation continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk.
The extension of the emergency period is an appropriate response to that risk.
The human biosecurity emergency declaration ensures the Government has the powers to take any necessary measures to prevent and control COVID-19 and protect the health of all Australians. These powers have been used on a limited basis on expert medical advice.
There are currently four Determinations under section 477 of the Biosecurity Act which are in place to protect Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • Restrictions on the entry of cruise ships into Australia
  • Protections for the supply and sale of certain essential goods
  • Restrictions on overseas travel
  • Restrictions on retail stores at international airports

Three people fined over separate COVID-19 breaches at the border

Three Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued in relation to breaches of Public Health Orders at the NSW/Victoria border yesterday.
About 4.30pm (Wednesday 2 September 2020), police stopped a 50-year-old man at a border checkpoint on Jingellic Road, Jingellic, who was unable to produce a permit. The man provided a number of versions as to where his permit was and why he was crossing the border before it was established that he had provided false information in an attempt to cross unlawfully. He was subsequently issued a $4000 PIN under section 10 of the Public Health Act for give false information on request.
Police initiated a pursuit about 8.15pm after a white van approached a border checkpoint on Federation Way, Corowa, at speed and failed to stop. Officers stopped the vehicle on Honour Avenue and spoke with the 49-year-old male driver, who advised he did not have a permit to enter NSW. He was unable to provide a valid excuse to cross the border nor for leaving his home at Flemington, Victoria. Police directed the man to return to Victoria and issued him with a $1000 PIN.
About 8.30pm yesterday, police stopped a 28-year-old woman at a border checkpoint on Wodonga Place, South Albury, who presented a NSW driver’s licence, which expired in 2015, along with an expired border permit. The woman applied for a new permit online and when she presented it to police, it was established she had provided false information in her application. Following further inquiries, police issued a $4000 PIN under section 10 of the Public Health Act for give false information on request and a $581 traffic infringement notice for driving with an expired licence.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.