Economic indicators are proving that the post-coronavirus recovery is well under way in NSW
CONFIDENCE is an enigma, a way of being rather than an emotion. US quarterback and seven-time Superbowl champ Tom Brady exudes it in spades.
Despite falling short at the Australian Open last week, tennis star Ash Barty is the living embodiment of “quiet confidence”.
For much of his career, golfing great Greg Norman was confidence personified, but when it evaporated, as it did a quarter of a century ago at the 1996 US Masters, the Shark’s implosion and loss of confidence was tragic to behold.
So it was in 2020, with COVID-19 leaving the global economy out in the cold, like a rejected suitor left holding a bunch of roses on Valentine’s Day.
For consumers and businesses, the shock of lockdowns, border restrictions and ongoing uncertainty was a disaster for confidence.
As the horrors of 2020 begin to recede in the rear-view mirror, NSW looks to be on the up-andup once again.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index climbed 3.5 per cent in February to reach 111.7 index points. When compared to the same time last year, the index has climbed 20 per cent in NSW.
The NAB business confidence index is also firmly positive, after the pandemic drove it down to the lowest levels since records began.
This is extraordinary. Barely eight months after the most severe economic contraction in three decades, confidence in economic conditions for the year ahead is higher than at any point in the past seven.
The latest jobs figures released last week offer more hope. Although 53,144 people are still out of work compared to a year ago, the current unemployment rate in NSW last week dropped to 6 per cent.
This is lower than the national rate of 6.4 per cent, and considerably below the double digit figures which were feared when the pandemic first struck.
Many challenges remain, and jobs is a top focus for the government, but a renewed sense of optimism is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of NSW.
Confidence is a vital driver of economic activity. So the rebound is good news for the bottom line, but it hasn’t just happened by chance.
Australia is among a select group of countries to have kept the spread of the COVID- 19 virus relatively under control. In Europe, the US and various other hot spots, daily new cases are still being counted in the thousands, while here we fret about one or two.
In NSW the prowess of our health system — and, most importantly, the amazing NSW Health personnel who have kept raising the bar for testing and contact tracing — has undoubtedly boosted confidence, demonstrating a consistent ability to contain outbreaks as they arise such as on the northern beaches at Christmas.
The approach taken by our government in tackling both the health and economic challenges has been very much geared towards giving the people of our state as much confidence as possible in the most uncertain period in living memory.
The impact of a snap five-day lockdown in Victoria was a stark reminder of the constant challenges of COVID and how far and wide decisions made by governments are felt.
Metung is a picturesque town in East Gippsland about 300km from Melbourne’s quarantine hotels. It was once a favoured bolt hole for country legend Slim Dusty back in the day.
When local publican David Strange was interviewed by Melbourne radio station 3AW, his frustration at being locked down again was palpable.
“We are going to have outbreaks of this thing for the next 12 months, I’m sure, and you can’t just say ‘The science says close the state’ and we close it,” he said.
Sky News reported that on day one of the Victorian lockdown, Lifeline received the third highest number of daily calls in its 60-year history.
The challenge for every government remains the need to balance the health response with the social and economic consequences with every decision we make.
That’s what is driving our approach and it’s an important factor in ensuring the people of NSW can face the future with optimism, determination and confidence.
Dominic Perrottet
NSW Treasurer.
Author: admin
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS EASED
Restrictions will be eased from 12.01am Friday, 26 February across Greater Sydney and NSW:
- 50 visitors will now be allowed in the home;
- 30 people allowed to dance at weddings, with rotation on and off the dance floor;
- Increased class limits for gyms to 50 people (currently 30) subject to the 4sqm rule;
- Number of performers singing indoors increased to 30 (currently 5) subject to physical distancing requirements;
- Singing by congregants allowed in places of worship if masks are worn and subject to one person per 4sqm (currently no congregant singing allowed, with one per 2sqm permitted in places of worship);
- Increase capacity for cinemas to 100 per cent; and
- If current trends continue, drinking while standing up at indoor venues will be allowed in three weeks’ time (from Wednesday, 17 March).
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the easing of restrictions was due to the support of the NSW community.
“With the rollout of the vaccine now underway, and no new locally acquired cases in NSW, we are able to make further changes towards a new ‘COVID normal’,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I thank the community for following the health advice to keep the virus at bay. However, we cannot become complacent.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said today’s announcement was another step forward for NSW.
“Each time we are able to further ease restrictions it’s another shot of confidence for the NSW economy,” Mr Perrottet said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW has come a long way since the virus arrived here and we should be proud of the position we are in.
“This week NSW started rolling out the vaccine across the state and now we are further easing restrictions, which is a fantastic achievement,” Mr Hazzard said.
Dr Chant said while household gathering restrictions have been eased, people are urged to remember COVID-19 can be transmitted more easily in crowded indoor settings.
“Don’t attend these types of events if you have COVID-19 symptoms – instead get tested immediately and self-isolate. If holding these gatherings, please use outdoor settings and well ventilated spaces where available and avoid overcrowding to reduce the risk of COVID transmission,” Dr Chant said.
For the latest information and COVID-19 testing sites please visit:
www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
RAIL REVOLUTION PRESSES AHEAD
Sydney’s busiest rail lines will benefit from hundreds of extra weekly services thanks to an additional $1 billion investment from the NSW Government.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the next wave of funding through the More Trains, More Services program will continue the rail revolution as part of the integration of Sydney Metro City & Southwest in 2024.
“$1 billion in funding ensures we’re future-proofing the existing rail network to keep pace with demand, but at the same time getting on with the job of building the next stages of Metro,” Mr Constance said.
“Moving Bankstown Line services to the new standalone metro system removes an existing bottleneck and frees up capacity to deliver more services on other lines where it’s needed.”
Key service improvements for customers as part of the program will include:
- More services for the T8 Airport Line, including an 80 per cent increase at the International, Domestic, Mascot and Green Square stations during the morning peak, as well as extra services from Revesby and Campbelltown in south west Sydney.
- A 30 per cent increase in peak services on the T4 Illawarra Line, with extra services from Cronulla, Waterfall and Hurstville, providing space to carry 6,000 more customers.
- More services on the T2 Inner West Line, with an extra four services in the morning peak hour providing space for more than 4,800 more customers.
- More services on the South Coast Line, meaning a service every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes in the peak, and a service every 30 minutes instead of every hour between Wollongong and the Sydney CBD in the off peak.
Key infrastructure upgrades and additional train fleet will also be delivered to enable the service improvements across the network. Further information about these two aspects are still being finalised as part of the full program of work.
The additional funding will build on improvements already planned across parts of the train network, providing more space for tens of thousands of train customers.
The extra rail services form part of the NSW Government’s $5.3 billion More Trains, More Services program that will deliver further improvements progressively from 2022.
Parliamentary Friends of Making Social Media Safe launched
2021 has provided watershed moments for social media platforms and its influence on our lives. From the de-platforming of Donald Trump, to Facebook stripping access to news on its platforms in response to the Australian Governments Media Bargaining Code legislation. Australians have been confronted with the power of Big Tech and its influence on our lives.
The Parliamentary Friends of Making Social Media Safe has been established to spark conversation on the need for greater regulation of the online space, and establishing frameworks governing online speech and conduct.
Co-Chairs, Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster and Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon, were excited to see the launch of the Parliamentary Friends group, and thanked Reset Australia for their support for the event.
Anne Webster, said that “thanks to the social media platforms, we have arrived at a new reality of ‘glocalisation’, where the local has merged with the global through online portals.”
“We have become increasingly reliant on Big Tech companies and their services, and governments around the world have not kept pace with these transformations and their consequences.”
“The problem we face now is that Big Tech companies are themselves responsible for determining their own limitations. They are acting as the moral arbiters of our society, which I argue, is the role of a representative government, not a technology company.
“It is deeply concerning that many thousands of people who are attacked online, and endure bullying and defamation lack the means to clear their name or protect their family.” Dr Webster said.
Sharon Claydon said “These platforms have made it much easier for individuals to be defamed and their reputations sullied; for vulnerable people to be bullied, harassed and exploited; and for coercive control to be utilised to instil fear in women.”
“It has also created the conditions for entire communities to be maligned, victimised or persecuted; for the amplification of hate speech from far-right extremist groups; and for the glorification and incitement of violence.”
“We can no longer ignore the very real threats that social media poses. Parliament now has an urgent responsibility to ensure that there is adequate protection for our people, our communities and, indeed, the very fabric of our democracy.” Ms Claydon said.
Todays launch included special guests the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Shadow Minister for Communication Michelle Rowland, Chris Cooper, Executive Director, Reset Australia, Mr Damian Collins MP, member of the UK parliament, and Ms Julie Inman Grant, eSafety commissioner.
Charges laid following investigation into extortion of Iraqi government official
Two people have been charged after NSW Police and Canadian law enforcement authorities dismantled a criminal group allegedly attempting to extort a member of Iraqi Parliament through a series of attacks on his family’s home in Sydney’s south west.
Strike Force Mulach was established by the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad to investigate multiple violent incidents that occurred at a home at Chester Hill between December 2019 and January this year, which are believed to be targeted.
The alleged incidents include –
• About 1.15am on Thursday 5 December 2019, four masked people – including one armed with a firearm – forced entry to the home on Campbell Hill Road, Chester Hill, and assaulted the 16-year-old male occupant, by striking him on the head with the firearm. The men stole a sum of cash before fleeing the scene.
• Just before 12.30am on Monday 10 August 2020, police were called to the same address at Chester Hill, following reports a shot had been fired at the home. Two adults, two teenagers and a child were home at the time, but no one was injured.
• About 2.40am on Friday 5 February 2021, a brick was used to smash the front window of the Chester Hill home.
• Just before 2.45am on Sunday 14 February 2021, unknown persons left a threatening note outside the home and lit a fire on the front porch, which damaged the stairs and a small section of the yard.
Throughout this time, the family received various demands for money and threats to their welfare via social media and letters left at their home.
As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force detectives linked the alleged online extortion attempts to an address in Canada before requesting assistance from Canadian authorities.
Following further investigation, two search warrants were executed at Blacktown and Seven Hills about 6am today (Wednesday 24 February 2021), during which investigators seized several electronic devices and items of clothing relevant to the investigation.
Two men – aged 24 and 22 – were arrested at Blacktown and Seven Hills respectively and taken to Blacktown Police Station, where they were both charged with:
- Demand property by force in company with intent to steal
- Destroy or damage property
- Damage property by fire/exp
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity
- Send etc document threatening death or grievous bodily harm
- Send etc document threatening death or grievous bodily harm
They were refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 25 February 2021).
Inquiries under Strike Force Mulach are continuing.
Greens say Government needs to step up support for local mRNA facilities
The Greens say that the Government will miss out on opportunities to expand and diversify Australia’s vaccine portfolio if they don’t invest in public capacity to produce mRNA vaccines
“We cannot only rely on the AstraZeneca vaccine, we need to have a diverse portfolio to rapidly pivot to deal with new strains, including public facilities to produce supplies in Australia”, Greens spokesperson on Health Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“The Government should immediately invest in developing Australia’s capacity to locally manufacture vaccines and medicines that use mRNA technology. mRNA technology is likely to revolutionise vaccine and drug development and Australia could be at the forefront of this.
“We need a public health response that is publicly funded.
“In addition we need to ramp up CSL’s capacity to start locally producing Novavax at the same time as AstraZeneca given the promising Phase 3 Trial data, this will increase our vaccine diversity and ensure that we can vaccinate people in Australia and those in the regions.”
Greens say $25 a week is a cruel joke
Today is an extremely distressing day for the 1.5 million people on the JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments who have now had confirmation that the Morrison Government has made the cruel decision to condemn them to poverty.
$44 a day is not enough to live on. This will mean people going without meals, without medication, without the funds to pay for heating or cooling.
This should not be happening in a country as wealthy as Australia.
This is an appalling slap in the face for all those people trying to survive on Jobseeker.
The Government chose to lift people out of poverty when the pandemic hit and now they are choosing to condemn people in our community to live on just $44 a day in the midst of a recession and a pandemic.
This is a cruel decision, not based on evidence about what is best to support people to find work nor what is best for the economy.
We will not stop campaigning until we have an increase that is over the poverty line.
Providers urged to apply for a share in record infrastructure funding
Aged care providers are being reminded applications for a share of funding in the Australian Government’s largest ever investment in residential aged care infrastructure will soon close.
Funding totalling $150 million is available to providers for capital grants and additional beds as the Morrison Government continues to strengthen the sector and ensure the wellbeing of older Australians.
Two thousand residential care places and 1028 short-term restorative care (STRC) places will be made available as part of the 2020 Aged Care Approvals Round.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said it was another step forward to help providers deliver quality residential services where it’s needed most.
“The Australian Government is absolutely committed to ensuring our senior Australians are provided with the best quality residential aged care possible,” Minister Colbeck said.
“That’s why we’re making the biggest investment in residential aged care infrastructure in Australia’s history.
“This investment will not only improve the quality of residential care services in areas across the country, it will also offer a boost to local economies through job creation in the aged care and construction sectors.”
The residential care places in this ACAR are targeted to providers that can commence delivering care within 18 months, Minister Colbeck said.
Priorities for the $150 million in grant funding include:
- Upgrades to create more spacious rooms, increase privacy and decrease the need for shared living quarters;
- A focus on dementia-friendly services aimed at allowing those diagnosed with dementia living in the bush to remain in their communities;
- Improved infection prevention and control measures, and
- Help for providers in financial stress to bring their allocations of residential care places online, including those impacted by bushfires and COVID-19.
Application forms, guidance materials and other resources can be found online.
All applications for the 2020 ACAR must be received electronically on or before 11:59pm (AEST) 18 March 2021.
Additional amendments to News Media And Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code
The Morrison Government will today introduce further amendments to the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code.
These amendments will provide further clarity to digital platforms and news media businesses about the way the Code is intended to operate and strengthen the framework for ensuring news media businesses are fairly remunerated. These amendments will make it clear that:
- a decision to designate a platform under the Code must take into account whether a digital platform has made a significant contribution to the sustainability of the Australian news industry through reaching commercial agreements with news media businesses;
- a digital platform will be notified of the Government’s intention to designate prior to any final decision – noting that a final decision on whether or not to designate a digital platform would be made no sooner than one month from the date of notification;
- non-differentiation provisions will not be triggered because commercial agreements resulted in different remuneration amounts or commercial outcomes that arose in the course of usual business practices; and
- final offer arbitration is a last resort where commercial deals cannot be reached by requiring mediation, in good faith, to occur prior to arbitration for no longer than two months.
Importantly, the amendments will strengthen the hand of regional and small publishers in obtaining appropriate remuneration for the use of their content by the digital platforms.
The Explanatory Memorandum will confirm that the Code only applies to the extent a digital platform is making covered news content available through those services.
These amendments also add further impetus for parties to engage in commercial negotiations outside the Code – a central feature of the framework that the Government is putting in place to foster more sustainable public interest journalism in Australia.
The Government has been advised by Facebook that it intends to restore Australian news pages in the coming days.
Morrison Government commits record $9b to social security safety net
The Morrison Government is enhancing our social security safety net by increasing support for unemployed Australians while strengthening their obligations to search for work.
From March the Coalition Government will progressively introduce a series of permanent measures to ensure that job seekers have the best opportunity to secure employment as our nation continues to recover from the economic challenges of COVID-19.
These include:
- permanently increasing the rate of working-age payments by $50 a fortnight from 1 April 2021, benefiting 1.95 million Australians;
- permanently increasing the income-free earnings to $150 per fortnight for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (other) from 1 April 2021;
- temporarily extending the waiver of the Ordinary Waiting Period for certain payments for a further three months to 30 June 2021;
- temporarily extending the expanded eligibility criteria for JobSeeker Payment and Youth Allowance (other) for those required to self-isolate or care for others as a result of COVID-19 to 30 June 2021.
There will also be changes to the Mutual Obligation Scheme:
- job seekers will be required to search for a minimum of 15 jobs a month from early April, increasing to 20 jobs per month from 1 July;
- an employer reporting line will be established to refer Jobseekers who are not genuine about their job search or decline the offer of a job;
- some job seekers will be required to participate in work for the dole after six months;
- job seekers can choose to participate in an approved intensive short course instead of participating in work for the dole;
- job seekers return to compulsory face-to-face services with Jobactive providers;
- increased auditing of job applications to ensure job seekers are making genuine applications.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the plan for working age payments is fair and sustainable – for both unemployed people and taxpayers who fund the support.
“Welfare is a safety net, not a wage supplement. We want to get the balance right between providing support for people and incentives to work,” the Prime Minister said.
“The actions we have taken this year successfully cushioned us against the impact of the pandemic and mean that we no longer need to rely on the emergency supports which have sustained us over the past 12 months.”
“Now is the time to set our nation up for the future and build on our successes which will see Australians once again emerge stronger, safer and together.”.
The $9 billion commitment is the largest ever Budget measure for working age payments and is the single biggest year on year increase to the rate of unemployment benefits since 1986.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said the changes to mutual obligations would provide better support for job seekers in their search for work.
“We know that most job seekers are doing the right thing and trying to find employment, however, a small minority are actively trying to game the system The new employer reporting line will be set up from April to help ensure those doing the wrong thing are identified,” Minister Cash said.
“Job seekers who have been unemployed for at least six months will also be required to participate in an activity, such as a short training course or Work for the Dole, in addition to their job search activities.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Government has stood side-by-side all Australians during the pandemic and would continue to do so through permanent changes to strengthen our income support system.
“Since April 2020 our comprehensive payment system will help to deliver more than $33 billion in emergency income support payments including the Coronavirus Supplement and four economic support payments, the last of which will start flowing to our pensioners from next week,” Minister Ruston said.
“Our Government has always made sure that the rate of income support payments has kept pace with the cost living through twice yearly indexation but this announcement marks the first real increase in the rate of unemployment benefits in more than 25 years.
“What we’re announcing is significant but also sustainable because we must make sure our social security safety net is available into the future should our children fall in tough times”
For more information about the changes, visit https://www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/job-seekers