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CONSTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN SYDNEY METRO TO START NEXT YEAR
Construction will soon begin on the Western Sydney Metro, with seven station locations confirmed – a project that will slash travel times between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD down to around 20 minutes.
The locations of seven proposed Metro stations have been confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the Bays Precinct.
Western Sydney Metro will more than double the existing rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD and slash travel times between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD to around 20 minutes
The project is also anticipated to create approximately 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs.
BACK TO BASICS: STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON MATHS, ENGLISH AND SCIENCE
The NSW school curriculum is set for its first major shakeup in over a generation, with a renewed focus on maths, English and science, following the release of the interim curriculum review.
“The NSW Government strongly supports a back to basics approach,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Students need to have strong foundations in maths, English and science to be prepared for the jobs of the future and for attaining lifelong skills.”
This is the first review of the curriculum to be done in 30 years. Students need to be equipped with strong literacy and numeracy foundations to succeed in the 21^st Century.
MATHS TO BE COMPULSORY FOR STUDENTS
Maths will be compulsory for all students in the revised NSW curriculum to ensure students are prepared for the jobs of the future.
NSW Government is working to make maths compulsory from Kindergarten to Year 12 to ensure students have the numeracy skills required to succeed in today’s society.
Earlier this week the interim report into the NSW Curriculum Review was released signalling the start of the biggest shakeup to the NSW curriculum in over 30 years.
NEW CURRICULUM MAKING IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE UP A TRADE
School leavers will benefit from an accelerated pathway from Year 12 to TAFE NSW with the NSW Government announcing a new program to incentivise study at TAFE. The program will make it more attractive for high school students to take up a trade or apprenticeship by allowing students to receive recognition for what they have already learnt at school.
RAISING THE STANDARDS OF MATHS TEACHING IN NSW 
People wanting to teach maths in NSW primary schools will need to have achieved at least a Band 4 or equivalent in Maths for the HSC Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell.
From 2021, students sitting the HSC will need to achieve at least a Band 4 in maths to become a primary school teacher in NSW.
NSW GOVERNMENT PROVIDES CERTAINTY FOR MINING INVESTMENT
The NSW Government will introduce a package of measures to prevent the regulation of overseas, or scope-three, greenhouse gas emissions in local mining approvals.
The proposed legislation will clarify the concerns around the export of coal after a recent decision by the Independent Planning Commission to impose a scope-three emissions condition on its approval of the United Wambo coal project.
The mining sector is a major employer in regional NSW, driving investment opportunities and job creation and the Government’s changes deliver certainty for mining companies and investors across the State.
These changes will help restore NSW law and policy to the situation that existed prior to the Rocky Hill decision and will provide the mining sector with greater certainty
MORE NSW HOUSEHOLDS TO BENEFIT FROM SOLAR
Up to 3,000 low income households in five areas will be offered a free rooftop solar system and installation worth $4,000 in a NSW Government funded trial that will also shave more than $300 a year off their energy bills.
The NSW Government has committed $15 million to reduce the impact of high energy prices, particularly for vulnerable low-income households.
STRONG FOUNDATIONS SET FOR BUILDING REFORM
The NSW Government continues to deliver on its promised suite of reforms to the building and construction industry, with the introduction of the Design and Building Practitioners Bill 2019 to the NSW Parliament.
The Bill outlines key accountabilities of design and building practitioners for the first time, and aims to improve the quality and integrity of vital design documentation, relied upon by construction professionals and directly addresses the key recommendations of the Building Confidence Report.
NEW BUS CONTRACTS TO DRIVE IMPROVED SERVICES
Bus customers will receive additional services and innovative on demand options under new contracts to lift the standard of transport across Sydney.
The NSW Government will invite the world’s leading public transport operators, Australian and international, to bid for contracts for 13 of Sydney’s bus contract regions over the next three years.
The NSW Government will continue to:

• own State Transit buses and all other assets such as depots,
• regulate timetables, safety, and service priorities, and
• set fares as they are today, under the Opal system.

HITACHI: FIRST TO MOVE FROM MOU TO TENANT
One of the world’s largest companies – the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi – has signed up to be the first tenant at the Aerotropolis, with a collaboration and research centre that will generate hi-tech jobs.
The centre, based on Hitachi’s successful Kyoso-no-mori facility in Japan, will promote collaborative creation-style research between business, academics and government.
Ms Berejiklian said the ‘Kyoso’ centre would bring Hitachi’s successful ‘Social Innovation Business’ concept to Western Sydney, and was an important step towards ensuring the new Aerotropolis delivers on its promise to be a hub for innovation, research and development.

The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments are delivering reliable and affordable energy, making the New South Wales-Queensland Interconnector (QNI) happen.
The Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments will jointly underwrite up to $102 million of the QNI upgrade to ensure the security of electricity in NSW.
This will allow TransGrid, the network transmission service provider for NSW, to fast track critical early works for QNI ahead of the final regulatory determination of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision to underwrite QNI will unlock important transmission infrastructure and back the future of the New South Wales energy grid.
“This is about putting downward pressure on wholesale prices to make sure businesses and households have access to reliable and affordable power.
“Industry needs certainty. They need to know their electricity won’t cut out, and their power bill won’t suddenly double. You can’t run a business like that, and you can’t employ people.
“That’s why we are underwriting this interconnector. It’s a practical step to make sure it happens, and it happens quickly,” said the Prime Minister.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government is committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to the people of NSW.
“The QNI upgrade will ease cost of living pressures for people across NSW, providing reliable and affordable power to households and businesses,” Ms Berejiklian said.  “Last year, the NSW Government announced its Transmission Infrastructure Strategy which outlined our commitment to accelerate the delivery of key interconnector projects, including the QNI.”
Mr Taylor said the support will put downward pressure on wholesale prices and deliver essential transmission for the NSW industries and jobs that rely on affordable, reliable energy.
“The QNI upgrade will facilitate greater competition between generators in the electricity market, helping to reduce wholesale prices,” said Mr Taylor.
“This is great news for the energy-intensive industries, and the jobs and regional economies that rely on them. With wholesale prices making up around a third of an average retail electricity bill, this is will also deliver price relief for households and small businesses.
“Along with the Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector (VNI), this will strengthen the backbone of the National Electricity Market, reduce network bottlenecks and make the energy market more efficient.”
Mr Kean said the new agreement with the Australian Government and TransGrid is the most cost-effective option for the people of New South Wales up to and after the closure of the Liddell power station in April 2023.
“Fast tracking QNI is just one of the ways we’re delivering on our commitment to keep the lights on and to keep power costs down as the energy market transitions,” Mr Kean said.
This program compliments work that TransGrid will progress on the VNI – which will further increase competition as well as removing constraints that prevent generation from getting to where it’s needed.
The Commonwealth Government will share the underwriting liability with New South Wales through a 50/50 split.
The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments are working closely as part of the Liddell Taskforce to mitigate other potential supply risks from the closure of Liddell.
The NSW–Queensland transmission interconnector was declared a high-priority project under the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan. Through this joint agreement, upgrades to QNI will be brought forward to late 2021, delivering an extra 190 MW of capacity into NSW during peak demand periods.
Regulatory approval processes for QNI are already well progressed due to the New South Wales Government’s Transmission Infrastructure Strategy, with further action needed to ensure QNI is fully operational by the summer of 2022–23.

Sydneysiders keen to help drought-stricken towns can easily buy Christmas presents and produce direct from regional retailers, with the help of a new NSW Government campaign that connects city shoppers with rural sellers.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro, Minister for Small Business Damien Tudehope, renowned chef Matt Moran and the founders of online communities #BuyFromTheBush and #OneDayCloserToRain today attended the launch of the NSW Government’s Buy Regional campaign at the Sydney Fish Markets.
Mr Barilaro said Buy Regional is an online hub that showcases regional shops and sellers together in one place, to make it easy for shoppers to find the perfect Christmas gift and support regional NSW.
“Everywhere I go people tell me about the images they’ve seen and the stories they’ve heard of how drought is affecting people in the bush and that they want to do something to help, but they’re not sure how,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Every dollar you spend with a regional retailer or producer helps keep that small business afloat, supports jobs in that town and gets money flowing through the local economy, which is exactly what is needed while we wait for the drought to break.
“Regional businesses can participate in the Buy Regional hub and social media network for free by simply registering online,” he said.
The hub already features businesses from some of the hardest hit areas of the state, including Broken Hill, Coonamble, Inverell and White Cliffs.
Mr Tudehope said the Buy Regional hub is divided into six categories, Wine, Fashion, Food, Gifts for Kids, Art & Design, and Christmas hampers, to help shoppers easily find gifts for that special someone.
“I’ve heard loud and clear what regional small businesses struggling through the drought have had to say, that there are fewer walk-in customers, that margins are tighter and that owners are under enormous pressure,” Mr Tudehope said.
“The quality and variety of products available from regional NSW retailers remains world class and the Buy Regional campaign will directly connect shoppers in cities wanting to buy, with businesses in the bush that have goods to sell,” he said.
#BuyFromTheBush founder Grace Brennan said she turned to social media to help businesses find new customers outside of their drought stricken communities and was amazed when the number of followers skyrocketed from zero to 26,000 in eight days.
“This all started as a hashtag on social media but it’s become so powerful because it’s a simple way for people in the city who want to spend their money in the bush to see beautiful things they like and buy them,” Ms Brennan said.
“Not everyone has an online presence but businesses are thinking outside the box. Just the other day I walked in on a business where the shopkeeper was showing dresses to a customer on a video call and she was picking out what she wanted.
“It just shows that there are so many people out there who want to help and it’s incredible that in such a short space of time that so many regional businesses are making connections with shoppers in the city and some have even sold out of stock.”
Facebook group #OneDayCloserToRain is connecting people on the land who are struggling with drought, providing a life line for those who need to share their stories.
The group has launched a marketplace to help regional people create income streams by selling their locally produced arts and design work to city people keen to help.
As well as buying gifts from regional retailers, Mr Barilaro encouraged Sydneysiders planning festive get togethers and Christmas Day feasts to consider buying meat, produce and hampers from regional NSW.
“Favour the flavour of regional NSW and ask your Sydney butcher or greengrocer for meat, poultry and produce provided by NSW farmers or check out the Buy Regional hub for honey, preserves, veg, meat or even fully-stocked hampers, all sourced from our regions,” Mr Barilaro said.
#Thankful4Farmers ambassador Matt Moran said in lieu of drought breaking rain, farmers across regional NSW need the support of the grocery buying public.
“As a fourth generation farmer I know firsthand the blood, sweat and tears that goes into producing our food during times of drought and every product purchased will show our farming and rural communities how much they are valued ,” Mr Moran said.
Mr Barilaro thanked the founders and supporters of all the online entrepreneurs helping connect regional businesses to city shoppers, along with organisations that are providing support on top of the NSW Government’s drought package.
“Charities and volunteers are also doing great work, organisations like Buy A Bale and Foodbank NSW which is providing more than 15,000 hampers to farming communities and I thank them for their kindness and generosity,” Mr Barilaro said.
“To date, more than $988 million from the NSW Government’s $1.8 billion Emergency Drought Relief Package has been spent and we have committed a further $988 million to build 175 water infrastructure projects under the Safe and Secure Water program.”
The Buy Regional for Christmas hub is at: www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional

Groundbreaking new rules will give the NSW Government the power to claw back excessive insurer profits from Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance and return the money to motorists through cheaper Green Slips.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said insurer profits will be capped at 10 per cent by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), keeping costs to motorists down while also encouraging the industry to be more innovative.
The new CTP scheme gave Government the authority to eliminate super profits, and these Australian first rules provide the policy framework to achieve that objective.
“Under the old CTP scheme, insurer profits were in excess of 30 per cent and resulted in motorists paying some of the highest premiums in the country,” Mr Dominello said.
“Those days are over and the sun has completely set on insurer super profits. The new scheme is fairer and more affordable, with motorists paying $490 on average for their Green Slips – the most affordable since 2011.
“We have delivered on a promise and these rules and are a big win for motorists who can have confidence that the Government will crackdown on excessive profits.”
Based on current premiums, for every one per cent of excess profit recovered from insurers, more than $15 million will be returned to NSW vehicle owners through lower Green Slip prices.
Insurers with approved innovation programs will be able to retain an additional three per cent profit. This gives a strong incentive for them to enhance injury prevention and help people return to health, while ensuring premiums do not increase.
SIRA will monitor insurer profits on a yearly basis and claw back any profits when claims for more complex and serious injuries are resolved.
The new rules are already applicable. Further information is available at www.sira.nsw.gov.au