Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the federal government and National Cabinet must act urgently to ensure renters and those in housing stress are not left in enormous debt or at risk of homelessness as the eviction ban ‘cliff’ rapidly approaches.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Over the coming weeks and months, renters face the prospect of eviction and possible homelessness as eviction bans come to an end across the states and territories.
“With unemployment skyrocketing, we must do everything we can to avoid a worsening of the homelessness and housing crises.
“The National Cabinet must work to implement waivers for rent arrears, with relief for those with rental debts. It must also agree on a national standard of renters’ rights and rental laws to protect people from unfair evictions.
“Rent increases should be frozen and lenders directed to give mortgage relief with no interest accrual for property owners.
“This is the time for massive investment in public and community housing, and to ensure we recognise housing as a human right.
“The COVID-19 crisis has further exposed existing inequalities in our broken housing system. It’s time to ensure that we not only make it through the pandemic, but fix housing in this country once and for all,” she said.
Federal Labor Dragged Into Supporting Critical Child Safety Measures
Federal Labor sent a clear message to the Australian people last night that they are more interested in protecting the rights of paedophiles than they are in protecting the safety of children.
Anthony Albanese’s Senate team voted down a key part of a Government Bill which provided mandatory minimum sentences for Commonwealth child sex offences to ensure perpetrators receive the jail terms they deserve.
But faced with a fierce public backlash this morning, Labor then reversed its position and agreed to support the Government’s Bill in its entirety when it was brought back to the Senate for another vote this afternoon.
“In all my years in politics I have never seen a greater display of hypocrisy from Labor, which claims on the one hand that it wants to protect our children, but then says it is opposed in principle to minimum terms of imprisonment, despite having supported mandatory sentences for people smugglers when they were last in government,” Attorney-General Christian Porter said.
“It shouldn’t have taken three years of opposition and a public relations disaster today for Labor to finally realise the hypocrisy of its position and it now needs to explain to victims whose lives have been ruined by these ruthless predators why it let them down in the Senate last night.
“The need for mandatory jail sentences could not be clearer. As I’ve said before, 39 per cent of offenders convicted of Commonwealth child sex offences last financial year were not sentenced to a single day in jail. That simply doesn’t fit with the community’s expectations and does nothing to deter offenders who know there is strong chance that they won’t go to jail if they get caught.
“The changes approved by the Senate today will ensure that the punishment is in line with community expectations and that offenders face the powerful deterrence of knowing a jail cell will be waiting for them when they get caught.”
As well as setting new mandatory minimum jail terms, the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Bill, 2019, creates a new maximum life penalty for the most serious Commonwealth offences, and a presumption against bail to help keep offenders in custody while they face trial.
“The Bill reforms the full sentencing cycle, setting a presumption against bail when offenders are first arrested, through to increasing supervision when they are ultimately released and tougher penalties for breaches of parole and other supervision orders,” the Attorney-General said.
The Bill also creates:
- Increased maximum penalties across the spectrum of Commonwealth child sex offences, including up to life imprisonment for the most serious offences
- Presumptions in favour of cumulative sentences and actual imprisonment
- Ensuring that all sex offenders, upon release from custody, are adequately supervised and subject to appropriate rehabilitative conditions
- Preventing courts from discounting sentences on the basis of good character where this is used to facilitate the crime.
These measures complement a broad package of reforms already introduced by the Coalition during the last Parliament, which strengthened laws relating to child sexual abuse and created new protections for the community.
This included tough new measures to stop child sex offenders from travelling overseas to abuse children and the introduction of Carly’s law, which targets online predators who use the internet to prepare or plan to sexually abuse children.
$275 million boost to City’s economy from COVID-19 inspired works program
A record $116 million capital works program that will generate up to 700 local jobs and increase the local economy’s economic output by $275 million, is the centrepiece of City of Newcastle’s response to the devastating impact of COVID-19.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2020/21 budget was a significant budget for the City of Newcastle, with the national economy now in recession and more than 41,000 people either losing their job or withdrawing from the local labour force since February.
“When it comes to major economic downturns through incidents such as COVID-19, governments at all levels have a responsibility to accelerate investment to both keep people employed and uplift economic activity,” the Lord Mayor said.
“City of Newcastle’s $116 million capital works program for the next 12 months is projected to create up to 700 local jobs and increase total economic output in our local government area by up to $275 million.
“The budget also includes a further $3.3 million Community and Economic Resilience Package providing significant targeted relief for businesses, residents and the most disadvantaged members of our community.
“The elected Council recognises the critical need for the City of Newcastle to lead from local government by helping to kick start our local economy back into gear”, Cr Nelmes said.
Over the next 12 months the city will deliver a record local infrastructure works program, including:
- $22.9 million for upgrades to local roads and footpaths
- $17 million for waste management, including $9 million towards the construction of an organics facility to compost food and green waste
- $14.2 million for suburban and city centre renewal (including Hunter Street Mall works and Local Centre upgrades at Wallsend, Kotara, Merewether, Shortland, Stockton);
- $9.3 million for environmental sustainability projects, including $1.4 million for Ironbark Creek rehabilitation
- $8.2 million for new and improved parks, playgrounds, sporting and aquatic facilities
- $7.3 million on storm water upgrades to address localised flooding
- $5 million for new and improved cycleways
- $4.6 million for bridge reconstruction works, including Cowper Street and Nelson Street, Wallsend (part of a $20.8 million overall investment into flood mitigation in Wallsend Town Centre)
- $1.5 million to plant new street and park trees
- $5 million to implement our Climate Action Plan
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the record $116 million infrastructure program will be delivered despite a $12 million reduction in income caused by COVID-19.
“The prudent financial management of City of Newcastle means we have the capacity to fund this COVID-19 stimulus budget, without borrowing. Instead the $336 million budget will be funded from forecast income with a $23 million shortfall funded from existing reserves,” Mr Bath said.
The draft 20/21 Budget was placed on public exhibition from March to May and almost 70 per cent of the submissions were positive or constructive. The City’s support for the community and its future financial sustainability garnered the most responses from the community.
Councillor Nelmes added that the brave decisions by most of the elected Council have protected and expanded our services, while the increased investment into capital works has significantly stimulated the local economy.
“Independent economic analysis shows that our investment in local infrastructure has sustained over 3,500 local jobs and increased economic output across Newcastle by more than $1.27 billion since 2015.
“We have committed to infrastructure upgrades at Wallsend to help mitigate continued flooding in the town centre with detailed designs being developed for the reconstruction of Boscawen Street and Nelson Street Bridges.
“We’re also directing $14.2 million to revitalise suburban hubs and local centres to improve public amenity and pedestrian safety at Kotara, Wallsend, Stockton, Shortland, Merewether and Hunter Street to ensure the best possible outcomes for local businesses and our communities.
“Our City has invested in an advanced organics recycling facility at Summerhill which will divert around 900,000 tonnes of food and garden organics from landfill and will slash greenhouse emissions as part of a 25-year commitment to revolutionise food and garden waste treatment.
“The City’s annual street tree planting program will also deliver the benefit of cleaner air, reduced stormwater runoff, habitat for local biodiversity, more shade and a cooler urban environment.”
RECORD FUNDING FOR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The NSW Government will invest a record $1.6 billion into its Digital Restart Fund to make the State the digital capital of the southern hemisphere.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the landmark funding would enable the Government to turbocharge digital projects that make life easier for people.
“We are leading the country on digital transformation and this investment will cement our reputation as a world leader in technology and innovation,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are already using technology to make life easier for customers. Whether it’s the Digital Driver Licence, Energy Switch or Park’nPay, our digital products provide added choice and convenience.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding is a game changer and will make NSW the envy of the southern hemisphere.
“This record investment in technology recognises that digital infrastructure is as important as transport infrastructure to the State’s economic growth,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We must be fast followers in the Digital Revolution to accelerate agility, lift productivity and generate the jobs of tomorrow.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the funding includes $240 million to bolster the Government’s cyber security capability and create a world leading cyber industry.
“This is the biggest single cyber security investment in national history, and will strengthen the Government’s capacity to detect and respond to the fast moving cyber threat landscape,” Mr Dominello said.
“We are leading the nation on bricks and mortar infrastructure and this historic investment will positon us to develop a world leading cyber security industry and be a jobs hub for this critical multi-billion-dollar sector.”
The Cyber Security funding will go towards protecting existing systems, deploying new technologies and increasing our cyber workforce.
The funding will include:
- $240 million commitment to enhance the Government’s cyber security capability;
- Providing more government services online and via Service NSW; and
- Improving the digital experience across agencies, including in education and health.
CREATING JOBS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AS UNEMPLOYMENT EDGES UP DUE TO COVID-19
The NSW Government today re-iterated its commitment to creating jobs for the tens of thousands of people unemployed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latest jobs data released by the ABS shows the unemployment rate in NSW has risen from 6.3 to 6.4 per cent – from a low of 4.5 in January this year.
The Australian unemployment rate is 7.1 per cent as about 228,000 people across the country lost their jobs in May with 43,900 of these in NSW.
The NSW participation rate, that is the number of people employed or actively seeking employment, has fallen by 0.7 percentage points in May, which has cushioned the rise in the state’s actual unemployment rate.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Jobs Stuart Ayers said the Government had committed more than $13.6 billion in health and economic stimulus measures in the past three months to support people, businesses and communities and help create jobs.
“These are again sobering unemployment numbers and show why creating jobs has been the very highest priority for the Government at this time,” Mr Perrottet said.
“There is no more important purpose than ensuring people have a job as we move from response to the recovery phase of the pandemic. This will not only help people and their families but will benefit the wider community through direct spending.”
Mr Ayres said the focus is on returning people safely to work as well as creating new jobs with major infrastructure projects getting underway faster including the $750 million redevelopment of the Sydney Fish Market and Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport line.
“The rolling back of COVID restrictions will help restore jobs in the hard hit services sector and our $3 billion fast tracked infrastructure program will support the return of jobs in the construction sector.”
“Just last week we also announced a major industrial precinct on the doorstep of the new Western Sydney Airport, which will provide a huge jobs boost in that region in coming years.”
The $2.6 billion Mamre Road Precinct was one of 24 projects included in Tranche 2 of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program that is fast-tracking planning assessments.
“Now more than ever we need to pull together to create jobs for those hit hard by the pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.
FRESH FACE FOR THE SYDNEY FISH MARKET GETS THE FINAL GO-AHEAD
The much-awaited revitalisation of Blackwattle Bay is one step closer, with the NSW Government today approving the final plans for the new Sydney Fish Market.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the green light paves the way for construction on the site to begin, creating 700 construction jobs and more than 700 ongoing jobs once the new markets open in 2024.
“Projects equal jobs. Building infrastructure will be key to our economic recovery out of this pandemic which is why we have already accelerated a number of infrastructure projects in NSW, creating thousands of jobs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is an exciting step forward for the new Sydney Fish Market, with construction to soon get underway on this incredible new precinct on the doorstep of the CBD.
“Not only will the new Sydney Fish Market continue to be the beating heart of our State’s seafood industry, it will also continue to lead the way as one of Australia’s leading tourist destinations.”
The new Sydney Fish Market has been designed by Danish architect 3XN, in association with Sydney firms BVN and Aspect Studios, and will be built over the waters of Blackwattle Bay and adjacent to the current site. Visitor numbers to the market are expected to double over the next 10 years, from three million to six million each year.
The new building will include a variety of fishmongers, restaurants, cafés, bars, and specialty food retailers in a four-storey market hall setting, as well as new public promenades and a ferry wharf.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the Sydney Fish Market was approved through the Government’s new Planning System Acceleration Program that is fast-tracking planning assesments to keep people in jobs and the economy moving.
“This is the 33rd project determined through the new accelerated assessment program, introduced as part of the NSW Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Stokes said.
“Building the new Sydney Fish Market at the head of Blackwattle Bay is an incredible opportunity to transform an under-utilised area into a vibrant, accessible and attractive waterfront precinct. The approved design also provides more than 4,700 square metres of new public open space, and paves the way for a future shared pedestrian and cycle path that will provide waterfront access all the way to Woolloomooloo.”
Early works for the Sydney Fish Markets are expected to commence within the next eight weeks, with a stage one contract to be awarded shortly. A tender process is also underway for the major construction phase, which is expected to start in early 2021.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres said the development will help NSW’s economy rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a great development for the tourism, construction and hospitality industries of NSW, with hundreds of new jobs to be created in this vibrant new precinct,” Mr Ayres said.
“With over 3 million visitors each year, the Sydney Fish Market is one of NSW’s busiest tourist attractions.”
For more information visit: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Assess-and-Regulate/State-Significant-Projects/Sydney-Fish-Market
HEALTH ADVICE ALLOWS PUBLIC TRANSPORT PEAK CAPACITY TO DOUBLE
More customers will be welcomed back to the public transport network with an increase in the number of people now allowed on our trains, buses, ferries and trams from July 1, consistent with NSW Health advice.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health experts had advised that capacity on all modes of transport can now be increased in a COVID safe way.
“We are at a stage where we can safely allow more people back on the public transport network,” Ms Berejiklian said.
A Waratah train will now be able to carry 68 customers per carriage, up from 32, a typical two-door bus will be able to carry 23 customers, up from 12 and a Freshwater ferry will be able to carry 450 customers, up from 245.
“Passengers still need to leave a space or an empty seat between themselves and other customers and continue to find green dots for the safest places to sit and stand. No green dot, no spot,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Employers should continue promoting flexible working arrangements where possible and people are reminded to travel outside the commuter peak hours when they can, or to walk or cycle short distances.”
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said increased cleaning, services and staff will continue to support customers as they return to the public transport network.
“Customers will still be seeing hundreds of additional transport staff including Transport and Marshalling Officers across the network as well as the hundreds of cleaners who have already carried out more than 240,000 hours of cleaning since the start of March this year.
“The thousands of extra weekly services we added to the network in early June will also continue to help customers make better travel choices and practise physical distancing on all modes,” Mr Constance said.
Work is continuing to establish pop-up cycleways across Sydney and in the regions. Pedestrian access has also been enhanced with speed limits already reduced at eight busy locations across Sydney to provide alternatives for those considering other travel options.
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said plans are still in place for pop-up parking hub opportunities across Sydney, similar to the existing arrangements in Moore Park.
“If the demand requires it, we are also looking at other key locations, including Parramatta and Macquarie Park, for people who are able to drive to work.
“This has been a challenging time for everyone and we really want to thank all customers for listening to advice and considering their travel options,” Mr Collins said.
Man charged with murder – Cessnock
A man has been charged with murder after allegedly running down another man with a 4WD in the Hunter in 2018.
Police were called to a home on Edith Street, Cessnock, about 11pm on Tuesday (25 September 2018), and found a 36-year-old man seriously injured in the backyard.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Lirki to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following extensive inquiries, police arrested a 34-year-old man on Maitland Street, Cessnock, about 10am today (Wednesday 17 June 2020).
He was taken to Cessnock Police Station and charged with murder and drugs offences.
Police will allege in court that the man drove a Nissan Patrol 4WD into the backyard and pinned the man between the car and a shed, causing fatal injuries.
Police will also allege the pair were known to each other.
He was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court today (Wednesday 17 June 2020).
Live Export: Minister Must Intervene To Prevent Departure
Following an unsuccessful last-minute court challenge by Animals Australia, Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud MP, must urgently intervene to halt the departure of the RETWA live export ship from Australia.
Senator Faruqi will move a motion in the Senate this afternoon calling on the Minister to intervene and stop the RETWA ship from departing Australia.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Minister Littleproud should do his job and enforce the new rules that are designed to protect animal welfare. This whole farce has revealed that the ‘independence’ of the Department as the regulator is a joke.
“It’s outrageous that for this government, when business interests and animal welfare collide, profit wins out every time.
“50,000 sheep will face inevitable suffering and great risk of death if this journey goes ahead.
“This exemption makes a complete mockery of the new animal welfare rules which were only very recently introduced, to prevent animals being shipped during the dangerously hot northern summer conditions.
“We are now halfway through June, and it’s only going to get hotter as this ship makes its way towards the equator.
“We need an Independent Office of Animal Welfare, operating at arm’s length from other functions of government. Animal welfare should be protected on principle and not thrown out the window whenever there’s a buck to be made,” she said.
Motion 670 available on the Senate Notice Paper.
Senate calls for urgent confidentiality legislation for Disability Royal Commission
The Senate has supported a Greens motion calling on the Government to urgently legislate protections for witnesses seeking to make a submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Exploitation and Neglect of People with Disability in confidence.
Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said confidentiality protections were not only essential, but time-sensitive to ensure that the Royal Commission could do its job properly.
“The Government has already wasted the best part of a year of a Royal Commission process that has only been scheduled to take three years,” he said.
“Failure to act quickly has had, and will continue to have, a chilling effect on the Royal Commission.
“I have people contacting my office all the time – people who have lost all faith in the system because of the violence, abuse, exploitation or neglect they, or their family, have suffered – wanting to know when it will be safe for them to tell their stories.
Under current legislative arrangements confidentiality can only be guaranteed until the end of Royal Commission.
The Government indicated in the Senate today that they were “considering their options” and that “a decision would be made shortly”.