NEW AND UPGRADED POLICE STATIONS FOR NSW

Communities from Bega to Bourke will benefit from new or upgraded police stations, plus a major new state-of-the-art training facility, thanks to a $100 million investment from the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
The funding will be used to build new police stations in Bega, Goulburn and Jindabyne, carry out major police station upgrades at Bathurst and Bourke, and create a new police training facility in Dubbo.
As well as a new main police station in Jindabyne, there will also be two new small police stations at Perisher and Thredbo.
It takes the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s investment in new and upgraded police stations across NSW to $218 million this year, along with a record $583 million investment in 1500 extra police over the next four years.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Police Minister Troy Grant made the announcement today as they attended an attestation ceremony at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn, where 201 new officers officially joined the ranks of the NSW Police Force.
“The investments we are making in the NSW Police Force – which will reduce crime further and keep our communities even safer – are only possible because of the NSW Liberals & Nationals’ economic management,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have worked hard to get the budget back into shape after years of mismanagement under Labor and now the community is reaping the benefit.
“Our commitment today to deliver new and upgraded stations across the state will ensure that our police have the best facilities and resources to proactively prevent and disrupt crime. It takes our investment to new and upgraded police stations across NSW this financial year to more than $218 million.
“NSW has some of the lowest crime rates in 20 years and we want to do everything we can to help our men and women in blue to make our streets even safer.”
Mr Grant said the latest class of recruits are joining one of the most highly respected
law enforcement agencies in the world, at a time of unprecedented opportunity – and that many of them would benefit from new police stations at Bega, Goulburn, and Jindabyne, upgraded stations at Bathurst and Bourke, and a new $35 million training facility in Dubbo.
“Never has there been a more exciting time to join the NSW Police Force, with hundreds more recruits just around the corner, and now even more support to ensure our officers have the modern facilities, equipment, and infrastructure they need to do their jobs,” Mr Grant said.
“After months of challenging training, these new probationary constables will join their Commands and Districts next Monday to begin their policing careers – with many set to benefit from new stations and training facilities in the near future.
“It’s an incredible privilege to put on the blue uniform each day, and I know it’s one officers wear with pride because they’ll be helping the community, solving crimes, and bringing closure to victims and their families – and that’s an honour seldom paralleled in other professions.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said with 1500 new officers joining the ranks over the next four years, it’s imperative we also have the very best police stations and facilities across the state to support them.
“$100 million is another huge boost for the Force, allowing us to build new stations, improve others and provide an outstanding training centre closer to operational police in the field,” Commissioner Fuller said.
The investment in new and upgraded stations announced today follows the Liberals & Nationals Government’s record $3.9 billion budget for the NSW Police Force in 201819, including more than $118 million to:

  • redevelop police stations at Parramatta, Hurstville, Port Macquarie, Cessnock, Broken Hill and Inverell,
  • upgrade Gosford police station; and
  • redevelop an additional fifteen regional police stations in towns across the state.

Man charged with 17 offences – Port Stephens-Hunter

A man will face court in Newcastle today after being charged with 17 offences following an ongoing investigation in the state’s Port Stephen-Hunter region.
Since October 2018, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have been investigating multiple alleged stealing, break and enter, traffic, fraud, drug and firearm offences committed across the Port Stephens-Hunter, Hunter Valley and Tuggerah Lakes Police Districts.
Following inquiries, about 10am yesterday (Friday 22 February 2019), police executed a search warrant at a house on Government Road, Weston, where a 31-year-old man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station.
Officers seized a number of items from the premises including a motorbike and keys belonging to a vehicle, both allegedly stolen.
He was charged with 17 offences including receive/dispose stolen property (x4), possess prohibited drug, break enter and steal, steal firearm or imitation firearm, unlawfully sell firearms, take & drive conveyance without consent of owner (x2), drive motor vehicle during disqualification period (x3), drive recklessly/furiously or speed in manner dangerous, dishonestly obtain property by deception, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly (Skye’s Law), and goods in personal custody suspected stolen.
The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle local court today (Saturday 23 February 2019).

NSW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LOWEST ON RECORD

New South Wales has smashed the jobs record with the lowest unemployment rate on record cementing its position as Australia’s job creation capital, according to the latest jobs data from the ABS.
The State’s unemployment rate fell a further 0.4 per cent to 3.9 per cent for January 2019, the lowest since monthly records began in February 1978, with a whopping 47,200 jobs added proving once again NSW is the Premier State.
NSW remains well below the national unemployment rate of 5 per cent and well ahead of Victoria at 4.5 per cent, Queensland 6 per cent and South Australia on 6.3 per cent.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet today announced the record low unemployment figures, which means that since 2011 the NSW Liberals & Nationals have overseen the creation of 611,300 jobs.
“Today NSW entered the record books, which is proof our vision for NSW is making our State the best place to live and get a job,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“An unemployment rate of 3.9 per cent is a stunning result and this means more families and individuals are getting ahead.”
“Abundant jobs are bringing women into the workforce like never before – female participation surged to an all-time high of 60.6 per cent with women’s unemployment rate a record low of 3.7 per cent.”
“Today’s result isn’t by accident but the result of hard work to get our finances in order and deliver a strong budget and strong economy.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said NSW also recorded a record participation rate of 65.2 per cent meaning we have the highest percentage of people active in the labour market and the lowest percentage of people currently unemployed.
“We are the jobs capital of the nation, the engine room of the economy – once again the Premier state,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Since the last election 420,500 jobs have been created smashing our target of 150,000 jobs.”
“It is a vindication of the economic and financial approach taken by this Liberals &
Nationals Government and highlights the importance of infrastructure projects to our
economy.”
The Government’s record infrastructure investment has generated more than half-amillion
jobs and helped boost the State’s economic growth by half a percentage point
in 2017- 18.
“We want to continue to provide the right conditions for jobs growth across the State,”Mr Perrottet said.
“We have put the State’s books in order through our financial discipline with surpluses forecast over the next four years.”
“This has allowed us to lower taxes, make record investments such as $89.7 billion on infrastructure without plunging the State into debt.”
The State’s youth unemployment rate is the lowest of any state and more than 2 percentage points below the rest of Australia.
Female workers drove the strong labour force result for the State, with 42,700 jobs added for the month and the female unemployment rate dropping to a record low of 3.7 per cent.

Retirement of The Hon Julie Bishop MP

Julie Bishop is a giant of the Liberal Party and she has been a ground breaker for women in public life.
Julie has been a good friend. I have valued her judgement, appreciated her insight and admired the tireless way she has served the Party, the Parliament and Australia.
On behalf of the Government and the Liberal Party, I thank Julie for her great service to Australia for nearly two decades.
Julie was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 2007 – 2018 and played a critical role in our election to Government in 2013.
As the first woman to be Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and the first woman to be Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie’s place in the Liberal Party pantheon and in the history of the Howard Government and this Government is secure.
There are many achievements from her time as Foreign Minister in which Julie can be proud: the New Colombo Plan, the establishment of the DFAT innovationXchange and strengthening Australia’s relations throughout the Pacific.
However, I believe her greatest achievement was her work in the days after flight MH17 was brutally felled. Julie’s judgment, determination and energy helped secure a United Nations Security Council resolution that ensured Australia and its partners could repatriate the victims of that terrible crime. Australia has not forgotten those terrible days and still waits for the perpetrators of that crime to be brought to justice.
Julie was one of Australia’s truly great foreign ministers. In the Liberal Party she will take her place alongside the greatest foreign ministers of our history: Casey, Hasluck and Downer.
Julie is enormously popular with party members across Australia and for more than a decade, in addition to her travels as foreign Minister, Julie has hit the highways and byways of our country in support of our Members and candidates.
On behalf of the Party and the Government, I wish Julie well in the next chapter of her life. I have no doubt it will be a roaring success.
Scott Morrison

A Home For All: The Greens Plan for 500,000 New Public & Community Homes

The Australian Greens have a plan to more than double the amount of social housing across Australia by building 500,000 new ecologically sustainable and fully accessible homes, with a net addition of 33,000 dwellings each year. The homes would be funded by scrapping negative gearing and capital gains tax exemptions, as well as redirecting part of the banking levy on major banks.
Housing is in crisis in Australia. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute estimates there is a shortfall of over 500,000 affordable homes across the country. According to the ‘Everybody’s Home Campaign’, Sydney alone has a shortfall of 80,000 social housing homes. This gap will grow to 141,000 by 2036. Nationally, an estimated 189,000 families are on social housing waiting lists. Each night, 1 in 200 Australians are homeless.
Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Senator for New South Wales and Housing Spokesperson, has said this is a long overdue and revolutionary investment in housing that will reverse the tide of shrinking public and community homes and provide a massive boost to our national affordable housing stock. This investment will more than double the current social housing stock, which is currently estimated at 435,700.
The Greens will:
Invest in 500,000 new public and community homes through a Federal Housing Trust. This additional investment will encourage states and territories to expand access to their social housing schemes so more people can have a secure home.
We’ll provide a guaranteed $500 million each year, indexed to CPI, to crisis services and transitional housing to ensure nobody is without a bed and a roof over their head – even for just one night. We will  specifically allocate funding for women and LGBTQI+ people experiencing homelessness.
Our plan is funded by winding back unfair tax breaks like negative gearing and capital gains tax exemptions that advantage an investor looking to buy their fifth property over a home buyer looking for their first.
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, said:
“Housing in Australia is monumentally messed up.  Social housing has not kept up with need, despite the rise in homelessness and  numbers of people in housing stress. Almost 200,000 people around the country are on social housing wait lists.
“With so many people in need of affordable housing we need sweeping changes to the way we think about social and community housing.
“For too long, governments have been neglecting and selling off public housing. They’ve lazily sat by, watching our stock of public housing stagnate. We have to play catch up fast.
“The primary goal of a housing system should be to supply long term secure homes to people, not unbridled profits for investors.
“Just like Medicare and our public school system, everyone should have access to social housing if they need it. By building more and improved public and community homes, we can guarantee an affordable, good quality home to people for life.
“The Federal Government must show leadership in tackling the housing crisis by making an unprecedented investment in social and community housing. Half a million new houses will make a huge difference to families needing homes.
“All homes built through the Federal Housing Trust will be environmentally sustainable. The Trust will incorporate principles of climate conscious architecture, to build sustainable and energy efficient homes with a minimal carbon footprint.
“This is a huge opportunity to ensure that new public housing is fully accessible, ensuring homes are designed to meet the needs of residents with a variety of mobility needs.
“Everyone has the right to a safe, secure and permanent home. We know the number of people seeking assistance for homelessness is growing every year. The situation is getting worse. We need urgent intervention, coupled with significant financial resources and reform of the housing system, or more and more people will be without a home.
“The Greens will make sure everyone has the dignity of a secure and affordable home. Housing is a human right – we’ll make sure there is a home for all.
“Nobody should be without a home. The Greens plan will make sure there are enough affordable homes for everyone to have a decent and safe place to live.
“Even with our big investment in expanding social housing, there will still be a need for crisis services as an important safety net. These services must be available and accessible to everyone who needs them. We will make sure nobody is without a bed and a roof over their head, even for one night.
Budget Details (Costed by Parliamentary Budget Office)

Initiative Summary (Expenditure) 4 Year Estimate (m) 10 Year Estimate (m)
Federal Housing Trust 1,931 4,005
Capital Grants (to complement the Trust) 4,500 7,000
Funding for Crisis Services and Transitional Funding 1,534 5,579

Details
Federal Housing Trust
A Federal Housing Trust (the Trust) will be established as a bond aggregator to offer secured loans to public housing authorities in all states and territories and community housing providers (CHPs). It will issue Commonwealth Government guaranteed bonds to fund the loans. The Trust will be in a position to issue loans worth 6.67 billion in 2019-20 rising to 8.49 billion in 2028-2029. The Trust will finance the construction of 500,000 affordable homes over 15 years, a net addition of 33,000 dwellings to Australia’s social housing stock each year. The Trust will ensure these homes are:

  • Affordable: rents indexed and based on household income;
  • Secure: long-term leases;
  • Accessible: mobility and accessibility needs will be met with best-practice design; and
  • Sustainable: climate conscious, environmentally sustainable and energy efficient construction and design.

The loans will be complemented by capital grants funding. Research shows combining capital grants with loans is one of the most cost effective ways for the Commonwealth to boost Australia’s social housing stock.
Funding Crisis Housing Services
In 2018, around 300,000 people sought assistance for homelessness. Lack of availability meant that 236 people seeking services had to be turned away every day.
The Greens will set aside $500m per year, indexed to CPI, to fund transitional housing and crisis services and guarantee this funding for ten years to give service providers certainty, with a specific allocation for women and LGBTQI+ people experiencing homelessness.
How we will pay for it
The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount of 50% has encouraged wealthy investors to gamble on future price rises. It has done very little to encourage the building of high-quality and affordable homes. It’s also an inequitable tax break. The latest available data shows that 80% of CGT discount benefits, amounting to about $7.6 billion per year, go to the top 10% of income earners.
Allowing property investors to negatively gear their investment has also encouraged speculation in housing. The Grattan Institute reports that the combination of negative gearing and the CGT discount “distorts investment decisions, makes housing markets more volatile and reduces home ownership”. The Coalition government claims average workers benefit from these tax breaks, but in reality they receive very little of the benefit. The Australia Institute has found that the top 20% of income earners get almost 50% of negative gearing benefits.
The Greens will:

  • Wind back the CGT discount by 10% per year over five years;
  • Phase out negative gearing for investors with two or more investment properties over five years. Investors with a single property will be exempt;
  • Prohibit negative gearing on all future investment purchases;
  • Redirect part of the banking levy.

Winding back the CGT discount and phasing out negative gearing is expected to raise $5.18 billion over four years and $54.5 billion over ten.

Bramble Cay Melomys extinction the tip of the iceberg: Greens

The first mammal to go extinct in the world from climate change, the Bramble Cay Melomys, is just the tip of the iceberg, say the Australian Greens.
“This is a national tragedy, but the extinction of the Bramble Cay Melomys is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Australian Greens Senator Janet Rice, Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s animal extinction crisis.
“Climate change is pushing other threatened animals to the brink of extinction, yet the Morrison government’s lack of action means nothing is being done to protect them.”
“We have other animals like the Spectacled Flying Fox where one third of the population dropped dead out of the sky in one afternoon during Queensland’s December heatwave.”
“The recovery plan for the Melomys was never implemented. The Morrison government could have done more but turned a blind eye.”
“This tragedy was entirely preventable. No species should go extinct. This is a political choice.”
“The burning and exporting of Australia’s coal is the single largest contribution to climate change that Australia makes. Australia’s addiction to coal and coal exports is the death warrant for many of our other threatened animals.”
“The Labor and Liberal parties need to quit coal now and stop taking millions of dollars in donations from the coal industry.”
“It’s also clear the Environment Department has learnt absolutely nothing from the tragic Melomys extinction, with no current plans in place to conduct a review into how the extinction of the Bramble Cay Melomys occurred or learn what must happen to ensure more species don’t follow it down the tragic path to extinction.”
Other animals at risk of extinction due to climate change include the Spectacled Flying Fox, the Mountain Pygmy Possum, the Lemuroid Possum, and the Northern and Southern Corroboree Frog.

PROVIDING MORE CHOICE IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Thousands of families with loved ones with a life-limiting illness will receive more choice about the help they need from an additional 100 palliative care nurses at refurbished facilities under the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $45 million palliative care investment was made possible by the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure patients and their loved ones have access to the best quality palliative care at the best possible care facilities,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to ensuring people who are suffering a life-limiting illness, and their families, have the choices, support and care they need.”
The investment is on top of a $100 million package for palliative care that was announced as part the 2017-18 Budget, which is already delivering more palliative care nurses and community-based palliative care services.   The additional 100 palliative care nurses will work in hospitals, palliative care facilities, and in communities and homes to ensure patients can access the care they need, in the setting they choose.
Ms Berejiklian made the commitment at Mt Druitt Hospital, part of the Western Sydney Local Health District that will receive eight new palliative care nurses.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said 64 of the 100 palliative care nurses would be assigned to regional and rural NSW.
Mr Barilaro made the commitment at Coffs Harbour Hospital, part of the Mid North Coast Local Health District that will receive five new palliative care nurses.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure patients and their loved ones have access to the best quality palliative care in the best possible facilities no matter where they live,” Mr Barilaro said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the commitment also includes $10 million for improvements to existing palliative care facilities across the State.
“The emotional and financial challenges for patients and their carers are considerable so we will continue to do all we can to help people through this challenging time,” Mr Hazzard said.
The $45 million boost to palliative care funding will:

  • Add 100 more nurses to the palliative care workforce, with 64 expected for regional and rural NSW;
  • Increase the number of full-time equivalent palliative care Aboriginal health workers from nine to 18, so that every district and network in NSW has a full-time position;
  • Increase use of digital health solutions to improve end of life care to people living in rural and remote areas throughout NSW;
  • Connect young people in regional areas through digital health solutions to the new Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice in Manly, and funding a senior clinical role to support its staff; and
  • Support the refurbishment of existing palliative care facilities across NSW, providing a home away from home for patients.

Major exhibition SODEISHA: connected to Australia opening 2 March 2019

A nationally significant exhibition will open at Newcastle Art Gallery on Saturday 2 March 2019, drawn from the Gallery’s substantial collection of Japanese Sodeisha ceramics and the result of a collaboration of curators and artists across Australia and Japan.
SODEISHA: connected to Australia celebrates Newcastle Art Gallery’s significant holdings of Japanese ceramics with 10 displays of contemporary ceramic artists from Australia and Japan alongside the Gallery’s Sodeisha collection.
The Australian artists involved include Alterfact Studio, Penny Byrne, Juz Kitson, Julie Bartholomew, and Kenji Uranishi, while artists Takashi Hinoda, Satoru Hoshino, Yusaku Ishida, Rokubei Kiyomizu, and Hideo Matsumoto will represent Japan in the exhibition.
Inside.jpgSatoru HOSHINO Beginning Form – Spiral ‘17 2017 smoked earthenware 850°C, black stoneware Artist collection
Photography Oginuma, Hidekazu
“This is the first major exhibition in Australia to celebrate the legacy and influence of the pioneering Sodeisha group on contemporary ceramics, and is testament to the strength of Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection,” said Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton.
“More than 37 years after the acquisition of this internationally significant collection, it continues to be a valuable cultural asset for the city of Newcastle as well as the nation”.
SODEISHA: connected to Australia  provides the first opportunity for Newcastle Art Gallery to develop an international, cultural partnership project based on the city’s collection.
The exhibition brings together curatorial advisor Kevin White – a MEXT Scholar and exhibiting artist Satoru Hoshino – an original member of the Sodeisha group. Hoshino will arrive in Newcastle from Japan to install a major wall and floor mounted ceramic installation, and joins Professor White and Gallery staff to take part in a range of dynamic public events.
Inside2.jpgExhibition installation image (detail) 19/12/2005 Newcastle Art Gallery From left to right: Masatsugu HITOMI
Gate of sound c1980; Yosuke NAKANISHI Globe A n.d; Yosuke NAKANISHI Globe B n.d Gift of members of the
Sodeisha Group 1981 Newcastle Art Gallery collection
About the Japanese Sodeisha ceramics in the Newcastle Art Gallery collection
Newcastle Art Gallery holds 58 Sodeisha ceramics, one of the largest collections by this important group of avant-garde post-war artists outside of Japan.
In 1979 Newcastle Art Gallery hosted a contemporary Sodeisha Japanese ceramics exhibition arranged by the Australian Gallery Directors Council in association with the Crafts Board of the Australia Council and the Japan Foundation.
It was the first major exhibition held in Australia that brought attention to the groundbreaking work of the Sodeisha group of ceramic artists, and featured 62 works of art by 32 members of the group including founding members Osamu Suzuki (1926-2001), Kazuo Yagi (1918-1979), and Hikaru Yamada (1924-2001). After two years of touring the exhibition to a number of state and regional Australian galleries, the Sodiesha group elected to gift 58 of the original 62 works of art to Newcastle Art Gallery.
Public programs supporting the exhibition
A comprehensive suite of public programs will support the exhibition, including masterclasses, artist-led workshops and forums, and regional clay community activities, drawing in new audiences for this ancient and contemporary art form.
A summary of the highlights of the program have been provided below, however several more public events are scheduled to support the exhibition.
For more information visit: www.nag.org.au/whats-on
Inside3.jpgTadayasu SASAYAMA Waves cube B n.d stoneware plates on wood base 28.5 x 21.0 x 14.5cm Gift of members                                             of the Sodeisha Group 1981 Newcastle Art Gallery collection
SODEISHA: connected to Australia Opening event.
Friday 1 March 2019, from 5.30pm
Refreshments provided.
The official launch of the exhibition SODIEHSA: connected to Australia, opened by the Consul-General of Japan in Sydney, Mr Keizo Takewaka.
Artist Forum: Sodeisha and ceramics today
Saturday 2 March 2019, 2.00pm-3.00pm, Free event
Speakers: James Collis Exhibitions Coordinator Newcastle Art Gallery, Prof. Kevin White RMIT Melbourne, exhibiting artist Saturo Hoshino, exhibiting artist Kenji Uranishi.
At this free talk, the panel will explore their personal historical connections with the Sodeisha movement, and discuss the impact and influence of this movement on ceramics in Australia and Japan today.
Exclusive Performance: Crawling through mud
Commissioned by Newcastle Art Gallery through Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub
Saturday 2 March 2019 from 7:00pm
Refreshments provided.
Award-winning Australian choreographer and performer Kristina Chan presents an exclusive commissioned work, inspired by the seminal 1955 performance Challenging Mud by Kazuo Shiraga.
One-day Raku Clay Masterclass with Satoru Hoshino
Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March 2019 (two sessions)
10.30am – 3pm
Most materials provided
For intermediate and established ceramicists
Join visiting Japanese artist Satoru Hoshino, for the rare opportunity to attend this five-hour masterclass using raku clay.

Greens call on Labor to back Marles over coal

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP, responded today to the comments from Labor frontbencher, Richard Marles, that “The global market for thermal coal has collapsed, and wonderful – that’s a good thing – because what that implies is the world is acting in relation to climate change.”
Quotes attributable to Mr Bandt:
“He’s right. That’s why Richard and Labor should support my bill to phase out thermal coal.”
“Labor can’t say its wonderful countries overseas want to burn less coal and then support expanded coal exports.”
“We need a plan to phase out coal mining in Australia by 2030 so the industry can transition in an orderly and just way.”

Shorten capitulates on Medevac Bill

“Just when you begin to hope that the Labor Party was starting to find a backbone on refugees, Bill Shorten has gone to water,” said Australian Greens Leader, Dr Richard Di Natale.
“Despite his Deputy saying the Government’s policy to transfer sick patients to Christmas island for treatment was ‘difficult to understand’ and his Immigration spokesperson saying the reopening the centre was ‘silly’, Bill Shorten thinks it’s ‘fine’.
“Buying into Scott Morrison’s propaganda that there is any need to reopen Christmas Island, or that it has the required medical facilities, is a failure of leadership.
“All it took was the prospect of an election campaign fought on refugees for Bill Shorten to get spooked and start aligning himself with the Liberal Government on the issue once again.
“A government that is determined to shun the will of the parliament and refuse to bring sick people here for treatment, deserves a strong opposition – not a benign collaborator.