Category: NSW News

Recruitment will shortly get underway for additional nurses in the Gosford Hospital emergency department as the Minns Labor Government continues delivering on its promise to rollout a major staffing reform.

Gosford Hospital is among the next 12 hospitals across metropolitan and regional NSW to introduce Safe Staffing Levels in emergency departments, with the implementation of the reform set to improve the experience of patients and boost retention and capability of staff in public hospitals.

The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state and better care for patients.

The staffing boost of frontline healthcare workers at Gosford Hospital will enable a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied emergency department resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.

The announcement will bring the total number of hospitals commencing the roll-out of Safe Staffing Levels to 16 across the state following the earlier announcement of Liverpool, Royal North Shore, Lismore and Port Macquarie Hospitals.

The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce, which includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts, will continue to work through the preparations to determine the FTE required to deliver Safe Staffing Levels at Gosford Hospital over coming weeks and months.

Phase one of Safe Staffing Levels is initially commencing in Level 5 and Level 6 EDs, which treat the most critically ill patients, and will then be progressively implemented across other hospitals and departments. The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce will continue to oversee the rollout of the government’s commitment of 2480 FTE over four years (to June 2027) towards staffing levels.

Implementing Safe Staffing Levels is just one of a range of measures the Minns Labor Government is embracing to build a supported and capable health workforce, including:

• saving 1,112 nurse and midwife positions by making the roles permanent;
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers;
• beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
• introducing the health worker study subsidies scheme.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state.

“Importantly, this reform will deliver improved nursing numbers to provide care for patients while supporting our frontline healthcare staff. “

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said:

“It is pleasing that Gosford Hospital is receiving this funding to recruit more nurses to ensure its busy emergency department is well staffed.

“The growing population of the Central Coast is putting increasing pressure on our region’s health services and this funding will go a long way to ensuring Central Coast patients continue to receive the care they need and our frontline staff are supported.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:
“It is fantastic news that Gosford Hospital has been identified in the next tranche of hospitals for the roll of Safe Staffing Levels in our emergency departments, with recruitment to get underway shortly.

“As the Central Coast community continues to grow and age, it is so important that we ensure minimum staffing levels on every shift, ensuring that nurses are supported in continuing to provide world-class care.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:
“I’m proud to be part of a Labor government improving public health on the Central Coast.”

‘Build to Rent’ Hearing Shows Labor’s in Disarray on Housing

Today’s Senate Economics Committee hearings demonstrate Labor is out of ideas on housing.

One of their warped ideas to advantage foreign investors to own Australian housing was considered in detail. Labor’s ‘Build-to-Rent’ scheme is both a perversion of the Australian Dream and technically unworkable.

Some assert this is a bizarre policy option. Independent economist Cameron Murray told the committee of the tax status quo:

“It’s not clear why local investors shouldn’t be advantaged over foreign investors in Australian housing.”

It is a good point. The Coalition doesn’t want foreign fund managers and super funds to take out Mums and Dads as owners of Australian housing. Others claim the proposed law won’t work.

The Property Council said “in their current state, the Bills will undermine the government’s stated intention…”

‘Build-to-Rent’ would change the character of Australian housing from individuals to institutions. This is another sad chapter in Labor’s destruction of the Australian Dream.

Labor has failed on housing. The Committee will table its Report on 04 September 2024.

The Minns Labor Government last night passed legislation to increase competition and boost the long-term viability of the state’s rice industry, by deregulating the state’s rice industry through a transition period from 1 September to 1 July 2025.

This is an important element of the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering new opportunities to the agriculture sector, and making sure regulations do not hinder industry growth.

The legislation ends the statutory controlled single rice export marketing (‘vesting’) arrangement and will open up the market to a more diverse choice for how rice growers sell and market their rice.

The changes are being made following extensive engagement from NSW’s rice growers requesting an opening up of the market by deregulating the historical restrictive selling arrangements.

The NSW Government’s legislation will initiate a series of practical steps for transitioning the way rice is marketed to consumers and international export markets, and cover the following:

The emerging Northern Rivers rice growing region will no longer be restricted by the current vesting arrangements from 1 September 2024, allowing their rice crops from 2024/25 to be sold into domestic and international markets without restriction
Vesting for the Southern NSW growing region will end by 1 July 2025, allowing the 2025/26 crop onwards to be exported free of the vesting arrangements
The Rice Marketing Board that has overseen the regulated market will be wound up by 1 July 2026, with any residual funds to be reinvested to benefit the NSW rice industry.
These modernising changes are consistent with the key recommendations of the recent Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) independent report recommending that the vesting regulation be ceased. This aligned with the findings of the former NSW Government’s 2021 review which promoted economic benefits from ending vesting.

NSW is Australia’s rice production powerhouse, with 99% of the nation’s rice grown in the state, contributing a farm gate value of $219 million in 2022-23.

To enable a successful transition for growers the NSW Government has established a Stakeholder Reference Group to collate views on the following important issues:

R&D opportunities to support alternate supply chains
Ensuring seed supply is maintained for all rice growers
Unwinding the affairs of the Rice Marketing Board once vesting ends
Investigating regional development opportunities
Mechanism to deliver any residual assets of the Board back to benefit the rice industry.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Our Government recognised things needed to change for NSW’s rice industry, after listening to the rice industry growers from across the state in both the Northern Rivers and in the Riverina.

“I am proud to say we have delivered what rice growers and the industry requested was in their industry’s best interests, making it easier to get this world-class rice into global markets.

“The Government’s setting up of a Stakeholder Reference Group will positively contribute to the sector’s transition and advise on options for using any residual funding from the winding up of the Rice Marketing Board to ensure it benefits the NSW rice industry.

NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The world has changed dramatically since the 1920s when this system was established, so we’re getting on with the job of modernising the rice market.

“This will help deliver a system that rewards new products and innovation in the rice market.

“This is good news for regional economies that will benefit from better and more flexible trade into the most lucrative global markets.

What do former High Court Justice Michael Kirby, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock, Matildas star Emily van Egmond, astrophysicist Kirsten Banks, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and bestselling author and educator Kylie Captain have in common?

What do former High Court Justice Michael Kirby, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock, Matildas star Emily van Egmond, astrophysicist Kirsten Banks, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and bestselling author and educator Kylie Captain have in common?

They are all former NSW public school students and among dozens of high profile alumni who have agreed to join a program, led by Justice Kirby, showcasing the benefits of a public school education.

Launched today to mark the start of Public Education Week, the alumni program reflects this year’s theme, Proud to Belong, and aims to inspire students to think big and see they are part of a community of achievement that extends beyond their school gate.

The program seeks to strengthen students’ sense of belonging and pride, a key step in the NSW Government’s goal of advancing outcomes, opportunities and experiences for all NSW children.

Across almost every industry NSW public school alumni are leading the way, whether at the Reserve Bank, the High Court, or the Olympics; in business, military, arts and entertainment, or as experts in health, education, science and construction.

This year Public Education Week will also kick-off with the inaugural NSW Public Education Awards at Sydney Town Hall to recognise students, teachers, school staff and parents for their exceptional achievement and contribution to public education.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“It is exciting to see the diverse and exceptional range of former public school students stepping forward to support our public school communities through this alumni program.

“I am so proud to see the success stories that come from our incredible public school alumni and I cannot wait to see how they inspire the next generation of students to aim high, work hard and follow their dreams.

“With Public Education Week coinciding with the Paris Olympics, this is also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the more than 50 public school alumni, staff and current students in the Australian team – some of whom have now won medals in Paris.”

NSW Education Department Secretary Murat Dizdar said:

“As the saying goes, ‘students need to see what they can be’ and through this alumni program we hope to lift their horizons and inspire them to embrace the vast opportunities a public school education will open for them.

“Our incredible alumni will also highlight to parents that a public school education will enable their children to achieve their ambitions and reach the pinnacle in any field they choose.

Former High Court Justice Michael Kirby said:

“I’m still, in my heart, Strathfield North Public School. I haven’t changed in the values I received from my school, my teachers, and my parents – values of kindness, of reaching out, and working for a better society and equality.”

Chef and Powerhouse Museum Associate Kylie Kwong said:

“Education is transformative for the lives of individuals, their families, and the wider community, and I am incredibly passionate about supporting public education to ensure that everyone in society, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn and grow and thrive.”

The biggest celebration for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere is back in 2025 with the theme ‘Time to Shine’.

The annual Seniors Festival is the government’s way of thanking seniors for their contributions, as well as providing a variety of opportunities for them to get involved, and stay active and connected.

Flagship events include the Premier’s Gala Concerts and Seniors Expo, which will both be held from 12-13 March 2025 at the ICC Theatre in Sydney. There will be 4 free concerts featuring Australia’s best talent for senior audiences to attend, and a wide range of stalls and exhibits to explore.

Last year, the Premier Gala Concerts sold out, with 32,000 seniors attending. Seniors also showed their strong support for events around NSW, with an estimated 500,000 attending various activities over the whole Festival fortnight.

The NSW Government’s Ageing Well NSW: Seniors Strategy vision is for all people in NSW to experience the benefits of living longer and enjoy opportunities to participate in, contribute to and be included in their communities.

In addition, comedy shows are being planned for seniors living in metro and regional NSW.

As was the case this year, there will also be a livestream of the Premier’s Gala Concerts for those unable to make it to the event in person.

The 2025 NSW Seniors Festival will run from 3 to 16 March.

Keep up to date with announcements of the stars for the Gala Concerts and all that’s happening in the NSW Seniors Festival at https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival.

Grants open for Seniors Festival events

The fortnight-long Seniors Festival will also see various organisations running activities across the State to engage seniors.

The Seniors Festival Grant fund of $200,000 is now open for applications. Local organisations can apply for up to $5,000 and Local Councils for up to $10,000 for their programs and events.

The 2025 program will have a continued focus on programs that offer unique and engaging intergenerational activities, connect seniors with a range of community organisations and activities that are tailored to Aboriginal communities and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Applications are open now and close on 6 September. Apply for the NSW Seniors Festival Grants Program at https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/seniors-festival-grants-program.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Seniors Festival is one of the highlights of the year and is the biggest and most joyous celebration of seniors in the state.

“Seniors should save the dates and make sure they look out for further announcements on when the much sought-after tickets to Premier’s Gala Concerts are available.

“We are also encouraging community organisations and local councils to show us your best ideas for events and activities that will encourage our seniors to get excited, get out and get involved.

“The NSW Government is really proud to host a festival that embraces everybody and recognises the important contributions seniors make in our community.”

Frontline emergency staff are going the extra mile to save lives this winter, rolling up their sleeves to donate blood and plasma as part of the 2024 Emergency Services Blood Drive.

Minister for Health Ryan Park and Minister for Police Yasmin Catley will today join NSW Ambulance, NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW staff at the Lifeblood Sydney Town Hall Donor Centre to donate blood and encourage the community to join them in saving lives this winter, when donations are needed most.

The Lifeblood Emergency Services Blood Drive has been sparking friendly competition between emergency service teams since 2012, with almost 115,000 donations collected since it began.

This year’s challenge has so far seen 2,606 donations of blood and plasma from NSW emergency service teams to provide life-saving treatment to people around the country, helping save up to 7,818 lives.

The Emergency Services Blood Drive runs until 31 August and anyone can take part by picking an emergency services team to join when you make your booking.

To make a booking, visit lifeblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Our paramedics, firefighters and police serve and care for the community every single day and see first hand our ongoing need for blood to save lives.

“Blood donations help patients across the state in times of trauma, major surgery, cancer treatment and pregnancy.

“One in three Australians will require blood or blood products in their lifetime but only one in 30 donate, making drives such as this to help boost supplies across the country even more important.”

Minister for Police Yasmin Catley:

“I’m very proud to stand alongside our police and other emergency services staff today who are leading by example, but the call to action is for everyone.

“Donating blood is a quick and easy way to be a hero in your own right.

“By donating blood, you’re joining a tradition of care and community spirit. It’s a small act that changes lives. If you can, I’d encourage you to play your part.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“When it comes to donating blood, it takes a small amount of time to make a significant impact on someone’s life.

“Emergency services personnel are always there for the community, and through some friendly rivalry between the agencies, we aim to strengthen the blood supply available across NSW and Australia to help those who need it.”

Lifeblood CEO, Stephen Cornelissen:

“Our emergency services personnel know all too well about our ongoing need for blood, being first on the scene at road accidents and other trauma-related incidents.

“Their life-saving efforts don’t stop there. All throughout the year, and especially during the Emergency Services Blood Drive each winter, their generosity continues when they roll up their sleeves and donate their own blood that can be used for numerous life-threatening conditions, including cancer, trauma and during life-saving surgery.

“With demand for blood, plasma and blood products increasing, Lifeblood is so grateful to all the teams who join this critical and generous blood donor community.”

The Minns Labor Government will change the law to stop renters being slugged with charges for background checks when they’re applying for a rental property.

There are 2.2 million renters in NSW, and they’re increasingly being asked to pay for their own background checks just to apply for a home.

At the moment, some online rental property application apps encourage renters to pay between $25 – $30 to cover the cost of their own background checks, on top of providing detailed information to the leasing agent.

These ‘optional’ charges often come with the promise that they’ll increase an applicant’s chances of securing a home.

The Minns Labor Government will change the law to make it clear that renters cannot be charged for background checks.

Under these changes, the only payments renters can be charged when applying will be those specifically listed:

• The deposit
• The rental bond
• Rent for the property
• Any fee for registration of a lease longer than 3 years.

Landlords will continue to have the right to check or make reports to third party tenancy databases, in line with the strict rules already in place.

Tenants can only be listed on a database for two reasons, either they have left the property and owe money, or the Tribunal has made an order to terminate the agreement because the tenant has done the wrong thing.

The changes will form part of a package to update and modernise the NSW rental market, including reforms to finally end no-grounds evictions, which will be debated by Parliament later this year.

Currently, renters’ lives can be upended at any time, with owners able to end a residential periodic lease for any reason or no reason.

Under our proposed reforms, expected to begin early next year, homeowners will now need a reason to end a tenancy for both periodic and fixed term leases.

The Minns Labor Government has also invested $6.6 million to develop and deliver the nation’s first portable rental bonds scheme.

The scheme is currently out to public tender, with upgrade of the existing rental bonds system expected to be completed in 2025.

This new system will allow tenants to digitally transfer their existing bond to their new rental home. This will mean they will no longer need to pay a new bond before their old one is returned.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“With the rental market so competitive, many renters have felt pressured into paying for these checks.

“Owners will still be able to make sure their prospective tenant hasn’t done the wrong thing at a previous rental.

“But you shouldn’t have to pay for your own background checks just to apply for a place.

“This gets the balance right between renters and homeowners and is part of our plan to build a fairer rental market in NSW.”

Minister for Fair Trading and Better Regulation Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“A renter shouldn’t have to pay just for the privilege of securing a home.

“We need a more modern and fairer rental market in NSW because renters are being punished by a system that hasn’t kept up with change.”

Local councils are issuing ticketless parking fines at record rates, with a 49% jump in use of the system in the 2023/24 financial year.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos first raised concerns with councils about the Print & Post system in March 2024 saying it failed to meet community expectations.

Under the ticketless parking fine system, introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government, councils can issue fines without first giving drivers an immediate notification at the time the parking infringement is identified.

This makes gathering evidence difficult, reduces the impact of a fine to act as a deterrent, and means a driver could receive multiple infringements for parking in the same spot before receiving a notification.

Despite that, councils have doubled down on their use of the system, issuing 822,310 ticketless parking fines in the 2023/24 financial year, compared to 551,441 in 2022/23.

Overall, all council-issued parking fines in NSW (both ticketless fines and paper fines), increased by more than 110,000 – around 9% – between 2022/23 and 2023/24.

Since March 2024, Minister Houssos and Revenue NSW have been engaging with councils to understand how they use the ticketless parking fine system and share her concerns about its shortcomings.

Thirty councils across NSW have indicated to Revenue NSW or stated publicly they have already, or plan to, change adjust their operations to leave an instant, on-the-spot notification to drivers.

Some councils have stated they are unwilling to make changes unless compelled through legislative change.

With consultation on the issue drawing to a close, the NSW Government will explore next steps to ensure a consistent, fair and transparent approach for drivers.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“I’m grateful to the councils that have recognised the significant issues with the ticketless parking system introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government.

“I have spoken to mayors and councils from across the state and many agree there is a fundamental issue with a failure to notify drivers at the time of the fine.

“The community feedback has been overwhelming in favour of councils providing drivers with on-the-spot notifications of parking fines.

“Councils should come to the table and deliver a solution which embraces transparency and fairness.

“If councils aren’t willing to provide a common-sense fix, the NSW Government will step in and use our policy levers to ensure the ticketless parking fine system meets community expectations.”

Data table:

Type of council-issued parking fine	2022/23 tickets	2023/24 tickets	% change	# change
Ticketless parking fines	551,441	822,310	+49%	+270,869
Non-ticketless (ie traditional) parking fines	716,148	558,634	-22%	-157,514
Total	1,267,589	1,380,944	+9%	+113,355

Type of council-issued parking fine	2022/23 $ value	2023/24 $ value	% change	$ change
Ticketless parking fines	$102,874,208	$158,015,513	+54%	+$55,141,305
Non-ticketless (ie traditional) parking fines	$119,242,411	$95,590,868	-20%	-$23,651,543
Total	$222,116,619	$253,606,381	+14%	+$31,489,762

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Teenager charged by NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) following alleged stabbing at Camperdown

Teenager charged by NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) following alleged stabbing at Camperdown

A teenage boy has been charged as the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) continues to investigate an alleged stabbing in Sydney’s Inner West last month.

About 8.35am on Tuesday 2 July 2024, emergency services responded to reports of a stabbing at an educational facility along Parramatta Road, Camperdown.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 22-year-old man at the scene. He was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition; however, has since been discharged.

Officers from Inner West Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the incident.

A short time later, officers arrested a 14-year-old boy near Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He has since been receiving health treatment.

Following investigations by the NSW JCTT under Operation Windsor, the teenager was charged today (Tuesday 6 August 2024).

The charges include cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder, and three counts of damage property by fire/explosion.

Police will allege in court that the teenager deliberately set fire to a number of bins at two locations in Sydney’s Inner West the day prior.

The matter was heard at a children’s court today where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Tuesday 1 October 2024.

The Joint Counter Terrorism Team Sydney is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

The Minns Labor Government is preparing for the upcoming bushfire season with the rollout of new firefighting tankers and cutting-edge satellite technology to keep crews connected and safer during emergencies.

In a significant upgrade, RFS vehicles will now be equipped with Vehicle as a Node (VaaN) technology to ensure RFS personnel can communicate during a disaster in the most remote locations or if communication systems go down.

The Starlink satellite technology will enable the use of radios, mobile phones, and other handheld devices anywhere and at any time—even in remote areas or if communication infrastructure has been damaged during a disaster.

The upgrade will provide an important backup to communication systems and location-finding technology already in use.

It will also give crews the capability to live stream video of fires from anywhere in the state, providing command centres with the latest intelligence about an incident. More than 5,000 RFS operational vehicles will be equipped with the new technology over three years under the $69 million VaaN project.

The RFS is partnering with the NSW Telco Authority to deliver the communications upgrade, with installations beginning this year.

The satellite upgrade comes after the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) delivered 143 new and 69 refurbished firefighting tankers to brigades across the state over the past year.

Most new trucks have been deployed to regional areas across the state, benefiting communities from Balranald to Eurobodalla and Armidale to Gilgandra, with the state’s south receiving the largest uplift following the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer fires. Category 1 tankers, which are the most used on the fire front, make up the highest number of trucks dispatched across the state.

The refurbishment of 69 existing trucks will also make them safer for crews, with a halo sprinkler system for the cabin, custom-fitted heat curtains, electric hose reels, and portable Public Safety Network and fireground radio chargers.

To meet strict RFS firefighting requirements, the new trucks are being assembled locally at facilities in Kirrawee, Minto, Tomago, and South Windsor.

This follows the NSW Government’s commitment to a new contract for the aerial RFS fleet, which provides certainty and a shift to a predominantly NSW-based crew over the coming decade.

The Bush Fire Danger Period for northern parts of the state commenced on 1 August, and the statutory period for the entire state begins on 1 October.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
“It’s important our volunteer firefighters have the right equipment and vehicles to do the job.

“These new trucks and technology upgrades will boost the protection of communities across the state.

“We are providing our first responders with communications technology they can rely on when they need it most.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“We only need to think back to the Black Summer fires to understand how critical our volunteers and their firefighting appliances are, and we will continue to support them with the equipment they need.

“These new and refurbished fire trucks will be welcomed by local brigades and their communities, and new connectivity technology is an important addition that will make RFS trucks even safer for crews on the frontline.”

Commissioner of the RFS Rob Rogers said:
“While the existing trucks have served our brigades well, it’s important that we safely equip members so they can best serve their communities across NSW.

“Communications blackspots are a significant obstacle for rural firefighters and can make an already challenging operation even harder. This new technology greatly enhances our network of brigades across the state and will assist communities when needed.”