Category: NSW News

Following the Opposition’s calls for the Government to stop hiding the homelessness figures they have been forced to release the 2024 street count figures.
 
The NSW annual street count reveal the number of rough sleepers has surged over the past twelve months under Labor.
 
The data collected during the street count recorded 2,037 people sleeping rough in February 2024, an increase of 414 people since February 2023.
 
Shadow Minister for Homelessness Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the 2024 street count numbers shows the Minns Labor Government was failing our most vulnerable.
 
“The Minns Government housing and homelessness crisis just keeps getting worse with a record 2,037 people sleeping rough recorded this year, an increase of 414 people since February 2023,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones.
 
“As the housing and economic crisis continues to escalate, there is a real risk more people will experience homelessness for the first time.”
 
“As winter approaches and the number of people sleeping rough increases, the Minister for Homelessness has turned her back on homelessness providers and refuses to provide certainty for critical funding.”
 
“The NSW Labor Government must act now and provide additional funding to support our already stretched homelessness services.”

Mrs Maclaren-Jones is also calling on the Minister for Homelessness to broaden the scope of reporting to encompass all types of homelessness, including nuances like couch surfing and other forms of non-secure housing, which is not captured in the street count.
 
“People are experiencing many types of housing stress, from rough sleeping to couch surfing and living in overcrowded accommodation. To effectively address homelessness, we must have accurate and timely data that shows the true extent of homelessness,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

To view the 2024 NSW street count results, visit www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/housing-reforms/homelessness/street-count.

A new report by the Property Council has confirmed that new taxes introduced by the Minns Labor Government is slowing the delivery of homes across NSW. 

Labor’s new taxes – the Housing and Productivity Contribution and the Sydney Water Development Servicing Plan (DSP) – are rendering new housing projects economically unviable according to industry. 

The ABS’ recent data show that after a year of Labor new dwellings approved from April 2023 to March 2024 have dropped by 5,530 – a fall of 11 per cent. The NSW Planning Performance Dashboard shows that in the nine months since May 2023, there has been a 25% decline in DAs submitted and a 27% fall in DAs determined. 

Labor’s $12,000 housing tax on each new home built in Greater Sydney, Illawarra, the Hunter and Central Coast has been confirmed as “a tax on the very thing we are trying to fix,” as warned by industry. 

The Liberals and Nationals voted against Labor’s housing tax, rightly stating that the tax would “only act as a disincentive on building”. 

Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Scott Farlow, says the Minns Labor Government did not listen warnings from industry and now need to admit that their new taxes have contributed to building approvals falling to the lowest level in a decade. 

“Only Labor would decide to impose new taxes and drive up the cost of building homes in the middle of a housing crisis. Now the supply of new housing is falling with no end in sight because of Labor’s higher taxes,” Mr Farlow said. 

“This is yet another example of the Minns Labor Government arrogant approach to housing, pretending to know better than industry and proceeding with a new housing tax against all the warnings,” Mr Farlow said. 

“The Planning Minister last May said his new housing tax ‘will have a negligible impact on the feasibility of development projects’. It is clear Paul Scully was wrong.” 

“Industry has stressed that a typical apartment or greenfield housing project is now unviable to deliver today, but will be even more unviable in two years because Labor’s housing taxes are due to increase. Under Labor, fewer new homes are now under construction and more buyers and renters searching for properties that simply won’t exist.” 

“The Minns Labor Government needs to reverse course and lower the taxation burden to build new housing supply or else any ambition to increase housing supply will fail,” Mr Farlow concluded. 

The NSW Government has activated a biosecurity response and engaged the Commonwealth and other State Governments after receiving advice that white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has been detected by scientists in wild-caught school prawns from the inshore ocean area off the Richmond River estuary near Ballina.

The NSW Government’s biosecurity response arrangements have been activated and will establish a control zone prohibiting the movement of raw product, including all decapod crustaceans and polychaete worms, but excluding high value lobster, crabs and bugs destined for human consumption, from rivers near Ballina and just offshore.

White spot does not pose a threat to human health or food safety. NSW seafood, including prawns, remains safe to eat.

White spot syndrome virus presents a biosecurity risk to prawn industries and can impact on the trade of prawns and all crustaceans.

Restriction on the movement of uncooked prawns and polychaete worms from the control zone is necessary to protect access to valuable national and international seafood markets by all crustaceans fisheries in NSW and Australia.

Prawn fishers can continue to catch prawns in the control zone but all prawns must be cooked to deactivate the virus before they can be moved into markets.

The NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty has directed her agency to urgently communicate directly with prawn and seafood industry stakeholders in northern NSW to provide details on the implementation of a control zone on the movement of uncooked prawns and polychaete worms. Working closely and collaboratively with the industry is a Government priority.

This action is critical to preserve both interstate and international trade for all crustacean species and other non-affected areas of NSW where crustacean fisheries operate.

The control zone restricts the movement of green, uncooked, school and king prawns and other decapod crustaceans, including polycheate worms out of the area.

Importantly, for many commercial fishers and seafood industry operators in Northern NSW, the Government is excluding the Mud, blue swimmer, three spot and spanner crabs, lobsters and bugs from the movement restrictions, as these species are solely used for human consumption and do not present a risk of being reintroduced to other waterways.

This routine testing is part of the national white spot surveillance program, which began in 2017 following the white spot outbreak in Southeast Queensland. Genetic testing is being conducted to confirm the DNA of the WSSV collected near Ballina to check if there are any relationships with previous detections in Queensland and NSW.  

NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said:

“The community can rest assured this discovery of white spot syndrome virus in samples of wild caught school prawns off Ballina is not a health risk and NSW seafood is safe to eat.

“Our biosecurity response has swiftly swung into action and will aim to control the impact and advise all stakeholders on next steps.

“I have requested my Department to work closely with the northern NSW seafood industry and ensure they have all the information they need to understand the issue and to work collaboratively with Government.

“Our Government’s epidemiologists, biosecurity, fisheries and aquatic health specialists are working to develop response plans to support the industry”.

Communities across regional NSW can now have their first look at a $45.3 million dollar NSW Government investment into key healthcare worker accommodation, set to be rolled out across Broken Hill, Balranald, Cooma, Finley, Leeton, Narrandera and West Wyalong.

An off-site prototype unit has been completed alongside final artist impressions for each site, giving local communities their chance to view the modern and sustainable design of the new units.

The units will support heath care workers looking to establish themselves in a new community by providing accommodation close to work. This is a key factor in attracting and retaining health workers at rural and regional hospitals.

Extensive consultation with clinicians has been undertaken as part of the planning and design process, which has been used to inform the prototype.

The prototype allows the units to be tested before they are built to ensure they will be fit-for-purpose, safe and comfortable for local and visiting healthcare workers.

The units will be built off-site and then installed on hospital grounds in Cooma, Broken Hill, Finley, Leeton, Narrandera and West Wyalong. The sites were selected following consultation with local health districts to determine which facilities had the most urgent need for accessible, affordable accommodation to support their workforce.

Two pre-fabricated accommodation cabins, each with 2 units, have been delivered and installed at Balranald Hospital. Works on site are currently being finalised and the units are expected to be ready for occupation in the coming months.

All accommodation will follow the same architectural design, and sustainability will be a focus with the units fully electrified and solar ready.

Offsite construction of the accommodation will commence shortly after feedback on the prototype is considered. The new units will be installed starting in mid-2024 and are expected to become available to key workers in late 2024/early 2025.    

The NSW Government’s investment into the key worker accommodation is just part of a range of measures we are rolling out to improve access to care in our regional, rural and remote communities, including:

• doubling rural health incentives which has seen more health workers recruited or retained in the bush
• boosting doctors in our regional GP surgeries as well as hospitals through the single employer model
• delivering an extra 500 regional paramedics.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“We know recruitment is 1 of the biggest challenges facing our regional, rural and remote health services.

“I’ve always said everyone deserves access to quality healthcare from our amazing healthcare workers, no matter where they live.

“Critical to achieving this has been bringing more health workers to our regions, and these units will support staff looking to establish themselves in a new community.”

Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Western NSW, Tara Moriarty:

“The NSW Government is improving regional service delivery and the $45.3 million health worker accommodation program is another example of how we are getting on with the job.

“Communities in the Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW and Far West will be pleased to see this progress and I look forward to seeing the accommodation become available to health workers by the end of this year.

“Our government is making a real difference in the regions with better decisions and smart investments that deliver a positive difference in health, education, business and utilities.”

Member for Monaro Steve Whan:

“The completion of the prototype is an exciting milestone in this project, which will see accommodation for 12 healthcare workers at any one time in Cooma.

“I am really pleased Cooma has been selected as site for this purpose-built accommodation, and I hope it encourages healthcare workers to consider a move to Cooma or one of the state’s other wonderful regional communities where this is on offer.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“Broken Hill is an incredible place to work and live, and I welcome this investment which will support up to 20 health workers looking to establish themselves in Far Western NSW.

“Having safe and comfortable housing close to our hospital, will go a long way to removing a significant barrier in attracting staff to this unique part of the world.”

Member for Murray Helen Dalton:

“This investment will entice much needed medical professionals to consider a career in the region.

“The establishment of purpose built, considered accommodation is not only beneficial for healthcare staff but also for the communities in Finley, Leeton and Narrandera who will benefit from skilled healthcare professionals.”

The NSW Labor Government has today given councils and their communities the power to make decisions about their future with the Local Government Amendment (De-amalgamations) Bill 2024 passing both Houses of Parliament.

The new legislation provides certainty to councils that have been left in limbo due to legal flaws within the Local Government Act.

Under the Government’s new laws, councils seeking to demerge must work in close consultation with their community to ensure local democracy is enshrined throughout the entire process.

The new pathway will require councils to develop a robust business case for de-amalgamation with community input so that residents are adequately informed of potential implications upfront.

The business case should consider the impacts of de-amalgamation including financial ramifications, long-term strategic plans, and the capacity of new councils to deliver services.

The Minister will then refer the business case to the Local Government Boundaries Commission for independent review and assessment.

If the Minister is satisfied by the Boundaries Commission’s recommendation a proposal is sound, a compulsory referendum may then be held to give the community the final say on whether they wish to de-amalgamate.

The majority of the community must support this vote for the demerger to proceed.

The new legislation will also apply to any council that has been amalgamated, removing a provision that placed a 10-year period for councils to enact demerger proceedings.

It also provides for a mechanism for the Government to contribute to funding the costs of demergers incurred by councils. 

Following its passage through both Houses of Parliament the Bill will soon be signed into law by the NSW Governor.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig:

“Today the NSW Labor Government has put an end to a disappointing chapter in local government history.

“Councils and communities across the state have suffered for too long without a clear mechanism to undo the amalgamations that were forced upon them.

“This Bill rightly puts those decisions that directly affect communities back into their hands.

“It provides a legal pathway to achieve de-amalgamation whilst mandating robust engagement with the community throughout the entire process.

“This is to ensure communities understand the consequences and can make an informed decision about their future.

“Whether that is to proceed down the path of de-amalgamation, or to get on with the job of providing for their community, this Bill delivers much-needed certainty.”

The NSW Government has today confirmed and eradicated an immature fire ant nest at South Murwillumbah, where fire ants were first detected in NSW in November 2023.

The nest was reported, identified and eradicated today demonstrating the swift action undertaken by the NSW Government and National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) teams.

The treatment of the South Murwillumbah infested area has been managed as a multi-stage process. Detections surrounding infested sites are to be expected, highlighting the importance of the multiple stage treatment and surveillance approach that is required over a extended period.

All known nests receive a direct nest injection with fipronil. Then a broadcast treatment, either aerial or ground team application, using insect growth regulator spread out between 2km to 5km, which this site has received. There are two further treatments scheduled for the South Murwillumbah site.

There is an existing control order in place for this area from the initial detection in November 2023, restricting how potential fire ant carrier materials can be moved or transported. There is no need to extend that current movement control.

The nest has been categorised as low-risk due to the absence of reproductive ants.

The site is currently being investigated by the NFAEP, NSW Government and Tweed Council teams. The nest is confirmed to be low risk with no signs that it has yet produced reproductive ants.

Residents and businesses can report any suspicious ant activity to 1800 680 244 or by visiting Report Exotic Ants.

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“We don’t want these ants to spread any further into NSW, which is why this Government committed $95 million to the National Program raising it from the $15 million committed by the former Nationals Liberal Government.

“The NSW Government is working closely with the Tweed Shire Council and the National Program, to ensure we’re keeping the community updated and applying all available resources to the area.

“I urge everyone in the local area to check their premises, yards and paddocks for the red imported fire ants and then reporting any suspected sighting immediately.

“Biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and everyone working together is needed to keep fire ants out of NSW.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals today introduced the Bail Amendment (Serious Personal Violence and Electronic Monitoring) Bill 2024, progressing commonsense proposals to strengthen bail laws in NSW.
 
Despite broad support across the Parliament for urgent action the NSW Labor Government appears to have no interest in working collaboratively or adopting a bipartisan approach to improving our state’s bail laws.
 
Since the NSW Labor Government blocked our attempt to strengthen bail laws on Tuesday, we have seen more reported cases of serious domestic violence against women – this is unacceptable.
 
More action can follow, but the time to act on bail is now.
 
The Opposition is proposing an extension of the current parole electronic monitoring to bail in cases of serious domestic violence charges. BOCSAR, the Department of Communities & Justice’s research unit found that electronic monitoring reduced DV reoffending by 33%. 
 
The Opposition understand this; why doesn’t the NSW Labor Government?
 
If the NSW Labor Government does not present its bail reforms to the Parliament next week, the Opposition will again move to have our Bill debated and progressed.

The NSW Government welcomes the $90.6 million investment by the Federal Government in skills training in the construction sector.

An investment in additional Fee-Free TAFE places in construction related courses as part of the 2024-25 Federal Budget underscores the commitment at a State and Commonwealth level to reducing national skills gaps contributing to ongoing housing shortages across Australia.

This announcement, along with the addition of housing and construction skills as a priority area for the National Skills agreement, reflects the urgent need to bolster housing supply and aligns closely with the NSW Government’s priorities.

This initiative complements the 147,400 Fee-Free TAFE places already provided by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments aimed at removing cost barriers to education and training, including places for apprentices and trainees.

Earlier today, NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor and Housing Minister Julie Collins visited TAFE NSW Randwick Campus to meet with students benefitting from these initiatives.

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said:

“The announcement to invest in the construction sector is a significant step towards addressing the skills gap and supporting housing supply across our state.

“We know that we cannot fix the housing crisis without enough carpenters, builders, electricians and other skilled tradespeople required to build new homes. Fee-Free initiatives to encourage more people into the sector are always welcomed.

“The NSW Labor Government is focussed on building more houses for the people of NSW. I commend the Federal Government’s commitment to investing in skills development to ensure more homes can be built and look forward to working collaboratively with our federal counterparts.

“This initiative underscores our shared commitment to equipping our workforce with the necessary skills to meet the demands of our evolving economy and address critical challenges such as housing shortages.”

Virtual care can relieve pressure from the state’s busy emergency departments, according to new data released by the NSW Government.

Almost 24,000 consultations were delivered virtually through the NSW Government’s urgent care services between 1 July 2023 and 1 April 2024.

Urgent care services have been critical in providing patients with non-life threatening conditions with an alternative pathway to care outside of our hospitals.

A significant proportion of these services is delivered virtually.

The NSW Government has so far delivered 16 of 25 urgent care services across the state – four of these provide virtual care services, including VirtualKIDS and the Western Sydney Local Health District’s InTouch service.

VirtualKIDS commenced in Sydney in July last year, and expanded operations statewide in January.

The Western Sydney Local Health District’s InTouch service origins stem from the pandemic, but in July last year, it was expanded as a permanent service catering specifically for older residents in residential aged care facilities.

It comes as the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) has today released reports showing increased use of virtual care compared to prior to the pandemic, as well as high rates of satisfaction and confidence among patients who use it.

BHI’s report titled ‘Virtual Care in NSW: Use and patients’ experiences’ shows that virtual care has established itself as a permanent and widespread form of care following the pandemic.

The report shows that 17 per cent of outpatient services provided by NSW Health to patients were delivered by virtual care.

BHI’s report titled ‘Patients’ experiences of virtual outpatient care in 2023’ also shows high rates of satisfaction among patients with 87 per cent of patients saying the health professional ‘always’ explained things in a way they could understand.

Eighty-four per cent of patients believed health professionals ‘definitely’ listened carefully to their views and concerns.

And 83 per cent said they ‘definitely’ had confidence and trust in the professionals treating them.

The BHI Virtual Care Patient Experience Survey is available on the BHI website.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“These reports remind us of the opportunities that virtual care presents in alleviating pressure on our state’s busy emergency departments.

“Not only are we seeing virtual care becoming a more natural part of healthcare, but more importantly, we are also seeing high rates of satisfaction and confidence among patients.

“Virtual care means that people with non-life threatening conditions don’t need to wait in an emergency department.”

The NSW Government is inviting Sydneysiders to rediscover Darling Harbour with the opening of three new public spaces.

A state-of-the-art playground, a sound shell in Tumbalong Park and a bamboo forest walk in the Chinese Garden of Friendship are being opened to the public as new enticing places that will draw more crowds to this harbourside precinct.

The new 2000 square-metre playground doubles the size of the existing Darling Harbour playground and is designed to cater to older children and teenagers. The playground, a $10 million investment from Tianlong as part of the Ribbon development, is made up of two areas: the Bay, with a series of decks, ramps and bridges and the Wave, with higher level ramps, climbing tower and slide plus plenty of seating for parents and carers.

The new sound shell at Tumbalong Park, a $10 million investment from Placemaking NSW, will become Sydney’s newest home for live concerts, a site for sporting events and community festivals.

The sound shell design has a unique cantilevered roof resembling a cockle shell that is a symbolic link to the history of the area. Tumbalong also means ‘the place where shellfish is found’ in Gadigal. The state-of-the-art structure includes two new 9 x 5 metre digital screens, permanent speakers, acoustic panelling and a motorised truss capable of hosting a variety of events.

The Friendship Bridge and bamboo forest walk at the Chinese Garden of Friendship is part of a $1 million expansion that connects the existing Garden with a repurposed area including 20 per cent more accessible open public space.

The space called the ‘Meandering Pathway of Tranquillity’ crosses the Lotus Pavilion and the Seven Sages Walk and finishes near the base of the waterfall, with a calming design that represents the first major upgrade to the Garden since it opened in 1988.

These reinvigorated spaces will improve the experience for more than 28,000 residents in the CBD and 13,000 on Pyrmont, as well as creating significantly improved experiences for locals and visitors to the Darling Harbour precinct.

As the redevelopment of Darling Harbour continues, more green and public spaces will continue to be delivered, reinventing the precinct for future generations.

The NSW Government is also developing a Darling Harbour 2050 Vision, a planning framework to shape it into a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable waterfront precinct. A draft is expected to be exhibited for feedback in coming months and will reflect the views of the community.

To find out more about the revitalisation of Darling Harbour.

For information on booking the Tumbalong Sound Shell.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“With around 27 million visitors a year it’s important that the NSW Government continues to revitalise Darling Harbour as a modern, accessible and enjoyable precinct with plenty of open space for recreation and play.

“The new playground catering to older children and teenagers has been delivered as part of the Ribbon redevelopment and is designed to complement the existing playground which was focused on small children.

“The sound shell at Tumbalong Park is Sydney’s first major purpose-built, live outdoor cultural venue in the heart of the city. It is destined to become an iconic landmark rivalling sites such as the Sidney Myer Music Bowl or Federation Square in Melbourne or the HOTA Outdoor Area at the Gold Coast.

“The Chinese Garden of Friendship is an important heritage-listed cultural space which provides visitors with a tranquil garden oasis nestled in the heart of Darling Harbour. Thirty-six years after the Garden opened it is continuing to grow and expand with recent works giving the Garden a new lease of life.

“Darling Harbour is the third most visited destination in NSW and so many of us have celebrated big moments there. The Darling Harbour 2050 Vision will also guide future decision-making and secure this harbourside precinct as a world-famous destination for generations to come.”