Category: NSW News

The people of NSW are having to deal with higher rents, housing prices and everyday living costs after twelve months of the Minns Labor Government. 
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Chris Minns and Labor are letting NSW down.
 
“Households and families are being let down – day to day expenses are sky rocketing and Labor has slashed cost of living support like Active Kids, Creative Kids, First Lap, Back to School vouchers and the Regional Seniors Travel Card,” Mr Speakman said.   
 
“Communities across the State are being let down – Labor has delayed and cancelled new road and metro projects and communities are feeling less safe. And our young people are being let down – rents are up, houses have never been less affordable and tax choice for first home buyers has been axed.”
 
“Chris Minns has been spending most of his time cutting ribbons on projects funded, commenced or delivered by the Liberals and Nationals rather than addressing the needs of hard-working families.
 
Leader of the NSW Nationals Dugald Saunders said regional communities have been left behind, as valuable dollars are ripped out of the regions.
“We always knew the bush would be worse off under a Minns Labor Government, and our worst fears have already been confirmed,” Mr Saunders said.
“In a year of the Minns Labor Government, vital programs like the Regional Seniors Travel Card, Resources for Regions and the Stronger Country Communities Fund have been sent to the chopping block.”
 
“Labor’s “fresh start” has also seen the head of the Department of Primary Industries sacked and the ‘local’ taken out of Local Land Services.”
 
After a year of Chris Minns and Labor – you’re paying more, households and families are worse off and Labor don’t have a plan to address the cost of living crisis.

The NSW Government has begun public consultation on their review into improving compulsory land acquisition processes for communities impacted by state infrastructure or other public projects, delivering on a key election commitment.

In-person public consultation sessions will take place in Nowra, Singleton, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Parramatta and Wagga Wagga, with 2 online sessions also scheduled to take place in April.

The Land Acquisition Review is considering a whole of government approach to acquisitions, including processes undertaken by agencies when acquiring land, roles and responsibilities, and how best to ensure consistent acquisitions under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

The review will consider potential legislative changes and improvements to acquisition processes to strike the right balance between the rights of landowners and the benefits of essential public infrastructure such as trains, roads and renewable energy projects.

Some of the key themes raised in the review’s discussion paper include improved consistency in government processes, measures to ensure genuine negotiations and outcomes, better coordination of multiagency acquisitions, clarifying certain compensation provisions, and potential legislative amendments to clarify requirements.

The Land acquisition review, led by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, follows a joint parliamentary inquiry into land acquisition for major transport projects.

Community consultations are occurring between 22 March and 3 May 2024. The NSW Government encourage all interested stakeholders to respond to the discussion paper and provide suggestions for improvements.

Get more information on the Land Acquisition Review, its discussion paper and how to make submissions.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Compulsory acquisitions are necessary at times to allow state infrastructure and other public projects to proceed for the benefit of the wider community, such as schools, roads, water and electricity infrastructure projects.

“However, there are opportunities to improve processes which are being explored by this review to help landowners negotiate more effectively on their compensation.

“We want to put people in the best position to understand their legal rights and ensure there are consistent and transparent acquisition processes across government.”

The NSW Government has strengthened bail laws to help prevent repeat youth crime and introduced a new performance crime offence targeting those who advertise certain crimes on social media.

Parliament passed legislative changes last night to amend the Bail Act 2013 to include a temporary additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing certain serious break and enter offences or motor vehicle theft offences while on bail for similar offences.

Under the change, a bail authority such as police, magistrates and judges will need to have a high degree of confidence that the young person will not commit a further serious indictable offence while on bail before granting bail.

The bail amendments are a temporary measure that will sunset after 12-months. The laws will be monitored and evaluated by the Department of Communities and Justice utilising the data and expertise of the Bureau of Crimes Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

The government has also created a ‘performance crime’ offence in the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) imposing an additional penalty of two years’ imprisonment for people who commit motor vehicle theft or break and enter offences and share material to advertise their involvement in the criminal behaviour.

It is expected these new provisions will come into effect within two weeks and will undergo a statutory review that will take place two years after it commences.

Earlier this month the government announced a $26.2 million package of reforms and initiatives to support community safety and wellbeing, particularly in regional NSW where crime rates remain higher than in metro areas, with a focus on enhancing early intervention and prevention programs for young people.

It will invest $13.4 million for a targeted response in Moree to address crime, support young people and improve community safety.  

This will act as a pilot program, and if the approach proves successful will inform actions to address similar concerns in other regional communities and will go hand in hand with broader regional crime prevention initiatives.

This will include an investment of $12.9 million to fund a new range of state-wide regional crime prevention initiatives including:

• Expansion of Youth Action Meetings (YAMs) in nine Police Districts.
• Expansion of the Safe Aboriginal Youth Patrol Program (SAY) to an additional five Closing the Gap (CTG) priority locations (to be determined in consultation with communities), reducing the risk of young Aboriginal people being victims of crime, and the risk they will become persons of interest in relation to a crime. 

The Government will also continue the roll out of $7.5 million in Justice Reinvestment grants with grant funding available to recipients as early as June 2024.

These reforms will help protect the community and lift support for young people and disadvantaged communities.

In addition, the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety will undertake an inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley:

“This government listens to the people of New South Wales and is committed to meaningfully and comprehensively addressing problems and the concerns people have.

“These bail laws have been purposefully designed to address repeated alleged offending by young people aged between 14 and 18 who have been charged with serious break and enter, motor vehicle theft, while on bail for another offence of that type.

“The government is aware of concerns about tightening bail laws for young people and it has approached this change cautiously in light of the potentially serious consequences for young people and, in particular, Aboriginal young people.

“This is why the change is time limited and relates to young people who are already alleged to have committed at least one offence while on bail for another relevant offence.

“The new ‘post and boast’ offence targets performance crime – where offenders post footage of their law-breaking online – in connection with car crime and break and enter offences.

“This behaviour is unacceptable and has to stop. People have a right to sleep safe in their beds in the sanctity of their home and should not have to face being retraumatised, ridiculed and shamed with images of the crime being made into a warped kind of ‘entertainment’.

“These changes are the first part of this government’s significant and multifaceted response to regional crime.”

The NSW Labor Government has delivered on a key election commitment and banned controversial LGBTQ+ conversion practices after a bill passed through Parliament on Friday morning.

Conversion practices, which can include so-called “conversion therapy” and suppression practices, are formal or informal practices based on the false ideology that LGBTQ+ people have a ‘disorder’ or require treatment. Evidence shows that conversion practices are dangerous and damaging.

The government made a commitment to banning such practices during the 2023 NSW election campaign, while committing that expressing a belief through sermon, taking offence at religious teachings, and seeking guidance through prayer would not be banned under the legislation.

This is reflected in the new law, with the legislation carefully designed to protect LGBTQ+ people, while acknowledging and respecting longstanding religious and cultural beliefs and practices.

The Department of Communities and Justice and NSW Health consulted extensively with more than 150 stakeholders, including members of the health, education, legal and government sectors, faith and multicultural organisations, and LGBTQ+ community advocates and victim-survivors.

The government also considered legislation in other jurisdictions where conversion practices are outlawed, including that of Victoria, Queensland, the ACT, New Zealand and Canada.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“These practices are incredibly harmful and have hurt too many people in NSW for too long.

“I am very proud to be part of a government that is delivering on its election commitment to put an end to these damaging practices.

“We have had extensive consultation with a wide range of health stakeholders to ensure this Bill both provides clarity for practitioners and protects vulnerable people.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“We carefully considered this legislation, and it was developed thoughtfully following extensive consultation to ensure that it strikes the right balance with legitimate religious and cultural practices.

“It contains important exclusions that make it clear that general conversations around religious beliefs, or how religious beliefs might be reflected in a person’s life, are not conversion practices. This includes personal prayer or seeking spiritual guidance, the teachings of a religious leader or expression of a religious belief through sermon.

“Similarly, conversations between parents and children, with siblings and the wider family and even friends, are not covered by this new law.

“The new law does not intend to ban the teachings of a religious leader or expression of a religious belief through sermon.”

“Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are.

“There is nothing ‘wrong’ with people from the LGBTQ+ community – they are fine just the way they are.

“Thank you to the hard work of LGBTQ+ community advocates, in particular victim survivors, who have worked so hard to bring about this change.”

A newly formed Stakeholder Reference Group held its first meeting today to advise the government on reforming the way emergency services are funded.

Chaired by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, the expert panel discussed a broad range of perspectives on a new model to replace the existing Emergency Services Levy (ESL) which is paid through insurance premiums.

The Reference Group is made up of leaders from the insurance and property industries, business and council representatives and emergency service experts.

Today’s meeting follows the Treasurer’s initial rounds of stakeholder consultation.

Emergency services in NSW – including Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Service – are funded by the ESL.

NSW remains the only mainland state to fund its emergency services by taxing insurance. 

This has led to NSW having the highest average insurance premiums in any state apart from cyclone-prone Queensland.  The ESL has pushed premiums up by around 18 per cent for residential properties in NSW and 34 per cent for commercial properties across the state.

And it’s resulted in more people choosing not to be insured. In NSW 35 per cent of households do not have contents insurance and 5 per cent of homeowners go without building insurance. 

People who do not insure their property do not pay the ESL and make no direct contribution to funding emergency services.

With natural disasters becoming more frequent and unpredictable, the need for emergency prevention and response is growing. Having a sustainable, broad and fair funding system is vital to ensuring the best emergency services to protect everyone. 

The Stakeholder Reference Group will provide ongoing advice to the NSW Government.

Public input will also be sought through the release of a consultation paper in the coming weeks.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“I’d like to thank every member of the Reference Group for sharing their insights, expertise and ideas in our first meeting.  I look forward to their continued advice as we reform the way emergency services are funded in NSW.

“Broad consultation across the sector and wider community is crucial to ensure we have a funding system that’s fair and sustainable for everyone.

“The NSW Government is determined to get this right and deliver lasting reform that will fund our emergency services and remove the burden of this levy from insurance bills.”

The Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to urgently step in to keep the Paramatta Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) open.
 
The former Liberal Government committed $111 million ahead of the last election to establish a community facility in Paramatta that would house dance and music studios, a homework hub, indoor gyms and multi-sports courts.
 
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney Mark Taylor said, “It’s disappointing to see the Minns Labor Government turn its back on the Parramatta PCYC given their unwavering commitment to the local community since 1962. Our commitment would have provided a new home for PCYC Paramatta.”
 
“Labor has let Parramatta down, the new facility hangs in doubt, the land remains vacant as the Minns Government takes no action.”
 
Liberal MLC Rachel Merton said the community was suffering because of Labor’s inaction, which comes at a critical time when youth crime in NSW is alarmingly on the rise.
 
“PCYC’s are instrumental in keeping young people off the streets, providing them with constructive and engaging activities that steer them away from the grip of crime and delinquency. Closing the doors on the Paramatta facility is not just a disservice to Parramatta but a blow to our ongoing fight against youth crime,” Ms Merton said.
 
“We must explore all options and possible avenues to secure a new home for this vital institution. The investment in a new facility is not merely a financial transaction but a testament to our commitment to the young people of Greater Western Sydney.”
 
“Unlike the Labor Member for Parramatta, the Liberals won’t stand idly by and watch as a beacon of hope and development for our young people is extinguished. The PCYC Parramatta is more than a building; it is a community, a family, and a lifeline for many. It embodies the spirit of collaboration, resilience, and community support,” Ms Merton concluded.

The biggest changes to environment protection regulation in more than three decades have passed the NSW Parliament today. This paves the way for higher penalties and stronger regulatory action for those that do the wrong thing.

The Bill contains the most significant amendments to environment protection rules since the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was established in 1991.

With the passing of this Bill, NSW now has the strongest environmental regulations of any state or territory in Australia.

The reforms address critical loopholes, introduce recall powers and ensure the EPA has stronger powers to deter environmental crimes and respond faster to pollution incidents.

The Environment Protection Legislation Amendment (Stronger Regulation and Penalties) Bill 2024 includes:

• Doubling maximum penalties – The most serious offences will carry penalties of $10 million for companies and $2 million for individuals. Fines for certain asbestos-related offences will increase to $4 million for companies and $1 million for individuals.
• Raising on-the-spot fines – Common environmental offences will more than double to $30,000 for companies and $15,000 for individuals for a first offence, and $45,000 and $22,500 respectively for a second. Fines for littering small items in public places will double to $160. Public land managers such as Councils will have authority to issue illegal dumping fines of $5000 to companies and $1000 to individuals, increasing to $10,000 for corporations and $2500 for individuals if the dumping occurs in sensitive places like a school, hospital or national park.
• Environmental recall powers – New controls will be established to recall contaminated substances that could harm the community or the environment.
• Public transparency – A public ‘name and shame’ process will issue warnings about poor environmental performers and sub-standard practices.
• Strengthened investigations – Introducing preliminary investigation notices to allow early testing and sampling.
• Licence bans – The Land and Environment Court will be able issue orders to prevent serious and repeat offenders from applying for an environmental protection licence.

The urgent overhaul is occurring at the same time as the criminal investigation into asbestos-contaminated mulch, which is the largest probe in the EPA’s history and has emphasised the need to strengthen environmental legislation.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe: 

“This is the largest environmental regulation bill since the creation of the EPA in 1991.

“Today, the NSW Labor Government fulfils its election commitment to deliver an EPA with teeth and strengthen environmental protections.

“Penalties for serious offences have not been raised since 2005 when Labor was last in government.

“This is a pivotal moment in our fight against crimes that harm the environment.”

The new penalties and regulatory tools will come into effect in the coming days.

The NSW Treasurer will today reveal that privatising the state’s ports has left the people of NSW saddled with a potential liability of between $600 million and $4.3 billion.

Port privatisation contracts, along with boxes of other privatisation deeds, will be tabled in the Parliament today as part of the NSW Labor Government’s commitment to provide transparency to the people of NSW.

The Liberal National government sold off Port Botany and Port Kembla to NSW Ports in 2013. The Port of Newcastle was sold off a year later to a separate buyer.

Under the former government’s ports deal, the state would be liable to compensate NSW Ports if the Port of Newcastle were to develop a competing container terminal.

In a report commissioned by NSW Treasury, preliminary estimates by Deloitte Access Economics suggest that liability to the government could range between $600 million and $4.3 billion in today’s dollars out to the end of the contract in 2063.

Last October, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey wrote to port owners requesting consent to release these contracts.

The public should know the details of these sales for transparency and to understand if they got a good deal.

Documents to be tabled today also outline details of a port commitment deed signed with the Port of Newcastle.  This requires the Port of Newcastle to reimburse the state, should the state be required to pay NSW Ports.

IPART is currently working to set what the price of a 1-off payment to the state would be, to enable the Port of Newcastle to extinguish the reimbursement provision should it wish to do so.

IPART’s determination does not affect the Port Commitment Deeds with NSW Ports – the owner of Port Botany and Port Kembla.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will deliver a Ministerial Statement and table the contracts in Parliament today.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“After more than a decade, the people of NSW are finally seeing what the impact of selling off their assets looks like.

“They shouldn’t have had to wait this long to see these contracts. All this government had to do was ask.

“The public deserves to know exactly what is in the agreements made when public assets were privatised.

“The NSW Labor Government promised to end the secrecy and today we’re delivering on that promise.

“I thank all contractual parties for helping us show the people of NSW the reality of these privatisation deals.”

Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, Australia’s biggest annual ticketed event, starts tomorrow (Friday 22 March) at Sydney’s Olympic Park highlighting the best of our state’s regional communities, produce and livestock.

Over 12 days, more than 820,000 visitors will pass through the gates to participate in this celebration of the very best of NSW agriculture and primary industries, which last year achieved a gross value of production of $21.2 billion.

The Show offers a unique opportunity for communities, farmers, and aquaculturalists to submit their produce for judging to find the best in show, with 15,000 trophies, certificates and medals awarded.

School students, exhibitors, and regular attendees travel from all over NSW to Homebush so they can participate in events or just enjoy strolling through the pavilions and sideshow alley. This great event provides professional acknowledgment that helps define our state.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries sponsors the iconic produce displays, designed to highlight the unique produce from four districts. Along with the best fruit and vegetables, visitors can see impressive displays of oysters, cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats, working dogs, honey, alpacas and the widely Instagrammed award-winning poultry.

This year the woodchop competition reaches an impressive milestone of 125 years with a first time women’s world championships in both the underhand and single handed sawing events.

Other highlights of this year’s Show include the family favourite Farmyard Nursery, the Grand Parade, alpaca sheering, the livestock judging, Country Women’s Association tea and scones, dagwood dogs, scary rides, show bags and fireworks.

The iconic Easter Show, and associated activities of the Royal Agriculture Society, generate more than $617 million towards the NSW economy each year.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The Sydney Royal Easter Show puts our world class NSW agriculture and primary industries front and centre in a showcase for visitors from all over.

“NSW farmers work hard to create the finest food and fibre of which our reputation is second to none, and this is a chance to recognise and highlight the ways they strive for excellence. 

“I look forward to presenting the Shows longest standing perpetual trophy for the Best District Display – the RAS Perpetual Shield – it’s a highly competitive field where dozens of people work tirelessly to make their pumpkins, corn, apples and wheat shine and tell a story.

“This year’s Show offers city lovers and bush lovers a chance to come together and experience great food and sights – it’s not to be missed, and wear a hat.”

On World Down Syndrome Day, the NSW Labor Government has announced $28 million in funding to ensure ongoing support and advocacy for people with disability.

Funding for the Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP) will continue for a further 2 years to ensure approximately 1.4 million people with disability can access NSW Government funded services.

The DAFP provides funding to support people with disability navigate local services on a 1-to-1 basis, to fund organisations working towards long-term social change, and to fund policy advocacy groups run by, or on behalf of, people with disability.

The DAFP commenced in 2022 following a recommendation from the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission’s Review into Disability Advocacy Funding in NSW.

The program focuses on all people with disability in NSW who need support to access NSW Government funded services, regardless of whether they are participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

In addition, the DAFP also provides 1-off funding grants for special projects and sector development.

Find out more information about the DAFP

Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington said:

“Almost 1 in 5 people in NSW lives with a disability but only a small proportion of them are supported under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“The DAFP provides crucial support and representation for all people with disability to ensure they can access the services they need to reach their full potential.

“The extension of the DAFP will ensure ongoing support for the sector to drive better outcomes for people with disability through effective and inclusive advocacy.”

CEO of Down Syndrome NSW, Emily Caska said:

“We warmly welcome this much needed investment in advocacy for a further 2-year period, with advocacy organisations forming such an essential part of the ecosystem of trusted and independent supports for people with disability.

“The DAFP to date has had a significant impact on our community, ensuring that people with disability, their parents and siblings are informed, confident and connected.

“This in turn contributes greatly to our overarching aim of ensuring that people with disability are valued and active citizens within their thriving, vibrant and diverse communities across NSW.”