Category: NSW News

More than 40 thousand people living in residential land lease communities in NSW will be better off after changes to how these communities are regulated, making it fairer for residents.

The Minns Labor Government has today passed new laws to fix some of the biggest and most pressing challenges for these communities, including changes to fees and charges.

Residential land lease communities include caravan parks or manufactured home estates with permanent residents who own their home but lease the land on which the home sits from the community operator.

Residential land lease communities play an important part in NSW’s housing diversity, with many communities providing lower cost and affordable homes for people – especially older Australians.

The changes include:

• Improving transparency of fees and charges: with rules to require operators to make it clear to prospective residents how much fees and charges will be and to make future increases more predictable.
• Fairer electricity pricing: protection from excessive price rises in communities with embedded networks so residents and operators have more certainty about energy prices.
• Letting residents make a house a home: with a right to make minor changes like adding window locks or screens without seeking approval.

There are more than 500 residential land lease communities in NSW, with 95 per cent of them located in rural and regional NSW.

The statutory review of the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013 was completed in 2021. While the report was tabled in Parliament, the previous government did not act on its recommendations. One of those recommendations was allowing three years for land lease community providers to transition to the fairer fee structure.

To ensure relief earlier for these residents, the Minns Labor Government supported a key amendment to reduce the transition period from three years to 12 months – ensuring greater clarity sooner for people living in these communities.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Residents in these communities have been crying out for change for years.

“We’ve heard the community, and we know they’re dealing with uncertainty and cost of living pressure, so we’re getting on with it.

“These changes make fee increases clearer and ensure electricity charges are fair and equitable.

“I am proud that we have been able to pass this legislation during our first term in government, ending the inaction of the previous government that sat on its hands for nearly a decade.”

ARPRA CEO Gary Martin said:

“We are delighted with the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to making real, impactful changes for the residents of Residential Land Lease Communities.

“These new laws will provide much-needed clarity and fairness, particularly regarding fees, charges, and electricity pricing.

“The reduction of the transition period for fixed term agreements from three years to 12 months is a significant victory for residents, who have long faced uncertainty and financial pressure.

“This legislation demonstrates a strong commitment to improving the quality of life for some of the most vulnerable members of our state.”

The first fully paid class of police recruits will be sworn into the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) today and will start duties at their new home stations next week.

Today’s Attestation is also an opportunity to recognise the outstanding contribution of serving police officers to NSW.

Inspector Amy Scott will be awarded the Commissioner’s Award for Valour for her exceptional bravery shown during the tragic Bondi Junction attack in April this year.

169 new Probationary Constables will be welcomed into the NSW Police Force this morning following 8 months of training – 4 months in-person at the Goulburn Police Academy and four months online study.

Class 362 will now undertake 12 months on-the-job-training as Probationary Constables.

Communities across NSW will see new boots on the ground on Monday:

• Central Metropolitan Region: 43
• Northwest Metropolitan Region: 34
• Southwest Metropolitan Region: 35
• Northern Region: 22
• Southern Region: 19
• Western Region: 17

Last year, the NSW Government made the historic announcement that recruits will be paid up to $30,894 to study at the Goulburn Police Academy, a major measure designed to boost police recruitment, address the critical shortage of police officers and attract a more diverse range of recruits to the NSWPF.

In further evidence paid study is proving to be an outstanding success, the NSW Police Force has received more than 1573 applications to train as a police officer since the announcement on October 31, last year, a 44% increase compared to the same period last year.

This is complemented by other programs specifically aimed at attracting both regional recruits and experienced officers:

• You Should Be a Cop in Your Hometown ensures people from regional NSW who may not wish to move to the city and train as police then serve in, or near, their hometown after training at the Goulburn Police Academy.
• The Professional Mobility Program incentivises officers from other Australian states and territories and New Zealand to join the NSWPF while keeping their equivalent rank (up to senior constable level 6).

The NSWPF is carrying more than 1500 vacancies. These vacancies are placing significant strain and a punishing workload on serving officers. Action to tackle this is critical. These measures are vital elements of that response.

The responsible decisions made in this week’s 2024-25 Budget mean we can invest in the essential services our community relies on, pay our workers fairly and keep our communities safe.

It’s part of our plan to build a better NSW.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Inspector Scott has been rightly labelled a hero. She was calm, decisive, and as a result she saved many lives.”

“She gives us all an example of what we ask of our police, many of whom are young, to walk into terrible situations as an ordinary part of their job.

“And if there was an emergency tomorrow, we’d ask them to do it all over again. Because the truth is, we don’t have a choice.

“Congratulations to the 169 probationary officers graduating today. You have dedicated your lives to keeping the people of NSW safe. It is the very best definition of public service.”

NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Congratulations to all 169 Probationary Constables on the dedication and professionalism you have shown throughout your training.

“Today marks the start of an unwavering commitment to make a difference to the people of NSW. I wish you all a rich and rewarding career with the NSW Police Force.

“This is a Government that backs our police 100%. I have made it my personal mission, alongside Commissioner Webb, to make the NSWPF the best place to work in NSW.

“We are paying recruits to study and have announced a suite of recruitment measures aimed at filling the 1500 plus vacancies we are carrying.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said:

“To wear the uniform and serve the people of NSW is a great honour. I know full well the sense of pride and satisfaction you are feeling today.”

“Policing is a job like no other. It takes special people and enormous commitment. I welcome all our new recruits to the NSW police family and wish them the very best in what will be an extremely rewarding career.”

At the Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Sydney today, Ministers agreed to take urgent action to help prevent potentially deadly battery fires.

During the meeting at Taronga Zoo, Ministers determined that New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria will work together to lead action on reforms to Australia’s product stewardship arrangements for all batteries.

Product stewardship is the act of minimising the health, safety and environmental impacts of a product and its packaging throughout the entire lifecycle. The state’s Container Deposit Scheme is an example of one successful type of product stewardship model.

Ongoing fires caused by batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries embedded inside a range of devices, show the critical importance of acting quickly to protect lives and property.

In response, Environment Ministers have agreed to accelerate work towards reforming the product stewardship arrangements for all batteries, acknowledging that intervention is needed through the entire lifecycle of a battery or battery-powered device.

This includes looking at options to improve the design, packaging, importation, storage and disposal of batteries.

A key focus will be on creating financial incentives to ensure the safe disposal of all types of batteries, reducing the chances of batteries ending up in our bins and landfills.

NSW will immediately start work on a draft Regulatory Impact Statement, which will assess the costs and benefits of product stewardship models. It will also consider how reforms would relate to existing product stewardship schemes, such as the B-Cycle scheme.

New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland will also start work on model legislation.

This work will enable governments to quickly identify the best reform option to reduce the risk of fires, support the battery recycling sector and deliver the most cost-effective and efficient approach for businesses and consumers.

Ministers acknowledged work already done by Queensland on safe battery disposal and discussed the issue of managing the risks of batteries as a matter of priority.

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“Fire and Rescue NSW attended more than 270 lithium-ion battery fires in 2023 alone, but we know this is just a small fraction of the true number of battery fires. When batteries are not stored or disposed of properly, they can threaten lives and cause extensive damage to properties and waste infrastructure.

“Ministers from around the country have agreed it is time for urgent action to protect our communities. NSW is proud to work with Victoria and QLD on a regulatory approach for batteries, to drive better design and disposal.”

Graduate nurses and midwives are being encouraged to start their careers in Australia’s largest and busiest public health system, by applying to work for NSW Health.

Each year NSW Health runs GradStart, a state-wide recruitment process for graduate nurses and midwives.

Minister for Heath, Ryan Park said there are great personal and professional benefits to working in the public system.

“Our nurses and midwives are really at the heart of healthcare in our hospitals and health facilities, and I encourage graduate nurses and midwives to apply to join the NSW Health family,” Mr Park said.

“Beginning your career in the NSW public health system offers comprehensive professional development, variety, and ongoing training and support as you build your future in NSW Health.

“It also provides opportunities to work in different locations, and I hope graduates consider options in rural and regional settings which can offer both a great lifestyle and professional opportunities.”

Candidates also may be eligible for scholarships and study subsidies.

Applications for NSW Health’s 2025 GradStart intake are now open and close on 1 July 2024.

Students are eligible to apply if:

• They are completing a nursing or midwifery degree between 1 June 2024 and 31 May 2025
• Will meet all the requirements to be registered as a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
• Are an Australian Citizen or hold a visa that allows ongoing full-time employment in Australia.

Find out more about GradStart

The NSW Government on Wednesday 19 June enacted its emergency biosecurity incident plan to contain the detection of avian influenza in the Hawkesbury district on a poultry egg farm.

NSW consumers should not be concerned about eggs and poultry products from the supermarkets, because this detection does not pose a risk to consumer health and the products are safe to consume. As always people should handle and cook using the standard procedures.

Following testing by the CSIRO national research laboratory it was confirmed that Avian Influenza H7N8 has been detected in a mixed barnyard and free-range poultry farm in the Hawkesbury.

This is a highly contagious and deadly virus and that’s why the NSW Government has acted swiftly and decisively in response to this detection. 8,000 birds died from the flu over the last 48 hours.

We have acted and are rolling out our biosecurity incident plan, developed in line with the national approach for avian influenza.

The following actions have been undertaken over the last 24 hours:

• Tested samples with CSIRO to detect the bird flu type
• Locked down the affected egg farm
  Issued a control order to depopulate the farm of its birds and to dispose of the remains in a biosecure manner working with the EPA on disposal
• Last night we started depopulating the farm, in a humanely manner, following Australian Veterinary guidelines. This process will take up to 5-7 days to depopulate 240,000 birds.
• We have activated the funding agreement with the Commonwealth government, egg industry, and other states, to release compensation funds for directly impacted producers
• We have spoken with surrounding chicken industry farms and they have activated their bird flu plans and have locked down their businesses.

Today we will be issuing another control order to legally lock down movement of machinery, materials, animals and transport within a radius of 2 kilometres of the affected egg farm.

The localised lock down order will cover three large commercial poultry farms and impacts up to 355,000 birds that we will monitor for any signs of the virus. There will be no movement of eggs or birds or machinery out of the zone during the control order.

This morning the NSW Chief veterinary Officer, who is leading the incident response, met with key industry organisations to discuss next steps and align how we all work together.

We are acting on this bird flu outbreak and will do everything to work through this challenging time for the egg and chicken meat industry.

The Minns Labor Government has today delivered an historic reform that will benefit up to 250,000 community service workers, more than 75% of whom are women, ensuring they get access to portable long service leave.

The NSW Government’s reform has passed Parliament and will improve the lives of hard-working, dedicated staff in domestic and family violence support, homelessness services, community housing and other community services.

It is estimated that one in every 12 women working in NSW are employed in sectors that will be covered by the scheme.

Under the current system, community sector workers can only gain long service leave after 10 years working for a specific employer.

In a sector where short-term contracts are common, workers rarely spend enough time in the same workplace to access their long service leave. These workers currently lose all accrued long service leave when they change employers.

These workers will now get long service leave based on their time in their sector rather than time employed by a single employer.

This reform will ensure these workers receive 6 weeks paid leave after 7 years of employment in the sector no matter how many times they change contracts.

Importantly this reform allows casual or part-time employees to access this entitlement after the equivalent time (calculated on a pro-rata basis).

Stakeholder feedback provided to the government stated this reform will be an incentive to workers to stay in the industry and help minimise burnout and fatigue.

It is also a critical measure to improve recruitment and reduce the high level of staff turnover among community service workers and forms part of the NSW Labor Government’s commitment to key workers in NSW.

The portable long service scheme was the subject of extensive consultation with employers, peak organisations, and workers. The Government acknowledges the significant work of the Australian Services Union, NCOSS and other non-government sector organisations in designing this scheme.

It will operate in a similar way as already exists for contract cleaners and the construction sector, with employer contributions administered by the Long Service Corporation.

Rather than budget for long service leave as they currently do, employers will pay a levy to the Long Service Leave Corporation to cover their obligations under the Long Service Leave Act 1955.This bill will also offer a one-off one-year service credit for workers who register within the first six months of commencement, as was provided to cleaners when their scheme was introduced in 2010.

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“The NSW Government is proud to deliver a landmark reform for community service workers who have been campaigning for years to access portable long service entitlements.

“Across the state – in rural, remote, regional and metro neighbourhoods, there are professionals who provide vital services to their communities.

“I have met many of these workers who push themselves in jobs that can be emotionally exhausting and that takes a toll.

“These are tough jobs in domestic and family violence support, homelessness services, community housing and other community services and they deserve to have access to long service leave regardless of if they work for multiple providers.

“We are making sure these incredible professionals, most of whom are women, now get long service.

“I want to thank the hard-working community service workers of NSW for everything they do to make the lives of people in this state that much better.

“A huge thanks to the ASU, NCOSS as well as my officials for their diligent hard work over many months to ensure this groundbreaking reform.”

After 20 years of campaigning by families, friends, and unions whose members have been killed at work, today the Industrial Manslaughter Bill passed NSW Parliament.

NSW is the last mainland state to make industrial manslaughter an offence.

The Minns Government has fulfilled its promise to legislate industrial manslaughter.

Since 2019 more than 300 workers have been killed in NSW. The new Industrial Manslaughter law will give prosecutors the ability to hold a business or individual responsible for the death of a person due to gross negligence in the workplace.

The maximum penalty will be 25 years jail for an individual, which is consistent with the existing maximum penalty for manslaughter in the NSW Crimes Act.

There will be a maximum penalty of $20 million in fines for a body corporate, the highest in Australia.

It will be supported by a new unit established in the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The new law does not create new work health and safety obligations or duties for employers but creates a strong new offence to deter unsafe practices and strengthen accountability.

The Government consulted widely before introducing the bill and the bill was supported by an overwhelming majority of the Parliament.

A review is to be undertaken 18 months after the commencement of the provisions.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“This is an historic moment for worker safety in New South Wales.

“These are not laws we ever want to use. We want them to act as a deterrent and a reminder that this government takes worker safety seriously.

“We want those responsible for workplace safety – who are responsible for the lives of their workers – to take that role with utmost seriousness.

“The message sent today is clear – unsafe practices will not be tolerated.

“It is a fundamental right of every worker to go to work and come home safely to their loved ones.”

Co-Chair of the SafeWork Families and Injured Workers Support and Advisory Group (FIWSAG) Jacqueline Quinlivan said:

“This has been such a long time coming, but we can now say we have the industrial manslaughter laws that are required.

“On behalf of the Family and Injured Workers Support and Advisory Group (FIWSAG) and all those who are injured or have lost a loved one through industrial death, we would like to say, ’this is for them’.

“This is a step forward for NSW as a jurisdiction and I want to thank absolutely everyone who made this possible.”

FIWSAG member Patrizia Cassaniti:

“I would like to thank and congratulate Minister Sophie Cotsis and her team for all the hard work and the Minns Government for making this Bill a priority and a long overdue reality.

“A big thank as well to everyone involved including Unions NSW, CFMMEU, and the Families and Injured Workers Support and Advisory Group for advocating and lobbying for industrial manslaughter to finally be accepted and become law.

“Rob and I would like to dedicate this accomplishment to Christopher and every other worker who went to work and never came home.”

FIWSAG member Dave White said:

“The passing of the industrial manslaughter bill is a milestone that the FIWSAG has been working towards over the past five years.

“This bill introduces an additional and significant deterrent for those individuals in the workplace who continue to risk the health and safety of workers.

“Whilst this won’t bring back our loved ones who’ve been lost in workplace incidents, this passing of the bill may save other families from having to endure the grief and pain of losing someone who never came home from work.”

The new $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital is on track to deliver first-class health services and hundreds of local jobs with the appointment of the main works contractor.

Multiplex Constructions has been awarded the main works contract to deliver the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital, which will provide the community with a range of expanded and contemporary health services close to home.

Clinicians, staff and the community have been engaged in the planning and design process, which is expected to support more than 600 direct jobs during construction and hundreds of indirect jobs over the life of the project.

Work to prepare the site will include the installation of site sheds, site setup and establishment, construction of erosion and sediment basins, and an ancillary road to facilitate construction access.

The new $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital includes:

• An emergency department with a larger capacity than the current combined emergency services of Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals.
• An 8 bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Close Observation Unit (COU). This will be the first intensive care service available in the Eurobodalla region.
• Increased access for chemotherapy treatments and renal dialysis.
• Surgical and operating theatres and a day stay surgical unit.
• Expanded medical imaging, including a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) service.
• Ambulatory care for community outpatient services.
• Paediatric and maternity services, and a special care nursery.
• Mental health beds for short term admissions.
• Enhanced education and training facilities, including a simulation laboratory.

Community members interested in working on the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be encouraged to attend drop-in information sessions at a later date, to hear about opportunities to be part of the workforce for the new project.

Find out more about the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital development

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

“The NSW Government is delivering $70 million in additional funding towards the brand-new, purpose-built, $330 million level 4 hospital to support the needs of the entire Eurobodalla Shire community from Narooma to Batemans Bay.

“The new hospital will serve the South Coast region for generations to come, providing more health services than are currently available at both the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.”

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland:

“I am so pleased we have reached another major milestone in our efforts to deliver the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital as a Level 4 health facility.

“This is on top of the recent budget announcement which will deliver an additional $70 million investment towards the project, which will ensure that it remains on track.

“With the main works contractor appointed to build the new hospital, the community will see increased activity on site, including heavy machinery, in preparation for the start of main works construction in the coming weeks.”

Racing at Wakefield Park Raceway is set to return following a $1 million investment from the Minns Government, delivering on another major election commitment.

The iconic regional track in Tirrannaville hasn’t seen any hot laps in 2 years as the facility has been shut since September 2022 following an ongoing noise generation issue.

The NSW Government pledged to work with stakeholders to implement noise mitigation measures to minimise noise impacts to surrounding properties around the raceway.

Stage 1 works have now been completed at the venue, which has been renamed as One Raceway, with a track reconfiguration and large 13 to 18-metre-high noise mounds created to the northern and southern ends of the raceway to better shield surrounding dwellings from on-site noise generation.

This is another great announcement for the NSW racing community following the government’s work to see Speedway racing back up and running this season.

The track is also offering a number of services for the Goulburn community such as driver training and safety programs.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The raceway has a long and storied history spanning over 30 years, with Goulburn the historic home of motor racing, having held Australia’s first motorbike and car grand prix.

“The NSW Government has delivered on yet another important election commitment to have the Wakefield Park Raceway back up and racing in a way that also mitigates racing noise.

“Wakefield Park Raceway is an important community facility for people right across the Goulburn region and the state. It also offers vital driver training and safety programs which benefit the local community.

“The community and the motor racing industry are eagerly anticipating the raceway’s grand re-opening. The new owners have made some exciting new racing additions including a dual-direction circuit – which they say is an Australian first.”

Duty MLC Bob Nanva said:

“Wakefield Park holds a special place in the community, not only for its pedigree, but also for its accessibility for motoring enthusiasts.

“Having recently visited the raceway, and having seen the work Steve and his associates have been putting into it firsthand, I can say that the rejuvenation that One Raceway has seen is nothing short of remarkable.

“This funding comes on top of $43 million for Police Force infrastructure, tens of millions of dollars for local roads, nearly $2 million to finalise upgrades to Moss Vale Fire Station, and over $10 million for critical water and sewerage infrastructure, just to name a few of the other essential services to be delivered through the 2024-25 budget.

“This funding delivers on a key commitment the Minns Labor Government made during the 2023 campaign, one that will help support the tourism industry in Goulburn long into the future.”

One Raceway owner Steve Shelley said:

“This is a fantastic day for One Raceway, as we embark on a bold new era for motorsport racing in NSW.

“I’m delighted the NSW Government has followed through with their election commitment by providing funding towards our extensive noise mitigation works.

“Since purchasing this raceway, we have invested close to $7 million to minimise noise disruption for the local community.

“These investments include modifications to the circuit layout and improvements to noise walls. This allows the circuit to be operated in both directions and further reduce noise impacts on our neighbours.”

NSW Health is urging the community to protect themselves against serious illness as cases of flu and emergency presentations continue to rise across the state. 

NSW Health Executive Director of Health Protection, Dr Jeremy McAnulty said the latest NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report shows in the week ending 15 June 2024, there was an increase of 33% in people diagnosed with influenza compared with the previous week.

“The latest data also showed an increase in the number of people who presented to NSW emergency departments (EDs) with influenza-like illness, and some increase in admissions from EDs as well,” Dr McAnulty said.

“The high level of flu activity is concerning, and we expect this to continue in the coming weeks. Influenza is more serious than the common cold. It can cause pneumonia, make chronic underlying medical conditions like diabetes, lung and heart disease much worse requiring hospital admission and causing death.

“Complications can occur in anyone but are most likely in those at higher risk of severe illness.

“Vaccination is the best protection against infection and severe disease. Everyone, but particularly those at higher risk of severe disease, is urged to get their influenza vaccination now; it’s not too late to get vaccinated. By getting vaccinated you also help protect those around you.”

People who are at higher risk of severe illness from influenza who are eligible for free vaccination include:

• people aged 65 years and over
• children aged 6 months to under 5 years
• Aboriginal people from 6 months of age
• pregnant women
• people with serious health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, severe asthma, kidney, heart, and lung disease.

Dr McAnulty said flu was highly contagious and urged people to avoid visiting high-risk settings including hospitals and aged care facilities if they are experiencing symptoms.

“If you have flu symptoms it is important to stay home and avoid contact with others until after your symptoms have gone,” Dr McAnulty said.

There are some simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, including:

• stay up to date with your recommended influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations
• stay home if you are sick and wear a mask if you need to leave home
• get together outdoors or in large, well-ventilated spaces with open doors and windows
• avoid crowded spaces
• consider doing a rapid antigen test (RAT) before visiting people at higher risk of severe illness
• talk with your doctor now if you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or influenza to make a plan about what to do if you get sick, including what test to take, and discussing if you are eligible for antiviral medicines
• don’t visit people who are at higher risk of severe illness if you are sick or have tested positive to COVID-19 or influenza
• practice good hand hygiene, including handwashing.​