Category: NSW News

Premier of NSW Chris Minns will welcome the Governor of Tokyo, Her Excellency Ms Yuriko Koike, making her inaugural visit to NSW on Monday, 5 February.

The focus of Governor Koike’s two-day visit will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the NSW-Tokyo Sister State Agreement which was first signed in 1984 by then-Premier Neville Wran, and on bolstering trade and economic ties between the two states.

Tokyo is the world’s second-largest metropolitan economy and an important trade and investment partner for NSW.

In 2022-23 Japan was the state’s second largest two-way trading partner valued at $46.5 billion and in 2022 it was Australia’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment valued at $133.8 billion.

Australia and Japan also share a deep partnership underpinned by shared values, economic, social and people-to-people links, and a long history of cooperation.

Governor Koike will visit Sydney and Newcastle during her stay. Like NSW, Tokyo is transitioning to reliable, secure and renewable energy and this will be a key focus of Governor Koike’s engagements.

Work will start this month on 2 new snow chain fitting bays to improve the safety of motorists travelling along the Snowy Mountains Highway during the snow season.

The NSW Government has announced it will invest up to $4.5 million to build 2 new bays along the Snowy Mountains Highway where motorists can safely stop and fit snow chains to their vehicles. 

The 2 new bays will be in the Kiandra area, with one near Sawyers Hill and the other near Denison Campground.

Each bay will feature a dedicated slow lane off the highway to enter and designated parking for up to 10 vehicles. 

The snow bays will service traffic from Adaminaby to Selwyn, offering motorists a safe place to stop and fit chains.

Chain bays will be open throughout the snow season when required. Motorists will be provided with advanced warning by electronic signs and can check the Live Traffic NSW website for updates.

Work to install the new chain bays will be carried out between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and on occasion between 7am and 1pm Saturdays, from 5 February to 30 April, weather permitting.

Single lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place for the safety of motorists and workers, while motorists should allow an additional 10 minutes’ travel time.

All 2-wheel drive vehicles are required to carry snow chains between the June and October long weekends on Kosciuszko Road from the Kosciuszko National Park boundary at Thredbo River to Perisher Valley, Alpine Way between Thredbo and Tom Groggin, and Island Bend/Guthega Road for its full length.

Snow chains are recommended on Alpine Way between Jindabyne and Thredbo, and on Snowy Mountains Highway, and for 4WD and AWD vehicles during winter, especially if the drivers are not used to alpine roads affected by snow and ice.

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

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be investing $4.5 million in new snow chains bays, which we hope will lead to a safer snow season for all.

“Completing this work now means the next snow season will be a safer one and motorists can travel with confidence knowing there’s more infrastructure in place to help them safely reach their destinations.

“We have seen increased traffic headed to the snow in recent years and the new bays are critical to ensure all motorists have access to a safe place to pull over and fit their chains.

“This additional investment in our region reinforces the Minns Labor Government’s determination to improve road safety and deliver smoother journeys for motorists.”

The Minns Labor Government is once again taking credit for the Liberal and Nationals’ education plan, trying to claim it is responsible for “new and upgraded learning facilities” that have opened for the start of Term 1.

Almost all of the 18 projects “announced” by the Minns Government this morning were already funded by the former Liberal and Nationals Government.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Premier Chris Minns is trying to reap the rewards without doing any of the groundwork.

“Today is an important day for students and families across NSW, as they embark on a new school year,” Mr Speakman said.

“Thanks to extensive planning and the funding that was set aside by the former Liberal and Nationals Government, thousands of students are able to start this journey with new or upgraded facilities.”

“Chris Minns is up to his old tricks, claiming the credit for classrooms and buildings that he had nothing to do with.”

In the Liberal and Nationals’ 2022-023 Budget (Infrastructure Statement pages 2-6 and 2-7) money was allocated for the following schools in various stages of delivery:

• Gulyangarri Public School
• Jerrabomberra High School
• Budawang School
• Nirimba Fields Public School
• Melonba High School
• Tallawong Public School
• Muswellbrook South Public School
• Liverpool West Public School
• Fort Street Public School
• Bletchington Public School
• Oran Park Public School
• John Palmer Public School
• Hastings Secondary College
• Glenwood High School
• Mosman High School
• Seven Hills High School
• Millthorpe Public School
• Bangalow Public School

Shadow Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said construction had already begun on 14 of the 18 schools before Labor was even elected.

“The announcement by Chris Minns today is extremely disingenuous. Labor has taken the money we set aside and is opening the projects we had already started and parents deserve more transparency,” Ms Mitchell said.

““I personally attended the sod turn to mark the start of construction for a number of the school projects they are trying to take credit for today. The fact the Premier can stand at a school like Jerrabomberra High, which was well underway before he even became the Premier, is remarkable. He needs to tell the truth.”

“During our time in Government, the Liberal and Nationals delivered $9.1b in new and upgraded schools since 2017, with an additional $8.6b in the pipeline for future projects, which amounts to more than $17.7 billion worth of school infrastructure across the state.”

The NSW Government is rebooting the state’s digital strategy, with industry leaders coming together at a roundtable in Sydney today to explore new ways to harness technology to improve service delivery, enhance inclusion and boost the economy.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib joined digital experts and representatives from industry and academia to discuss the future of digital to ensure it is meeting the needs of people, communities and businesses across NSW. 

The new State Digital Strategy will reset the digital ambition for NSW in the context of emerging technology opportunities and evolving community needs, with the roundtable helping develop the blueprint for digital services and collaboration.

Digital resilience and inclusion, improved frontline services, and harnessing AI responsibly are among the key priorities for the new strategy, which will investigate how technology can enable better outcomes for NSW residents in focus areas such as frontline services, housing and the environment.

NSW is a leading jurisdiction when it comes to digital innovation, particularly in developing a secure Digital Identity for citizens, with the roundtable an opportunity to ensure progress continues to be made. 

In an Australian first, NSW residents can now renew their Working with Children Check online using verifiable credential technology, setting the foundation for further uses of the technology to make government services and transactions more accessible.

As digital and technology trends continue to evolve, the roundtable will help Digital.NSW capture up-to-date feedback from the sector to inform the new strategy, targeted for release later this year.   

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Today’s conversation is a valuable opportunity to work with industry experts as we shape the new State Digital Strategy to best meet the evolving needs of our communities.”

“The strategy is intended to help guide investment to deliver on government priorities and allow more people across the state to benefit from digital initiatives.”

“As technology evolves, it will also help ensure the NSW Government is ready to meet the resulting changes and challenges so we can continue to deliver safe, resilient services and build a digitally innovative future.”

“The digital economy is an important source of employment in NSW and a growth sector we are keen to see benefit from a strong focus across the public sector.”  

“Bringing together industry and academic leaders at today’s roundtable will capture input from experts across the sector and allow us to share the government’s research and thinking.”

The NSW Government is today launching the Make the Move Campaign, spotlighting the stories of nurses, police, teachers, firefighters and midwives who have made the move from metropolitan NSW to regional NSW.

This is one element of the NSW Government’s commitment to boost the number of essential workers in regional NSW.

The campaign targets those living in Sydney. First responders, healthcare workers and educators featured in this series will share how moving to regional NSW has provided lifestyle benefits and fresh opportunities to pursue new interests and hobbies outside of work.

The Make the Move campaign captures the everyday experiences and benefits that regional living can provide, such as swapping long city commutes for more time walking the dog, taking a dip before dinner, or coaching a junior sporting team. Over the next few months these stories will be shared on radio, print, digital and social media channels and bus shelters.

The campaign hopes to encourage essential workers currently living in Sydney to consider a move to regional NSW to help boost the local workforce to ensure communities have the best services and care possible.

The campaign will also target audiences in Adelaide to encourage South Australian essential workers to consider moving to nearby regional NSW communities, such as Broken Hill.

Part of the Essential Worker Attraction Program, the Make the Move campaign is among a suite of NSW Government initiatives aimed at encouraging essential workers to move to the regions, such as The Welcome Experience, which provides essential workers and their families with practical and tailored support to help them relocate and connect with their new communities.

This comes off the back of the NSW Government announcement this week that rural health worker recruitment and retentions have surged by a fifth in just the last 6 months, after the NSW Government doubled the support available under the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme from $10,000 to $20,000.

Find practical information about how to Make the Move.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“The NSW Government is serious about ensuring the people of regional NSW have access to quality critical services. A robust regional workforce is a vital part of that.

“Regional NSW has so much to offer, and this campaign aims to show essential workers the opportunities and benefits that become available when they make the switch from the city.

“Moving to a new place can be daunting, but this campaign is part of a broader program that is helping essential workers relocate to the regions with practical support to help them settle into their new communities.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“Regional NSW residents are already aware of the great lifestyle benefits of living in the regions, and the Make the Move campaign is all about spreading the word to our peers in metro areas.

“This campaign shows that there is much more to living in regional NSW than fresh air, easy commutes and wide-open spaces. There are great cafes and restaurants to explore, art and cultural events to enjoy and sporting clubs ready to roll out the welcome mat.

“Make the Move shares the experiences of those who have already taken the leap and found the change has given them more time to do the things they are passionate about, as well as the opportunity to have a big backyard and raise a family within a close-knit community.

“With more than a third of the state’s population living in regional NSW, boosting the workforce to ensure regional communities have better access to quality services is really important.

“Part of our Essential Worker Attraction Program, the Make the Move campaign makes a compelling case for living and working in the regions while promoting regional NSW as a great place to escape the rat race, get ahead and be part of a supportive community.”

Firefighter and casual special needs teacher living in Goulburn Mr Jason McPherson said:

“We love calling Goulburn home. My wife and I made the decision to return after 4 years in Sydney as we really value the affordable lifestyle, as well as the space and strong sense of community that a country upbringing could offer our kids.

“We escaped the skyrocketing city house prices to buy our own home as well as some land, we enjoy easier commutes, and thanks to the quieter lifestyle of regional living we have more time to spend together as a family to focus on the important things in life.

“Our kids are involved in various sporting clubs, they learn guitar at the local conservatorium and we know there are so many great options out there to help them stay active and pursue their passions, whether it be through sport, the vibrant creative arts scene, or signing up to the local theatre group.

“As a busy family of 6, we love the quality of life that regional NSW has to offer and we’d recommend it to anyone seeking a refreshing tree change.”

The NSW Government will assume responsibility for the provision of healthcare at Hawkesbury Hospital after St John of God Health Care advised it would not renew its contract to provide services at the facility.

As a result, services provided by SJHC will transition to Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD). It is expected the transition of Hawkesbury Hospital to the NSW Government will be completed by 30 June 2024.

The NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park says patients at the Hawkesbury District Health Service – known as the Hawkesbury Hospital – can rest assured they will continue to receive high quality, safe, and compassionate care.

The Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District will ensure the skill, knowledge and expertise of the hospital’s staff will be absorbed under the new arrangements with the NSW Government.

NSW Health will work with staff and their relevant unions to transition their employment from St John of God to the public health system.

The hospital will remain open throughout the entirety of the transition period.

This will include its 24-hour emergency department, operating theatres, community health services and outpatients’ clinics.

Public patient appointments and clinic hours will not be impacted.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“NSW Health and the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District is well placed to continue to provide high quality healthcare to patients.

“I want to assure the community that the excellent care and services at Hawkesbury Hospital will remain unchanged.

“And I want to assure staff that NSW Health will engage closely and regularly with you throughout this period to provide for as smooth a transition as possible.

Blue Mountains Local Health District Chief Executive, Lee Gregory said:

“We deliver world-class, innovative health care from our 4 hospital campuses and 9 community health centres, providing 24-hour comprehensive care to over 380,000 residents across the Nepean, Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Hawkesbury region.

“NBMLHD is proud of our enduring and deep connection to the community and we look forward to continuing to build on our 150 years of health care service.”

ANZAC Day is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar, when we remember the selfless sacrifice made by our service men and women in operations across the world.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said it is beyond comprehension how the Minns Labor Government allowed the situation around the Pandemonium music festival to be so badly handled.
 
“It is a clear leadership failure by Chris Minns and his inept government that an event which has been advertised for weeks and reportedly in contract negotiations for months had not been appropriately handled,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“Having had to scramble today, Chris Minns has now said that it would not be appropriate for major rock concerts to be held anywhere in NSW on the day, making it unclear whether he supports the NRL and other sporting fixtures planned for ANZAC Day.”
 
“Chris Minns needs to be upfront and explain whether taxpayers’ money will now have to be paid in compensation to the festival, because of the Labor Government’s mishandling of this situation.”
 
Shadow Minister for Veterans Robyn Preston said the lack of awareness by the Minns ministers of this situation shows once again that they are out of their depth.
 
“Chris Minns has once again had to clean up after his team, while his Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Minister for Veterans and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy all seem to be missing,” Ms Preston said.
 
“ANZAC Day is a solemn day to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of our service men and women. Australia has lost over 100,000 lives in wars and peacekeeping roles, and we owe them and their families our deepest respect.”
 
“I hope all communities across NSW join us in honouring this day.”

The 2024 NSW Women’s Week series of events, set to kick off from Monday 4 March to Sunday 10
March, will focus on inclusivity and celebrating the achievements of women across NSW.

Funded by the NSW Government, this year’s events will showcase the remarkable stories and accomplishments of women from diverse backgrounds, including:

• regional/rural/remote NSW
• LGBTIQA+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• living with disability
• culturally and linguistically diverse.

The NSW Women’s Week grants program provided 16 organisations with a share of $300,000 in government funding for activities that celebrate, connect, and pay tribute to the state’s women and
girls.

The week-long celebration will culminate with the announcement of the winners of the NSW Women of the Year Awards 2024 at a ceremony on Thursday 7 March.

Find out more about NSW Women’s Week 2024 and register for an event. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“NSW Women’s Week is a time to bring communities together to work towards gender equality and inclusion.

“The week is all about shining the spotlight on the women and girls whose determination, bravery, skill and passion should be celebrated and shared, inspiring others to achieve great things.

“Advancing gender equality in NSW is a key priority for my government which we highlighted in the 2023-24 Budget – from creating economic opportunities through participation and empowerment, to providing essential healthcare and appropriate support services.

“I look forward to seeing the exciting line up of NSW Women’s Week events unfold and meeting the remarkable women and girls nominated for the Women of the Year Awards.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“NSW Women’s Week is a time to celebrate women and girls in NSW, their contributions to our families and communities, their strengths and achievements in social, cultural and political life.

“Our Women’s Week events focus on supporting accessibility and activities that reflect the diversity of our communities.

“In particular, we wanted to make sure the events aligned with the objectives of the NSW Women’s Strategy which is to help improve the economic, social and physical wellbeing of women and girls across the state.

“NSW Women’s Week is a great opportunity to get together to share knowledge and work towards gender equality, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

“There is something for women of all ages and backgrounds, and I encourage you to find out what is happening in your community this NSW Women’s Week and get involved.” 

Young people are being reminded ‘every vape is a hit to your health’, as part of a new campaign launched by the NSW Government today.

Developed in consultation with young people and medical experts, the campaign amplifies the voices of people aged 14 – 24 who have experienced the harms of vaping.

The campaign also uses powerful advertisements to encourage young people to consider the proven health harms of vaping, such as nicotine addiction, lung damage, breathlessness, nicotine poisoning and burns from exploding vapes.

It comes as the latest NSW Population Health Survey shows current vaping among people aged 16-24 has significantly increased to 16.5% in 2021-2022, up from 4.5% 2 years prior.

The ‘Every vape is a hit to your health’ campaign builds on NSW Health’s successful ‘Do you know what you’re vaping?’ campaign and Vaping Toolkit and provides a range of support pathways for young people.

For support and advice about quitting vaping young people are encouraged to contact their general practitioner, download a quit vaping app, or call Quitline on 13 78 48.

The NSW Government is committed to addressing the growing issue of vaping through ongoing collaboration with our Commonwealth and state counterparts, including contributing to the National Vaping Working Group established by the Federal Government in November 2023.

In 2023-2024, the NSW Ministry of Health will invest $25 million on tobacco and e-cigarette control in NSW. This includes an investment by Cancer Institute NSW of more than $3 million in the new vaping campaign.

An additional $2.5 million is also being invested over the next 12 months to increase services to help young people quit vaping, including a new digital platform, enhancements to the iCanQuit platform and an online learning module for youth services across the state.

This comes after the NSW Government convened a round table last year to address the growing issue of vaping in schools.

Since then, the NSW Department of Education is continuing to update the curriculum resources so they better address the dangers of vaping.

An online training module for school staff is also being created to have conversations with students, and webinar resources will soon be available for parents and carers.

For more information on the campaign, developed by Cancer Institute NSW, visit the Every vape is a hit to your health campaign website.

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

“Vaping is a serious issue and it is having a significant impact on students and young people.

“It is important that as we work together to tackle the scourge of vaping, we lead with an evidenced-based approach, and bring the experiences of young people to the forefront.

“This is part of our strategy to tackle vaping, particularly addressing the impact on young people.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“We are listening to the concerns of young people when it comes to vaping. By putting their stories and experiences at the forefront of this campaign, we can encourage more young people to seek support.

“This is very important because we know regular nicotine consumption can cause changes to a young person’s brain development, learning and memory, and may worsen stress, depression and anxiety.

“I want to thank the young people who have come forward to share their stories and their experiences in grappling with vaping, in the hope that they can help others.

“It took us over three-quarters of a century to reduce smoking among men from around 72%t to 14%.

“We have an opportunity to stem the tide of another emerging public health crisis that could have a lasting impact for generations of young people to come.”

Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien said:

“Vapes can be highly addictive, with many vapes containing even higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes. Even vapes labelled as nicotine-free often contain this highly addictive substance.

“Not only are vapes full of harmful chemicals that have been known to cause cancer, there is also growing evidence that non-smokers who vape are more likely to take up smoking, which can significantly increase their cancer risk.

“We are very concerned that a new generation of people will become addicted to smoking if vaping use continues to increase in young people.”

The NSW Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment announcing it will implement a review of the financial model for local government to address rising cost pressures facing councils across the state.

The Government has asked the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to examine the financial model for councils and key factors impacting councils’ financial sustainability.

The review will assess the resources currently available to councils, their capacity to cover ongoing expenses and ability to fund core council services and infrastructure for their communities.

It will also identify ways to improve budgetary performance and accountability within the sector so democratically elected councillors are empowered to make decisions for the effective running of their councils. 

This announcement follows changes made to the IPART rate peg methodology last year, which give councils greater certainty about the income they can generate through the payment of council rates, while protecting residents from significant rate increases. 

This financial modelling review will provide a holistic view of the challenges impeding the financial sustainability of the sector and ensure councils are delivering value to their communities through responsible fiscal decisions.

IPART will consider and recommend improvements on matters including: 

• The visibility of councillors and the community over the financial and operational performance of their councils;
• Whether the current budget and financial processes of councils are delivering value for money for ratepayers and residents;
• Whether the current funding model will sustainably support the needs of communities;
• Whether councillors and council staff have the financial capacity and capability to meet current and future needs of communities; and
• How better planning and reporting systems can improve long-term budget performance, transparency and accountability to the community.

Read the draft Terms of Reference and provide feedback

Have your say on the draft Terms of Reference until 15 March 2024.

IPART will consult with councils and the public to develop a report due to the Government 12 months’ after the Terms of Reference have been finalised. 

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“The financial sustainability of councils is one of the most significant issues facing local government in this state.

“With the cost of delivering core services to communities rising, it’s critically important councils are financially sustainable, but that needs to be balanced with the impact on tightening household budgets.

“That’s why we’ve asked IPART to make recommendations about whether the current financial model of councils enables long-term financial sustainability and whether councils have the financial capacity and mechanisms needed to deliver budget improvements.

“There needs to be a closer examination so that the solution to financial challenges is not increasing revenue through raising council rates or seeking financial support from the State Government.

“This review is a key election commitment and will help ensure this vital tier of government can continue to deliver essential services to NSW communities.”