Category: NSW News

The NSW Government has successfully delivered on its commitment to strengthen the state’s biosecurity with the passing today of the Biosecurity Amendment (Independent Biosecurity Commissioner) Bill 2023.

The successful passing of the Bill through parliament has enabled the establishment of an independent Biosecurity Commissioner, which is a key election commitment for the Minns Labor government.

The Biosecurity Commissioner will strengthen the impact and accountability of our biosecurity programs for pests and weeds and was developed following extensive consultation with farmers and land holders.

The commissioner will oversee the management of pests and weeds in the state by providing independent and impartial advice to the NSW Government on the effectiveness of programs.

The government is responding to stakeholder priority issues and will refer 4 proposals to the commissioner following their appointment. These are:

• review any perception of an inconsistent enforcement approach
• improve communications to occupiers of land on biosecurity obligations
• explore involvement of Aboriginal communities in biosecurity pest and weed management
• review the governance arrangements and structure of the state and regional committee system responsible for pest and weed management.

The powers of the commissioner are significant and necessary to deliver on the intent and purpose of the role. The commissioner may require a government agency or state-owned corporation involved in pest or weed management or the care, control or management of land to provide documents and information.

The commissioner will report annually to parliament on their work and the opportunities for improvement in controlling invasive species.

The government is expediting the recruitment process for this critical position and advertisements to attract top applicants will be posted very soon.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government has delivered on our election commitment to do more to effectively manage invasive species pests and weeds, after listening to farmers and land holders about the issues they are facing.

“I am pleased to invite leaders in this area to start preparing their applications for the role of the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner.

“This is a critically important and challenging role, reporting directly to me as the Minister for Agriculture, providing the expertise and transparency necessary to address the challenges posed by invasive species pest and weed management across the state.

“We know that biosecurity risks present the most significant threat to our primary industries sector – as well as our environment and communities. Instances of biosecurity matters are rising in volume, complexity and severity.

“The commissioner will engage with a wide range of stakeholders from across government, industry and the broader community and promote their coordination and collaboration to address the challenges of pests and weeds management.”

The Opposition supports, and remains willing to support, legislation that would allow NSW Police powers of prosecution for publicly threatening or inciting violence on grounds of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex or HIV/AIDS status, and moved an amendment to allow this, which the government voted down.
 
We don’t support allowing citizens to bring private prosecutions, which would have been permitted under the Government’s proposed amendment. We therefore opposed the legislation in the Parliament.
 
Our intention was always to support a law that would enhance community harmony and ensure that people don’t feel fearful in their own community.
 
The Government’s poorly drafted legislation risks weaponising the provision in the hands of people trying to shut down free speech. Even if people are ultimately acquitted there is the chilling effect of being threatened with having to go through a criminal prosecution.
 
By supporting the Government’s amendment, this reform could result in the opposite effect of what is intended and further inflame tensions within the community.
 
We are willing to work with the Government to improve their proposed amendments to enable NSW Police powers of prosecution.

Thirty-five community groups will share $6.1 million in funding under the latest round of the NSW Government’s Club grants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants Program.

The funding will ensure grassroots organisations across NSW receive a much-needed boost to cover the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and infrastructure to deliver outcomes for NSW communities.

The Club grants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants Program is operated under the Gaming Machine Tax Act 2001 and administered by the Office of Responsible Gambling. The fund reinvests a portion of gaming machine profits over $1 million from registered clubs back into community infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure Grants are open to not-for-profit community organisations and local councils and delivered across 4 categories: arts and culture, community infrastructure, sport and recreation and disaster readiness.

Successful projects in this round include:

• $300,000 to Wollongong City Council for an inclusive skatepark in Wollongong City Centre
• $230,000 for a mobile health clinic for Aboriginal women in Collarenebri
• $199,927 for the Friends of Tenterfield Aerodrome Association to provide fuel, power and hardened surface areas at Tenterfield aerodrome. Purchase of a medical transport plane to service regional NSW
• $130,000 for the FLING Physical Theatre in the Bega Valley for an accessibility upgrade
• Since 2013, the program has provided more than $130 million to support 750 local council and not-for-profit community projects.

Two grant rounds are offered each year under Category 3, with 2023 to 2024 funding for this category committed prior to the decision to review the broader Club grants program.

Applications for the next round are now open and close 18 December 2023.

Get more information on Responsible Gambling Grants.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“The Infrastructure Grants program is all about supporting projects that improve community connectedness in the arts and sport, provide new or improved facilities for local sporting groups or deliver innovative local solutions in emergency preparedness.

“I am thrilled to see such a diverse mix of recipients in this round of the Infrastructure Grants Program, including a focus on Aboriginal community support and a great variety of rural and regional projects.

“While we review the wider program, the NSW Government is proud to deliver this support to enable critical projects that will boost local economies and foster community spirit across the state.

Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said:

“There is currently an unmet demand for skating opportunities throughout the City that this grant will help alleviate.

“A core objective will be to also create a female-friendly environment that provides a supportive atmosphere for girls and young women to participate in the sport.”

Friends of Tenterfield Aerodrome Association President Rob Evans said:

“The recent fires that swept through the Tenterfield region confirmed the need for upgrades to local disaster-readiness facilities.

“This project will result in a significantly increased ability to save lives, property, livestock, infrastructure, and native plants and animals threatened by bushfires in the Tenterfield region.”

The Minns government is confronting the housing crisis with bold reforms to create tens of thousands of new, well-located, low-rise and mid-rise homes.

The government is announcing changes that will fast-track a greater diversity of homes like residential flat buildings of 3 to 6 storeys, terraces, townhouses, duplexes and smaller 1-storey to 2-storey apartment blocks in suburbs where they are not currently allowed.

The reforms create capacity for industry to deliver up to an estimated 112,000 new homes across the Greater Sydney region, Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra.

This represents 30% of the number of homes NSW needs to meet under its Housing Accord target of 377,000 new homes by 2029.

Currently, each local council has its own rules for what kind of homes can be built in their area. In many local government areas, these rules do not allow the types of homes that we need for the next generation, housing close to transport, infrastructure and social amenity.

In October the government identified a significant gap in the approval of density, with terraces and 1-storey to 2-storey unit blocks allowed under R2 zoning in only 2 of 32 Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) – that’s just 6% of the LEPs across Sydney.

R2 is a zone for land which is made up of low-density housing.

This ‘missing middle’ has meant that low-rise density has been ignored in the face of a growing housing crisis.

Additionally, 60% of R3 zones across Sydney (where multi-dwelling housing is appropriate and should be encouraged) presently prohibit residential flat buildings of any scale.

Details of the proposed changes include allowing:

• dual occupancies (2 separate homes on a single lot), such as duplexes, in all R2 low-density residential zones across all of NSW.
• terraces, townhouses and 2-storey apartment blocks near transport hubs and town centres in R2 low-density residential zones across the Greater Sydney region, Hunter, Central Coast and Illawarra (the Six Cities region).
• mid-rise apartment blocks near transport hubs and town centres in R3 medium-density zones and appropriate employment zones. This will mean more housing just a short 10-minute walk (800m) from transport hubs, shops and amenities.

The government will amend a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) to enact these changes while simultaneously encouraging councils to add these types of dwellings to their own planning rules.

If a local government’s planning rules match – or go further than – this new NSW Government policy, the state government changes will not apply.

The government has previously written to councils, asking them to review local policy settings to allow for more housing in low-density and medium-density zones across their local government area.

National Housing Accord targets were set at the National Cabinet with all 3 levels of government represented.

The plans will go on public exhibition for public feedback from next week.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Sydney is one of the least dense cities in the world but fewer than half of councils allow for low-rise and mid-rise residential buildings in areas zoned for such homes.

“We’re confronting a housing crisis so we need to change the way we plan for more housing, we can’t keep building out we need to create capacity for more infill, with more diverse types of homes.

“Diversity of housing allows people to stay in their communities and neighbourhoods through different stages of their life, with family and friends able to live nearby. More housing choice means more options for everyone – renters, families, empty nesters.

“Density done well means townhouses, apartments and terraces clustered near shops, high streets and parks.

“We already have great examples of these types of homes. Sydney has grown using these housing types. Look at homes in Wollstonecraft, Waverton, Erskineville, parts of Wollongong or Newcastle. They’re great places to live. We just need more of them.”

Following the eradication of the 5 red imported fire ants nests at South Murwillumbah on the weekend, the NSW Government has been further implementing its fire ant plan by focusing on tracing, surveillance and educating local businesses and the community.

Detection dogs have been on location today inspecting local high-risk premises that are linked to materials that red imported fire ants like to nest and travel in such as soil, mulch, quarry products, potted plants and baled materials.

The on-ground teams from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have also been in communication with those businesses within the 5km biosecurity control zone advising them of their biosecurity obligations under the emergency order.

The government is working with businesses to facilitate low-risk businesses to get back to normal as soon as possible. While assisting the high-risk businesses in evaluating their premises and materials so they can also get permits to start moving, with a strong understanding on how to do activities safely and eliminating any risks.

The NSW Government is working closely with the Tweed Shire Council and the national program that is led by Queensland, to ensure we’re keeping the community and key stakeholders updated and applying all available resources to the area.

A community information bus is now outside Tweed Shire Council Chambers (10-14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah) for locals to obtain more information about what they can do to help stop the spread of these invasive pests.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“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.”

Residents and businesses can report any suspicious ant activity to 1800 680 244launch or by visiting the Department of Primary Industrieslaunch.

Background

Fire ants are dark reddish-brown with a darker black-brown abdomen and range in size from 2 to 6mm long. 

Although they can look similar to other ants, their ant nests are distinctive with mounds of loose, crumbly or fluffy looking soil with a honeycomb appearance, up to 40cm high, with no obvious entrance holes.

Red imported fire ants can damage electrical and agricultural equipment, sting people causing allergic reactions, sting pets and livestock, kill native plants and animals, and also damage ecosystems beyond repair.

The NSW Opposition supports measures, including increased density, to deliver the state’s ambitious housing targets – but they must be done right and in partnership with local communities.
 
We know that a one-size-fits-all all approach isn’t the right approach. It’s lazy and ill-thought-through policy that shows the Minns Labor Government aren’t interested in putting in the hard work in to deliver on their housing targets.
 
Despite their offer of bipartisanship to help address the housing crisis, the Government has shown they’re more willing to tell local communities to “get out of the way” than in working constructively with the Opposition or with local councils.
 
The Government has failed to:

• release new housing targets for local councils,
• allow local councils the opportunity to amend local planning laws to meet and exceed new targets, and
• address demand-side pressures on housing.

Chris Minns says that he’s willing to work constructively on this issue – but has failed to do so.
 
The Opposition is ready and willing to work with the Government, having presenting policy options including incentivising local councils to meet and exceed their housing targets and addressing immigration and population growth to take the pressure off rents and house prices.
 
The Opposition will stand with local communities as we work to address demand and supply constraints on housing – and meet our state’s housing targets.
 
The Government must require councils to meet local housing targets and may ultimately have to impose planning controls on local communities to get this done. However, in the first instance the Government should give communities a chance to formulate local controls, but it hasn’t bothered to do so. Communities shouldn’t pay the price for Chris Minns and Labor’s lazy policy-making.

A new cross government taskforce will meet for the first time today to provide expert industry advice to the NSW Government to explore the use of modular housing to deliver much needed social homes for people in NSW.

Modular housing has been successfully used in NSW, other states and around the world to provide quick and easy housing solutions.

Additionally, the cost of building modular housing is expected to decrease as we scale up and achieve efficiencies of scale in manufacturing.

The NSW Government is committed to looking at how we can use these innovative new ways to build more social housing and help strengthen the safety net for those experiencing housing insecurity.

At the recent state budget, an initial investment of $10 million was set aside at part of a $224 million Essential Housing Package to address the historic neglect of new social housing supply and trial innovative solutions to get people off the social housing waitlist.

That process begins today with the cross-industry taskforce of representatives from peak bodies including PreFab Aus, Shelter NSW, Community Housing Industry Association Local Government NSW, Property Council of Australia, Government Architects, Industry suppliers and union representatives. alongside people with lived experience of social housing.

The taskforce will among other things:

• investigate innovative modern methods of construction (MMC), including modular housing
• advise on the role MMC could play in delivering new housing sooner
• examine the highest standard designs in line with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation’s (LAHC) best-practice guidelines
• investigate a wide range of innovative, high-quality, high-durability and eco-friendly modern construction products.

Modular housing is especially suitable to regional areas as planning regulations are already in place and the offsite construction of modular housing can reduce costs and increase speed of construction.

The taskforce will also actively work with local councils to determine sites for the modular housing.

Exact locations are yet to be settled but there are several local councils who have expressed interest to be a part of this exciting project.

There is also the potential to use surplus public land identified as part of a statewide audit, identifying land that be rezoned for housing and associated uses.

The advisory task force will operate for up to 2 years and be managed by Homes NSW, and forms part of its ongoing work to deliver more homes and better homes for people in need.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Everyone deserves access to safe and secure shelter.

“The NSW Government is committed to exploring new ways we can better support people in some of the most vulnerable situations.

“With a growing population and an already extended waitlist for housing, we need to get moving.

“Whether its social or affordable housing, or creating more supply, we are working across the government to address the housing challenge we have in the state.”

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“We need to deliver more and better homes for people in need that are fit for purpose, in line with current demand needs and in the right location.

“Addressing the state’s housing crisis is our top priority and we need to explore new ways to boost housing as quickly as possible and I’m confident that modular housing will be a vital tool to achieve this.

“This taskforce aims to foster innovation and partnerships across government, industry, and community housing providers (CHPs) to leverage expertise across the sector and explore new and MMC to deliver new homes.

“Collaboration across government and the MMC sector is crucial to further develop the housing sector, boost economic growth, and create more jobs in NSW.”

Travel to the Barangaroo precinct will soon be even easier, with the new metro station making strides ahead of fast and reliable metro services starting on the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line next year. 

Construction of the station platforms and concourse area are nearing completion, with the platform screen doors and terrazzo flooring on both levels now installed. Station signage is being fitted on both levels and Opal gates are in place and being commissioned.

The new station opened its doors today for a community open day, allowing passengers to have their first look before the station opens in 2024.

In this fully accessible station, all 10 escalators are currently undergoing testing and commissioning. Two of the 5 lifts are working and ready to go, while the remaining 3 are finishing off testing, ready to take customers 25 metres underground to the platform levels.

More than 7700 Sydney sandstone panels have been installed throughout the station, along with the artwork on the cladding by artist Khaled Sabsabi called ‘In time we shall’. The artwork relates to the native tree species used in the Barangaroo headland.

Above ground, upgrades are progressing on nearby Hickson Road and the public domain surrounding the station with new footpaths, landscaping, lighting and bike facilities.

To date, more than 5000 people have worked over 1.3 million hours to build the new station.

This new transport link will provide unrivalled access to the exceptional art, entertainment and cultural offerings of this new precinct.

By 2036, it is anticipated thousands of customers will exit the metro station daily to explore Barangaroo with the surge in visitors supporting job creation and providing an economic boost for businesses in the area.

When metro services start next year, this key part of the city will be unlocked with fast travel times – Barangaroo to Martin Place in 2 minutes and under the harbour to Victoria Cross in the city’s north in just 3 minutes.

Find out more about Barangaroo station.launch

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We’re delivering Barangaroo’s first-ever rail connection, linking passengers to Sydney’s growing waterfront precinct and providing high-quality public transport access to Sydney Harbour.

“This station will be a game-changer for workers, visitors and residents, who will benefit from a world-class metro at their doorstep with improved connectivity to wider Sydney.

“From 2024, Barangaroo station will alleviate congestion at Wynyard and Martin Place train stations and improve access to the northern part of the Sydney CBD and The Rocks for locals and tourists alike.

“It’s wonderful to welcome the community into this fantastic new station to see for the first time what it will look like when it opens to passengers in 2024.”

After an early retirement in October 2021, the Queenscliff has made a spectacular return to the Circular Quay to Manly run following months of careful restoration work.

After an early retirement in October 2021, the Queenscliff has made a spectacular return to the Circular Quay to Manly run following months of careful restoration work. 

Returning the Queenscliff to the F1 Manly to Circular Quay route was a key part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to return as many Freshwater Ferries to service as possible, to restore capacity on the route during the busy summer months.

The work is being delivered as part of $114 million investment into Sydney’s ferry fleet in the NSW Budget. $71.1 million has been allocated to the extensive refurbishments of the Freshwater fleet.

The extensive refurbishment has involved expert navel engineers, electrical engineers, shipbuilders, painters, plumbers and more all working here in NSW.

The refurbishment included:

• more than 650sqm of new ceiling panels
• more than 7kms of new cabling
• more than 4000L of paint
• more than 750sqm of new flooring
• every interior seat was re-covered, and new seats were installed
• new bathroom facilities.

The works included an engine refit. The main engine is 32 times more powerful than an average car and sits in an engine room bigger than a basketball court.

Two new 2.5 metre-wide propellors were installed on the Queenscliff during it’s time in the Garden Island drydock. The dry-dock’s crane hoisted the 4.5t propellers into place with 6 expert engineers guiding it into place.

Extra services from Saturday 16 December 2023 to Sunday 28 January 2024 to accommodate summer rush:

• F1 Manly –  Queenscliff will serve alongside Freshwater, providing a service every 60 minutes throughout the Summer season. The vessels’ capacity of 1100 passengers will mean passengers can spend less time queuing and more time enjoying the harbour.
• F2 Taronga Zoo – there will be an additional 10 services each weekday, running to a 15-minute frequency throughout summer, getting people from the quay to the zoo.
• F3 Parramatta River – there will be an additional 14 services each weekday and 26 extra services each weekend, increasing the number of ferries between Sydney Olympic Park and Circular Quay by an additional 96 weekly services a week.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Today is a hero’s welcome for the Queenscliff, as it returns to our Harbour for the busier summer months, alongside the Freshwater.

“These vessels are beloved and reliable, and it is exciting we are in the final stretch in getting the Queenscliff back on the F1 Manly to Circular Quay route.

“They are not only a great option for everyday commuters and tourists looking for an iconic trip across the harbour but can also carry around 1000 passengers per trip.

“We are standing by our election commitments with passengers to be enjoying the upgraded ferry by the summer holidays.

“We know the Australian-made Freshwaters are steeped in NSW history and we are doing all we can to ensure they remain part of our iconic harbour scenery.”

Commonwealth, State and Territory Consumer Affairs Ministers met on Friday 24 November 2023 with a renewed commitment to collaboration across borders and to strengthen consumer protections.

Ministers attending the meeting, chaired by New South Wales Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, the Hon Anoulack Chanthivong, discussed and agreed on priorities for future work, which include:

• consumer guarantees and supplier indemnification provisions
• protecting consumers and small business from unfair trading practices across the economy
• improved collaboration to combat scams and online fraud
• establishing a designated complaints mechanism within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for consumer and small business advocacy groups to raise systemic issues under consumer law
• implementation of the unfair contract terms reforms and Australian Consumer Law penalties harmonisation.

“Ministers are committed to ensuring that consumers will benefit from improvements to protections, at a state, territory and national level, as part of a nationally coordinated approach,” Minister Chanthivong said.

“It is important that we remain focused on progressing reforms to the Australian Consumer Law to strengthen protections for consumers and small business and improve consumer confidence.”

“The agreed priorities for 2024 build on the important enhancements to consumer protections that have been delivered in 2023, such as strengthening Unfair Contract Term Protections, increasing penalties for breaches of the competition and consumer laws, and establishing the National Anti-Scam Centre.”

Ministers heard from the Consumers’ Federation Australia, the peak body for consumer organisations in Australia, about key issues impacting consumers and possible areas for policy and law reform.

Ministers welcomed the impending release of the 2023 Australian Consumer Survey, which contains insights from consumers and businesses into existing consumer issues, including lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from the survey will be published on the Australian Consumer Law website (https://consumerlaw.gov.au/launch) in coming weeks.

Ministers further welcomed work to develop industry codes outlining the responsibilities of the private sector in relation to scams.

Australian Ministers also committed to improving transparency for consumers by supporting the introduction of country-of-origin labelling requirements for seafood in hospitality settings.

Australian Ministers further agreed to allow tobacco legislation currently administered under the Australian Consumer Law to be consolidated under a more streamlined national tobacco control legislation.

Ministers look forward to continuing to work together closely on progressing these issues.

Attendees to the meeting included:

• Commonwealth Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones
• Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Yvette D’Ath
• South Australian Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea Michaels
• Tasmanian Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Madeleine Ogilvie
• Victorian Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gabrielle Williams
• Western Australian Minister for Commerce, Sue Ellery.

Senior departmental officials from the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory were also in attendance.