Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is supporting this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations by providing $310,000 to support Aboriginal participation in celebratory events across NSW.

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NAIDOC Week will stretch from 2 – 9 July and the theme will be ‘For Our Elders’.

The funding provided under the Aboriginal Affairs NSW NAIDOC Grants Program attracted 206 submissions across the state, up by 77 from last year.

Some of the grants issued include funding towards the popular Souths Cares NAIDOC Festival in Maroubra, flag-raising ceremonies, a Community Day at the Armidale and Region Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place and a traditional food day hosted by Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council.

One grant recipient, Murrin Bridge Preschool Association in Western NSW, is using its funding to plant trees for each of its Elders to signify how important they are to their community.

This year’s theme ‘For Our Elders’ reminds us all to value First Nations Elders and the incredible role they play, and will continue to play to hold the cultural knowledge and lead community.

Elders have played a huge role across generations of thousands of years of Indigenous culture, as knowledge holders, trail blazers, teachers and nurturers.

This NAIDOC Week we pay homage to this important role and those who came before who paved the way for the present and future.

David Harris, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty said: 

‘I’m thrilled that we are able to play a part in ensuring NAIDOC Week is a success for the community, given the hard work that goes into preparing for and hosting such events.

“I look forward to attending as many of these events as I can and meeting with community members from all over the state.’

“NAIDOC Week celebrates the proud history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is embraced by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities around the country.

“It is an opportunity for all of us to come together to celebrate the resilience, rich heritage and ongoing contributions of the oldest continuous cultures on earth.”

Leanne Smith, Murrin Bridge Preschool Association President said:

“Building resilience and giving ownership back to our community is of great importance. Our Elders will be remembered by the trees planted and the plaques placed near them to symbolise the three mobs and Murrin Bridge.

In our first 100 days the Minns Labor Government has hit the ground running to address the serious challenges facing NSW.

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We were elected with a clear mandate to scrap the wages cap and sit down for a genuine negotiation with our frontline workers including nurses, paramedics, teachers, firefighters and police. 

We were elected to rebuild health and education in NSW and reinvest in our essential workforce – to put people back at the heart of government.

And from the moment our team was sworn in we have been working hard to make this happen.

We’ve made good progress – with a lot more to do.

We’ve smashed the wages cap and delivered the biggest pay rise to public sector workers in NSW in over a decade.

This is the first step to resolving the state’s essential worker recruitment and retention crisis after 12 years of Liberal-National wage suppression. 

We’ve already transferred thousands of temporary teachers and support staff in our schools to permanent contracts.

We’ve begun the transition to safe staffing levels in our hospitals.

We’re making renting fairer while delivering more affordable housing.

We’ve made serious progress in reforming planning in NSW to deliver more supply and quality homes.

The NSW Government has also enshrined the protection of publicly-owned assets including Sydney Water and Hunter Water in the constitution and taken significant steps to reduce the impact of energy price increases.

We’ve had a productive first session of parliament, with 13 bills passed.

But we’ve made clear the biggest challenge we face is the budget.

Since forming government in March, we have been upfront with the people of NSW about the economic challenges we have inherited from the former government.

They handed over to us the largest debt in our state’s history, with the state on track for a record $187.5 billion in debt.

Incoming briefs have also uncovered a $7 billion black hole of unfunded programs.

In 100 days the Minns Labor Government has hit the ground running, but there is still much more to do – every member of this government is committed to building a better future for NSW.

Here is just some of what the NSW Labor Government has already achieved:

• delivered the biggest pay increase for NSW public sector workers in more than a decade
• frozen politician and public sector senior executive pay increases
• transitioned 7000 teachers and school support staff from temporary to permanent contracts
• cut admin work for teachers and increased numbers of school admin staff in schools
• began the transition to safe staffing levels in NSW hospitals
• established at Paediatric Heart Transplant service at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead
• shut down unused COVID PCR testing drive through centres
• prioritised English and Maths in updated curriculum rollout
• maintained Lismore flood relief support
• expanded stamp duty exemptions and concessions to more first home buyers
• reformed rental laws by introducing a rental commissioner and creating a portable bonds scheme
• introduced new planning rules to deliver further housing supply and more affordable housing
• abolished hidden speed cameras in NSW
• began a comprehensive toll review led by Professor Allan Fels
• introduced a demerit point return scheme to reward safe drivers, sooner
• secured UFC Match for Sydney
• started the process of increasing the concert cap at the SCG Precinct
• banned VIP Lounge signage from pubs and clubs
• introduced a bill to ban clubs and pubs with pokies from donating to NSW political parties
• legislated to double penalties for knife crimes
• successfully switched Walgett’s water supply to river water
• engaged an interim Biosecurity Commissioner.

Australia’s first purpose-built biocontainment centre at Sydney’s Westmead Health Precinct has been unveiled.

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NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the NSW Biocontainment Centre is highly specialised and was built to treat and safely isolate patients with rare highly infectious diseases, known as high consequence infectious diseases.

High consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are a range of acute infectious diseases with high case-fatality rates or special significance such as Ebola or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

While other prevalent infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza are important, they are not included in the range of diseases managed at this unit.

Minister Park said the purpose-built biocontainment centre at the Westmead Health Precinct clearly demonstrates how important it is for NSW to be capable of keeping people safe and providing the best care possible.

“The centre is equipped with 6 specialised quarantine class and negative pressure beds and helps us effectively respond to future pandemics and provide high level care to both adult and paediatric patients,” Mr Park said.

“The community can be assured that, with this facility, NSW is ready to act and keep the community safe.

“I am really pleased to see clinicians from both Westmead Hospital and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network embracing this model of care, which is the first of its kind in Australia.”

The state-of-the-art facility includes a critical lift to transport contagious patients directly from the Westmead Hospital helipad or an ambulance straight to the biocontainment centre.

It will also use 3 steam steriliser autoclaves to process contaminated waste and has its own sewage treatment plant to treat contaminated patient waste.

The floor of the centre has also been purpose-designed in different colours to identify which areas are clean or contaminated for additional safety.

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said the Westmead Health Precinct is home to some of the state’s most talented clinicians.

“We have some of the best and brightest working here in the Westmead Health Precinct,” Ms Davis said.

“It makes sense this facility is based here, where our highly trained clinicians stand ready to manage any cases of these highly contagious diseases.”

Specialist medical, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory and allied health staff trained to manage patients through strict infection prevention and control practices are available to the unit when required.

Western Sydney Local Health District’s Acting Chief Executive Rebecca Nogajski said the centre plays many roles, operating as the statewide referral and outreach facility for patients with suspected or confirmed HCID, as well as the education and training hub for preparedness and safe practice in managing these diseases.

“This centre is self-contained, able to provide high-level emergency care, as well as access to specialist therapies such as phage therapy,” Dr Nogajski said.

“The centre stocks rarely used antibiotics, antivirals, antitoxins, vaccines and other key therapeutics.

“It also offers expert infectious diseases advice, including referral to relevant diagnostic testing and locations of testing, links with NSW Health Pathology and management able to be utilised as a 24/7 service in the early phases of the response.”

Chief Executive of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Cathryn Cox PSM said the centre’s specialist staff are highly trained in managing patients.

“We look forward to collaborating with all our colleagues across the Precinct, and NSW, to deliver a coordinated, specialised response through this centre of expertise, with a focus on containment and high-quality care of patients and their families,” Ms Cox said.

The centre is a shared facility of Westmead Hospital, part of Western Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network supporting the whole state in this specialised service.

The Westmead Health Precinct is one of the largest health, education, research and innovation precincts in Australia and is a key provider of jobs for the greater Parramatta and Western Sydney region.

More than $3 billion has been committed by government and our precinct partners to upgrade and expand the precinct’s health services, education, research and innovation facilities over the coming years.

After 100 days in office the Labor Government is continuing to shift blame for its broken promises and wrong priorities.

The Labor Government’s first 100 days have been characterised by dozens of reviews and taskforces, the slashing of vital cost of living programs, and lies about a Budget black hole.

Deputy Liberal Leader Natalie Ward said Chris Minns must take responsibility for the fact NSW households and families are paying more.

“After 100 days, the Labor Government still can’t explain how they’re addressing the cost of living pressures faced by families, households and businesses,” Mrs Ward said.

“Instead Labor is backflipping, showing blatant disregard for the promises they made before the election, and repealing the former Liberal and Nationals Government’s nation-leading reforms like the First Home Buyer Choice scheme.

“The Coalition will continue to hold the Government to account and ensure that the people of NSW are put first.”

“That’s why today we’ve launched a new website, allowing the people of NSW to find out more about Labor’s broken promises, wrong priorities, cancelled projects and deals with Union bosses.

Broken promises in Labor’s first 100 days:

• Cutting the Active Kids, Creative Kids and First Lap vouchers.
• Backflipping on a ban of secret rent bidding.
• No Budget impact to deliver public servant pay rises.
• No privatisation of government-owned land.
• No disruptions to train services.
• Ending industrial action and Union strikes.
• Enshrining our State’s water assets in the Constitution, but leaving out critical infrastructure like Warragamba Dam.
• Implementing a cashless gaming trial by July 1.
• Preventing mining and exploration off the NSW coastline.
• Building ferries in NSW, only to award the contract to Tasmania.

To find out more about Labor’s broken promises and wrong priorities you can visit www.laborsbrokenpromises.com.au

NAIDOC Week commencing today is an opportunity for us to learn and celebrate the oldest continuing culture on the planet.

It is also a time to celebrate and acknowledge the culture, excellence and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the 2023 NAIDOC Week theme For Our Elders encourages people to celebrate and pay homage to the Elders in communities.

“We can learn from our Elders who are the cultural knowledge holders and who are key to guiding us on the path to reconciliation and a better future for all,” Mr Speakman said.

“Their stories reflect the past struggles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through many generations, but we also learn from them that there is much to celebrate about their culture.”

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Leslie Williams said the future path we take and the decisions we make must focus on truth telling and reflect the knowledge and experience of Elders.

“There’s a 65,000 year legacy from which we can learn and guide us on a future with better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mrs Williams said.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals have demonstrated a commitment to listening to our First Nations people and respecting their knowledge and insights through OCHRE, the community-focused plan for Aboriginal Affairs NSW.”

Central to OCHRE is working with and supporting Aboriginal communities by building strong partnerships that have at their heart respect for Aboriginal culture, leadership and decision making.

We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging and this NAIDOC Week celebrate For Our Elders.

Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change James Griffin has called on the NSW Labor Government to reconsider energy bill relief for households as energy price rises increase pressures on household budgets.

“From today energy prices in New South Wales will increase by around 20%, adding pressure to household budgets already feeling the squeeze under Federal Labor’s cost of living crisis,” Mr Griffin said.

“Half of all NSW households will receive no energy bill relief for seven years under this Labor Government, who dumped the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $250 rebate.”

“A re-elected Coalition government would have provided every household in NSW with $250 off their energy bills from today by simply looking for a better deal that. Instead, under this Labor Government around 1.5 million households get nothing.”

“Labor have chosen union bosses over hard-working families, having to cut essential cost of living pressures to fund their $2.5 billion public sector wage increase. They should reconsider their priorities and provide energy bill relief for all NSW families and households.”

“We’re yet to see any detail from Chris Minns and his Government on their proposed government-owned energy bureaucracy, which by his own admission won’t deliver households any savings for up to seven years.”

“Labor’s broken promises and wrong priorities mean families right across NSW are paying more.”

“Only the Liberals and Nationals can be trusted to put families ahead of unions and deliver meaningful cost of living relief,” Mr Griffin concluded.

Three classes of new probationary sheriff’s officers have successfully completed the Sheriff Office Recruitment Training Course and are ready to embark on a fulfilling career serving their community.

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Today’s attestation at Old Government House in Parramatta celebrates 56 new probationary sheriff’s officers in the largest ceremony ever held in NSW.

The work of sheriff’s officers is central to the efficient functioning of the courts and justice system. They provide security at court complexes; serve warrants, summonses and other orders issued by the courts; enforce writs, warrants and property seizure orders; administer the jury system; and they prepare courtrooms and call and swear in witnesses.

Training consists of a 10-week intensive course that includes tactical training and perimeter security. Officers learn how to anticipate and respond to risks and de-escalate tense situations.

Today’s graduates bring the number of sheriff’s officers in NSW to more than 300. They will be attached to 170 locations, including the metropolitan centres of Parramatta and Newcastle as well as regional NSW, including Lismore, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.

To find out more about becoming a sheriff’s officerlaunch, visit the Department of Communities and Justice website.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley:

“Sheriff’s officers play an important role in the justice system, ensuring the security and safety of all court users and the community.

“It is a dynamic job offering career progression and the satisfaction of serving the community.

“I congratulate the probationary sheriff’s officers graduating today and wish them well as they embark on this exciting new career.”

Sheriff of NSW Tracey Hall said:

“Sheriff’s officers are highly skilled, through intensive training that emphasises excellent communication skills and relationship building with people and their community.

“Sheriff’s officers come from all walks of life and backgrounds as diverse as the communities they serve.”

Communities across the Northern Rivers are being encouraged to have their say on the future of the region with the consultation period for the Draft Resilient Lands Strategy being extended to Friday, 14 July 2023.

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The Draft Strategy, released on 2 June 2023, outlines the work undertaken to date and next steps to identify a sustainable pipeline of land and housing to support the relocation of residents impacted by the 2022 floods.

It identifies 22 sites across the seven Northern Rivers Local Government Areas, 15 of which are identified for immediate investigation under the $100m Resilient Land Program.

The 15 sites in the Draft Strategy have the potential to support up to an estimated 7,800 dwellings, to be confirmed on a site-by-site basis as technical and due diligence investigations progress.

40 submissions have already been made for Draft Resilient Lands Strategy with the consultation period now extended to Friday, 14 July 2023.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) developed the Draft Strategy as part of the $100 million Resilient Land Program.

To review the NRRC’s Draft Resilient Lands Strategy and make a submission and visit Resilient lands strategy.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“We recognise the devastation the community has faced and want the Resilient Land Program to support the rebuild of the Northern Rivers community. That’s why it’s important to allow more time for the community to share their feedback on the Draft Strategy.

“As consultation continues, the NRRC is already investigating 15 sites to see how they can support housing in the Northern Rivers for people impacted by the 2022 floods.”

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said:

“This program can help our community over the long term. I encourage people to have their say, and share ideas or solutions, about how to relieve housing problems being faced in the Northern Rivers.”

Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith said:

“I want to thank everyone who has already provided feedback to the Draft Strategy and encourage others in the community to have their say during the extended the consultation period.”

The NSW Government has today taken a significant step in the process for transferring Me-Mel (Goat Island) to Aboriginal ownership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Me-Mel Transfer Committee.

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$43 million is committed to remediate and restore Me-Mel and pave the way for the transfer back to the Aboriginal community.

The committee will identify options for the transfer, develop recommendations for cultural, tourism and public uses of the site, and provide advice on the management of the site.

It will also develop a strategic business case to be considered by the NSW Government.

The Committee is made up of key Aboriginal representatives, along with NSW Government representatives from the Cabinet Office, Aboriginal Affairs NSW and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

A wide range of engagement activities and consultation will be undertaken with the Aboriginal community, the broader public and other stakeholders on the plans for future ownership and management options.

Committee members have given unanimous support to a Registered Aboriginal Owners research project which aims to identify Aboriginal Owners of Me Mel.

This research will be independently undertaken by the Office of the Registrar of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ORALRA) and is due to commence in the second half of 2023.

To prepare for the transfer of the island, National Parks and Wildlife Service is also undertaking a large-scale remediation and conservation program of the island’s built assets.

The 14-member committee includes:

• Aboriginal community representatives including Shane Phillips, Amanda Reynolds, Elizabeth Tierney and Ash Walker.
• Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council representatives include Allan Murray, Nathan Moran, Eunice Roberts and Jennah Dungay.
• NSW Aboriginal Land Council representatives include Heidi Hardy and Abie Wright.
• NSW Government members include Angie Stringer, Director Aboriginal Partnerships, Planning and Heritage and Deon van Rensburg, Director Greater Sydney Branch, National Parks & Wildlife Service; Nikki Williams, Director for Economic Policy Branch, The Cabinet Office; and Jonathon Captain-Webb, Director, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, Land and Economy for Aboriginal Affairs NSW.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“I am proud to be taking another step towards transferring this island to the Aboriginal community.

“The island will be a symbol of reconciliation in the heart of Sydney Harbour.

“We are listening to the Aboriginal community through this process.

“That is what the signing of this agreement is all about.

“I thank the previous government and its former premiers for their commitment to this project over many years.

“We are proud to continue this work with the committee.”

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“This transfer is many years in the making. It represents a genuine cultural collaboration.

“I look forward to the recommendations from the Committee”.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“This diverse committee plays a crucial role in advising government on how the transfer of Me Mel to aboriginal community could work.”

“We will look to the results of this important research project and to the Aboriginal people for what happens next.”

Temporary visa holders who arrive on or after 1 July and who intend to live in NSW for more than six months are encouraged to plan ahead and convert their licence as soon as possible so they can continue to drive with confidence.

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The new regulation changes are designed to give confidence to all road users and ensure all motorists understand the State’s road rules and abide by the same standards, with any temporary visa holder required to convert their licence within six months.

The process for converting to a NSW licence will differ depending on the age of the applicant and the country where their licence was issued.

Overseas licence holders from certain recognised countries with similar licence systems to Australia (such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore) as well as experienced drivers aged 25 or older from other recognised countries (including Poland and South Korea) can visit any Service NSW Service Centre to convert their licence without the need to sit a knowledge test or a driving test. 

All other overseas licence holders will be required to pass a knowledge test and driving test at a Service Centre to receive a NSW licence. They will be exempt from the learner driver logbook requirement.

While the former government originally announced the new rules would require all overseas licence holders to apply for a NSW driver licence within six months, they backtracked in December 2022 to only apply the change to temporary visa holders arriving from 1 July 2023. The Government is examining these issues.

To support the changes, the NSW Government’s St Marys Driver Testing Centre in Western Sydney is ready to help and there are currently no wait times to book and sit a test.

The facility has 25 staff including driver testers offering about 450 driving tests each week as well as more than 1000 computer-based examinations.

Recognised countries are based on a nationally consistent framework administered by Austroads, which affects the test requirements for licence conversion.

For more information about the new regulations visit service.nsw.gov.au.

St Marys Driver Testing Centre is open from 8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. To find St Marys Driver Testing Centre or your closest Service Centrelaunch or call 13 77 88.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said:

“Our migrants and visa holders have so much to offer our great multicultural state and it is important everyone knows these changes are coming so they can plan appropriately and get their new licence in time.”

“These changes are about making sure everyone has the right skills and understanding of local road rules which ultimately keeps everyone safer.”

“We need to introduce this change in a way that is fair to all, allowing those who enter the country to get the help they need while maintaining access for everyone who needs to take a driver test in a timely manner.

“If you need to convert to a NSW driver licence, our excellent teams at the St Marys Testing Centre and across all our Service NSW Centres are ready to help you understand the rules and book your test.”

Minister for Roads, John Graham said:

“The change introduced on 1 July is the first step to ensure new arrivals with overseas licences have the necessary skills and understanding to safely navigate our road network for the benefit of all.”

“Everyone driving in our state should have the same accountability for the road rules and adhere to the same standards.”

“The former government promised that overseas licenced drivers already living in NSW would need to convert their licence before backing away from this commitment, but the Minns Government will ensure our rules are clear and consistent for all.”

“We will extend this change to all drivers on overseas licences in a measured way that gives visitors time to adapt, with further details around the wider rollout to be announced soon, once we have assessed the initial transition.”