Today’s announcement from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has marked the start of a review that could hit families across Greater Sydney with a 50% increase in water bills. The review will assess Sydney Water’s request for a steep rate hike to fund at least $26 billion in essential infrastructure and operational upgrades by 2030.
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said if approved by IPART and the Minns Labor Government, households would see water bills soar by over 50% within five years. This includes an 18% rise next year alone, followed by annual hikes of 6.8%.
“With families already struggling under the weight of rising costs for energy, groceries, and other essentials, they shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the additional burden of funding infrastructure driven by the Albanese Labor Government’s failed immigration policies,” Mr Tudehope said.
“Chris Minns should be on the phone to the Prime Minister, demanding a real solution instead of passing the bill onto Sydney households.”
Sydney Water’s submission highlights the need for $16.6 billion in new infrastructure, primarily in Sydney’s west, to support the surge in population growth driven by these very immigration policies.
Shadow Water Minister Steph Cooke said the Premier, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, and Water Minister Rose Jackson need to devise a solution that doesn’t involve skyrocketing water bills for everyday families.
“This is not a small rise—under Sydney Water’s proposal, the average household could see water bills increase by hundreds of dollars each year,” Ms Cooke said.
“Sydney’s infrastructure needs to keep up, but that’s not a job for struggling households. Chris Minns must ask Canberra to cover these costs, not pass them on to Sydney families.”
With the IPART decision expected in March 2025, the clock is ticking. Premier Chris Minns, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, and Water Minister Rose Jackson have just five months to secure federal support for families, instead of squeezing more out of Sydney households in an attempt to balance the budget and meet federal housing targets.
Author: admin
NSW Leader of the opposition and member for Albury stand together with Corowa
Member for Albury Justin Clancy will this morning host a visit to Corowa by NSW Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman. The visit will reaffirm the strong and positive connections that have long existed in the township and discussed the importance of community safety.
The visit marks the first time a NSW or Federal Government leader has toured Corowa following an upsetting October 12 neo-Nazi demonstration.
The Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Corowa embodies the best of New South Wales — where unity triumphs over division, and community strength shines above hate.
“I’m committed to ensuring that every town and every member of the community feels safe and valued in our state,” Mr Speakman said.
Mr Clancy invited Mr Speakman, the former NSW Attorney General, to visit the historic Murray River town, home to 6000 people, in a show of unity with the Corowa community.
“Mark and I will be in Corowa today, standing together with the local community against the recent white supremacist activity. What happened last month is not who we are. The Corowa community we all know and enjoy is jam-packed with genuine, kind, and honest people and it’s a privilege for me to represent this community in my role as the Member for Albury.
“This community sticks together when the going gets tough, they’ve experienced natural disasters, COVID border lockdowns, and the recent resurrection of their beloved Corowa-Rutherglen Football Netball Club in the O&M after a few tough years on the paddock.
“I also want to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Federation Council and the Corowa Chamber of Commerce in promoting harmony, along with the unity and resilience shown by residents, local businesses, sporting, and community groups. You are all remarkable.
Mr Clancy and Mr Speakman pledged continued support for the Corowa community, reaffirming the NSW Opposition’s commitment to upholding the important values that underpin NSW communities, including trust, respect, collaboration, and inclusivity.
Appeal for information after a pedestrian dies at Maitland
Police are appealing for information following the death of pedestrian in the Hunter region.
About 9.30pm Wednesday (30 October 2024), emergency services were called to the New England Highway at Harpers Hill, approximately 1km east of Greta, following reports of a crash.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Valley Police District attended and found a man had been struck by a vehicle which allegedly failed to stop.
The pedestrian, a 37-year-old man, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, died at the scene.
A crime scene was established which was examined by the Crash investigation Unit.
Police are appealing for assistance to identify the driver of a 2006-2009 Toyota Camry or Aurion. Colour is unknown.
It is believed the car may have damage to the front end and bonnet.
$19.5 million in hidden grants to Hornsby Shire Council
The current Minister for Local Government was not informed of an additional $19.5 million in grants awarded by the Berejiklian Government to Hornsby Shire Council (HSC) for a range of projects and some of which have not commenced 4 years after the money was provided to the Council. In answers to questions asked by Greens MP Sue Higginson in budget estimates, Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig was advised that OLG was not responsible for the administration of any grants paid to HSC other than the Stronger Communities Fund grants, that information was inaccurate.
The Government has launched a review into how this incorrect information was produced in response to Ms Higginson’s questions, and whether more recovery attempts would need to be made by the NSW Government, along with the $36 million of unspent grants to HSC as part of the discredited Stronger Communities Fund.
Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning and Environment Sue Higginson said “It is deeply concerning that the Minister for Local Government was given inaccurate information by the Office of Local Government in response to very specific questions. This one group of grants is worth $19.5 million, how many other secret pork barrel grants of the former Liberal National Coalition are still out there?”
“The grants identified in these documents seem to be a pre-election gift to Hornsby Shire Council from then treasurer and Member for Hornsby, Matt Kean. The payment of monies to the Council were being made while a Parliamentary inquiry, chaired by the Greens, was looking into the Stronger Communities Fund where documents were shredded by the Premier’s office. This takes brazen pork barrelling to a new level,”
“While understandably the Government is taking this revelation seriously, I am concerned that there is a possible conflict of interest in the review that has been started. The Planning Secretary responsible for this review, was also Coordinator General for Planning and Local Government in Office of Local Government (OLG), in 2021 – when OLG was administering these grants. In fact, one of the letters obtained under freedom of information is signed off on by the Coordinator General at the time,”
“These grants were required to be spent within two years of the money being received and we know that at least one of the projects that was supposed to receive money has not commenced – Westleigh Park, which controversially would see the development through the rarest critically endangered woodlands communities of the Sydney Basin. Other pork barrel funds for Westleigh Park are already the subject of recovery action by the NSW Government, to get back the unspent $36 million that was handed to Hornsby Shire Council. These other funds should be included in that recovery before the Council rushes ahead to spend this money that they shouldn’t have,”
“The Minister for Local Government should take this opportunity to look closely at what other State Government monies have been thrown to Liberal controlled councils as part of this so far unknown grant stream. The Greens want local communities to receive funding for important projects, but the awarding of these grants occurred in the shadow of corruption and pork barrelling. Where conditions of grants have not been met, those monies should be returned to the Government and redistributed in an open and transparent way,” Ms Higginson said.
Greens launch plan to put mental health into Medicare
At a time when the cost of living crisis is both making mental health worse and causing an increasing number of people across Australia to delay or miss out on essential mental health care, the Greens have announced a fully costed plan to provide unlimited mental health in Medicare as part of a plan for free mental healthcare.
The plan, one of the party’s ‘Robin Hood’ reforms, will be paid for by taxing big corporations that are profiting off price gouging during a cost of living crisis. It will provide significant cost of living relief and enable all Australians to get the mental healthcare they need, with recent ABS data showing that 43% of people will experience mental health issues in their life and 24% of people who needed to see a psychologist delayed or didn’t do so because of the cost.
The Greens’ plan to get mental health into Medicare follows the Greens’ commitment to build 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics in each electorate, where publicly-employed psychologists, GPs and nurses would be available to provide healthcare for free, as well as a costed plan to get dental into Medicare.
This next step in the Greens’ plan for “Free and Unlimited Mental Healthcare” will be announced by Greens Leader Adam Bandt, health spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John and Greens candidate Sonya Semmens in the key Greens target seat of Macnamara on Thursday. Macnamara is one of the closest electoral contests in the country. If 298 voters had changed their vote in the last election, the Greens would have won this seat. In 2022 the Greens received a 5.5% positive swing in Macnamara, while Labor’s vote was almost stagnant with a swing of 0.9%.
With a minority Parliament looming, the Greens say that free healthcare will be a key policy for the Party this election and will be on the table and pushed in any minority Parliament negotiations after the next election.
THE GREENS’ PLAN FOR FREE AND UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTHCARE INCLUDES:
- UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS ON MEDICARE: Currently, Australians can access a maximum of just 10 subsidised mental health sessions through the Better Access Scheme (this number was halved from 20 by the Albanese Government in late 2022, resulting in the number of subsidised psychologist visits plummeting, by almost a quarter of a million sessions). The Greens will remove the cap, so you can access unlimited clinically relevant appointments.
- FREE PSYCHOLOGIST SESSIONS at 1000 free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia
- INCREASED MEDICARE REBATE: The Greens will ensure you get a Medicare rebate of at least $150 for each session with a clinical or registered psychologist.
- SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE: The Greens will enable Provisional Psychologists to access Medicare subsidised sessions, and are committed to investing in lived experience by increasing the number of peer workers by 1000 workers, including First Nations peer workers. This will give people who need mental health care but don’t need to see a psychologist more options.
The previously announced Greens plan to establish 1000 Free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia, involves government-employed psychologists and nurses providing free services alongside GPs and dentists. There will be at least 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics per electorate. These Free Local Healthcare Clinics will save the average psychology client up to $430 a year, though more frequent users will save up to $1720.
Each of these policies has been independently costed by the PBO. Based on this analysis, our plan would be expected to cost approximately $5.9b over the coming decade, as well as $31.7b already announced for Free Local Healthcare Clinics.
This election, the Greens are campaigning to hold their existing Senate seats and grow in the House of Representatives, in seats including Macnamara, Wills, Richmond, Sturt and Perth. In addition to stopping new coal and gas mines and ending native forest logging, the Greens will have a strong economic offering, centred around a series of ‘Robin Hood Reforms’ to tackle the housing and cost of living crises: a Big Corporations Tax on large companies’ excessive profits, which will raise $514b over the decade, and fund ‘Free and Unlimited Mental Healthcare’, ‘GP for Free’, as well as other measures to come.
Mr Adam Bandt, Leader of the Australian Greens:
“If you’re putting off mental healthcare because you can’t afford it, you’re not alone.
“Under Labor and Liberal, big corporations are price gouging and making massive profits during a cost-of-living crisis. Meanwhile, everyday people are forced to choose between getting mental healthcare and keeping a roof over their heads.
“1 in 3 big corporations pay no tax. The Greens will make big corporations pay their fair share of tax so you can see a psychologist for free and get unlimited mental health appointments through Medicare.
“Labor halved mental healthcare in Medicare, but the Greens’ plan will make mental healthcare free and unlimited by expanding Medicare.
“This election, voters in Macnamara will have a choice between a Labor MP who’s cut their access to mental healthcare and a Greens candidate who will fight to get mental health fully into Medicare and make it free.”
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Health spokesperson and Senator for WA:
“The Greens have a bold plan that will improve the health of our community, and bring down the cost of living.
“Too many people in our community are not able to access mental healthcare simply because it’s too expensive. The Greens plan, which I am proud to announce today, will see people being able to get mental healthcare when they need it.
“Under Labor, the number of Better Access Scheme sessions has been cut from 20, to 10. This is leaving too many people unable to get Medicare-subsided Mental Healthcare. The Greens want to ensure that if you need more sessions with your psychologist, you’ll be able to get them.
“We’ll also increase the rebate and expand the range of providers able to offer Medicare sessions to include provisional psychologists.
“This plan to expand the Better Access Scheme sits alongside our plan to open 1000 local healthcare centres across the country where people will be able to see a psychologist for free.
“Today’s announcement is the latest commitment from the Greens that will save the community thousands of dollars a year in healthcare costs. Our plan to get Mental Healthcare into Medicare sits alongside our plan to get Dental into Medicare and to get back to the GP for Free; these will bring us closer to a universal healthcare system.”
Greens candidate for Macnamara Sonya Semmens:
“Everyone who lives in Macnamara should be able to access mental healthcare when they need it, but so many in our community are going without.
“Like 1 in 4 Australians I’ve experienced anxiety.
Like 1 in 5 Australians, I’ve had periods of depression.
Like 1 in 10 Australians, I’ve survived an eating disorder, the deadliest of all mental illnesses.
“As a parent I worry about how I’d afford to give my kids the mental health care that my parents could access for me when I was young – and which may have saved my life. It’s an awful thing to do the maths on how much help you can afford to give your kids. We know early intervention is critical as a preventative for lifelong or severe mental illness, I’m absolutely determined that no person should put off getting the care they need.
“Every day people tell me the cost-of-living crisis is taking a massive toll on their mental health, while at the same time making it harder to get the mental healthcare they need. This is absolutely heartbreaking, and not the way it should be in our wealthy country.
“I’m so proud of our life-changing plan to deliver unlimited mental health on Medicare and enable people in Macnamara to see a psychologist with no out-of-pocket costs at a Free Local Healthcare Clinic.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want free and unlimited mental healthcare, the first step is to vote for someone who’ll fight for you.”
Peter Dutton & Labor must rule out high & intermediate nuclear waste dumping near Port Adelaide: Greens
The Greens have called on Peter Dutton and the Labor Party to unequivocally rule out storing high and intermediate level nuclear waste at Osborne near Port Adelaide after SA Defence Minister Stephen Mullighan refused to do so on ABC Adelaide radio this morning.
Peter Dutton and Labor combined to pass the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill which designates Osborne in SA as a nuclear dump zone, allowing for the dumping of US and UK intermediate-level waste and other high-level nuclear waste. Adelaide residents will tonight attend a community forum in the marginal seat of Sturt to discuss Peter Dutton’s nuclear agenda, 6:30pm at Burnside Town hall.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for the Environment & Senator for South Australia:
“Adelaide residents have a right to know if our suburbs will become a dumping ground for high and intermediate level nuclear waste from the US and UK.
“There should be no room for secrecy or tricky answers here: Peter Dutton and Labor must come clean now and unequivocally rule out storing high and intermediate level waste in Adelaide suburbs. Adelaide residents deserve an answer: yes or no.
“The law Peter Dutton and Labor voted for clearly makes Osborne, a mere stones throw from suburban Port Adelaide, a nuclear dump ‘zone’, with both major parties voting against the Greens amendment to stop high level waste being dumped there.
“Peter Dutton not only wants nuclear reactors across Australia – he wants Adelaide to be an international dumping ground for nuclear waste.
“Exposure to even intermediate-level waste is lethal to humans and the risk lasts for hundreds of years.
“Peter Dutton doesn’t care about Adelaide and this law is a dangerous disaster for our State. This time, SA voters have the chance to send a message by voting Green: don’t turn Adelaide’s suburbs into Peter Duttons nuclear waste dump.”
Greens announce election plan to get mental health into Medicare for SA patients
At a time when the cost of living crisis is both making mental health worse and causing an increasing number of people across Australia to delay or miss out on essential mental health care, the Greens have announced a fully costed plan to provide unlimited mental health in Medicare as part of a plan for free mental healthcare.
The plan, one of the party’s ‘Robin Hood’ reforms, will be paid for by taxing big corporations that are profiting off price gouging during a cost of living crisis. It will provide significant cost of living relief and enable all Australians to get the mental healthcare they need, with recent ABS data showing that 43% of people will experience mental health issues in their life and 24% of people who needed to see a psychologist delayed or didn’t do so because of the cost.
The Greens’ plan to get mental health into Medicare follows the Greens’ commitment to build 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics in each electorate, where publicly-employed psychologists, GPs and nurses would be available to provide healthcare for free, as well as a costed plan to get dental into Medicare.
With a minority Parliament looming, the Greens say that free healthcare will be a key policy for the Party this election and will be on the table and pushed in any minority Parliament negotiations after the next election.
THE GREENS’ PLAN FOR FREE AND UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTHCARE INCLUDES:
- UNLIMITED MENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS ON MEDICARE: Currently, Australians can access a maximum of just 10 subsidised mental health sessions through the Better Access Scheme (this number was halved from 20 by the Albanese Government in late 2022, resulting in the number of subsidised psychologist visits plummeting, by almost a quarter of a million sessions). The Greens will remove the cap, so you can access unlimited clinically relevant appointments.
- FREE PSYCHOLOGIST SESSIONS at 1000 free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia.
- INCREASED MEDICARE REBATE: The Greens will ensure you get a Medicare rebate of at least $150 for each session with a clinical or registered psychologist.
- SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE: The Greens will enable Provisional Psychologists to access Medicare subsidised sessions, and are committed to investing in lived experience by increasing the number of peer workers by 1000 workers, including First Nations peer workers. This will give people who need mental health care but don’t need to see a psychologist more options.
Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Senator for South Australia:
“Too many people in South Australia are not able to access mental healthcare simply because it’s too expensive. Mental health should be part of Medicare and the Greens have a plan to fix it.
“The Greens plan will see people being able to get mental healthcare when they need it.
“Under Labor, the number of Better Access Scheme sessions has been cut from 20, to 10. This is leaving too many people unable to get Medicare-subsided Mental Healthcare. The Greens want to ensure that if you need more sessions with your psychologist, you’ll be able to get them.
“Our plan to get Mental Healthcare into Medicare sits alongside our plan to get Dental into Medicare and to get back to the GP for Free; these will bring us closer to a universal healthcare system.
“We’ll also increase the rebate and expand the range of providers able to offer Medicare sessions to include provisional psychologists.
“Under Labor, the number of Better Access Scheme sessions has been cut from 20, to 10. This is leaving too many people unable to get Medicare-subsided Mental Healthcare. The Greens want to ensure that if you need more sessions with your psychologist, you’ll be able to get them.
“This plan to expand the Better Access Scheme sits alongside our plan to open 1000 local healthcare centres across the country where people will be able to see a psychologist for free.
“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want free and unlimited mental healthcare, the first step is to vote for someone who’ll fight for you.”
$7.2m boost for little learners – more free health checks rolled out for preschoolers
More children will get free health and development checks with the Minns Labor Government today announcing $7.2 million for 881 early childhood education and care services across NSW.
The NSW Government opt-in Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood and Care program supports health professionals to visit early childhood education and care services to conduct the checks for four-year-olds to help identify additional support the children may need before school.
More than 7,000 children have received a free health and development check in their early childhood education and care service since the program began in 2023.
The checks assess various aspects of the child development, including problem solving skills, listening, talking and, social skills. Physical growth and dental health will also be monitored.
The program aims to make it easier for more services to offer the checks.
Eligible services received up to $7,500 to support:
1. Staffing to support services to deliver the health and development checks
2. Provision of private space to conduct the checks.
3. Support to address health and development needs identified through the checks.
The checks offered through early childhood education and care services provide families with a free alternative to visiting a doctor or Child and Family Health service.
Nearly half (44 per cent) of NSW children are not developmentally on track when they start school, according to the most recent Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data.
All preschools and long day care services can participate in the Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood Education and Care program by contacting their local health district.
This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to give kids across NSW the best start in life.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“Health and development checks provide families with valuable information about their child’s growth and development.
“Offering the free checks at early childhood education and care services makes it easier for working families to participate and ensures there is early intervention for students who need it.
“The Minns Labor Government is supporting long term health and development outcomes for all children across NSW, regardless of their family’s postcode, income or circumstances.”
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park said:
“Starting school is an exciting time, but with two in five children starting school developmentally off track we need to do more to support young children and their families.
“Providing health and development checks for four-year-olds in preschools or long day care centres makes it far more convenient for busy families to help their children have the best start to school.
“These checks especially in the first 2,000 days help families get the information they need to support their child’s development and to seek help, if needed.”
Light bulb moment as town switches on state’s most sophisticated traffic lights
New high-tech traffic signals to test the latest lifesaving vehicle systems have been switched on in the NSW Central West, as the Minns Labor Government continues to focus on making our roads safer into the future.
While Cudal is a small town that doesn’t have any traffic lights itself, it is home to the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre (FMTRC), a NSW Government facility focused on global innovation in road safety.
The signals, installed at two intersections within the research centre, are a crucial part of Transport for NSW’s new advanced safety testing of connected vehicles.
The eight traffic signals equipped with the latest Cooperative Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) systems will enable safe scenario testing of wireless alerts that notify drivers if they are likely to run a red light, if there is a cyclist or pedestrian on the road, or of upcoming road work.
The signals can also receive transmissions to notify them of an approaching emergency vehicle that should get priority passing through the intersection.
The Minns Labor Government has invested $600,000 in the new traffic lights infrastructure to broaden connected technology tests at the Cudal facility, including new fibre optic wiring and site-wide 5G capabilities.
The improvements follow an announcement in August that the facility would quadruple in size to 100 hectares to expand the current track to a four-kilometre loop circuit able to test heavy vehicle safety systems at highway speeds.
Plans for the expansion are expected to go on public exhibition in coming months with work due to start in 2025.
Upgrading the research centre improves Transport’s capacity to become a global leader in innovation by exploring cutting-edge technologies to improve road safety and efficiency.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“These are the first traffic lights for the facility at Cudal but, as we strive to drive down the road toll in NSW, they definitely won’t be the last safety initiative the teams will help to develop, test and refine here.
“Adding this connected infrastructure to Transport’s world-class testing site gives local and international researchers and developers a place to run real-world scenarios without risk. The other cars, pedestrians and cyclists using the intersection at our Cudal site are soft targets, not real people, cars or bicycles.
“There is a wonderful community curiosity and pride in this facility and the groundbreaking work happening in here the Central West. It’s fantastic to be sharing the site with the community at an open day today.”
Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato said:
“This month marks 91 years since Australia’s first automated traffic lights were installed in Sydney.
“At the time it was a massive leap into the future and it’s exciting to see this research into the new frontier of smart traffic signals and phasing happening right here in the NSW Central West.”
NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Orange Stephen Lawrence said:
“We want our roads to be as safe as possible. There are already vehicles coming off production lines with the ability to receive and send information to traffic signals and by developing and improving our own smart traffic systems in NSW it puts us in the front seat to bring the safety outcomes to our streets.
“This work complements and expands on the real-world trials of connected traffic systems underway in Sydney, and helps us work with our partners in other states and local industry to align advancements for safer outcomes on Australian roads.”
Independent Member for Calare Andrew Gee said:
“It’s amazing to see the Central West play a leading role in research that will help determine the path ahead for connected vehicles and intelligent transport systems in this country, and advance international research in this field.
“At a national level, work is underway to develop a safe, consistent and harmonised approach to coordinated and connected systems on our roads. The Transport team here at Cudal have been making key contributions towards this, that will be enhanced and advanced by the new CITS system at the testing centre”
TfNSW Director Future Mobility Evan Walker said:
“This site and our in-house team are a pillar of integrity in the global vehicle testing landscape.
“Our work bridges the gap between research advancements and seeing how this technology practically performs on our roads to make sure new vehicles and transport technologies meet the highest performance and safety standards, and deliver what they promise.
“We are NSW Government owned and operated and everything we do, design and deliver at the site is geared towards safety and sustainability improvements across the board. This includes testing emerging software and hardware solutions from across the globe, including the ongoing advancement of systems like Transport’s world-leading SCATS system to deliver those outcomes.”
New board members appointed to Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority
The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), including a deputy chairperson and two new members.
Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have been appointed following a rigorous public expression of interest selection process. Additionally, existing member Chris Honey has been appointed deputy chairperson.
ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club, and gaming machine regulatory functions including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.
The appointments follow the end of the term of appointment for outgoing deputy chairperson Sarah Dinning, and also fill vacancies that existed on the board.
Mr Honey, who was appointed a member of ILGA earlier in 2024, has been named deputy chairperson until the end of his current appointment term (11 February 2027). Mr Honey has extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field, including working extensively in highly regulated sectors.
Associate Professor Thorpe and Mr Nichles have both been appointed for four years commencing 6 November 2024.
Associate Prof Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Mr Nichles was previously a Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.
The new appointments bring the ILGA board membership to seven.
The new appointments will join chairperson Caroline Lamb, new deputy chairperson Mr Honey and current members Cathie Armour, Jeffrey Loy APM and Dr Suzanne Craig.
For more information about ILGA, visit: https://www.ilga.nsw.gov.au/
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
“I would like to thank Sarah Dinning for her contribution to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, including during her service as deputy chairperson.
“ILGA has an important role to play as the administrative decision-making authority for liquor, registered club and gaming machine licensing decisions in NSW.
“An exhaustive selection process was undertaken for these new appointments in accordance with legislative requirements and including the engagement of an independent probity advisor.
“Chris Honey has brought significant expertise to the board since his appointment and Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles will bring their substantial experience, expertise and leadership to ILGA.”
ILGA chairperson Caroline Lamb said:
“Mr Honey joined the ILGA board earlier this year and has proven himself to be an invaluable board member with his energy and considerable skills and experience in the advisory and restructuring field.
“The ILGA board also welcomes A/Prof Thorpe and Mr Nichles to the board.
“People appointed to the ILGA board must be of the highest integrity and promote fair, transparent and efficient decision-making.”