$4m Aboriginal Languages boost as new grant round opens

The NSW Government is delivering on its ongoing commitment to revitalise Aboriginal Languages, with the announcement of more than $4 million in grants to fund 74 Aboriginal Language projects across the state.

This new funding builds on the $3.9 million delivered in 2023, double the Coalition Government’s spend in 2022.

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris announced the funding while visiting one of the grant recipients, First Linguists, in the town of Brewarrina on Thursday.

First Linguists, supported by Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council, will receive a $15,000 grant to develop workshops to revitalise and preserve the Ngemba, Ualarai, Murrawarri and Kimilaroi Languages.

The NSW Government investment, via the Aboriginal Languages Trust (ALT), will empower Aboriginal people and organisations across the state deliver events, initiatives and projects tailored to the needs of their communities.

Aboriginal languages are central to Aboriginal culture and vital to sustaining traditional knowledge.

The growth and strengthening of Aboriginal Languages and Culture is also a key outcome for Closing the Gap, a national commitment to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people. 

NSW remains the only jurisdiction in Australia to enact legislation that recognises the importance of Aboriginal Languages and establishes mechanisms for a focused investment in their revitalisation. 

In 2023/24 the Aboriginal Languages Trust offered six grant programs, including a new Educational Scholarship Program, which aims to contribute to the growth of Aboriginal Languages by supporting individuals to pursue languages training and education.

Among the many projects the grants will support, include:

  • Warren Performing Arts and Language Place Incorporated will record four original songs in the Wayilwan Language and deliver Community Language workshops at Warren in central-west NSW
  • Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council near Tamworth will create an animation to tell the Dreamtime story of Yurrandaali, the main totem for Aboriginal people of the Liverpool Plains 
  • Elders will deliver on country language workshops for Aboriginal young people on Bundjalung Land in northern NSW
  • Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council will create four 360-degree interactive videos filmed on country and digitally animated to explore a world using Wiradyuri/Wiradjuri Language in 3D
  • Newara Aboriginal Corporation will employ an Anaiwan Language Project Officer and Facilitator, a role vital to supporting Newara as the primary Language organisation and hub for the Anaiwan community in Armidale
  • Winangakirri Aboriginal Corporation will employ two Language support workers, a contract Linguist and Archivist, to develop Language learning materials for Community use 
  • Blake Cusack will be one of six recipients of the Aboriginal Languages Education Scholarship Program. Blake currently works full time as a Gumbaynggirr language teacher at Gumbaynggirr Giigana Freedom School in Coffs Harbour.

Apply for a NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2024 grant

Aboriginal organisations and groups in NSW are now invited to apply for grants to hold events and activities celebrating NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2024 from 20 to 27 October.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are available for initiatives to celebrate Aboriginal Languages across NSW, including community events, exhibitions, language classes and language workshops.

In its second year, NSW Aboriginal Languages Week aims to celebrate and promote languages with a broad range of stakeholders and audiences through a series of events, programs and promotional activities.

NSW Aboriginal Languages week also recognises the passing of the Aboriginal Languages legislation, which came into law on 24 October 2017.

Applications are open until 6 September 2024. For more information, visit the ALT website, www.alt.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said: 

“Aboriginal communities and organisations are delivering critical work to ensure the first languages of New South Wales are strengthened today, for generations to come.

“Aboriginal languages  are a core aspect of our state’s cultural heritage that must be protected and celebrated.

“It’s pleasing to see the diverse activity happening in this space and to be able to support Aboriginal organisations and people to be change makers.” 

Executive Director, Aboriginal Languages Trust Clare McHugh said:

“Increased engagement by new and returning community organisations demonstrates that funding is leading to a proliferation of activities and programs across NSW that are strengthening Aboriginal languages.

“Each community has their own Language needs and priorities, and their own timeline.

“This year we’re really seeing the positive impact of sustained support for communities, with languages going from strength to strength in numerous regions.

“Other communities seeing that progress have been encouraged to seek funding for the first time, expanding the Trust’s impact.”

First Linguists Director Melissa Kirby said:

“We are very grateful for the NSW Government’s support to allow the Brewarrina community to finally govern their traditional language space.

“The funding enables First Linguists employees to recognise and build the talent in a traditional language speech Pod with the aim to grow more speakers of Ngemba.”

Hunter Joint Organisation awarded $349,000 Waste Solutions Fund Grant

Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils and partners are working collaboratively to better understand and address the barriers to using circular products and solutions in councils.

This project aims to help councils reduce the impact of the materials they consume as an organisation, by working with suppliers and looking at lower impact alternatives. The 10 member councils of the Hunter JO intend to reduce the need for new materials and instead look at innovative ways to re-use and reduce their environmental footprint.

This project continues from phase one which built a strong foundation where all councils of the Hunter region worked together to understand what circular procurement is, and the opportunities that could exist to reduce their material consumption. The funding received from EPA for phase two is critical to assist councils to implement circular practices in their day-to-day business operations.

The funding is part of a second round of grants awarded for the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund (LGWS), that provides support for NSW councils and regional waste groups delivering innovative recycling projects.

The funding was available for new projects aimed at improving the way we reuse and recycle products to minimise waste.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has awarded almost $1.9 million worth of grants in the latest round to help fund 10 projects across 25 local government areas.

The project will run between August 2024 and March 2026.

Round 3 of the LGWS fund is scheduled to open in September 2024.

Individual councils, council groups and regional waste groups in the waste levy paying area are eligible to apply. Individual councils can apply for up to $200,000 in funding, and groups of two or more councils can apply for up to $400,000 in funding.

For more information on Round 2 grantees and how to apply for Round 3 visit: Local Government Waste Solutions Fund (nsw.gov.au)

Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley said:

“This is an exciting, innovative new project that will give councils across the Hunter more tools and processes to help reduce waste and strengthen our circular economy.

“I’d like to thank the Hunter Joint Organisation for their ongoing advocacy and action within our region.

“The Hunter is one of the most beautiful regions in this state. It’s projects like these that will ultimately help preserve that natural beauty for decades to come.”

Chair of the Hunter Joint Organisation and Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore said:

“The combined value for products and services purchased by the ten Hunter JO member councils is in excess of $500 million per year, much of which has significant potential to be circularised in some way.

“That collective buying power has the potential to be used to create local markets for circular products and lower the environmental impacts of material usage by councils in the region.

“By enabling councils and suppliers to better understand each other’s needs, the project aims to identify and address the current barriers to better uptake of circular and sustainable alternatives.

“These barriers are sometimes difficult to solve, but by working collaboratively we can attempt to break down those barriers.”

Mayor of Lake Macquarie, and Chair of the Hunter JO Circular Economy Sub-Committee, Cr Kay Fraser said:

“The success we’re seeing at Soft Landing in Lake Macquarie, where thousands of mattresses each year are dismantled and recycled, demonstrates what can be done when local government joins forces with companies and organisations that have circular economy principles entrenched in their day-to-day operations.

“There is enormous potential to expand this concept through a wide range of applications, whether it’s using recycled glass and rubber in pavement, fly ash in bricks or green waste for compost.

“We must continue to be brave and innovate to minimise waste and maximise the value of the products we buy and use.”

Approved Upper Hunter solar farm to power 191,000 homes

The NSW Government is accelerating the delivery of reliable renewable energy to the Upper Hunter Region following the approval of a large solar farm that will generate enough electricity to power about 191,000 homes each year.

The $880 million project, 28 kilometres south-west of Merriwa, will reduce greenhouse gases across NSW, eliminating about 733,000 tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide helping NSW move towards its net zero emission targets.

With a capacity of 450 megawatts (MW), the Goulburn River Solar Farm includes a battery energy storage system (BESS) that will store solar energy for dispatch to the grid outside of daylight hours and during peak demand, increasing grid stability and energy security to local communities.

The project is located between the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and the Hunter-Central Coast REZ, and will have direct access to the existing electricity transmission network.

The project will generate 350 construction jobs and support the local regional economy by preferencing local workers and businesses in the construction and operation of the project.

In response to community feedback the applicant amended the project to include additional road upgrade works and construction of a workers accommodation facility onsite and revised the project area to further avoid potential biodiversity impacts.

The Goulburn River Solar Farm is the ninth solar farm and twenty-fifth renewable energy project approved under the Minns Labor Government.

For more information see link here.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Under our Government, we have a planning system that is supporting the renewable energy transition, approving projects that will support our communities, energy security and emissions reductions.

“With 350 jobs generated during construction and operation, this project will benefit the local economy, local communities and provide indirect benefits to local services throughout the life of project.

“This project is one of many that is part of the state’s growing renewable energy infrastructure that plays a vital role in powering our economy for generations to come.”

Minister for Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

“The $880 million project injects a major capital investment within the Upper Hunter region, bringing a major boost to local jobs.

“Today’s announcement further shores up our region as a renewable energy powerhouse, that will power communities for decades to come.”

Labor Blocks Inquiry into CFMEU/Cbus Cartel

Labor is running a protection racket for the CFMEU/Cbus cartel in the Senate.

In an unprecedented move, Labor has reneged on an agreement to refer a Bill designed to protect taxpayer funds from union corruption to an Inquiry.

This highly unusual development reveals Labor wants to wish the CFMEU issues away.

Labor’s move to renege was made known to Senators within two minutes of a vote.

Overnight, Labor decided it would prevent any scrutiny into the CFMEU/Cbus cartel.

They will do anything to protect the cartel. Labor has no interest in probity and no interest in transparency.

While there is CFMEU exposure to the Housing Australia Future Fund, there is a strong public interest.

The Senate’s job is to inquire. These issues must be interrogated at the next sitting where I hope the Senate will stand for integrity.

In three weeks, Labor’s new Housing Minister, Clare O’Neil has done the unthinkable – she has further reduced Labor’s credibility on housing.

Albanese Government saves Reef HQ

In a major boost for the region the Prime Minister today announced the Albanese Labor Government will save the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium “Reef HQ” with an extra $100 million investment after the Liberals left it underfunded and doomed to fail.

The project is expected to create more than one thousand jobs and give an enormous economic boost to Townsville.

Bringing total Albanese Government funding to $180 million, work can now begin on rebuilding Australia’s most cherished living coral reef exhibit to educate visitors about the world’s most iconic reef ecosystem and how to protect it.

The additional investment will enable the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to deliver a new purpose-built facility that will deliver global excellence in tropical reef education and provide immersive experiences attracting domestic and international visitors.

Opened in 1987 by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, the Townsville landmark has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors, many of which are passionate local advocates, or visitors from neighbouring regions.

The announcement comes a week after the Townsville City Council voted to allocate funding to the aquarium from the Townsville City Deal, a commitment between the Commonwealth Government, Queensland Government and Townsville City Council to create jobs, increase economic growth and revitalise the city.

Anthony Albanese Prime Minister

“Reef HQ is an icon in this region and my Government is proud to continue the legacy established by Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1987. Like Bob we want to create the Great Barrier Reef on land, making the Reef accessible and affordable while spreading the Reef conservation message and inspiring action to protect this spectacular natural icon.

“This funding announcement is an investment in the future of our precious Great Barrier Reef, as well as an investment in our regional and remote communities – demonstrating our commitment to creating jobs, building opportunities and unlocking growth, ensuring our regions remain great places to live, work and play.”

Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment

“Queensland is home to one of the most extraordinary places on earth – the Great Barrier Reef. We’re determined to protect it, so it can continue to be enjoyed by Australians and visitors from around the world, and marine life can continue to thrive.

“That’s why Labor is investing a record $1.2 billion to protect and restore the Reef.

“And it’s why we are building a new globally recognised, marine science and education facility that showcases our commitment to managing and protecting this natural wonder.

“Labor will always protect Australia’s special places and the jobs that rely on them.”

Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government

“All three levels of Government have come together to get right outcome for Townsville with the commitment to deliver a first class Great Barrier Reef Aquarium that generates economic activity, jobs and tourism, while celebrating our exquisite natural environment.

“We look forward to working with Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government to get this investment moving.”

Kristy McBain Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

“We’re engaging extensively with Townsville City Deal partners to finalise the deal’s unallocated funding, with Townsville City Council confirming last week that redirecting this $100 million towards Reef HQ would have significant benefits for their local community.

“Our additional investment in Reef HQ provides the community with certainty that a new aquarium will be built – supporting local jobs and unlocking a range of economic opportunities into the future – and ensuring that people from around the globe can fully immerse themselves in world’s largest coral reef ecosystem.

“This builds on over $192 million in Australian Government funding that’s already flowed to projects under the $1 billion Townsville City Deal.

“We’ll continue working with the Queensland Government, Townsville City Council on their future infrastructure priorities.”

Senator Nita Green Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef

“Delivering this project is an excellent opportunity for the city. It will create $725.3 million in economic benefit for Townsville over 30 years and 1313 jobs.

“The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is not just an Aquarium, it is a much-loved tourism attraction and vital source of Reef education, which has welcomed millions of people from around the world for more than three decades and is a pillar of the North Queensland community.

“I want to thank Townsville City Council for recognising the importance of this project to the city.”

Hunter earthquake exposes fault lines in Coalition’s nuclear scheme

The 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the Hunter today raises serious questions about the Liberal National Party’s plans for nuclear reactors in the region, Solutions for Climate Australia said.

The earthquake’s epicentre was very close to the Liddell power station where the Liberal National Party aims to build at least one nuclear reactor. Solutions for Climate Australia Senior Campaigner Elly Baxter said the Liberal Nationals needed to answer serious questions about safety, emergency response, radioactive waste and water availability at the site.

“The Liberal Nationals need to tell local residents how an emergency at a nuclear reactor would be handled and who would handle it,” Baxter said.

“Even without the added risk of a local nuclear reactor, school children had to be evacuated in Muswellbrook today. What would happen with a nuclear reactor nearby?

“Would local firefighting volunteers handle the nuclear material? What training would local firefighting volunteers receive in handling nuclear radiation? Who would train them? Would the army come in to help?

“How would iodine tablets be distributed to locals to try to reduce cancer risk? What would be the fallout zone and where would the local emergency staging area be? Where would nuclear refugees be accommodated?

“Would the Federal Government be responsible for the emergency management given under the Liberal National policy, the Federal Government would own the nuclear reactor?

“What would happen to the radioactive waste and who would be responsible for that? Where would the enormous volume of water come from to deal with the toxic, radioactive emergency?

“These safety issues only compound our concerns that nuclear reactors will take too long to build to protect Australians from the worst impacts of climate change.

“We need to have a mature conversation about the safety and security of nuclear reactors. The risk of a nuclear meltdown due to an earthquake is real and the consequences would be very serious for local families and children.”

Raptor Squad officers charge woman following alleged pursuit through Hunter

Raptor Squad officers have charged a woman with multiple driving offences after an alleged pursuit through the state’s Hunter Region yesterday.

About 11.30am yesterday (Thursday 22 August 2024), officers attached State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad attempted to stop an allegedly stolen Subaru sedan travelling on Government Road, Weston.

When the driver failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated during which it allegedly reached speeds of 130km/h in 60km/h speed zones.

The vehicle came to a stop when one of its tyres became flat and it hit a gutter on Swanson Street.

Officers arrested the driver of the car, a 48-year-old woman, after she allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot.

She was taken to Cessnock Police Station where she was charged with:

  • drive conveyance taken without consent of owner,
  • goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen motor vehicle,
  • police pursuit not stop drive dangerously,
  • drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous,
  • goods in custody suspected of being stolen not motor vehicle,
  • use unregistered registrable class A motor vehicle on road and,
  • use class A vehicle displaying misleading.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear before Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 11 September 2024.

Emergency services respond to reports of earthquake in Hunter Valley Region

Emergency services have received multiple reports of an earthquake in the Hunter Valley Region today (Friday 23 August 2024).

The earthquake recorded a magnitude of 5.0 at 12:01pm in Denman, NSW.

NSW Police have been advised that NSW SES crews are responding to reports of minor infrastructure damage.

There have been no reports of major damage to infrastructure or buildings, and no reports of injury.

Dam owners in the region are urged to ensure that dam integrity has not been affected.

Any reports of damage or injury should be made to local relevant authorities.

GREENS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP TAKES CANBERRA FURTHER, FASTER

While federal Labor continues approving more coal and gas, the Greens are providing real climate leadership, making a campaign promise to step up ambition for a rapid and just transition to net zero emissions in the ACT.

“The Greens have been a governing party in the ACT longer than the Liberals ever have, and it shows,” said Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.

“The only place in Australia with 100 percent renewable electricity and a ban on new gas connections is the only place in Australia with Greens in government. That’s no coincidence.

“We know ACT Labor would never have taken such strong climate action without the Greens, because they haven’t done it anywhere else in the country.

“People in the ACT have empowered the Greens to deliver real climate leadership that’s cut emissions, kept your power bills among the lowest in the country and shown everyone that it’s all possible, if you vote for it,” Mr Bandt said.

“The ACT is different to the rest of the country,” said ACT Greens Leader, Shane Rattenbury. “We’re progressive, we look after each other, and we take the climate crisis seriously.

“This election we’re promising to step up ambition on climate change, reduce energy costs for households, to show other governments what’s possible and improve the everyday lives of Canberrans.

“We’ve got to make sure the cost of living crisis, which is an inequality crisis, doesn’t hold people back from taking the climate action they want to take.

“For 5000 of the lowest income households in Canberra, we’re going to completely cover the cost of switching from gas to efficient electric appliances, so people can cut their bills and be more comfortable at home.

“We’re going to take on the challenge of ensuring renters and people who live in apartments aren’t left behind.

“We’re going to make the most of all the new jobs and new opportunities that are already flowing as we build the ACT’s clean, green future together,” said Mr Rattenbury.

The ACT Greens will:

  • Fully fund gas-to-electric upgrades for 5,000 of the lowest income households
  • Deliver pilot projects to demonstrate all-electric apartment solutions to help extend the benefits of electrifying to Canberrans who live in apartments
  • Only allow the installation of electric appliances from 2027 in order to phase out gas
  • Establish a nation-leading Electrify Canberra Skills Hub at CIT
  • Increase the pace of change by accelerating the ACT’s emissions reduction targets
  • Ensure the ACT’s scope 3 emissions (which originate outside the ACT) are declining from 2028 onwards
  • Deliver an extra 300MW of battery storage in the ACT
  • Improve travel for Canberrans and take on the ACT’s biggest polluter — transport — by making huge improvements to buses and light rail, the path network, and support for more people to choose an electric vehicle.

The Greens’ Laura Nuttall is the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and is recontesting her Tuggeranong seat of Brindabella. She says the importance of the climate crisis hasn’t lessened for young people, in the face of the housing crisis and the cost of living.

“I think a lot of young people watch politicians very closely when it comes to climate change, because what you’re handling is our future,” said Ms Nuttall.  

“Having now worked as an elected member for the past 9 months, I’ve seen how insidious the establishment can be at trying to get people to give up and resign themselves to business as usual. It’s worse than I thought. 

“Business as usual gave us a climate crisis, it ain’t gonna fix it. The ACT Greens are the only party pushing far enough, fast enough to actually make a dent in the climate crisis.”

“We understand the concept of duty of care, and when it comes to climate change, that duty of care rests squarely on the shoulders of those in charge. What young people need is for the government to be as ambitious as it takes to avoid climate catastrophe.

“According to Orygen, 65% of young Australians feel anxious about climate change – I’m definitely one of them. 60.6% feel also powerless, but I want to assure them we can make a difference, and that taking real and decisive climate action is possible.”

“In economic conditions that are far more hostile towards young people than they have been towards previous generations, we haven’t had the same chance to establish ourselves or start earning comfortably. 

“We want to be active participants in fighting climate change, but it would be deeply unfair on us to have to bear the economic brunt of decisions made, before our time, about our future. That’s why I’m really glad the ACT Greens are committing to more measures to support low-income households, and extend our support to apartment dwellers,” said Ms Nuttall. 

More information on today’s announcement is available on the ACT Greens website, where you can also find related announcements on public transport and electric vehicles. Further climate policy announcements are still to come.

Shooting of horses in Kosciuszko legal: Supreme Court

The Supreme court has dismissed an attempt to halt aerial shooting of feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park and ordered that the Snowy Mountain Bush Users Group pay the legal fees of the Government.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “This is a strong judgement in favour of the aerial shooting of a feral species in the Kosciuszko National Park,”

“It is unsurprising to me that the Court found that there was no evidence that the horses were being killed in a way that was causing unnecessary pain. The case provides a clear, strong and independent view on all of the evidence that the Governments aerial shooting program is humane and can be relied upon for this necessary feral horse control,”

“The Court recognised the scientific evidence that feral horses are a key threat to our globally significant and only Alpine National Park in NSW, including native species threatened with extinction, and that suspending the program would threaten the environment,”

“The current requirement to retain 3,000 feral horses in the National Park is inconsistent with international and national principles of protected area management and something that the Greens do not support. The Government really needs to urgently reassess this requirement. We should be working towards having no feral species in our National Parks, and it is time to face the facts that the law that protects the horses in Kosciuszko was made on very dubious political grounds and should be repealed,”

“Feral species control and management should always be as humane as possible, but this cannot be used as an excuse for not using lethal measures where it is scientifically justified. It is clear from all of the evidence that aerial shooting of horses in Kosciuszko is being conducted humanely and is necessary, otherwise we stand to lose something that is not replaceable, the ecosystems function and health, including the many threatened species and all of the water, of our globally significant Kosciuszko National Park, ”

“The Government should continue to invest in research programs that are looking for non-lethal horse control, but we cannot afford to not take action while that happens. Shooting of horses is not a cause for celebration, no one is happy that it’s necessary, but I am glad that the Court has ruled the way it has, objectively and upon all of the evidence and upheld the Government’s program to reduce horses by aerial culling in Kosciuszko,” Ms Higginson said.