Category: NSW News

An Australian-first Culture Standard will be piloted at NSW construction sites to improve facilities, working conditions and boost the number of women in construction.
 
New ways of working will be tested at the new Wentworth Point High School and Mulgoa Road upgrade stage 1 construction sites to address cultural issues that can lead to poor mental health, high rates of family breakdown and a lack of diversity in the industry.
 
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said piloting the Culture Standard is an additional measure to the $20.2 million funding allocation in this years’ budget, to attract more women into the construction industry.
 
“With a record-breaking $112.7 billion infrastructure pipeline, it’s critical that we are doing everything we can to make our worksites work for everyone,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to trialing new ways of doing things to boost productivity and secure brighter futures for the 369,500 construction workers across NSW.”
 
Minister for Infrastructure Rob Stokes said the pilot was focused on improving wellbeing and work-life balance, boosting construction efficiency and productivity all without impacting project timeframes. 
 
“Construction sites will be happier, healthier and more productive places to work when there is better work-life balance and diversity, and more access to wellbeing and mental health support,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The industry has one of the worst gender pay gaps in the country at around 30 per cent so we’re going to trial the publication of that data so we can work towards women being fairly paid for their equal contribution.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said this is the first of many initiatives aimed at boosting the number of women in construction to 15 per cent by 2030.
 
“The sad reality is that women on construction sites can be subject to sexist slurs, offensive graffiti and second-rate amenities that don’t accommodate their needs, including a lack of sanitary bins or private spaces,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“The Culture Standard sets out a basic roadmap to making sites more inclusive because when sites work better for women, they work better for everyone.
 
“We also know another key barrier is construction work is typically a six day, 50 plus hour a week job, which is why this program will seek to improve flexible working conditions for women who are juggling family commitments.”
 
The program is led by the Construction Industry Culture Taskforce – a collaboration between the NSW and Victorian governments, the Australian Constructors Association and industry leaders. The pilots will include measures such as:

• No offensive material on site
• Ensuring appropriate amenities are provided, including toilets for women, sanitary bins and safe changerooms
• Identifying and disclosing of gender pay gaps across roles, as well as implementing plans to reduce gender pay gaps
• Providing mental health first aiders on site
• Setting clear targets for the appointment of women
• A Monday to Friday working program, or when this is not viable ensure all workers are working a 5 in 7 program to give workers adequate rest and recovery time.

 
Outcomes of the pilot will bolster research and the contemporary evidence base of how to best generate cultural change on site and across the construction sector.
 
The NSW Government involvement in the program is being led by Infrastructure NSW and will support its ongoing collaboration with industry, construction firms, sub-contractors, and trade unions to make the construction sector a more inclusive workplace for everyone.
 
You can read the draft Culture Standard and the proposed elements here.

A new state-of-the-art Medium Storm Vehicle will be deployed on the Northern Beaches to bolster the NSW State Emergency Service’s (SES) response to the upcoming storm season.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery joined Member for Manly James Griffin and SES Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin at the Manly SES Unit today to officially hand over the keys to the $245,000 purpose-built truck.

“This fully equipped vehicle has been delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $116 million investment in SES fleet replacement, giving our volunteers the vehicles they need to serve their communities to the best of their ability,” Ms Cooke said.

“The truck includes a ladder loader and ladder, power tools, front and rear anchor points and stowage for an Ark Angel rescue craft. It will help volunteers better respond to a range of incidents, including storm damage operations and flood rescues.”

Mr Griffin said the Medium Storm Vehicle is a welcome boost for the Manly SES Unit which has responded to more than 500 incidents in the past year.

“It’s been an incredibly busy period for our volunteers around Manly with the unprecedented rainfall Sydney has experienced this year,” Mr Griffin said.

“This new asset has arrived at the perfect time, allowing our 136 volunteers from the Manly SES Unit to better protect the community, with the official storm season fast approaching on 1 October.”

Deputy Commissioner Austin said the new vehicle will equip volunteers to carry out critical life-saving tasks.

“It is a significant boost for the area, offering greater response capability for land and in-water flood rescues, storm events and complex storm damage operations,” Deputy Commissioner Austin said.

NSW has recorded the strongest quarterly economic growth amongst all states with State Final Demand (SFD) rising by 1.9 per cent in the June quarter, according to the ABS National Accounts released today.   
 
On an annual basis, the quarterly national accounts showed NSW SFD, a measure of economic activity, rose 4.1 per cent over the year to June 2022.
 
This is much higher than the increase in Australia’s gross domestic product of 0.9 per cent in the June quarter and 3.6 per cent over the year to June 2022.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the figures demonstrated the State’s economy was continuing to rebound strongly despite economic challenges including supply chain issues, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s zero COVID policy.
 
“NSW recorded the strongest economic growth of all states in the June quarter showing the NSW economy is going from strength to strength following last year’s pandemic-related impacts,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Our government’s continued investment in NSW is propelling Australia’s strong economic performance.
 
“Today’s report showed household consumption rose 2.5 per cent in the June quarter, which drove the State’s increase in State Final Demand.
 
“Spending on hospitality, transport and recreation and culture have all increased as households spend more freely post-COVID restrictions.”
 
Business investment also grew by a strong 4.1 per cent in the quarter, with firms investing in machinery and equipment as demand increased.

More than 70 trainees are set to enter the construction sector following the NSW Government Traineeship program, as application open for the next round.
 
The two-year traineeship program is a collaboration between NSW Government infrastructure agencies and industry partners, offering Year 12 school leavers a rounded experience in the infrastructure sector.
 
Trainees run through three rotations of eight months each with government agencies, contractors and consultant organisations. The trainees are now entering their third and final work rotation with a majority of them pursuing a future career in the infrastructure sector.
 
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said that 78 trainees from the 2021 intake are set to graduate in early 2023 and will leave with a diverse knowledge in areas of Business, Project Management, Practice and Procurement and Contracting.
 
“The program has been a great success so far and attracted trainees from all backgrounds from across the state,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“The program expands the benefits of the NSW Government’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, opening up fantastic careers in the sector for our young people.
 
“The success of the program led to the opportunity being extended to school leavers again in 2021 and I am excited to say that we will offer new amazing opportunities for 2022 school leavers with applications now open for the program starting in February next year.”
 
Sapphira Chu from Campsie was part of the inaugural cohort of the NSW Infrastructure Traineeship program. Sapphira is studying a double degree at UNSW, and recently secured employment in the industry.
 
“I’m now in my last third of the program and working with construction company UrbanCore.
 
“I started out with School Infrastructure NSW and my favourite thing was collaborating with a range of consultants and see how a variety of perspectives, whether that be the analytical outlook from an engineer or the contemporary vision of an architect, joined together to work towards an end result – a new school for the community.”
 
Hayley Lennon from Grafton began her traineeship on a Transport for NSW project in early 2021, followed by eight months with a global business specialising in the delivery of public services. Hayley is now finishing the trainee program with Lipman.
 
“I signed up for the traineeship because I wanted to move into project management and now I would definitely encourage others to apply.
 
“This traineeship sets workers up for success while they are being educated on the skills of the job and learning how to apply them at work. I have learnt how to adapt to many different work environments and how to be a time efficient worker.”
 
Applications are now open for the 2023 Infrastructure Traineeship and 2022 high school leavers are encouraged to apply.
 
For more information, please visit: www.apprenticeshipcareers.com.au/infrastructure-traineeships.

The NSW Government is investing $6 million in a new synthetic biology and biomanufacturing development program, designed to improve access to manufacturing and production facilities and equipment across the State.

Synthetic biology and biomanufacturing involves the design and manufacture of new and existing living systems to make products with applications in areas including biofuels, food production, manufacturing, environmental protection and healthcare.

Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said the NSW Government is calling for applications from universities, research organisations, industry and consortiums for infrastructure and programs to support the scale-up and commercialisation of synthetic biology and biomanufacturing products.

“The NSW Government’s 20-Year R&D Roadmap identified Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing as an area of comparative advantage for NSW,” Mr Henskens said.

“This program will attract applications with enormous potential to grow our economy, create jobs, turbocharge industries and secure a brighter future for NSW.”

NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said the program will support shared synthetic biology and biomanufacturing research infrastructure, facilities and programs to enable research translation and small-scale manufacturing involving collaboration between university and industry groups.

“There is opportunity for NSW, with its leading researchers and technologies, to become a major global player in this dynamic space,” Professor Durrant-Whyte said.

“By 2025, the global economic impact of synthetic biology in the biofuels, chemicals, agriculture and healthcare sectors is expected to reach up to US$1.6 trillion.”

The Emerging Industry Infrastructure Fund (EIIF) will support the new program and applications close Thursday 20 October 2022. More information on the fund and eligibility can be found at www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au/synthetic-biology-and-biomanufacturing.

A disused aged care facility in East Gosford has been transformed into a 14-room transitional housing facility for displaced older women under an innovative partnership between the NSW government, Pacific Link Housing and Women’s Community Shelters.

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the vacant site had been given a new lease of life while providing much needed housing for vulnerable older women.

“Rather than remaining vacant and unused, this site has been transformed into a new facility that will provide wrap-around support for women aged 55-years and older who are escaping domestic and family violence or who are at risk of homelessness,” Mrs Ward said.

Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said this facility will provide transitional accommodation for women for up to 36 months while more permanent housing was being secured for the occupants.

“This initiative is a great example of how unused private buildings can be put to good use to benefit vulnerable people at risk of homelessness and provide DFV escapees with a safe place to heal as they begin to rebuild their lives,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

The NSW Government provided $300,000 to develop the facility as part of the Domestic and Family Violence National Partnership Agreement 2021-23.

Spearheaded by the Sydney based Women’s Community Shelters (WCS), the partnership agreement allows for the premises to be used as a women’s shelter for up to three years.

WCS COO Simone Parsons said there is a high number of older women experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness in NSW.

“Affordable and stable housing is important to help women re-establish their lives post violence, especially for older women,” Ms Parsons said.
“Through this partnership additional housing is being supplied. WCS will also provide residents with case management support and coordinate community engagement and wellbeing activities as well on-site support services.”

Pacific Link CEO Ian Lynch said his organisation was proud to partner with like-minded organisations who were willing to take an innovative approach to support women escaping domestic and family violence.

“Now that refurbishment work is complete, the first group of new tenants are readying to move in,” he said. “Each tenant will receive their own refurbished studio apartment and the site has also been fitted out with communal lounges, kitchens, laundry facilities and gardens.”

For confidential advice, support and referrals, contact: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), The NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63) or Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491).

Applications are now open for the first round of a new fund set to turbocharge the critical minerals and high-tech metals sector and position regional NSW as a major global supplier.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Activation Fund would help diversify and accelerate mining projects in regional NSW.

Mr Toole said the State is rich in critical minerals and high-tech metals, such as rare earths, cobalt, copper, antimony, and scandium, which are crucial to a range of emerging technologies including the defence space, the manufacture of electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines.

“The NSW Government is investing more than $130 million towards the growth and future of the mining sector and I’m pleased to announce applications are now open for the first stream of this Fund,” Mr Toole said.

“It will help deliver a diverse, vibrant, investment-ready industry, ensuring NSW is ready to meet the rapidly expanding global market and giving a vital economic boost to our regional economies.

“To give projects the best possible start, grants of up to $500,000 will support key studies, research and development, such as feasibility studies, mine re-use  processing studies, metallurgical testing and infrastructure, water, and environmental studies.”

Grants will be awarded through a competitive process and successful applicants will be required to provide a funding co-contribution.

For further information on the Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Activation Fund, including program guidelines and eligibility criteria, go to regional.nsw.gov.au/activation-fund.

The Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes in NSW is calling for the public’s help as it scrutinises dozens of deaths in the state between 1970 and 2010.

Led by the Honourable Justice John Sackar, the Special Commission is inquiring into all the unsolved deaths, that may have been hate crimes, of LGBTIQ people (or people assumed to be LGBTIQ) in that 40-year period. The early 1980s to the mid-1990s, in particular, saw significant numbers of such cases.

NSW Police Force in a report by Strike Force Parrabell in 2018, and by a Standing Committee of the NSW Parliament in two reports issued in 2019 and 2021. As well as looking into those cases, the Special Commission is also assessing many other unsolved deaths and missing persons cases over the same period, in order to cast more light on a dark period for LGBTIQ people in this state.

So far, the team of dedicated barristers, solicitors and investigators has obtained, and is analysing, well over 100,000 documents drawn from 40 years of police files, coroners’ files, and other sources. 

Peter Gray SC is Senior Counsel Assisting the Inquiry. He says it is critical for both family members and friends of the victims, and members of the public generally, to come forward if they have any information which might help.

“Any recollections or pieces of information that you might have, however major or minor, could provide a vital link in understanding what happened.  In some cases, it may ultimately lead to arrests and prosecutions.” 

“Justice in these cases has been long-delayed, and long-awaited. This may be the last chance for the truth about some of these historical deaths to be exposed. We need to hear from you.”

Mr Gray says the Inquiry also represents a vital opportunity for those who were actually involved in, or saw, events that resulted in the death of an LGBTIQ person a long time ago.

“If you have had something weighing on your mind for years about these things, now is your chance to do something to make some amends. Now is the time to break your silence,” he says. 

Launched by the NSW government in April 2022, the Special Commission of Inquiry has extensive powers to undertake its work, including the authority to compel witnesses to give evidence, to compel the production of documents, and to hold both public and private hearings. 

It is expected that the first public hearings will take place in October-November 2022, and that there will be further hearings in 2023. Justice Sackar is required to deliver a final report to the Governor on or before 30 June 2023.

Information can be provided (anonymously or confidentially if you prefer) either:

• on the Special Commission website;

• by emailing contact@specialcommission.nsw.gov.au; 

or:

• by writing to The Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes, GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001.

 

Seeking support

The following services provide counselling for LGBTIQ community members who have experienced violence, as well as friends and loved ones:

AIDS Council of NSW (ACON)

Ph: (02) 9206 2000
acon.org.au/mentalhealth

QLife

Ph: 1800 184 527
qlife.org.au 

Lifeline

Ph: 13 14 11
lifeline.org.au

Travel in New South Wales will be quicker, more convenient and safer as part of the Future Transport Strategy unveiled by the NSW Government today.

The Strategy includes a vision to create connected 30-minute cities and convenient 15-minute neighbourhoods, starting with the piloting of Future Transport Hubs in Parramatta, Chatswood, Wollongong and Coffs Harbour that will provide commuters with a one-stop-shop for a range of essential services. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this is a blueprint to continuously evolve our transport system to service the changing needs of commuters, communities and our economy into the future. 

“This strategy sets out a new vision for transport in our growing and changing state,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This is about ensuring our transport network will be fit-for-purpose into the future and gives people more choice, shorter wait times and quicker trips.

“We are laying the foundations for our future transport network now so we can keep building a brighter future for the people of NSW. 

“We all have busy lives and this is a vision to make it easier and more convenient for people to move about entire state whether it be in a city or in the regions.

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Future Transport Strategy shapes our future planning, investment, delivery and operations to give people more choice, greater access and better places. 
 

“Train stations shouldn’t just be for trains, roads shouldn’t just be for cars, they are places for people and our whole transport network should adapt to our citizens various and changing needs,” Mr Stokes said.

“We understand people lead busy lives which is why we’re piloting convenient one-stop-shops for all your services at transport hubs by harnessing developments in data and technology.

“The pandemic has seen demand for walking and cycling infrastructure soar, and outdoor spaces valued more than ever. Our vision for 15 minute neighbourhoods will also improve health and wellbeing outcomes, and ensure local communities thrive.” 

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the Future Transport Strategy will keep focussing on environmentally responsible operations while continuing to deliver world-class transport for the people of NSW. 

“Transport continues to be a significant contributor to our economy as NSW grows to become Australia’s first trillion-dollar State, powered by nation-leading projects including Sydney Metro and Fast Rail,” Mr Elliott said.

“Australia’s clean transport vision is also important, with our train network now running on 100 per cent renewables and the rollout of zero emission buses across the State.” 

To read more: https://future.transport.nsw.gov.au/.

Women are being reminded to book important health check-ups to take care of their physical and mental health during Women’s Health Week (5-11 September).
 
Minister for Women, Minister for Regional Health and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said women may have delayed or avoided appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they should now take the time to focus on their health and wellbeing.
 
“We know women have been under greater stress during the pandemic, with increased pressures on their work, home and social life potentially taking a toll on their mental and physical health,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“Women need to make their health a priority this Women’s Health Week as delaying routine check-ups may cause what was initially a minor health concern to develop into a more serious issue.”
 
NSW Health provides a range of services and programs targeted to addressing the health needs of women including cervical and breast cancer screening, fertility treatments, menopause support and mental health services.
 
“Women who are overdue for a cervical or breast cancer screening are urged to book an appointment as soon as possible as these tests are the best way to detect the early signs of cancer, which could save your life,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
BreastScreen NSW recommends mammograms for women aged 50-74. You can book an appointment by calling 13 20 50 or visiting the website. Women aged under 40 who have a family history of breast cancer should talk to their GP.
 
Mrs Taylor said women should also prioritise their mental health and wellbeing by accessing mental health support if they suffer from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts.
 
“Good mental health is essential to your overall health and wellbeing. Staying well is also important for women who may be struggling with infertility, pregnancy, motherhood or menopause,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
Women’s Health Week is an annual national event, run by not-for-profit organisation Jean Hailes for Women’s Health.
 
CEO of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health Janet Michelmore said there are more than 400 events happening around NSW and over 2,300 events throughout Australia as part of the campaign.
 
“This week encourages women to check in on their health and is also a reminder that it’s ok to put themselves first,” Ms Michelmore said.
 
Visit www.womenshealthweek for events near you.
 
If you need to talk to someone immediately, the Mental Health Line is available 24/7 on 1800 011 511. You can also find other mental health support and services for women on the NSW Health website.
 
As part of the 2022-23 Budget, the NSW Government announced a number of new initiatives to support women’s health, including:
 

• $80 million to improve affordability and access to fertility treatments, including a cash rebate of up to $2,000 for around 12,000 women accessing private fertility clinics.
• $40 million to establish 16 menopause services across NSW to support women with the management of severe or prolonged symptoms.