Category: NSW News

Primary producers will have the opportunity to provide feedback on a NSW Government plan to safeguard the State’s $21 billion food and fibre industry, as part of an upgraded biosecurity strategy.
 
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the purpose of the strategy is to:

• Set a clear vision for biosecurity and food safety in NSW; 
• Map strategy objectives for Government, industry, and the community; and
• Outline key activities that will guide decision-making for farmers.

“The NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030 will be our blueprint for protecting the livelihoods, economy and environment against biosecurity and food safety risks,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“Biosecurity and food safety are shared responsibilities and everybody’s business.
 
“Recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease in Indonesia and varroa mite in NSW have shown us the critical need to be prepared, now and into the future.
 
“We have been working hard to build NSW’s capability and capacity to manage risk, invest in tools and technologies, and improve how we work together so we can better prevent and respond to threats and minimise any negative impacts.
 
“Your feedback and insights will help create a strategy we can deliver together to help fortify our economy, industry, environment and community for years to come.” 
 
The strategy demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting NSW from biosecurity and food safety threats and builds on the government’s record investment of $163.9 million in biosecurity protection announced in the 2022-23 State Budget.
 
The draft NSW Biosecurity and Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030 is open for input online, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/draft-bfs-strategy, until Thursday, 1 September 2022.  
 
The Biosecurity Strategy will draw on the concept of ‘One Health’, which recognises the relationship between animal, plant and human health and the interdependencies between optimal biosecurity, food safety, and economic, social and environmental prosperity.
 
You can help protect NSW by reporting any suspect or unusual pests and diseases to NSW DPI via an online form or by calling the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline, 1800 680 244.

Seniors in NSW are continuing to embrace digital with more than 100,000 people now taking advantage of the digital Seniors Card.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said while there would always be a non-digital version, it was great to see so many seniors taking advantage of the digital option to access discounts and benefits on dining out, entertainment and travel.
 
“This milestone shows the seniors of NSW are confidently using digital products and demonstrates the real impact and benefits these solutions can have in all age groups,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“After a successful pilot in March involving 4,000 people, we are currently seeing more than 30,000 people getting their digital Seniors Card each month.
 
“We are now looking at ways we can continue to expand the program with a focus on businesses, and we are developing an application process similar to the successful Dine & Discover NSW program which will enable many more to easily sign up.”
 
Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said it was great to see 100,000 people take up the digital option in just a few months.
 
“The Seniors Card has come a long way since it was first introduced in 1992—it is now the largest program of its kind in Australia,” Mr Coure said.
 
“For 30 years, it has been helping ease the cost of living for card holders by providing access to discounts and rebates at shops, travel, entertainment and professional services providers.
 
“There are more than 6,500 businesses and service providers with discounts, and I encourage more to follow.”
 
To find instructions on how to add a digital Seniors or Senior Savers Card to the Service NSW app, or to learn more visit service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/nsw-seniors-card-program

Households can soon enjoy more reliable and affordable energy with the completion of upgrades to the Queensland to New South Wales electricity Interconnector (QNI).
 
Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the $236 million project upgraded 300 kilometres of transmission lines and replaced 58 towers between Liddell, Muswellbrook and Tamworth.
 
“This vital infrastructure will boost interstate transmission capacity by over 190MW from QLD to NSW, and 460MW from NSW to QLD, making it easier to share lower-cost generation between the two states,” Mr Kean said.
 
“We expect this priority project to provide net benefits of $170 million to electricity customers and producers.
 
“It will help to reduce electricity bills for households and provide a more reliable and affordable energy supply for the people who live, work and play in NSW.”
 
Mr Kean said the QNI is part of the NSW Government’s plan to modernise the infrastructure needed to support the energy transition and cater for forecast increases in energy demand.
 
“The interconnector upgrades will also support the development of renewable generation in new energy zones across both states, as coal-fired generators retire and we transition towards a grid predominately supplied by renewable energy sources,” Mr Kean said.
 
“It’s another example of this government getting it done. The NSW Government and the Australian Government provided $102 million of joint-underwriting to facilitate and fast track this project.”

NSW businesses seeking trade and investment opportunities with emerging economic powerhouse India, will have the benefit of a dedicated NSW trade and investment hub, with the opening of the NSW Government Office Mumbai in the thriving city’s Bandra Kurla Complex business precinct.
    
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet today officially opened the new Mumbai office solidifying the state’s on-the-ground presence aimed at promoting NSW exports, boosting investment and welcoming Indian students and tourists back to the state.
 
“Our strong relationship with India is underpinned by shared values and interests, and today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of trade and investment relations between India and NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
    
“India is a key Indo-Pacific partner to Australia and an economic juggernaut. NSW is proud to partner with India’s government and business community to drive greater prosperity for the people of our two nations.”
 
“Increasing NSW’s trade presence here will ensure our state is front of mind as India continues its economic rise. Today we open up a world of trade and investment opportunities for NSW businesses and workers.”
    
In 2020-21 India was NSW’s third-largest source of international students, sixth largest source of tourists and 11th largest two-way trading partner, with two-way merchandise trade reaching $4.6 billion.
 
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres said the office will work to deliver direct benefits for NSW by attracting Indian investments in NSW, helping boost business opportunities to benefit the local economy.
 
“India is NSW’s most important business partner, with significant export opportunities across a range of sectors including food and beverage, education and edtech, health and medtech and technology,” Mr Ayres said.
 
“We have been working closely with our local businesses to support their export and expansion to India and these efforts will be boosted by the opening of the Mumbai office.”
 
To boost awareness of Investment NSW’s presence in India, a new strategic marketing campaign is now live, operating across digital platforms including LinkedIn and in print in India’s leading daily newspaper The Economic Times.
 
Vish Padmanabhan, NSW’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to India and the Middle East, said his team will help NSW businesses take advantage of the new Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) bilateral trade agreement.
 
“I’m honoured and excited to lead this office and team during a time of great opportunity for the state. NSW is eager to grow its trade and investment with India under the AI-ECTA agreement – an interim step towards a full free trade agreement, which will benefit our food and agribusiness, mines and minerals, technology and education sectors significantly,” Mr Padmanabhan said.
 

Applications for the NSW Government’s Energy Bill Buster program to help households slash their power bills by up to $600 a year open on Monday.
 
The 2022-23 NSW Budget included $128 million to help up to an initial 30,000 eligible households install solar or replace appliances with more energy efficient ones.
 
Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean is urging families to apply for the incentives to cut their bills.
“Around 30,000 households can apply for a free solar system or energy efficient appliance upgrades that can save them up to $600 per year,” Mr Kean said.
 
“It’s all about taking the pressure off families and putting more money back into household budgets.”
 
Mr Kean said the Energy Bill Buster program provides eligible households with more choice on how they manage their energy bills. 
 
“This program enables households to make decisions that will deliver long term savings on their energy bills while making clean energy improvements to their homes,” he said.
 
“You can switch to solar or upgrade your home fittings and appliances, which are tried and tested ways to cut your energy bills year after year.”
 
Those renting or living in apartments who can’t have solar installed may be eligible to swap their current annual rebate for a suite of energy efficient upgrades, helping to reduce demand on the grid and lower power prices for everyone.
 
Appliances available in the package include energy efficient fridges, dryers, air-conditioners and hot water systems as well as upgrades such as window shading and draught sealing valued at up to $4000.
 
The solar offer has been trialled within select regions of NSW and is rolling out statewide to enable more people to save with solar.
 
The benefits aren’t just for private homeowners and tenants. The solar swap will also be offered to eligible land and housing corporation tenants later this year.
 
Eligible households include pensioners and Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card holders receiving the Low Income Household Rebate who can receive 10 years’ worth of rebates upfront to put towards solar or appliance upgrades.
 
Applications open Monday 1 August. Households can check their Bill Buster eligibility and apply from Monday at energysaver.nsw.gov.au/rebate-swap

Excavation on the first stage of the Western Harbour Tunnel has started, with works commencing to carve out 1.7 kilometres of mainline tunnels from Rozelle to Birchgrove. 
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Natalie Ward, said this was a significant milestone in the delivery of Sydney’s historic third harbour crossing.
 
“Major construction has now commenced on the Western Harbour Tunnel – one of the most significant transport infrastructure projects being delivered in Sydney,” Minister Ward said.
 
“This really is a historic moment for our city. It was 90 years ago that construction completed on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and 30 years since the Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened. Today, construction is commencing on Sydney’s third harbour crossing.
 
“Once complete, this important new connection will change the way commuters move across the city, taking pressure off key transport arteries including the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, Anzac Bridge and Western Distributor.
 
“Our government is delivering projects that make it faster, easier and safer for commuters to move around our city as part of our $110 billion infrastructure investment pipeline.”
 
The Western Harbour Tunnel will link WestConnex at the Rozelle Interchange with the Warringah Freeway at North Sydney via 6.5-kilometre tunnels under Sydney Harbour.
 
With three lanes in each direction, commuters are set to save up to 15 minutes when travelling from North Sydney to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. 
 
The John Holland CPB Joint Venture, which is undertaking the Rozelle Interchange works, are also delivering stage one of the Western Harbour Tunnel.
 
This will allow the Western Harbour Tunnel project to transition into the major construction phase, through leveraging existing skills, equipment and resources and reducing disruption to the local community.   
 
The construction contract to deliver the second stage of work of northern tunnelling from Birchgrove through Sydney Harbour and onto North Sydney will be awarded in late 2022.
 

A suite of fee-free short courses are now available for people looking to secure jobs or further their career in hospitality, as part of a new NSW Government program which aims to supercharge the sector and grow the economy.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the Kickstart Your Career in Hospitality program aims to alleviate labour shortages that are hampering the industry and provide pathways for people looking for rewarding and well-paid careers.
 
“Whether you want to be a barista or a bartender, this initiative will enable you to train for free and get the skills you need for a job in a local pub, club, café or restaurant,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“A strong hospitality sector is absolutely critical for NSW, now and into the future. This program draws on the NSW Government’s record skills budget and will help secure a brighter future for the hospitality industry and all those who depend on it.”
 
Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said the NSW Government is continuing to work with industry to address crippling labour shortages, but also foster career progression and retention through scalable upskilling opportunities.
 
“These fee-free courses are designed to be short and quick, but also scalable so staff take up additional training opportunities, to develop further skills over time, as they desire,” Mr Anderson said.
 
“The program has been developed in partnership with the industry, to provide job relevant training and career development at pubs, clubs and restaurants across NSW.
 
“We also want participants to realise that there is longevity in the hospitality sector. Staff are encouraged to make the most of additional training opportunities to further develop their skills, and turn a job into a long term career if they choose to.”
 
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said the initiative offers incredible opportunities for professional growth and development in the hospitality sector, particularly in clubs across the state.
 
“Someone who gets their first job in a club can go on to do amazing things. Clubs offer careers in cooking, hotel management, customer service, business operations and much more,” Mr Landis said.
 
“These aren’t just fee-free short courses, they could be your first step on a hugely successful and satisfying career journey, and we want clubs to be the catalyst for that journey.”
 
More information about eligibility criteria and enrolments is available online.

The Public Service Association NSW has welcomed the Federal Government’s move to broaden the availability of Domestic Violence Leave to more than 11 million Australian workers, including casual workers. 

PSA/CPSU NSW members have long had access to such entitlements, with all NSW Government employees now able to access 10 days’ domestic violence leave, unconditional on what other leave provisions they have used.

“We have been fighting for this leave entitlement for over a decade because we know it saves lives. So I am very pleased to see the federal government extend it to everyone,” said PSA General Secretary Stewart Little.

“One in four women have experienced some of violence from their partner, but leaving a violent relationship is not easy. We know it costs, on average, $18,000 to escape – and that’s not to mention the time and logistics. 

“10 days paid FDV leave will allow many more women to change their lives, while retaining their jobs.

“We congratulate the whole union movement and the Federal Government on prioritising worker safety so early in its first term.”

In April 2010, the PSA/CPSU NSW tabled a clause at a forum at the University of NSW calling for 20 days’ special annual leave for employees experiencing domestic violence.

Since then, all Awards and Enterprise Agreements covering our members have incorporated domestic violence leave provisions, including the 2011 landmark victory by our union, forcing the State Government to grant five days’ special leave once other options were exhausted.

Four popular Western Sydney locations have been selected to welcome the first of several shared e-scooter trials to roll out across NSW.
 
The first shared trials will begin on Saturday at three locations in Western Sydney Parklands’ Bungarribee Park, Lizard Log and Shale Hills, as well as The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
 
The trial parameters have been carefully considered, taking lessons from e-scooter use around the world and across the country to ensure the safest, most practical and effective measures are in place.
 
Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Government was committed to cautiously trialling the use of e-scooters in safe environments. 
 
“Like any new technology, e-scooters present us with enormous opportunities and several challenges to address before we can permanently permit them on our streets,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“This is why the NSW Government is committed to trialling them and why our parklands are the perfect location to start ahead of trials across multiple council areas.
 
“Councils can now formally apply to hold a 12-month trial with selected e-scooter shared scheme providers in their area. The trial is restricted to shared scheme e-scooters, so we can guarantee the safety parameters of each device.”
Council areas can now apply to be part of the trial and once approved can begin 12-month trials with e-scooter shared scheme providers in their area.
 
The trial will limit shared scheme e-scooters to riders 16 years old and over, limited to a maximum of 20km/h on bicycle paths, or roads with a speed limit up to 50 km/h, and a speed limit of 10km/h for shared paths.
 
E-scooters will not be permitted on footpaths and the use of privately owned e-scooters will remain prohibited.
 
“We’ve taken our time to get this trial right, which is why we’re not rushing into rolling this trial out to interested council areas immediately,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“Each shortlisted council will have to meet the requirements of the trial and undergo a safety assessment before being approved.”
 
Visitors to Western Sydney Parklands and The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan will be able to hire an e-scooter through the provider’s app. The app will provide visitors with a map that shows where the scooters are located to pick up and ride.
 
Applications to be part of the e-scooter shared scheme trial are open until September 30 this year. You can find out more about e-scooter trials here.

More than one million people will be supported to reach their goal of being skilled and employed, as part of TAFE NSW’s ambitious new three-year plan that will help strengthen the economy’s skills base and secure a brighter future for NSW.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the TAFE NSW Strategic Plan 2022-25 provides an industry-aligned roadmap for Australia’s largest and best training provider, to ensure it continues to deliver a skilled and agile workforce, now and into the future.
 
“This plan sets out a clear path to deliver future-focused, responsive and flexible training which is geared towards both traditional as well as new and emerging industries,” Mr Henskens said.  
 
“The plan is backed by our record $2 billion recurrent and $319 million capital investment in TAFE NSW as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget, which will fast-track training in priority areas, including those linked to the NSW 2040 Economic Blueprint.
 
“TAFE NSW is critically important to the future of our State and the NSW Government will continue to support its teachers and staff, so that we can continue helping people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
 
The key elements of the plan include delivering better learner experiences, forming innovative partnerships with industry, empowering TAFE’s workforce and adopting digital technologies to improve services. 
 
TAFE NSW Managing Director Stephen Brady said the plan will help fulfil the vision for TAFE NSW as a vibrant, nation-leading training provider which delivers quality and accessible vocational education and training.
 
“The rapidly changing nature of work, our expanding digital economy and the growing demand for flexible education pathways, presents TAFE NSW with an enormous opportunity to help shape and grow the NSW economy,” Mr Brady said.
 
“The plan also highlights TAFE NSW’s critical role in alleviating social inequality for those experiencing disadvantage, including delivering on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”
 
More information about the TAFE NSW Strategic Plan 2022-25 can be found online.