Category: NSW News

With a new wave of COVID-19 cases continuing to increase across the state, people with disability are encouraged to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
 
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said people with disability can be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of COVID-19.
 
“Protecting people with disability is vital as they can be at greater risk of developing serious illness if they become infected,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“Vaccination is readily available at GPs and pharmacies and we are urging everyone to book in without delay.”
 
COVID-19 booster doses are recommended for anyone 16 years and older who had their last dose of a primary course at least three months ago.
 
The COVID-19 vaccine can be taken at the same time as the influenza vaccine, which people with disability are also being urged to take.
 
While the free flu vaccination program in NSW ends on 17 July 2022, those considered to be at higher risk of severe illness from influenza remain eligible for a FREE flu vaccine beyond this date, under the National Immunisation program. This includes:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from six months of age
• Children from six months to under five years of age
• People with serious health conditions (including severe asthma, diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, obesity, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease)
• Pregnant women
• People aged 65 and over.

 
The NSW Government is also providing up to 7.9 million rapid antigen tests (RATs) to people with disability and other vulnerable community members with the program recently expanded to 31 October 2022.
 
To find your nearest vaccination clinic, visit nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government is driving down emissions and boosting jobs and industry, co-delivering Australia’s first renewable hydrogen highway on the east coast with the Victorian Government.

NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said applications are now open for $20 million in grant funding to support the design and delivery of renewable hydrogen trucking along Australia’s busiest freight corridor.

“This initiative aims to show the potential of renewable hydrogen for heavy vehicles with the goal of transitioning the freight sector to zero emissions energy sources,” Mr Kean said.

“The Hume Hydrogen Highway will create new jobs and attract investment to NSW and Victoria. It’s expected to drive uptake of renewable hydrogen in the heavy transport sector.”

The NSW and Victorian Governments have each invested $10 million in grant funding for the Hume Hydrogen Highway, a joint grant initiative to support the development of at least four refuelling stations along the highway and approximately 25 hydrogen-powered trucks.

Transport is one of Australia’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable hydrogen shows strong potential to be cost competitive with diesel for trucks.

Victoria’s Minister for Energy and Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio said transport accounts for 25 per cent of Victoria’s total carbon footprint.

“Australia’s busiest corridor is the perfect place to kickstart the transition to a zero-emission freight sector,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“The renewable hydrogen highway will create new jobs, drive investment across the east coast and is a landmark step towards meeting Victoria’s target to halve emissions by 2030 as we work towards net-zero by 2050.”

Mr Kean said the Hume Hydrogen Highway is the first initiative of a statewide hydrogen refuelling network.
“What we’re looking for is strong industry collaboration between refuelling station operators, fleet operators, truck manufacturers, major freight customers, and other entities which will be vital to the success of the initiative,” Mr Kean said.

The Victorian, NSW and Queensland Governments will collaborate on the development of the renewable hydrogen highway by 2026, focusing on the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and the Newell Highway.

Grant applications close 21 October 2022. The successful applicant must enter into a joint funding agreement with both Governments.

The NSW Government has today announced an additional $20 million investment over four years in justice initiatives to help reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.
 
Attorney General Mark Speakman said the package involves significant expansions of the Youth Koori Court, Circle Sentencing in the Local Court, and the Justice Reinvestment program.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to working closely and collaboratively with Aboriginal communities to address disproportionate rates of Aboriginal incarceration,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said investing in these programs will enhance the NSW Government’s commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
 
“Investing in these programs aims to meet targets within the Closing the Gap agreement, including reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and young people in the criminal justice system,” Mr Franklin said.
 
The NSW Government is today committing:

• $5.8 million to expand the Youth Koori Court to the Children’s Court at Dubbo and to provide more funding for Aboriginal Legal Services, Legal Aid NSW and a specialist Children’s Magistrate to oversee the Youth Koori Courts including at Surry Hills and Parramatta.
• $4.2 million to expand the Circle Sentencing program from 12 to 20 high-priority Local Court locations.
• $9.8 million for new Justice Reinvestment pilots, which aim to divert people away from the criminal justice system by investing in evidence-based community-led initiatives that address the underlying causes of crime, with a focus on Aboriginal people. A Justice Reinvestment pilot is presently operating in Bourke.

 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said: “The National Agreement provides us with the framework to empower and support Aboriginal communities across the State to create fundamental change and achieve meaningful, permanent outcomes.”
 
Mr Speakman said as part of the funding package the Circle Sentencing program will be expanded to include Local Courts at Penrith, Campbelltown, Wollongong, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Batemans Bay, Waverley and the Sydney Downing Centre.
 
Circle Sentencing is an alternative sentencing method in which a Local Court Magistrate works with Aboriginal Elders, victims, respected members of the community and the offender’s family to determine an appropriate sentence.
 
“In the 20 years since the program was first piloted in Nowra, more than 1,450 Circle Sentencing sittings have been held,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“This approach has been found to reduce rates of imprisonment and reoffending compared with traditional sentencing methods.”
 
Uncle John Bolt, a proud Bundjalung man who has been involved as an Elder in the Circle Sentencing Program for 20 years, said: “I’m honoured to be part of this program, and over the past 20 years it’s been really strong and positive, giving our community the opportunity to see our young people get a better start in life and stop being incarcerated.”
This funding package complements other new NSW Government initiatives already underway, such as the Walama List pilot that started in the District Court on 31 January, 2022.
 
The NSW Government is also investing $27.9 million over four years to expand the NSW Drug Court to Dubbo.
 
Plans are also underway to expand the Aboriginal List in the Drug Court already operating at Parramatta to Dubbo and Sydney.
 
Specialist roles attached to the Drug Court will enhance the provision of culturally safe and responsive support for Aboriginal participants going through the Drug Court.

Construction on the Rozelle Interchange has entered the final stage with confirmation today that major tunneling excavation on the world-class project is now complete.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is delivering on its vision of state-changing transport infrastructure for motorists that is more reliable and better connected. 
 
“This government is committed to transforming our state’s transport infrastructure for this generation and the next with our almost $77 billion investment over the next four years,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“Rozelle Interchange will become a critical link in our Sydney road network, connecting drivers not only to the M4-M5 Link Tunnels, but to the City West Link, the Western Distributor and the future Western Harbour Tunnel. 
 
“This milestone represents a major piece of the jigsaw coming together as we move another step closer to a better-connected Sydney, one with safer and less congested roads meaning motorists will ultimately have more time to do the things they want to do.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward says the Rozelle Interchange will transform travel for motorists across Sydney.
 
“Rozelle Interchange is the final and signature component of the WestConnex project, which will ease congestion on the road network and provide Sydney motorists quicker and safer trips,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“Once completed WestConnex will cut travel time from Western Sydney to the CBD by up to 20 minutes with 100,000 vehicles expected to travel through the interchange every day.”
 
The Rozelle Interchange project includes Western Harbour Tunnel enabling work, and completing the M4-M5 Link tunnels.
 
The Rozelle Interchange project will now move into the final fit out and then commissioning stage for the tunnel, as it gets ready to open to motorists in late 2023. 

A significant boost to specialist police units to target organised crime, domestic violence and terrorism will form part of 550 new positions in the NSW Police Force this financial year.

The final allocation of positions delivers on the State Government’s $583 million commitment for 1500 extra police positions over four years.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the commitment represented the biggest increase in police numbers across the State in more than 30 years.
 
“We’re boosting every area and aspect of the NSW Police Force – including our general duties police, domestic violence specialist investigators, police prosecutors, counter terrorism police and organised crime squads,” Mr Toole said.
 
“These extra positions mean more proactive policing, more foot patrols, more visibility of police in high-risk areas, more support for victims, and more time to investigate crime.
 
“An effective police force requires the support and resources to stay ahead of the game and disrupt crimes before they occur.”

Commissioner Karen Webb said the new positions would make a significant impact across the Police Force, improving community safety. 

“Our population as a state is continually growing, and with that comes greater responsibility as a police service,” Commissioner Webb said.

“These allocations have been carefully considered to ensure we boost numbers in areas that need it the most.
“It is crucial to have resources in the right areas to prevent and respond to crime and see those matters through the court process.”

The new positions will see various specialist units and commands bolstered with extra resources. These include:

• State Crime Command – 41, with 30 positions for the Raptor Squad and 11 positions for the Organised Crime Squad to help tackle gangland and high level organised crime;
• Police Prosecutions – 35, including 20 training positions to achieve conviction outcomes;
• Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics – 19, with nine positions for the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and 10 positions for the Tactical Operations Group;
• High Risk Domestic Violence Team – 15 to proactively target and investigate high risk domestic violence offenders;
• Rural Crime Investigators – 10 additional investigators to investigate stock and equipment theft on farms.

The pool of general duties police officers will also be boosted across metro, regional and rural locations.

Premier Dominic Perrottet will lead a trade mission to Japan, India and Korea, with a packed agenda that firms up new agreements, reboots our visitor economy and international education sectors, and drives investment in priority growth sectors like clean energy production, where NSW aspires to be a global leader.

The trade mission takes advantage of NSW’s economic resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic to give the state a head-start in attracting new investment as international markets reopen.

“The pandemic has slowed global trade relations, but NSW is open for business and we have pressing trade and investment opportunities with key regional partners,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This trade mission will reaffirm critical international relationships and progress important agreements, to give our state a critical advantage in attracting investment in future growth sectors, including advanced manufacturing and green hydrogen production.

“These are the economic opportunities that will create high quality jobs for current and future generations, but only if we seize the moment and secure international investment right now as global trade starts to fire up again.”

The mission will take place from July 21-29, taking in Japan (Tokyo and Hiroshima), South Korea (Seoul) and India (Mumbai and Bengaluru). This will be the first overseas visit for Mr Perrottet in his capacity as the state’s leader, and the first overseas visit for a NSW Premier since the pandemic forced international border closures.

Mr Perrottet will be joined by Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres for the Indian leg of the visit.

Mr Ayres will lead a new annual trade delegation of government officials and industry representatives to bring NSW businesses to India to promote NSW exports and grow business partnerships.

“NSW has a strong economic and cultural relationship with India. We are home to the largest Indian population in Australia, India is our third-largest source of international students and is our fastest growing tourism market with Indian visitors spending an estimated $444 million in 2019,” Mr Ayres said.

“With the signing of an historic new trade agreement earlier this year, a new direct airline service between Sydney and Southern India, the return of international students and increased investment, NSW is poised to make the most of the immense opportunities between our two nations.”

NSW students and families will have better access to before and after school care than ever before with 44 new hubs to be rolled out in schools across the state over the next 12 months.
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the purpose-built sites known as “hubs” were part of the NSW Government’s $40 million commitment to create more out of school hours care (OSHC) places.
 
“We’ve delivered 47 hubs already and will roll out more than 90 in total around the state, providing facilities for up to 4,800 students,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Every hub includes a play space, offices, toilets and kitchens, allowing students to enjoy a safe and fun environment, whilst providing parents with the flexibility they need.
 
“The NSW Government is focused on supporting working families and helping to cut waiting times in areas of high demand with 19,420 additional before and after school care places created since 2019.”
 
Ten of the latest hubs have been temporarily redistributed to the North Coast to assist with flood recovery and provide accommodation for dislocated OSHC and preschool services.
 
The NSW Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, a program of $17.7 billion in public education infrastructure.
 
Schools with completed OSHC Hubs:
 

1. Anna Bay Public School
2. Austral Public School
3. Bathurst Public School
4. Baulkham Hills North Public School
5. Beaumont Hills Public School
6. Bletchington Public School
7. Brighton Le Sands Public School
8. Burwood Public School
9. Calare Public School
10. Camden Public School
11. Carlingford Public School
12. Crestwood Public School
13. Cronulla Public School
14. Eglinton Public School
15. Epping Public School
16. Ettalong Public School
17. Faulconbridge Public School
18. Glendore Public School
19. Gulgong Public School
20. Gymea North Public School
21. Haberfield Public School
22. Heathcote Public School
23. Hinchinbrook Public School
24. Jasper Road Public School
25. Jerrabomberra Public School
26. Kariong Public School
27. Kellyville Ridge Public School
28. Kelso Public School
29. Macarthur Girls High School
30. Madang Avenue Public School
31. Mawarra Public School
32. Molong Central School
33. Murray Farm Public School
34. Newbridge Heights Public School
35. Newington Public School
36. Northbridge Public School
37. Northmead Public School
38. Quakers Hill East Public School
39. Ringrose Public School
40. Rosemeadow Public School
41. St Andrews Public School
42. Tamworth South Public School
43. The Oaks Public School
44. Thornton Public School
45. Valentine Public School
46. Wellington Public School
47. Winston Heights Public School

Small businesses and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations affected by the June-July severe flooding and storms can now apply for up to $50,000 in support through Service NSW.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the grant would provide a much-needed lifeline to small businesses who have been hard hit by the floods across the 37 natural disaster-declared local government areas.
 
“These floods have had a devastating impact on communities across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra, Central Coast and Hunter, and we are doing everything we can to ensure businesses and not-for-profits get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local communities and this package is designed to provide immediate support to help business owners recover and keep their business going.
 
“Customer care specialists are available to assist if customers are having difficulty providing the necessary documentation or are not sure if they are eligible, and successful applicants should expect to see funds in their accounts within five business days of approval.”
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the grant is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments and can go towards the clean-up, repairs, re-stocking and reopening.
 
“Payments of up to $50,000 can go towards the cost of safety inspections, building repairs, cleaning equipment, materials needed to resume trade, disposing of debris and spoiled stock, or leasing temporary space,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Some small businesses have been impacted by flooding four times in 18 months, which is why we’re making sure the application process is as straightforward as possible so that support can flow quickly.”
 
Fraudulent applications will not be tolerated. As evidenced during the flood financial support made available by the NSW Government earlier this year, fraud wastes valuable assessment time and delays the time it takes to pay applicants who genuinely need assistance.
 
To see if you are eligible for the June and July Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant, visit the Service NSW website. 
 
Businesses that would like to be connected with support can register for a call back from Service NSW’s Business Concierge here, or call 13 77 88 for assistance.

The NSW unemployment rate has reached a record low for the third time this year, falling 0.7 percentage points to 3.3 per cent in June.
 
It is the State’s lowest monthly unemployment rate since current records began in 1978. About 26,000 extra people were employed in jobs in June in NSW and hours worked in NSW also rose by 1 per cent.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said these outstanding figures are the result of the NSW Government’s strong economic management and show the underlying strength of the State’s economy after more than $53 billion was committed for COVID-19 support and stimulus since March 2020.
 
“NSW has done it again. Three record low unemployment rates this year despite the challenges of floods and ongoing COVID outbreaks,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The NSW Government’s tailored support measures throughout bushfires, floods and COVID outbreaks are helping NSW achieve a jobs boom.
 
“The NSW labour market is in a very strong position and our record low unemployment rate of 3.3 per cent is well below the national rate.”
 
Mr Kean said the unemployment rate underscores the importance of enabling every person who wants to work to be able to do so.
 
“That’s why our Budget included $5 billion over 10 years to fund affordable, accessible childcare to unlock the potential for more women to participate in the workforce,” Mr Kean said.
 
The reforms would enable up to 95,000 more women to enter the workforce or take on more hours by 2032-33.
 
Employment in NSW is now 158,600 above its pre-COVID level and 117,300 above its pre-Delta level.

The New South Wales and Victorian governments are working together to build a new emergency department and short stay unit at Albury Wodonga Health’s Albury campus to meet the future health needs of the community.
 
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas joined NSW Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Member for Albury Justin Clancy today to turn the first sod on the $36 million project, marking the start of construction on the new emergency department.
 
Mrs Taylor said the strong relationship between the NSW and Victorian governments delivering the project will help ensure the Albury-Wodonga community receives the world-class healthcare it deserves close to home.
 
“We’re here today to mark the beginning of construction on this important project which, once complete, will double the capacity of Albury Wodonga Health’s emergency department,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“The new emergency department includes 42 treatment spaces, a specialised resuscitation hub, paediatric treatment area, acute treatment area, and multiple triage rooms with their own accompanying waiting rooms.”
 
Additional ambulance bays, X-Ray and CT scanning spaces, behavioural assessment rooms and private family consult rooms are also included in the project.
 
The NSW Government has provided $30 million towards the new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, with the Victorian Government providing $6 million.
 
Ms Thomas said the project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with local builder Joss Group and Albury Wodonga Health. It will create and sustain more than 100 local jobs during peak construction.
 
“The Victorian Government is providing $6 million towards the project through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to build a 16-bed short stay unit which will help reduce wait times in the emergency department, so local patients can get the very best care, sooner.”
 
“The emergency department expansion is being delivered in two stages. The first stage will deliver the new emergency department and is on track to be completed in late -2023. The second stage of the project will deliver the short stay unit in mid-2024.”
 
“Each project stage is receiving input from staff and the emergency department team, who are developing a new model of care. This includes increased staff numbers, a specialist and multi-disciplinary team approach and the early, appropriate clinical streaming of patients for the best care,” Ms Thomas added.
 
Mr Clancy said Albury Hospital is not an old hospital but the growing regional population and increasingly complex health needs have meant a much larger, more modern emergency department is needed to serve the border community.
 
“I am pleased the NSW and Victorian governments are working together to deliver this project which will provide substantial improvements on the current facility not just in terms of capacity but through more sympathetic streaming of patients to improve our experience at the ED,” Mr Clancy said.
 
“I thank NSW Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Victoria’s Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas for coming to Albury today to announce that construction is beginning.”
 
The expansion will support almost 80,000 patients projected to go through the emergency department by 2031.