Domestic Violence Death Review Team Report 2021-2023

The New South Wales Government acknowledges the tabling of the Domestic Violence Death Review Team Report 2021-2023 and thanks the Team for their work on this report.

The New South Wales Government acknowledges the tabling of the Domestic Violence Death Review Team Report 2021-2023 and thanks the Team for their work on this report.

This report, and the data contained in it, is a sobering and sombre read.

More than that, the Government knows that every statistic contained in this report represents someone whose life was unjustly taken too early, someone who was loved, and whose absence is still felt deeply.

These statistics represent family members, friends, valued community members, and their loss continues to be mourned by many.

This report is a stark reminder of the great responsibility borne by the government to take meaningful and continued action to address the scourge of domestic and family violence on the communities of New South Wales.

We do not take this responsibility, or the findings of this report, lightly. We will continue to invest in and work with communities and stakeholders to strengthen our response to domestic and family violence at all stages and at times of crisis, while continuing to prioritise prevention and early intervention.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic, family or sexual violence, please call the toll-free number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for support on 1800RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au.

Domestic Violence Death Review Team Annual Report

Gosford Hospital ED to roll out Safe Staffing Levels

Recruitment will shortly get underway for additional nurses in the Gosford Hospital emergency department as the Minns Labor Government continues delivering on its promise to rollout a major staffing reform.

Gosford Hospital is among the next 12 hospitals across metropolitan and regional NSW to introduce Safe Staffing Levels in emergency departments, with the implementation of the reform set to improve the experience of patients and boost retention and capability of staff in public hospitals.

The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state and better care for patients.

The staffing boost of frontline healthcare workers at Gosford Hospital will enable a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied emergency department resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.

The announcement will bring the total number of hospitals commencing the roll-out of Safe Staffing Levels to 16 across the state following the earlier announcement of Liverpool, Royal North Shore, Lismore and Port Macquarie Hospitals.

The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce, which includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts, will continue to work through the preparations to determine the FTE required to deliver Safe Staffing Levels at Gosford Hospital over coming weeks and months.

Phase one of Safe Staffing Levels is initially commencing in Level 5 and Level 6 EDs, which treat the most critically ill patients, and will then be progressively implemented across other hospitals and departments. The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce will continue to oversee the rollout of the government’s commitment of 2480 FTE over four years (to June 2027) towards staffing levels.

Implementing Safe Staffing Levels is just one of a range of measures the Minns Labor Government is embracing to build a supported and capable health workforce, including:

  • saving 1,112 nurse and midwife positions by making the roles permanent;
  • abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers;
  • beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
  • introducing the health worker study subsidies scheme.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state.

“Importantly, this reform will deliver improved nursing numbers to provide care for patients while supporting our frontline healthcare staff. “

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said:

“It is pleasing that Gosford Hospital is receiving this funding to recruit more nurses to ensure its busy emergency department is well staffed.

“The growing population of the Central Coast is putting increasing pressure on our region’s health services and this funding will go a long way to ensuring Central Coast patients continue to receive the care they need and our frontline staff are supported.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:
“It is fantastic news that Gosford Hospital has been identified in the next tranche of hospitals for the roll of Safe Staffing Levels in our emergency departments, with recruitment to get underway shortly.

“As the Central Coast community continues to grow and age, it is so important that we ensure minimum staffing levels on every shift, ensuring that nurses are supported in continuing to provide world-class care.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:
“I’m proud to be part of a Labor government improving public health on the Central Coast.”

‘Build to Rent’ Hearing Shows Labor’s in Disarray on Housing

‘Build to Rent’ Hearing Shows Labor’s in Disarray on Housing

Today’s Senate Economics Committee hearings demonstrate Labor is out of ideas on housing.

One of their warped ideas to advantage foreign investors to own Australian housing was considered in detail. Labor’s ‘Build-to-Rent’ scheme is both a perversion of the Australian Dream and technically unworkable.

Some assert this is a bizarre policy option. Independent economist Cameron Murray told the committee of the tax status quo:

“It’s not clear why local investors shouldn’t be advantaged over foreign investors in Australian housing.”

It is a good point. The Coalition doesn’t want foreign fund managers and super funds to take out Mums and Dads as owners of Australian housing. Others claim the proposed law won’t work.

The Property Council said “in their current state, the Bills will undermine the government’s stated intention…”

‘Build-to-Rent’ would change the character of Australian housing from individuals to institutions. This is another sad chapter in Labor’s destruction of the Australian Dream.

Labor has failed on housing. The Committee will table its Report on 04 September 2024.

Pay rise for early educators while keeping fees down for families

Every day, parents trust early educators with the most important people in their world, and every day Australia asks early educators to do one of the most important jobs imaginable.

Today, we are making sure those educators are fairly paid.

The Albanese Government will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workers.

This wage increase will be tied to a commitment from Child Care Centres to limit fee increases. We want to make sure workers can be fairly paid without the costs being passed on to families.

This commitment will help retain our existing early childhood educators, who are predominately women, and attract new employees.

This is better for parents and better for educators. It’s also good for Australian business and creating greater equity for women in the workplace.

By improving access to quality early childhood education and care we can also boost productivity and workforce participation in the short and long-term.

Significantly, the wage increase also applies to workers in outside school hours care services – creating benefits for the parents of school aged children too.

This significant wage increase is an important next step in the Government’s reforms to the sector, building on the successful Cheaper Child Care changes.  

This will be phased in over two years, and include a 10 per cent increase from December 2024, and a further 5 per cent increase from December 2025.

This means a typical ECEC educator who is paid at the award rate will receive a pay rise of at least $103 per week, increasing to at least $155 per week from December 2025.

ECEC workers are some of the most important workers in the country and they deserve to be paid properly.

This $3.6 billion investment from the Government recognises the vital role that ECEC workers play preparing children for school.

To be eligible to receive funding for the wage increase, ECEC services won’t be able to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent over the next 12 months from today.

This is an important condition that will keep downward pressure on fees for families. Funding must be passed on in full to employees through increased wages.

This is a win for workers, a win for families and will help ease cost of living pressures.

Quality, affordable early education prepares children for a great start at school, contribution to their ongoing education and development.
And it lays the foundation for our nation’s future economic success. 

Since coming to Government, the number of ECEC workers has grown by more than 30,000, but we need more.

This announcement comes after the Government joined negotiations with unions and sector representatives as part of the ECEC supported bargaining process, made possible by the Secure Jobs Better Pay Act.

Combined with the Government’s Cheaper Child Care initiative, today’s announcement will help support the availability of early education and care for families and is a crucial step in charting the course to a truly universal early education system.

The Government has also received the Productivity Commission’s final report into early childhood education and care and will release it in due course. Government support for the interim retention payment will be provided for two years while the Fair Work Commission finalises its gender undervaluation priority awards review and as the Government charts a path towards a universal childcare system.

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese

“Early educators shape lives and change lives. We can never thank them enough for what they do – but we can make sure they are properly valued and fairly paid. Today our Government is doing just that.

“Knowing your child is safe, happy and learning alongside their friends is priceless. Giving the next generation the best start in life is essential. Today we deliver fair pay for the people who make this possible.

“Importantly, this agreement will also keep fees down for families. Our cheaper childcare policy already delivered increased subsidies to over a million families. This will provide even more cost of living relief.

“This brings together the priorities that drive our government: real help with the cost of living, fair wages for workers, investing in the future and economic equality for women.

“This is a great day for everyone who cares about child care: the children who thrive in it, the parents who rely on it and the dedicated workers who deliver it.”

Treasurer, Jim Chalmers

“The early childhood education workers of this country deserve a decent pay rise and that’s what we’re delivering.

“We’re improving access to affordable early childhood education and care, boosting productivity and workplace participation, and helping Australians work more when they want to.

“Peter Dutton wants people to work longer for less, but we have a different approach.

“Our economic plan is all about helping people earn more and keep more of what they earn which is why we’re focused on delivering tax cuts for every taxpayer and strong and sustainable wages growth.”

Minister for Education, Jason Clare

“The child care debate is over. It’s not babysitting. It’s early education and it’s critical to preparing children for school.

“They lift our kids up and now we are lifting their pay.

“This means wages up for workers and keeping prices down for families.

“A pay rise for every early childhood educator is good for our workforce, good for families and good our economy.”

Minister for Early Childhood Education, Dr Anne Aly

“This is a wonderful outcome for a highly feminised workforce that has for far too long been neglected and taken for granted.

“We’re boosting the wages of early childhood education workers, while relieving cost of living pressures on Australian families.

“Properly valuing the early childhood education and care workforce is crucial to attracting and retaining workers and vital to achieving the quality universal early learning sector Australian families deserve.

“A quality early childhood education sector is necessary to support children’s learning and development as well as workforce participation in the broader economy.”

Minns Government delivers new era for rice industry

The Minns Labor Government last night passed legislation to increase competition and boost the long-term viability of the state’s rice industry, by deregulating the state’s rice industry through a transition period from 1 September to 1 July 2025.

This is an important element of the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering new opportunities to the agriculture sector, and making sure regulations do not hinder industry growth.

The legislation ends the statutory controlled single rice export marketing (‘vesting’) arrangement and will open up the market to a more diverse choice for how rice growers sell and market their rice.

The changes are being made following extensive engagement from NSW’s rice growers requesting an opening up of the market by deregulating the historical restrictive selling arrangements.

The NSW Government’s legislation will initiate a series of practical steps for transitioning the way rice is marketed to consumers and international export markets, and cover the following:

The emerging Northern Rivers rice growing region will no longer be restricted by the current vesting arrangements from 1 September 2024, allowing their rice crops from 2024/25 to be sold into domestic and international markets without restriction
Vesting for the Southern NSW growing region will end by 1 July 2025, allowing the 2025/26 crop onwards to be exported free of the vesting arrangements
The Rice Marketing Board that has overseen the regulated market will be wound up by 1 July 2026, with any residual funds to be reinvested to benefit the NSW rice industry.
These modernising changes are consistent with the key recommendations of the recent Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) independent report recommending that the vesting regulation be ceased. This aligned with the findings of the former NSW Government’s 2021 review which promoted economic benefits from ending vesting.

NSW is Australia’s rice production powerhouse, with 99% of the nation’s rice grown in the state, contributing a farm gate value of $219 million in 2022-23.

To enable a successful transition for growers the NSW Government has established a Stakeholder Reference Group to collate views on the following important issues:

R&D opportunities to support alternate supply chains
Ensuring seed supply is maintained for all rice growers
Unwinding the affairs of the Rice Marketing Board once vesting ends
Investigating regional development opportunities
Mechanism to deliver any residual assets of the Board back to benefit the rice industry.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Our Government recognised things needed to change for NSW’s rice industry, after listening to the rice industry growers from across the state in both the Northern Rivers and in the Riverina.

“I am proud to say we have delivered what rice growers and the industry requested was in their industry’s best interests, making it easier to get this world-class rice into global markets.

“The Government’s setting up of a Stakeholder Reference Group will positively contribute to the sector’s transition and advise on options for using any residual funding from the winding up of the Rice Marketing Board to ensure it benefits the NSW rice industry.

NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The world has changed dramatically since the 1920s when this system was established, so we’re getting on with the job of modernising the rice market.

“This will help deliver a system that rewards new products and innovation in the rice market.

“This is good news for regional economies that will benefit from better and more flexible trade into the most lucrative global markets.

Appeal to locate missing teenage girl – Nelson Bay

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenage girl missing from the Port Stephens area.

Sophie Fletcher, aged 13, was last seen leaving a home on Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay, about 7.20am on Monday 5 August 2024.

When she was unable to be located or contacted, Sophie was reported missing to officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District today (Wednesday 7 August 2024) and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police and family hold serious concerns for Sophie’s whereabouts due to her age.

Sophie is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall, of slim build with long brown hair. She was last seen wearing blue long pants, a blue polo and carrying a black school bag.

Sophie is known to utilise public transport and frequents the Rutherford area.

Anyone with information into Sophie’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Platypus Month is back for 2024

Canberrans are invited to join one of 28 group surveys during August to help get a better understanding of platypus numbers in the rivers and creeks in the ACT region. 

Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management Rebecca Vassarotti said the surveys are a great opportunity for citizen-scientists to learn how to spot a platypus while also helping researchers monitor local populations. 

“Late winter is the ideal time for spotting these iconic native animals, and this is done through a number of surveys over August, as well as through members of the public sending in incidental sightings,” Minister Vassarotti said. 

“There are over 300 spots available for the one-hour surveys, which will take place at dawn and dusk in the Upper Murrumbidgee area.  

“In addition to the surveys that collect valuable data, Waterwatch will be running four free walks on the Queanbeyan River and Lower Molonglo River for people to come together with family and friends to learn more about the platypus and see if they can try to spot any in the river. 

“I highly encourage anyone interested in becoming a citizen-scientist to come along to one of the surveys to help spot platypus throughout the year and also help us inform more of the community about the issues affecting platypus populations in our region,” said Minister Vassarotti. 

Find out how you can get involved in Platypus Month on the Waterwatch website, and take a look at where platypus have been found or report a sighting on the Platty and Ratty Portal. 

Online calculator to help tenants and landlords manage fair rent increases

Navigating rent increases just became easier for Canberrans following the launch of an online rent increase calculator. The free, user-friendly tool is designed to empower tenants and landlords alike in making sure rent increases are fair and legal.

Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said the initiative was part of a broader suite of measures aimed at easing the burden of rising living costs and promoting a fair, transparent rental market.

“The ACT is the only jurisdiction in Australia to protect tenants by putting a specific limit on rent increases. The ACT uses a formula based on the consumer price index that defines when a rent increase is excessive, but we know that working out the permissible increase can be complicated for both landlords and tenants,” said the Attorney-General.

“We’ve listened to Canberrans’ concerns about the complexity of rent increase calculations, and we’ve taken action. This new calculator is a direct response to community feedback, designed to make renting in the Territory more straightforward and equitable.

“With the cost of living on everyone’s minds, this rent increase calculator empowers renters to confidently advocate for their rights and budget effectively. At the same time, it helps landlords ensure their rent increases are fair and comply with the law.”

This calculator allows users to determine the maximum permissible rent increase based on their specific circumstances. Canberrans can input their current rent, proposed rent and relevant dates to receive advice. The tool is part of a suite of ACT Government initiatives designed to support renters and occupants, including:

  • Rent relief fund: Offering grants of up to $2,500 to help renters and occupants on low incomes who are facing rent stress or financial hardship.
  • Minimum standards consultation: A public consultation, open until 2 September 2024, to establish minimum standards for rental properties and occupancy law reforms.

These measures collectively demonstrate the ACT Government’s commitment to a fair and sustainable rental market that protects the rights and well-being of both tenants and landlords.

The rent increase calculator can be accessed here.

Labor breaks election promise and cuts funding to key public housing development

The Victorian Greens have slammed Labor for cutting funding for hundreds of public and community homes, including at Fitzroy Gasworks, as they continue to hand over more public land to private developers in favour of massive profits. 

Leaked cabinet documents reveal that Labor has officially removed $62.59 million of funding for 120 social homes at the Fitzroy Gasworks –  a project that’s been promised since 2018 and Labor claimed would deliver an ‘unprecedented amount’ of public, community and affordable housing. 

The future funding for Fitzroy Gasworks and multiple other projects that were promised to deliver hundreds of public and affordable homes under Labor’s Big Housing Build Scheme is now uncertain. 

It follows recent reports that the Victorian Labor Government is handing over other public land sites to private developers as part of the Small Sites Project and at the old VicRoads site in Kew. 

The Victorian Greens say that we’re in the middle of a housing crisis where we should be building public housing on public land but instead Labor are fuelling the crisis by handing over public land to private developers for massive profits. 

Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri has been a fierce advocate for building more public housing at the Fitzroy Gasworks site and said that it’s outrageous that this public site will be turned into expensive, private development in the middle of a housing crisis. 

The Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Samantha Ratnam said that the ‘big build’ was supposed to be a housing project, but instead it’s becoming a mass privatisation program that will make the housing crisis worse. 

Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri: 

“We’re in the middle of a housing crisis where we should be building public homes on public land, not handing over public land to private developers. 

“Victorians are experiencing the worst housing crisis in living memory. There are over 120,000 people on the housing waitlist, we’re now the youth homelessness capital and the majority of us are experiencing housing stress. To fix this, the government must build more public homes. 

“The Fitzroy Gasworks site is the perfect place for us to be building hundreds of public homes. 

“This has all been about optics for Labor, they made big promises ahead of the election and now they’re breaking those promises and turning their back on the community who have been campaigning for public housing on public land.

the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Public and Affordable Housing, Samantha Ratnam: 

“Victoria’s big build program is like a house of cards. No matter how Labor spins it, it could fall over at any minute because it is being driven by privatisation not what is in the interest of Victorians. 

“This is why we need a public builder in Victoria. It would keep this public land as a priority to build the 100,000 public homes the state desperately needs. 

“These project funding cuts show that Labor are shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic while Victorians in housing stress are drowning. 

Australia’s participation in the United States Global Entry program

Australia will join the United States’ Global Entry program from 2025, making travel easier for the hundreds of thousands of Australians who visit the US every year.

Eligible Australians who sign up to the Global Entry program will benefit from streamlined and expediated immigration and customs clearance channels on arrival into the United States.

The program will initially be available from January 2025 to a limited number of Australians that travel most frequently to the US, with work underway to open up the program to all eligible Australians who wish to apply later in 2025.

They will automatically be eligible to participate in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre-Check program, allowing for expedited screening processes for US domestic flights.

By signing a new information sharing arrangement today, Australia is taking a significant step towards implementation of the Global Entry program.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong:

“Joining the Global Entry program is a mark of the closeness and the strength of the relationship between our two countries.

“The foundation of the friendship between Australia and United States is the friendship between our people. This program will deepen these links and make it easier to foster greater commercial ties.”

Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke MP:

“The Albanese Government is delivering on Australia’s participation in the Global Entry program for the thousands of travellers who visit the United States frequently.

“Today’s signing is an important step and we’re working hard to ensure that from January 2025, the first group of eligible Australians will experience expedited immigration and customs clearance channels when they arrive in the US.”