Category: NSW News

Treasurer Matt Kean welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s 2022-23 Budget, which delivers $2.6 billion for infrastructure projects across NSW, tax relief and measures to ease cost of living pressures to fuel the COVID-19 economic recovery.
 
“I congratulate Josh Frydenberg on a Budget that delivers vital infrastructure, tax and cost of living relief, and also important spends on preschools, aged care and domestic violence prevention,” Mr Kean said.
 
“This budget provides skilled training for in-demand industries, supports first home buyers and will help our state bounce back stronger than ever.
 
“NSW is helping drive the improvement in the Commonwealth Budget with our current record low unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent.
 
“This is a strong foundation to build upon as we continue to pursue the NSW Government’s priorities ahead of our State Budget in June.”
 
Key funding for NSW in tonight’s Federal Budget includes:

• $2.6 billion in additional funding for infrastructure over the four years to 2024-25. The Budget funds longer-term commitments including $1 billion to create a faster rail link between Sydney and Newcastle, $352 million for the Milton Ulladulla Bypass and $336 million for upgrades to the Pacific Highway at Wyong.
• More than $1 billion over the four years from 2021-22 for the flood recovery effort.
• Additional tax relief worth $420 for low-to-middle-income earners and $250 one-off payments for pensioners and welfare recipients.
• A share of $2.7 billion towards a temporary six-month cut to the fuel excise for immediate relief, saving motorists 22.1 cents per litre.
• $346.1 million over five years to extend the Paid Parental Leave scheme to 20 week

NSW Treasury is now examining the details of the Commonwealth Budget, which will feed into the NSW 2022-23 State Budget.

“As a state we will continue to partner with the Commonwealth to ensure NSW remains the lifeblood of the national economy, and continues to drive Australia forward through the pandemic,” Mr Kean said.

“We’ll also be looking for further opportunities help make people’s lives better, relieve cost of living pressures, and break down barriers to create a fairer society.”

The NSW Government has launched the Digital Individual Contractor Licence in the Service NSW app, allowing tradies to easily access their work licences and contractors and consumers to quickly check credentials.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said after a successful trial of more than 1400 tradies the Digital Contractor Licence was now available free across the State for individual Contractor Licence holders who wanted to go digital.

“This is about a smart NSW making it easier for people to do business across the State and for consumers looking to check a tradie,” Mr Dominello said.

“Security is baked in to the digital licence which includes an animated NSW Government logo, auto-refreshing date and time, QR code that expires and reloads, and a Waratah hologram.

“But for those who want to keep using their existing card that will always be an option.

“And we have heard loud and clear from tradies during the trial that they also want access to digital Qualified Supervisor and Tradesperson Certificates and we are planning to roll these out in late April.”

The Digital Contractor Licence is the second trade licence and credential to be digitised following the launch of the Digital White Card in April 2021, which has more than 185,000 people using it in the Service NSW app.

Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said the new licence app will strengthen consumer safeguards against prospective tradies.

“Digital contractor licences will make it convenient for consumers to assess the qualifications of a tradesman prior to entering into a contract,” Ms Petinos said.

“The Digital Contractor Licence is a quick and secure way for contractors to display their credentials on site and for consumers to check a licence when engaging a tradie.

“A digitised licence adds another layer of protection for consumers by allowing them to quickly check details such as name, date of issue and any conditions.

“This is a perfect case of a licensing regime keeping pace with modern technology, making it easier for tradies to do business while protecting consumers from dodgy scammers.”

Funded by the Department of Customer Service’s Digital Restart Fund, the NSW Government’s Licensing Program is working to digitise trade licences and create end-to-end licensing journeys with the aim of improving customer service, providing convenience and making compliance with legislation easier.

Customers can now add the Digital Contractor Licence in the Service NSW app, which is available to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It is currently available for individual contractor licence holders only and they will need a MyServiceNSW account.

For more information, please visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au

Recovery Centres and assistance points continue to open their doors to flood-affected communities across NSW, with new facilities now operating in Cessnock, Nimbin, Ulladulla and Woodburn.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said Recovery Centres provide individuals, families, farmers and business owners easy access to a range of Government support, services and advice.
 
“We now have 14 Recovery Centres and assistance points in the Northern Rivers, four in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, three on the Central Coast, two on the South Coast, two in the Hunter region and one in the Southern Highlands,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“Each Recovery Centre is operated by Resilience NSW staff and bring together a range of NSW Government agencies, community organisations and service providers under one roof.
 
“The trauma our flood-affected communities right across the State continue to suffer is immense. This is why we are doing everything possible to help residents kickstart their recovery journey.”
 
Recovery Centres and assistance points provide access to accommodation, lost document replacements, mental health and wellbeing services, business support, clean-up services, financial assistance, and insurance and legal support.
 
To view the opening hours of each Recovery Centre and assistance point, go to: www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/recovery-centres.
 
For those wanting to be assisted remotely, Service NSW is operating as an online one-stop shop, with Customer Care specialists also available on the phone via 13 77 88.

 
List of Recovery Centres and assistance points:

1. Ballina: Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina;
2. Casino: Casino Community and Cultural Centre, 35 Walker Street, Casino;
3. Cessnock (assistance point): Wollombi Tennis Club, 2979 Paynes Crossing Road, Wollombi;
4. Chinderah (assistance point): Kingscliff Seventh Day Adventist Church, 85 Phillip Street, Chinderah;
5. Evans Head: Evans Head Recreation Hall, Kirkland Court, Evans Head;
6. Grafton: Old St George Bank, 32 Prince Street, Grafton;
7. Kyogle: Kyogle Memorial Institute, 131 Summerland Way, Kyogle;
8. Lismore: V Block, Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore;
9. Londonderry (assistance point): Londonderry Community Hall, 360 Carrington Road, Londonderry;
10. Lower MacDonald (assistance point): St Albans School of Arts and Walmsley Road, Lower MacDonald;
11. Maclean (assistance point): Maclean Community Centre, 50A River Street, Maclean;
12. Mount Olive (assistance point): Mount Olive Community Centre, 135 Carrowbrook Road, Mount Olive;
13. Mullumbimby: Mullumbimby Civic Memorial Hall, 55 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby;
14. Murwillumbah: Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, 10-14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah;
15. Nimbin (assistance point): Nimbin Neighbourhood Centre, 81 Cullen Street, Nimbin;
16. Riverstone (assistance point): Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre, Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre, 9 Park St, Riverstone;
17. Shoalhaven (assistance point): Kangaroo Valley Hall, Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley;
18. South Golden Beach (assistance point): South Golden Beach Hall Corner Helen St and, Pacific Esplanade, South Golden Beach;
19. South Windsor: South Windsor Family Centre, 6 Greenhills Way, South Windsor;
20. Spencer (assistance point): Spencer Community Hall, 4776 Wisemans Ferry Road, Spencer;
21. The Entrance (assistance point): Diggers at The Entrance, 315 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty;
22. Ulladulla (assistance point): Ulladulla Civic Centre, 81B Princes Highway, Ulladulla;
23. Upper Main Arm (assistance point): Kohinur Hall, 1297 Main Arm Road, Upper Main Arm;
24. Upper Wilsons Creek (assistance point): Lilium Café, 10 Huonbrook Road, Upper Wilsons Creek;
25. Wingecaribee (assistance point): Moss Vale Civic Centre, 68 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale;
26. Wisemans Ferry: The Retreat, 5564 Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry; and
27. Woodburn (assistance point): Woodburn Op Shop, Corner of River and Cedar Streets, Woodburn.

Hundreds of people sleeping rough will be assisted into longer-term housing as part of the NSW Government’s $35.5 million partnership with the community housing sector.

Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the Together Home Transition program will fund nine community housing providers (CHPs) to deliver 142 social housing, and eight affordable housing properties in 11 locations across the state.

“The $122.1 million Together Home program is a nation-leading initiative that has already assisted 728 people with housing needs and 870 with support services to help transform their lives,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

“This transition program will assist Together Home tenants into longer-term social housing with wrap around supports. It builds on the work we are doing to help people rebuild their lives.

“In partnership with the community housing sector, the Together Home Transition program will help more people break the cycle of homelessness for good.”

The NSW Government will provide $35.5 million and the contracted CHPs will co-contribute funds to deliver the 150 homes around the state.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said this was great news for the Central Coast.
This program is helping lift people out of homelessness and it’s creating local construction jobs at the same time,” Mr Crouch said.  

“East Gosford, Warnervale and Canton Beach are all getting new accommodation thanks to Together Home and this government’s continued investment in social housing.”

Pacific Link Housing CEO Ian Lynch said the three projects combined are worth more than $11.4 million, including the NSW Government’s $4.9 million Together Home Transition program co-contribution, and will deliver 25 properties, including 17 social housing units.

“Not only will this supply accommodation for people in need, but it will also provide a welcome boost for the local economy,” Mr Lynch said.

The Together Home program was first rolled out in July 2020 and will support over 1,054 people sleeping rough into stable housing.

The number of hospitality workers is being boosted to help NSW businesses struggling with staff shortages.

The Automatic Mutual Recognition initiative allows certified Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) staff from Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT  to work in NSW without needing new credentials.

Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said the hospitality sector is continuing to struggle with staff shortages post the COVID-19 pandemic, so creating a wider talent pool will help ease some pressure on the sector.

“The industry has experienced incredible hardship over the past two years and that’s why we need to do everything we can to support it and get businesses booming and the sector thriving once again,” Mr Anderson said.

“Previously, hospitality workers who wanted to temporarily work in NSW had to spend time and money getting additional RSA certification. This initiative makes it easier for RSA holders to get working as soon as they arrive,” Mr Anderson said.

The Automatic Mutual Recognition program is part of a new Federal Government program called JobPass, which aims to support and improve occupational mobility across Australia. 

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said this adds to the NSW Government’s recent funding of 10,000 fee-free RSA courses to get more workers into the sector.

“Whether you’re a school-leaver or looking for a career change, now is the perfect time to enter the dynamic NSW hospitality industry,” Mr Henskens said.

For more information go to: Making it easier for registered professionals to work interstate | NSW Government.

Today the Federal Executive of the Liberal Party resolved unanimously to intervene and appoint a Committee to take over the management of the NSW Division, in accordance with clause 12.3 of the Federal Constitution of the Liberal Party.

The term of the appointment of the Committee commenced immediately upon the passing of this resolution and ends at 6.00pm on Saturday 2 April 2022.

The intervention ground is based on the circumstance that decisions have not been made in relation to the endorsement of candidates where there is one or more nomination from candidates, namely in the seats of Eden-Monaro, Fowler, Grayndler, Greenway, Hughes, McMahon, Newcastle, Parramatta and Warringah.

The Committee may select and endorse a candidate for each of these seats.

The Committee shall be comprised of Mrs Christine McDiven, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Dominic Perrottet.

The Western Sydney Aerotropolis is set for take-off after the NSW Government today released the final Precinct Plan which will support more than 100,000 jobs and 11,400 new homes.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the finalised plans give the community, investors and developers the certainty they need to plan for the future.
 
“The final Precinct Plan will enable the development process to begin in the Aerotropolis, and kick start the benefits and opportunities that a new international airport will bring to Western Sydney,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“The finalisation of the plan for the initial precincts lays the foundation for the transformation of 6,500 hectares of land, with new homes, jobs and open spaces, supported by the right infrastructure.”
 
The package released today includes finalised plans for the Aerotropolis Core, Badgerys Creek, Northern Gateway, Agribusiness and Wianamata-South Creek precincts following extensive consultation.
 
Mr Roberts said developer contributions under the special infrastructure contribution framework will fund up to $1.1 billion in infrastructure like roads, public transport, health facilities and schools, to support the new city.
 
“The Aerotropolis will be our newest, thriving commercial city to rival the world’s greatest, that’s why we took time to get the planning right, setting us up for success over the decades to come, ” he said.
 
“We’ve listened to the community and the Independent Community Commissioner, and finalised these plans in line with their feedback.”
 
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the feedback from the community has created a better balanced Aerotropolis plan, that will create more jobs closer to where people live.
 
“This is a once-in-a generation opportunity to deliver a thriving new city for Western Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.
 
“Infrastructure investment in the airport, roads and the new Metro will make the Aerotropolis one of the best-connected areas in the country, making the Western Parkland City the best place to live, work and invest in for generations to come.
 
“The revised Open Space Network will ensure more than 95 per cent of homes in the future Aerotropolis are located within 400 metres, or five minutes walk of open space.”
 
For more information and to view the final plans visit:
https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/aerotropolis

The NSW Government will immediately put in place tougher regulations to crack down on illegal protests disrupting Greater Sydney.
 
The Roads Amendment (Major Bridges and Tunnels) Regulation 2022 will be made to make it an offence to disrupt any bridge or tunnel across Greater Sydney. The regulation is made under s144G of the Roads Act 1993, but currently only applies to disruption on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
 
The NSW Government will then bring legislation to Parliament to expand s144G beyond bridges and tunnels to roads and industrial and transport facilities more generally.
 
Section 144G carries a maximum penalty of 200 penalty units ($22,000) or imprisonment for two years, or both.
 
Acting Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said these measures were critical to deter future illegal protests across Sydney. 
 
“The penalties currently in place have clearly not deterred protestors who continue to block roads across Sydney, disrupting transport networks, freight chains, production lines and everyday commuters getting to work or to school – and it can’t keep happening,” Mr Toole said.
 
“Unauthorised protests have no place in our State, and these tighter laws and tougher penalties we’re introducing prove we have zero tolerance for this selfish, disruptive and unruly behaviour.”
 
Attorney General Mark Speakman said it was essential to quickly expand the existing regime.
 
“Following the events of recent days, I worked with Minister Ward to urgently review existing laws. We are strengthening them to deter mayhem being inflicted upon ordinary citizens,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the change to the regulation will ensure there are severe penalties for future protestors looking to block bridges and tunnels across Greater Sydney.
 
“Protestors who stop daily commuters getting to work in the morning and home in the afternoon put themselves and drivers at risk and have no place on NSW roads,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“Under these changes, protestors who block major routes including the Spit Bridge and the Western Distributor will now face harsher penalties, aligned to the disruption they create across the road network.”

This week I hosted a Pensioners Town Hall forum with Labor’s co-chair of the Protecting Pensioners Taskforce, Julian Hill MP and local residents to discuss the Morrison Government’s cruel and callous plan to expand the cashless pension card to all pensioners.

This heartless plan puts pensioners and vulnerable Australians at extreme risk, with the government controlling how and where you get to spend 80% of your pension.

Unlike an ordinary bank debit card, the cashless pension card can only be used at shops approved by the government. That means pensioners won’t be able to pay cash for things like groceries, secondhand goods, a meal at the RSL, or give money to their grandkids.

In some parts of Australia, pensioners have already been forced onto the cashless pension card, and now the Morrison Government wants to extend this to become “the universal platform” in a “nationwide expansion.” 

I have had a lot of enquiries from concerned seniors and retirees who are worried about losing their autonomy and dignity by being forced onto compulsory income management.

Their worries aren’t unfounded given the Morrison Government’s refusal to rule out any further roll-out of the card.

Labor believes that the cashless pension card has no place in Australian society and pensioners should not be subjected to the humiliation of having part or all of their income quarantined. That’s why Labor has committed to scrapping this card altogether

We know that the vast majority of pensioners manage their own money perfectly well. They know where every cent goes. 

This shocking scheme comes after nine years of cuts to the pension and attacks on pensioners by the Liberals. Our community can’t risk three more years of Mr Morrison.

A raft of temporary regulatory measures introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have now been made permanent, in a move that will provide $2.4 billion of net economic benefits over the next decade.
 
These positive reforms, designed to support businesses and communities to operate flexibly throughout the pandemic, were originally set to expire from March 2022.

Acting Premier Paul Toole said it was critical to make permanent these changes as we emerge from a tough couple of years so that the economy comes back stronger than ever.
 
“NSW continues to lead the way through the COVID-19 recovery, and we’ll continue our record support so that more businesses re-open, jobs are filled and communities are buzzing again,” Mr Toole said.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said when the pandemic struck it was clear that a business-as-usual approach from Government would not be enough to help people continue to run businesses, do their jobs, and access critical goods and services efficiently.
 
“These practical measures allowed the community to adapt through this period of disruption. Now as we emerge from a challenging two years, we are securing the benefits of these changes permanently to help rebuild the economy,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Retaining these changes permanently will provide net economic benefits of $2.4 billion over the next decade through greater flexibility and time savings.”
 
The temporary changes made permanent include:
 

• More flexibility for strata owners’ corporations, community land associations and incorporated associations to meet and vote electronically;
• Allowing planning panels and the Independent Planning Commission to hold public hearings and meetings online or in person;
• Greater flexibility for employees and businesses to access long service leave under the Long Service Leave Act 1955; and
• Allowing audio link or audio-visual link to conduct interviews and questioning remotely.

 
Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts said the NSW Productivity Commission’s White Paper recommended retaining COVID-19 changes if they deliver net benefits.
 
“These changes, combined with the resilience, creativity and determination of our people and businesses, mean that our State will be in a better and stronger position to recover and flourish,” Mr Roberts said.