Category: NSW News

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.

More rapid antigen tests will be supplied to teachers and students and flexible school based measures are being rolled out to help schools continue to operate through increased COVID-19 impacts.
 
The adjustments are outlined in COVID-smart school guidelines released today by the NSW Government in response to increasing COVID-19 cases in the community.
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell said the temporary measures have been put in place until at least the end of Term 1.
 
“A multipack of at least five RATs will be available for students and teachers at every school as needed to use when symptomatic because we know rapid antigen testing is an effective measure in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Additional tests will also be provided for early childhood educators and staff,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
Where a community is experiencing an increase in COVID cases, the Department may direct the local school to adopt additional proportionate measures for a short period of time, such as requiring staff, adult visitors or high school students to wear masks indoors, or moving assemblies or large gatherings outdoors.
 
“These tailored measures will support the continuity of face-to-face learning and help to protect students and staff by reducing in-school transmission of COVID-19,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“With a significant proportion of new cases being school aged children, it is important that we all do our part to help schools remain operational by staying home if you’re sick and test if you’re experiencing any symptoms or are a close contact.
 
“It is prudent that we continue to review and adjust our settings to deal with the challenges we will face throughout the school year to ensure students continue to receive face-to-face learning.”
 
Details of the COVID-Smart school settings are available on the NSW Department of Education website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.

Forgetting or losing vehicle registration paperwork is now a thing of the past, with the NSW Government launching a fully digitised, paperless rego service.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the new Digital Vehicle Registration service is a one-stop shop for millions of drivers, offering digital renewal notifications and a Certificate of Registration all in one place.
 
“Around 16 per cent of registrations are not renewed on time due to paperwork being damaged, misplaced or simply stuck on the fridge and forgotten about,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Through the new service, motorists can opt-in to get electronic reminder notices and access their digital Certificate of Registration through their MyServiceNSW Account.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the service will save drivers time and will also help reduce the 7.2 million paper renewals sent by Transport for NSW each year.
 
“This service has been piloted using more than 1000 vehicles to great success, with 95 per cent of drivers giving the opt-in process the thumbs up,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“Although you can already renew your rego online, this additional option makes life easier for drivers by providing them with more information in the palm of their hand.”
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the service will benefit drivers across all communities.
 
“Whether you’re a parent in Western Sydney, a young professional in the bush or a retiree on the coast, we want to take the hassle out of renewing your rego,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“My message to drivers is simple – give the new service a go and reap the rewards.”
 
Customers who opt-in will receive reminder notifications six and two weeks before their registration expires and one day after via email, in their MyServiceNSW account and by push notifications in the Service NSW app.
 
The service was jointly funded between the Digital Restart Fund and Transport for NSW.
The service is optional meaning customers will continue to receive a paper renewal notice unless they opt-in.
To opt-in to Digital Vehicle Registration, visit service.nsw.gov.au.

Detectives have charged six people – including three real estate agents – following an investigation into the alleged use of rental properties for the cultivation of cannabis, and fraudulent acquisition of COVID-19 rental relief payments.

Between July and August 2021, police dismantled a number of sophisticated hydroponic cannabis set-ups located within homes in the Fairfield area, seizing cannabis with a combined estimated potential street value of $2 million.

Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command subsequently established Strike Force Delbo to investigate the activities of a criminal syndicate involved in the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis across Sydney’s south-west.

Strike force detectives were assisted throughout the investigation by NSW Fair Trading.

As part of ongoing inquiries, police identified several large-scale fraudulent applications submitted under the NSW Government COVID-19 Residential Tenancy Support Package scheme.

Following extensive inquiries, a 52-year-old man was arrested during a vehicle stop at Cecil Hills about 7am yesterday (Wednesday 23 March 2022).

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized $5000 cash and mobile phones.

A short time later, a 44-year-old man was arrested at a home at Bonnyrigg, before officers executed a search warrant at a home at Cecil Hills. Several items were seized for further examination.

Both men were taken to Fairfield Police Station, where the older man – who is a real estate agent – was charged with 10 offences including; knowingly direct activities of criminal group, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, make false document to obtain financial advantage and use false document to obtain financial advantage.

The younger man was charged with cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.

Both men were refused bail and are due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Thursday 24 March 2022).

Later that day, two men – both aged 35 – and a 37-year-old woman were arrested at Fairfield Police Station.

A 35-year-old Middleton Grange man – who is a real estate agent – was charged with nine offences including; participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity), dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, attempt dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and make false document to obtain financial advantage.

A 35-year-old Smithfield man was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and two counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity).

A 37-year-old woman – who is a real estate agent – was charged with eight offences including; participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception, two counts of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, make false document to obtain financial advantage and use false document to obtain financial advantage.

All three were refused bail and are due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Thursday 24 March 2022).

About 10am, a 23-year-old man was arrested at Marrickville and charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and four counts of cultivate prohibited plant (commercial quantity). He appeared at Newtown Local Court the same day and was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday 25 May 2022.

Fairfield City Police Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Luke Scott, said several of the syndicate’s members allegedly facilitated the frauds by abusing their employment in the real estate industry.

“We will be alleging these people used their position as trusted insiders in the real estate industry to defraud their own clientele and public money meant for those who need it most,” Det Insp Scott said.

“The properties that were allegedly utilised by this syndicate to grow cannabis were subleased to members of the public who had no idea their name was on the lease agreement, as was the case when it came to the fraudulently obtained rental relief and bond payments.

“The nature of this fraud is particularly scandalous and predatory; the community won’t tolerate it, and those involved now have our court system to answer to,” Det Insp Scott said.

Small businesses hit hardest by the Omicron wave have been handed a further lifeline, with the Small Business Support Program extended to a new closing date of 29 April 2022.
 
The financial support package has assisted businesses, workers and the performing arts across NSW with cash flow and to continue trading.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the four-week extension was important to ensure small businesses have the resources they need to survive COVID-19 and bounce back.
 
“This extension will allow more businesses to apply, and takes into account potential application delays for businesses from flood-affected areas,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The pandemic and floods have been tough for so many over the past couple of months. But this targeted support helps place our economy in a resilience and recovery phase.”
 
Small Business Minister Eleni Petinos said that due to the crucial role played by the 800,000 small businesses across NSW in providing essential goods, services and jobs, the Government wanted to ensure sufficient time was provided for as many to apply as possible.
 
“Many of these businesses experienced challenges due to the Omicron wave of the pandemic, and we understand the pressures they face,” Ms Petinos said.
 
“This targeted program will support impacted small businesses and help them bounce back after a challenging start to the year.”
 
The Small Business Support Program provides eligible businesses a lump sum payment of 20 per cent of weekly payroll with a minimum payment of $500 per week and a maximum payment of $5,000 per week. Businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $50 million that experienced a decline in turnover of at least 40 per cent in January 2022 and the start of February 2022 are eligible.
 
For more information please visit nsw.gov.au/.

NSW will be home to the world’s first 100 per cent renewable energy shore powered shipping precinct, at the Bays Port in the heart of Sydney.
 
Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said Bays Port, which includes Glebe Island and White Bay, will be the first bulk shipping precinct fully supplied by shore power. The White Bay Cruise Terminal will also be the first shore powered cruise berth in the Southern Hemisphere.
 
“Our Government is creating the ports of the future and in doing so transforming the communities in which they continue to operate,” Mr Elliott said.
 
“The first berth is set to come online in 2024, and will allow shore power capable ships to cut their diesel generators, and thereby reducing emissions, air pollution and noise levels whilst at port.
 
“Shore power is cleaner and quieter, minimising the impact of ships on neighbouring areas and ensuring our last remaining deep water harbour berths continue to operate sustainably into the future,” Mr Elliott said.
 
In the Bays Port area alone, renewable shore power will remove up to 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere over 12 months, the equivalent of taking over 4,000 cars off our roads every year.
 
The Port Authority of NSW CEO, Captain Philip Holliday, announced the net zero and shore power plan with the support of bulk shipping and cruise industry leaders.
 
“This is an historic partnership with the Port Authority of NSW investing over $60 million to deliver this infrastructure as the first step, with port users already pledging to retrofit and build ships to take advantage of this technology,” Captain Holliday said.
 
“Delivering Shore Power will drive us even further than our already ambitious NSW net zero targets, of a 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and be net zero by 2040.”

Sustainable, economically viable and environmentally friendly projects have received NSW Government funding through a program which is fostering innovation through the state’s world-leading researchers and companies.
 
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said the Circular Economy Challenge Program will help to remove barriers and build new sustainable supply chains that minimise or eliminate waste as well as generate jobs and investment in new circular industries.
 
“The Circular Economy refers to a model of production and consumption which aims to eliminate waste by keeping products and materials in use through innovative methods,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“This funding is supporting exciting ways for businesses and people to participate in the new zero-carbon, zero-waste circular economy, ensuring NSW stays at the forefront of innovation and research in this area.”
 
The funding was announced today, coinciding with Minister Henskens addressing the Australia Circular Economy Forum hosted by NSW Circular.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the projects are focused on solving the greatest environmental challenges through innovation.
 
“The circular economy is already in action in NSW, through programs including our wildly successful Return and Earn scheme, which has had more than 7 billion plastic containers returned,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“I’m focused on boosting the circular economy even more to help support our environment through the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy, which begins implementation this year.”
 
NSW Circular CEO Lisa McLean said collaboration is the key to solving the big challenges of transitioning to a circular economy.
 
“These research projects are proving there are new and better ways to reduce, recycle and reuse waste across many sectors – health, waste management, construction, infrastructure and finance,” Ms McLean said.

Shark response capabilities will be enhanced at beaches across the state, with the NSW Government announcing a boost of $4.4 million for a suite of immediate additional mitigation methods, as well as ongoing funding of more than $85 million to continue this strategy until 2026.

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said shark interactions are always possible, regardless of the technologies deployed – but it is critical for the NSW Government to do everything possible to reduce that risk to the millions of beachgoers who hit the water every year.

“The tragic event at Little Bay earlier this year was another reminder of the threat posed by sharks and the need to take steps to ensure we can coexist as safely as possible,” Mr Saunders said.

“We are not only announcing immediate additional response capabilities, including more Shark Listening Stations, SMART Drumlines and Rapid Response Vehicles, but we’re also committing to ongoing funding for future mitigation to protect our beachgoers for years to come.”

The immediate additional response package includes:

• 10 additional VR4G Listening Stations;
• 60 extra SMART drumlines;
• 500 more shark tags to trace sharks caught on an expanded drumline roll out;
• Funding for four more Rapid Response Vessels;
• Long Range Drone Trials in partnership with Surf Life Saving NSW;
• Additional Surf Life Saving resources to increase their presence at beaches; and,
• Applied research into wetsuit materials to reduce the impact of shark attacks.

The $85.6 million 2022-2026 Shark Management Program will include:

• The extension of the 51 nets currently deployed seasonally as part of the Shark Meshing Program;
• The continuity and expansion of the SMART drumline program;
• The establishment of a First Responder Team based across NSW to coordinate the government’s response to shark incidents;
• Keeping the NSW Government’s 37 shark listening stations across the coast;
• More funding to Surf Life Saving NSW to continue and expand aerial surveillance using drones across the state’s coastline;
• Funding to continue to enable Surfing NSW to provide shark mitigation supports and services such as trauma kits during riding competitions and surf schools;
• Research funding for new tools, technologies and further insights into shark behaviour; and,
• An annual survey of community confidence and sentiment in NSW Government shark mitigation efforts.

Mr Saunders said the investment builds on an already extensive suite of mitigation methods.

“This summer alone, the NSW Government committed $21.4 million to implement a number of extra mitigation tools, including SMART drumlines, drone technology, 16 additional shark listening stations, 51 shark nets, the Shark Smart app and community awareness campaigns, so today’s funding will be a welcome boost to build on these initiatives,” Mr Saunders said.

“We know sharks can be extremely dangerous and aggressive, but they’re also part of what makes NSW’s marine life so beautiful, so we need to make sure we continue to have state-of-the-art technology in place to allow them and beachgoers to coexist.

“There is no other jurisdiction in Australia or across the globe which has done as much testing and trialling of technology and approaches to mitigate shark interactions, and our shark program is now the largest and most comprehensive in the world.”

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

A new 500 megawatt battery has received planning approval, helping to drive Liddell Power Station’s transformation into a renewable energy hub.
 
Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean said batteries will play an important role in delivering reliable and affordable electricity to the homes and businesses in NSW and will become an intergral part of the State’s energy future.
 
“The NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap is the nation’s most ambitious renewable energy plan, which is expected to attract up to $32 billion of investment in new electricity infrastructure,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Big batteries combined with solar, wind and pumped hydro will help to deliver some of the cheapest and most reliable energy to the families and businesses of NSW.”
 
“This planning approval is a big win for the Hunter, with the project expected to create up to 100 construction jobs and attract $763 million worth of capital investment.”
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the approval signifies a sunny future for the Hunter and will shore up energy supply as the power station closes over the next two years.
 
“This new battery is three times the size of Tesla’s battery in South Australia and will ensure our electricity grid continues to power on as coal-fired power stations power off,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“Renewable energy in NSW is a rapidly growing sector, and battery systems like this enable the industry to store renewable power and support the grid network when it needs it most.
 
“This is the third battery approved in NSW since planning rules changed two years ago, to provide a clearer, simpler process for large stand-alone batteries, with a further 13 in the pipeline. That’s a potential 3,980 megawatts worth of power in the system.”
 
The project’s proponent, AGL, has advised that the battery will be constructed in stages, with the first stage expected to be operational by 2023.