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The Minns Labor Government will invest $16.3 million to continue fee-free training for apprentices and trainees across the state, which will fund more than 20,000 new apprentices and 19,000 trainees.

The investment covers student fees of up to $2000 for apprentices and up to $1000 for trainees, removing any up-front costs for those taking up apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.

This ensures that anyone who wants to access vocational training and education can afford to do so.

The program is critical to build a future workforce in areas such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical – all critical skills to the delivery of the NSW Government’s housing supply strategy.

The most popular traineeships are also in high-demand areas such as early childhood education and care, aged care, disability care and other sectors of the economy such as retail, hospitality and administration.

Importantly, the program reduces administrative red tape and business costs for employers, and addresses cost of living pressures on our emerging skilled workforce, who are predominantly young people. The places will be available to all new apprentices and trainees starting their courses during the next financial year.

Additionally, the Minns Labor Government will invest $190.2 million to undertake urgent repairs at TAFE NSW campuses across the state.

This will help to address chronic underfunding by the former government which resulted in dilapidated buildings, outdated digital devices, and unreliable Wi-Fi.

The new funding builds on a record $300 million capital investment in last year’s budget, which has gone towards building repairs and updating Wi-Fi systems at 28 of our regional campuses.

This investment sits alongside the joint Commonwealth and NSW Government Fee-Free TAFE initiative which has delivered over 156,000 enrolments in vocational education since April 2023.

This announcement is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to addressing skills shortages in critical sectors, delivering apprentices and trainees across housing, construction, manufacturing, childcare, disability, and aged care.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“The 2024 to 2025 Budget continues to demonstrate the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to addressing skills shortages in critical sectors supported by apprentices and trainees including housing, construction, manufacturing, childcare, disability and aged care.

“We are reducing costs to employers and removing financial barriers for those wanting to move into the skills workforce in highly paid, highly skilled jobs.

“The Minns Labor Government also has an absolute focus on trying to overcome the shortage that we have in residential accommodation in NSW and developing the skills to build those houses is a key part of delivering on that commitment.

“In order to attract and retain a skilled workforce in NSW, we know we have to deliver world-class educational facilities. We have over 1700 TAFE buildings in the state and know that they were left to ruin after the neglect of the Liberal and National Government.

“We’ll invest in fixing our TAFE NSW infrastructure and expanding the access to Wi-Fi across our regional campuses in order to give our apprentices and trainees the best possible starts to their careers”. 

3,600 more children will be able to access public allied health services each year as part of the the Government’s $40 million Family Start Package to deliver the essential health services our communities deserve, as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget.

$20 million from the fund will boost the public paediatric allied health workforce with an additional 32 staff.

Our health system faces significant challenges, but the NSW Government is making the diligent decision to boost child health assessments and early intervention services.

This will reduce waitlists and improve access to much needed diagnosis and therapy for children across NSW, including those in rural and remote communities.

The Minns Labor Government is also investing $2.3 million funding over four years to support Royal Far West (RFS). This will enable RFS to continue to work in partnership with NSW Health to provide a specialist, multidisciplinary health and wellbeing service for children with complex developmental concerns who live outside the greater metropolitan areas of NSW and cannot access these services locally.

This boost to allied health and early intervention services delivers on the Government’s commitment to supporting families.

This budget cares for NSW, ensuring we have the essential services the people of NSW rely on, so that every family can access the quality health care they need.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Timely access to paediatric allied health services for children with developmental vulnerabilities is shown to improve their educational, social, employment and economic outcomes later in life.

“This investment is a step towards improving developmental outcomes, school participation and academic performance of children across NSW.

“We’re ensuring children and their families can access health services closer to home and when they need them, improving their health, development, and overall wellbeing.”

The NSW Government is helping communities rebuild and recover from heavy rainfall and flooding by waiving the waste levy in affected areas.

Residents in 6 LGA’s hit hardest by a downpour in early June can dispose of flood-affected items at landfill sites without having to pay the waste levy fee until early September.

The exemption covers waste on public and private land, including damaged building materials, furniture, carpet and gardening debris.

Removing the fee will expedite the recovery process and ease financial burdens on impacted households and businesses.

The Natural Disaster Waste Levy Exemption applies to the following LGA’s:

• Camden
• Wollongong
• Shoalhaven
• Shellharbour
• Wingecarribee
• Kiama.

The exemption means residents will not be charged the levy until 4 September 2024. Local landfill gate fees may apply.

These communities were also hit by heavy rain and flooding in April and had been granted a waste levy exemption until 30 June 2024 for that weather event.

More broadly, the NSW Government is currently reviewing the waste levy as part of efforts to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill and boost recycling efforts.

For more information and participate in the consultation.

Today the NSW Government and Shoalhaven City Council will together invest $10.35 million to fast-track infrastructure supporting the delivery of 2000 new homes for the West Nowra community.

As Regional NSW plans for and delivers more homes to its growing communities, the NSW Government and councils are supporting that growth by funding and upgrading critical local services and infrastructure.

The funding has been allocated through the NSW Government’s Accelerated Infrastructure Fund, bringing the total NSW Government investment under Round 3 to $147.61 million, with co-contributions of $68.6 million from five regional councils, helping to unlock over 26,900 new homes.

This further $10.35 million investment will help deliver major upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure to support the development of the Mundamia and Cabbage Tree Lane Urban Release areas in West Nowra.

This funding is in addition to the $3.88 million already allocated to Shoalhaven City Council as part of the Accelerated Infrastructure Fund Round 3 for major upgrades to the Culburra Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Accelerated Infrastructure Fund supports the delivery of critical enabling and supporting infrastructure projects across the State including roads, stormwater, sewers and open space that enable and support the construction of new homes.

Unless we support the delivery of more homes, we will continue to lock young people out of housing or lose them to other states.

For more information visit Accelerated Infrastructure Fund.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“These areas are growing fast and this funding will mean people will have functioning and well-serviced new homes to live in.

“A new home is no good if you cannot flush the toilet or drive down the road to the park.

“Accelerated delivery of infrastructure like sewage treatment plants and adequate roads will allow more new homes to be approved sooner in these growing regional areas.

“Housing affordability and availability is the biggest single pressure facing the people of NSW, and that’s why we are focusing investment in these key infrastructure projects to clear the way for new and thriving communities to take shape.”

Member for Shoalhaven Liza Butler said:

“Today’s joint investment by the NSW Government and local council marks a significant step forward for the West Nowra community. By fast-tracking critical infrastructure projects, we are not only paving the way for new homes but also ensuring that our growing communities have access to the high-quality services they deserve.

“This $10.35 million allocation to the West Nowra Urban Release Area Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, along with the $3.88 million upgrade to the Shoalhaven Culburra Wastewater Treatment Plant, highlights our commitment to sustainable development and vibrant neighbourhoods.

“It is crucial that we continue to support the delivery of more homes to keep our young people within our state and provide opportunities for future generations.”

Duty MLC for Kiama Sarah Kaine said:

“Funding for things such as the wastewater treatment plant upgrades are absolutely vital to ensuring all appropriate infrastructure is in place to allow for sustainable growth of Nowra and its surrounding areas’.

“Through this funding we are making sure that our efforts to encourage new and affordable housing are practical and have well-serviced utilities to meet growing demand.”

The NSW Government is developing a much-needed Rail Resilience Plan for the Illawarra, delivering on an election commitment and improving the South Coast Line for rail commuters.

The 2024 to 2025 Budget will invest $10 million to begin the process of examining all rail infrastructure along the South Coast Line and develop options for upgrading sections of the line between Sydney and Wollongong.

From February 2022 to May 2024, 285 train services have been cancelled and a further 509 disrupted on the South Coast line due to weather-related impacts.

The 136-year-old line is acutely vulnerable to weather events and has a history of instability due to the geology and topography of the Illawarra escarpment, particularly between Waterfall, Thirroul, Wollongong and Port Kembla. The line contains steeper terrain, more winding track, and sees heavier rainfall than any other section of track on the Sydney Trains network.

Extreme weather events over the last 3 years have made it clear bolstering the South Coast Line is vital and urgent. Most recently, storms in April 2024 caused a week of disruption for commuters, and hundreds of rail workers were on site around the clock to fix a large landslip at Coalcliff to restore services.

Freight has also been heavily affected by the rail line closures, disrupting the state’s supply chains and forcing many businesses to resort to road transport so essential goods, including steel, coal and grain, could keep moving in and out of the region.

The Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan will:

• Assess the current performance of the existing network as well as alternative corridors to identify options on network-wide solutions.
• Compare options, such as upgrades versus new infrastructure, to determine the best value for taxpayers and meet the current and future needs of commuters.
• Build on and formalise studies and assessments and deliver a unified plan for the future of Illawarra rail.

The NSW Government has already begun some work to improve services for South Coast passengers, with a $61 million project underway over the 2023 to 2024 financial year.

This includes improving the resilience of cuttings, embankments, cleaning out drains and culverts, and ballast cleaning to fix track drainage. An upgrade to the Coalcliff/Scarborough rail tunnel commenced in 2023 and is expected to be completed by 2027.

This is all part of the NSW Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we’re creating and building on well-connected, well-serviced neighbourhoods.

A plan to build a better NSW.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We have our work cut out for us. The South Coast Line may be picturesque, but it cuts through some of our state’s most challenging terrain.”

“It’s imperative we act urgently to find strategic solutions to this line’s problems, which the community has been copping for far too long.”

“We know work on this line will be expensive, difficult and lengthy, so the Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan will provide a path forward to ensure we make the most effective changes that deliver real results for passengers and freight operators.”

Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Ryan Park said:

“The Illawarra has a large commuter population, and it’s really tough when our line goes out of action. The Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan will look at all options available and ensure we have an improved commuter corridor.

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“With one of our state’s busiest ports operating out of Port Kembla and thousands leaving each day for work, it’s vital we have a reliable and resilient rail line connecting the Illawarra to the rest of our state. We need to get more freight off Illawarra roads and onto rails, and improving the line is the best way to do that.”

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said:

“There is a desperate need to look at our rail network and maximise the corridor so that we have improved travel times for commuters who spend hours every week on a train going to and from work.”

The Minns Labor Government has hosted the NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Roundtable in the Hunter to help build the workforce the energy transition needs and address the challenges faced.

The roundtable continues the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to ensuring the clean energy transition creates new local, secure jobs in both metropolitan and regional NSW.

Stakeholders from dozens of organisations joined the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan and NSW Jobs Advocate Mark Apthorpe to discuss opportunities and strategies. Participants included industry bodies, unions, educators and government agencies.

Key advice from the roundtable will contribute to the NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Plan.

The roundtable builds on the work underway by the NSW Jobs Advocate Mark Apthorpe. Dr Apthorpe has delivered his initial report, making six recommendations to assist with the successful delivery of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. The NSW Government is progressing the issues raised by Dr Apthorpe, which will help deliver skills, training and jobs.

The Minns Labor Government is already taking action to create local, secure jobs and ensure people in the industry are able to transition to work in renewables. This includes:

• Launching $275 million in grants under the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, to secure NSW as the place to develop and manufacture clean technology and create new jobs in the process.
• Setting workforce requirements through the Renewable Energy Sector Board’s plan and Roadmap tenders.
• Establishing a First Nations coordination team within EnergyCo and developing First Nations Guidelines with key Aboriginal community representatives and government agencies to build pathways to employment.
• Funding employment initiatives for local communities.
• Introducing eight new TAFE NSW microskill courses related to renewables, including Hydrogen Energy Fundamentals and preparing to work in the renewable energy sector.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“Delivering the energy transition is a big challenge that comes with real opportunities for thousands of good, local and secure jobs.

“The NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Roundtable brought together the brains and experience across the Hunter and beyond to help ensure the workforce plan for the Renewable Energy Zones will deliver skills, training and jobs across the state now and into the future.”

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:

“The Hunter is proud to host the NSW 2030 Renewable Workforce Roundtable, which will help deliver skills, training and jobs right across NSW.

“The ideas and opportunities discussed today can be applied not only here in the Hunter, but throughout the state as the energy sector grows.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“The Minns Labor Government is supporting the people of NSW to gain the skills they need for emerging industries.

“The Renewable Workforce Roundtable is an opportunity for industry, education experts and government to collaborate and create pathways to jobs in the renewable energy sector, which are popping up right across NSW.

“I’m particularly interested to build on our efforts to deliver training and apprenticeships to people in regional areas, existing tradespeople and school leavers.”

Truck drivers and tourists are among the motorists set to benefit from an Outback rest stop safety and infrastructure upgrade being delivered by the NSW Labor Government.

The Gilgunnia Goldfields Rest Area is located about 109 kilometres south of Cobar on the Kidman Highway which is a major freight route used for transportation of livestock, produce and other goods interstate.

A $255,000 upgrade will bring the rest stop up to modern standards and see the toilet upgraded from the waterless composting facility currently in place.

Work to improve drainage and the surface of the truck parking bay will also be carried out, while a fresh coat of paint will be applied to the water tank.

A non-working barbecue, cage and a disused water tank will also be removed as part of efforts to improve the amenity of the rest area, which will remain open throughout the upgrade period.

Upgrade work will start on June 17 and is expected to take up to six weeks to complete.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Having visited this area in 2022 and again in January this year, I know the value of good quality roadside stops to local communities, tourism and freight operators.

“Good amenities in remote rest stops can be the difference between life and death in helping long distance drivers to better manage their fatigue.

“The Far West is a special place to me, as my grandma was born and grew up in Lake Cargelligo and lived in Hillston during the early years of her marriage.

“I am proud to be part of the NSW Labor Government which has listened to the advocacy of regional champions such as local MP Roy Butler and the Hon Stephen Lawrence MLC in providing better facilities for motorists in remote areas of NSW.”

Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“I welcome this upgrade to the amenities available along the Kidman Highway.

“This is something that the community has wanted for some time. In its previous state, the rest stop left a lot to be desired.

“Truck drivers in that part of the world have long distances to cover and anything that makes a rest stop more usable and comfortable will encourage drivers to take more breaks from behind the wheel.

“That can make a big difference on a long trip.

“Anything that helps improve safety along the main roads of Barwon is a great thing. It will also be good for tourists who travel the highway.”

Labor’s spokesperson for Barwon Stephen Lawrence MLC said:

“The facilities at Gilgunnia were originally installed by a community group many years ago and have deteriorated over time.

“It is good to see the NSW Labor Government recognising the need for improvement and directing more investment where it’s needed in the state’s far west.”