Category: NSW News

Families with young children in NSW will have better access to high quality pre-school and early childhood education due to an historic agreement between the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments.
The new National Preschool Reform Agreement, with NSW as its first signatory, ensures every child will receive high quality education in the year before school, regardless of where they live or their background.
Acting Minister for Education and Youth, Stuart Robert said the agreement will ensure children in NSW have access to quality preschool options and are better prepared for their first year of school.
‘This funding agreement provides certainty to parents, educators and the sector throughout New South Wales,’ Minister Robert said.
‘It will help every child in New South Wales—about 400,000 children over four years—have the opportunity to attend at least 15 hours of preschool a week in the year before they start school.’
The Commonwealth Government has committed $560 million of new funding with more than $280 million from the NSW Government to support the four year funding deal.
The NSW Government will also increase the quality of preschool and long day care education by delivering targeted programs for children who experience disadvantage.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said our most important economic asset is our people and there is no better way to ensure a prosperous future than to make sure everyone has the best possible education and start to life.
‘We want every child in NSW to have the best start in life and every family the support they need to fully participate in the workforce,’ Mr Kean said.
‘Investing in our people, our families and our kids will help us grow today’s economy by increasing workforce participation rates and it will help our future prosperity by giving our kids the best possible start in life.
‘This is a game changing deal for families in NSW, providing parents and carers the freedom to participate in the workforce in ways that better suit their needs.’
Funding will be linked to reforms to increase preschool participation rates and improve outcomes, benefiting all children regardless of the type of preschool they attend.
In NSW increased funding to long day care will also allow a greater focus on quality and support for children’s transition to school.
There will also be an increased focus on engagement of children and families, particularly from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds, to help them have a happy, safe and supported preschool experience and a stronger start in life.
NSW Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new funding deal will provide stability to the sector and provide more access to early childhood education for young children.
‘Every child deserves the best start in life, and this reform means more children will have access to a quality preschool education right across New South Wales,’ Ms Mitchell said.
‘This agreement builds on our commitment to support young families through our free preschool program, which we know has made a positive impact across New South Wales.
‘By boosting funding for long day care services to provide high quality preschool programs, families will get more flexibility and choice when it comes to early education for their child.’
The historic signing means the Preschool Reform Agreement 2022-2025 is now a National Partnership and the Commonwealth welcomes other states signing on ahead of the 2022 preschool year.
The Commonwealth has guaranteed ongoing funding for preschools and this four-year agreement provides long term certainty to around 300,000 Australian children and their families each year, along with the early childhood education sector.
The Commonwealth’s historic investment in early childhood education also includes around $10 billion a year through the child care system to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for families using child care and improve workforce participation.

Regional communities will benefit from a $98.3 million health services boost to support local and visiting frontline health workers as part of a record investment into more health services and infrastructure in the bush.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor and Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced three new initiatives which aim to attract more health workers to regional NSW and support rural and regional patients who need to travel to access care.
The initiatives, which are part of the NSW Government’s recently announced $500 million package, include:

• $45.3 million to deliver modern, sustainable accommodation for health workers close to health facilities in the Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW and Far West Local Health Districts
• $30 million to help attract and retain health care workers, including new scholarships for young people
• $23 million to make it easier to access health care, including support for rural and regional patients who need to travel longer distances and a new online tool to navigate local services.

Mr Perrottet said this additional investment would help ensure people in rural and regional areas have access to the best health care possible, no matter where they lived.
“Health challenges can be tough enough without adding the burden of distance to a care plan, and that’s why we’ve set aside an additional $23 million to help address this,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The NSW Government’s focus has always been ensuring rural and regional communities get their share of health upgrades – and this latest announcement builds on the $900 million regional and rural health infrastructure spend in 2021-22.”
Mr Toole said a key component of the investment boost was securing more modern and sustainable accommodation for essential health workers which will also generate construction jobs in the regions.
“We know how important it is to ensure there is adequate and modern accommodation close to our health facilities in regional and rural communities that caters for locums, student placements and other visiting medical and nursing staff.
“This funding builds on the $30 million package for health worker housing I recently announced for the Hunter and Western NSW and extends the package to more than $75 million with intended benefits to communities in Broken Hill, Balranald, Cooma, Crookwell and Griffith,” Mr Toole said.
“The package also includes new regional scholarships to encourage young people from the bush to pursue a career in health care closer to home, caring for their communities.”
Mrs Taylor said the investment will also go towards supporting patients who need to travel long distances to access specialist care.
“As a registered nurse from the bush, I know firsthand how important it is that patients feel supported when having to travel away from home and their support networks for care,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Living in rural and regional NSW shouldn’t affect the care you receive, and this package delivers on all fronts – ensuring we have the health workforce, infrastructure and support we need.”
Mr Hazzard said the investment will help regional and rural health facilities provide upgraded or refurbished accommodation which is fit for purpose.
“There are many and varied challenges in attracting and retaining health staff to the regions and it is an issue nationwide, not just in New South Wales,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Our Government continues to look at and address those barriers such as providing modern accommodation and tackling the limited availability of leased residential property for health workers in various regions, including southern NSW.”

Even more teachers will now have access to incentives and pay bonuses, with the NSW Government expanding its Rural and Remote Incentives Reform program.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell today announced $8 million of the initial $15 million incentives package will be used to extend the existing program to include temporary teachers and double the bonuses for teachers taking up a job in regional NSW.
Mr Toole said the Liberals and Nationals Government is transforming the way teachers are incentivized in regional areas, ensuring all staff are provided with the flexibility and financial support they need.
“Making the decision to leave home and take up a teaching job in an unfamiliar town, often away from family and friends, isn’t easy. That’s why we’re expanding the most generous incentive system in the country, giving temporary teachers support including an additional salary of up to $30,000, as well travel, living and housing incentives,” Mr Toole said.
“We want all teachers to feel comfortable to expand their horizons and consider relocating to the bush and we know once they get there, they won’t look back.”
Ms Mitchell said the additional access to incentives for temporary teachers are crucial to encouraging more teachers to work in regional NSW.
“Temporary staff are vital to our system – they provide flexibility to schools and staff and it’s important we support them in the same way we support other staff in rural and remote areas,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We will also double the teacher recruitment funding from $10,000 to $20,000, giving eligible teachers an additional $20,000 on top of their teaching salaries to teach in the regions.
“We have the most generous incentive system in Australia, however over time it has grown in complexity. This is the first time we have inspected all aspects of the system to make it fair and flexible, allowing teachers to create a package that works best for them and their circumstances.”
The Rural and Remote Incentives Review included recommendations that support the existing commitments to regional NSW under the Rural and Remote Education Strategy.
The NSW Government commitments made to regional schools include improved access to technology infrastructure, increased access to early childhood education and a focus on strengthening leadership development programs for teachers will enable community growth and equity of opportunity across NSW.
The NSW Government has funded a $125 million Teacher Supply Strategy that is focused on ensuring the right teachers, with the right qualifications are working in places students need them. The full strategy can be seen here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-reports/teacher-supply-strategy

In another ground-breaking development for the game, Netball NSW is delighted to announce that the 2022 HART Junior and Senior State Titles will include male divisions for the first time.
The development comes as netball in NSW looks to continue expanding the game’s reach beyond its traditional playing base.
A frontrunner in terms of playing numbers when it comes to grassroots sport, netball has long been recognised as the leading team sport for women and young girls, as well as the standout leader in high-performance space for the same demographic.
However, as part of Netball Australia’s State of the Game Review, a compelling case was made for netball to be more inclusive in many areas including gender.
The inclusion of male divisions in the State Titles – the sport’s showpiece events at grassroots level – and the placement of the male M-League alongside Netball NSW’s end of year competition, the Court Craft Summer Series, adds to a growing list of initiatives such as the introduction of the organisation’s first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and the Inclusive Uniform Program.
Netball NSW CEO Tain Drinkwater said this was another landmark moment for the sport in the state.
“It is a myth that netball is only a sport for women and young girls,” she said. “But while it was the only team sport that gave the female demographic a fair-go for a very long time, it must also be acknowledged that male participants haven’t always been properly embraced.
“This is something that must change, and we are in the process of changing it with today’s announcement. We want both boys and men to have aspirations to represent their state and country, and contrary to the negative narrative that’s often aimed at netball there are already very well established and respected men’s competitions which run annually.
“Anything that Netball NSW can do to prepare players for these competitions in terms of pathways opportunities via the State Titles and the Summer Series is imperative for us, and overdue.
“Our NSW Swifts and GIANTS regularly play against the NSW Men’s teams in pre-season, and they always speak highly about the calibre of athletes in those sides. At Netball NSW we are very much looking forward to working more closely with men’s netball to ensure this is another way the game can flourish.
“It is also part of our plan to rid community and elite sport of stereotypes and show that netball is a game for all, and build on its established strengths: our huge playing numbers at grassroots level in Australia, the 20 million playing around the world and the world-class pathways that have taken decades to build.
“With netball making a very justifiable claim for Olympic inclusion, today’s development is just a small way to help ensure our game remains flexible, open to change and pragmatic. This is what will ensure its continued presence at the top table of Australian sport.”
Men’s Netball NSW (MNNSW) was founded in 1985 and is an affiliated Association of Netball NSW. It currently operates the M League, the highest level of male competition in the state, with the best players selected annually for the Australian Championships in both Opens and Underage divisions.
MNNSW President Clare McCabe hailed the move by Netball NSW as a massive step in the right direction.
“Our future focus emphasises the need to create pathways for junior boys to play netball and remove all stigmas of boys and men playing the sport,” she said.
“Creating the male divisions at the State Titles will lead to a huge number of additional opportunities and exposure for the men’s game. It will also lead to more participants and a larger talent pool for those wishing to get involved in high-performance sport.
“In terms of Summer Series, partnering with the netball Associations and having them involved shows how serious we and Netball NSW are about further developing a strong platform for men in the game.”

The Southern Tablelands community will benefit from a major upgrade of hospital services with the official opening of Goulburn Hospital’s clinical services building.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and MP for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman marked the milestone, which is part of the $165 million Goulburn Hospital and Health Service redevelopment.
“We’re making record investments in our health system across our State to ensure that no matter where you live in NSW you will have access to the best healthcare services,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The Goulburn Hospital redevelopment will provide a major health boost for people in Southern NSW with this new clinical services building improving health outcomes and future-proofing health services for communities in the Southern Tablelands region.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Government was pushing ahead with a record $900 million investment in regional and rural health in 2021-22 to deliver new and upgraded infrastructure, enhanced services and more jobs across regional communities.
“We know how critical it is for communities like Goulburn to have the services they need. That’s why we’re bolstering our investment with an additional $500 million across regional communities to ensure they not only have access to great facilities, but a secure, stable workforce to deliver the quality of care our communities deserve.”
Minister Hazzard said the four-storey building brings state-of-the-art healthcare services together under one roof, providing seamless care in a modern health facility.
“With a new emergency department and intensive care unit and the latest digital theatres this purpose-built facility will greatly improve the hospital experience for patients, carers and staff,” Mr Hazzard said.
The NSW Government is investing more than $10.8 billion in health capital infrastructure, with a program of $3.2 billion in 2021-22.
This continued record investment will ensure the 29 new and upgraded hospitals and health facilities announced in 2019 will commence before March 2023.
Mrs Tuckerman said: “This is a long-awaited day for the entire Goulburn region. I am delighted to see the new facility – which brings world-class healthcare closer to home – open and ready to care for Goulburn and surrounding communities for many years to come.”
The new four-storey clinical services building will feature:

• Main entry and hospital reception;
• Emergency department;
• Medical imaging department;
• Intensive care unit;
• Operating theatres, day surgery and recovery areas;
• Medical, surgical, paediatric, rehabilitation inpatient units with specific designated palliative care beds within the Medical IPU;
• Maternal and newborn unit, birthing suite and special care nursery, as well as paediatric and antenatal outpatient clinics.

The final works stage to complete the redevelopment of the hospital is expected to begin later this year.

The NSW Police Force has welcomed 218 police recruits after they were sworn in as probationary constables at an attestation ceremony attended by family and friends in Goulburn today.
The ceremony was unique, as it also celebrated the achievements of outgoing Commissioner Mick Fuller APM and marked his official march out parade. The ceremony was attended by Minister for Police and Emergency Service David Elliott, Her Excellency the Hon. Margaret Beazley and Premier Dominic Perrottet.
Premier Dominic Perrottet congratulated our new recruits and recognised the significance of the occasion.
“Today is an important milestone for class 350, their families and friends. After eight months of intensive training, our new recruits join the finest police force in the country, and I wish them all a long and successful career,” he said.
“We also recognise the outstanding leadership and over 30 years of service that Commissioner Fuller has provided to our state. His leadership has seen the largest increase in police force in NSW’s history and has transformed the organisation’s capabilities to keep our communities safer.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed the new recruits, noting they were joining a well-equipped, versatile and modern police force.
“Commissioner Fuller has left an indelible legacy that has taken NSW Police to new heights and frontiers, particularly in dealing with challenges like natural disasters, terrorist threats, growth in cybercrime and the once in a century pandemic ,” he said
“His loyalty, and exemplary service to the people of this state, particularly during times of adversity, shall never be forgotten and will be an inspiration to class 350 who will be deployed across metro and regional NSW”
Commissioner Fuller welcomed the latest intake of probationary constables.
“Congratulations to the men and women of class 350 and I commend them for embarking on a career in policing particularly at a challenging time, and they will have a rewarding and diverse career with our police family,” he said.
“Over the past two years, police have played a vital role in leading and serving the community through the pandemic. Despite the challenges ahead, our newest recruits will serve our communities with the highest level of integrity and dedication”
Class 350 includes 163 men and 55 women. 26 recruits were born overseas in countries including Afghanistan, Colombia, Greece, Hong Kong, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica and Solomon Islands.

It’s a real honour and privilege to have been asked to deliver this address in the greatest city, the greatest state, the greatest country in the world.
I’d especially like to acknowledge:

• Michael Miller, Executive Chairman News Corp Australasia
• the Bradfield Board
• And my Ministerial colleagues here today

I’d also like to acknowledge the Daily Telegraph and their staff for the work they do in hosting this event.
In a few short years, the Bradfield Oration has become not just a fixture in the life of our city, but the benchmark for the best of public imagination.
I was hoping I’d be able to come here and not have to talk about living in the shadow of COVID.
But as has so often been the case over the past two years – we are still faced with uncertainty.
We have been confronted with so many setbacks Stops and starts.
Fears and failures.
For many, there has been heartache and loss.
It would be perfectly understandable to look back with frustration and to look ahead with despair.
But every generation is tested – and I believe that this is our turn and this is our test. Our state and our city have been through testing times before.
Fire, flood, famine, war and disease.
We have seen it, we have faced it – and we have overcome it.
So even though we meet in the shadow of the pandemic, nothing should overshadow our hopes for a better future or our confidence in getting there.
We cannot choose the circumstances in which we live – but what we can choose is how we respond.
So today I want to tell you how John Bradfield and his generation responded to the challenges of their age – and how we can do the same thing with a new vision for our city and for our state.
 

Different time, same challenges

But first, let’s rewind to just over 100 years ago.
It’s 1919, just after the Great War, and the world was going through another pandemic – the Spanish Influenza, which claimed somewhere between 17million and 100 million lives.
NSW recorded its first victim in January of that year – a returning soldier.
The virus soon spread – and at one point, some estimates say almost 30 per cent of Sydney’s total population had influenza and over 6,000 people died.
Now put yourself in the shoes of someone born in the late 19th century – someone like John Bradfield.
He would have lived through a few smaller epidemics in the late 1800s. Then the First World War.
Then the Spanish Influenza.
And after all that the Great Depression.
Now doesn’t that give us some perspective on the challenges we are facing today. But Bradfield and his generation responded not by backing down, but by building up.
They had a vision, and they made it real – building the Harbour Bridge, an engineering feat as impressive today as it was one hundred years ago.
And let’s not forget the political battles he had to fight too.
I came across this article from a hundred years and six days ago.
[I tried to get the original from the State Library but they said it would disintegrate – even with gloves].
This reports a rowdy debate over legislation in NSW Parliament about the so-called “North Shore Bridge Bill’.
This was the parliament’s third attempt at passing a Bill to build the Harbour Bridge. Frustrations were high. Insults were exchanged.
And the article reports “disorderly conduct” because a certain regional member was loudly and stubbornly insisting the money would be better spent in the country.
Outside parliament, ferry operators complained the bridge would put them out of business.
There were complaints about cost, land acquisitions, and the time it would take to build.
Any of this sound familiar?
John Bradfield was a visionary, but the rose-tinted glasses of hindsight can filter out the messy work of turning a vision into reality.
Vision is important.
But you can’t drive your car across Sydney Harbour on a vision.
What matters more is making it real, regardless of the circumstances that surround you.
That’s what Bradfield did then – and that’s what we are doing now.
For the last 10 years I have been part of a government that has worked every day – not just to articulate a vision, but to make it real.
We have made delivering mega-projects on a mega-scale par for the course. That is a great outcome for our state and our people.
But now we must deliver in the face of uncertainty, and in the midst of adversity. Well we can, and we will.
The Harbour Bridge was named the “Iron Lung”, because of the thousands of jobs it provided during The Great Depression.
In the same way, our infrastructure is the ‘Steel Spine’ of our future state, creating thousands of jobs today and into the post pandemic future.

My vision for Sydney: Liveable, Workable, Beautiful

By connecting the north and the south heads, Bradfield’s bridge changed the very meaning of Sydney.
Our big build of metros and motorways will change it again.
But I believe it’s time we went beyond hard infrastructure, to now take stock – and take this once in a generation opportunity to reimagine what Sydney can be.
My vision for Sydney can be summed up in three words: liveable, workable, beautiful.

Liveable

In the long months of lockdown, we have all become acquainted with the good and the bad, the charming and the not-so-charming of our local communities.
COVID has made clear the power of liveable neighbourhoods.
It is at the local level that we find Sir Robert Menzies’ homes material, homes human, and homes spiritual – the homes of the hard-working aspirational families of Sydney.
Our starting point is that we want everyone to be able to enjoy the world’s best quality of life no matter what your postcode is.
So my Government will focus on policies to make that happen.
Home ownership is at the top of the list. This is a generational issue fast reaching crisis point.
If we want future generations to conserve our Australian way of life, we must enable them to claim their stake, so they have something of their own to conserve.
As Treasurer I viewed this problem through the lens of tax reform.
As Premier I will use every lever at my disposal – whether it’s tax, planning, supply, or working with the Commonwealth – to give more people in NSW the opportunity to own their own home.
Lifting home ownership is part of our drive to help families who are feeling the squeeze.
Now, we have taken major strides to lower taxes and put more money in the pockets of aspirational families.
And some people might say we are driving a voucher-led recovery.
But young families often have to face the biggest financial pressures of their lives before they are really established – and for them, every little bit counts.
So programs like Active Kids, Creative Kids, First Lap, toll relief and even Dine and Discover really are important to me, because they help families get ahead.
Middle Australia has no lobby group – and so my government will be their most passionate advocate.
Livability also means shifting our focus from the mega-projects to the local projects. Changing the emphasis from the train line, to the destination.
Our WestInvest fund marks the beginning of this shift: a $5 billion fund to improve quality of life in Western Sydney.
Parks, modernised schools, local pools, main streets and eat streets.
WestInvest isn’t just about the money. It’s a campaign mindset for my Ministers, that will endure long after every one of the $5 billion is spent.
It’s a mission to make it possible for everyone in Sydney – particularly in the West – to be able to love where they live.
This is about building more than bricks and mortar – but culture and community too.
A liveable city also needs world-class services within easy reach.
And our Government has led the services revolution in Australia.
People aren’t as impressed by Service NSW as they once were – because one-stop-shops and digital services at your fingertips are now the new normal.
People used to make fun of government service – and who could blame them? But now the private sector is coming to us to see how it’s done.
But despite the progress we have made, so many public services are still designed around government, not around the people we are here to serve.
Education should be designed around our children, not around the schools themselves. Healthcare should be designed around our patients, not just around hospitals.
So many aspects of government services are still stuck in Bradfield’s time and have never moved into the 21st century.
I will lead a modern government, that doesn’t accept the status quo. We’ve got to challenge the thinking and ask “why?”:
Why does the school day run from 9am to 3pm – and does it still suit the lives of busy working families?
Why can’t we make care more accessible and affordable – whether that’s childcare, health care, in-home care for our grandparents, or palliative care at the end of life.
These are services we rely on in profound ways, and they have a material impact on our lives, our families and our communities – on our entire social fabric.
A liveable city must strengthen and support our family and community bonds, because they are what keep our society together.
That is the kind of liveability I want for our city.

Workable

Sydney must also be workable. By that, I don’t just mean easy to get around.
I mean: Sydney has to be a place where no matter where you live or what your circumstances, you can have access to a great job.
For many decades the Eastern Harbour City has been the workhorse of our workforce.
In the past decade, Parramatta has emerged as a new productive powerhouse.
And today we are building the industries of the future around the Bradfield Aerotropolis.
Each of these centres must be a place where people at every stage of their career can find fulfilling work to sustain themselves and their family.
Sydney has many well-established sectors. But I want to build on what is already there, and increase our capacity to sustain great jobs.
That means nurturing the industries of the future. And that includes manufacturing.
Every economic powerhouse has a strong manufacturing base.
NSW cannot just be a service economy. We have to keep making things.
Now today, let’s not lose sight of the fact that NSW is home to more manufacturing than any other state.
This week I was at the Sydney Football Stadium to get an update on construction.
The roof is being fabricated by S&L Steel, a company from Glendenning in Sydney’s west.
That same company fabricated the roof for the original stadium over 30 years ago. What an amazing legacy.
Or take Custom Denning in St Marys – the oldest bus manufacturer in Australia.
But today they design, manufacture and assemble electric buses for our renewable energy future.
Where we can support traditional manufacturing in NSW – and help it adapt – we will.
But successful manufacturing nations don’t try to do it all – they play to their strengths, and we should too.
Our greatest strength is in advanced manufacturing.
From food and beverage, to medtech, to space and aerospace and more – NSW already
has a stellar reputation in advanced manufacturing.
We are home to world-beaters like Cochlear and ResMed.
The sector has grown with strategic government support. But I want to do more.
So today I can announce we will appoint a Commissioner for Modern Manufacturing.
The Commissioner’s role will be to identify local research and ideas that we can turn into manufacturing opportunities – and ultimately, jobs for our people.
This work will be supported by a taskforce headed by Tony Shepherd – who is here today – and one of the most experienced and dynamic business leaders in the nation.
Opportunities in advanced manufacturing are driven by research.
And research is one of our state’s hidden superpowers.
NSW is home to some of the world’s leading universities and research institutes.
But too frequently we see our homegrown ideas falter or flee elsewhere for lack of local support.
So in January this year, our Government launched an action plan for accelerating research in NSW and translating it into technology, products and services – and above all, jobs.
Now when I asked our universities for examples of research that can create economic opportunity and investment – I was inundated with ideas.
From quantum tech to bio-tech, sensors to semiconductors – we have the ideas, the talent and the resources to excel.
And with precincts like Tech Central and the Bradfield Aerotropolis we have the right infrastructure and eco-systems to grow.
But I want to do even more to cement Sydney’s reputation as the smart city down under. So we will establish a new Department of Enterprise and Investment.
And within that department I will appoint a Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology – to channel our home grown research into economic opportunities for the future.
What you will see from our government is a much better collaboration with the universities than ever before.
I want our universities to flourish because when uni’s flourish, ideas flourish – and our society flourishes too.
It’s the same with schools. A strong start for our children is a strong foundation for our civilisation.
The opportunities we create will fall to the 8 million people who call NSW home.
And we will equip them with the knowledge and skills to achieve great things.
The strongest foundations. The best lifelong learning.
From beginning to end, I am passionate about education, and we will make NSW the smartest state.

Beautiful

The final piece is beauty.
The Roman scholar Varro wrote: Divine Nature gave the fields, human art built the cities.
The truth is, in Sydney we haven’t always held up our end of the bargain.
We have coasted on Sydney’s natural charm and dined out on its stunning scenery.
Now clearly it’s not all bad.
The Bridge. The Opera House. The stunning sandstones.
Terraces and brickwork.
Humble homes, heritage and history – all built with love.
There is much beauty in many of Sydney’s buildings – buildings that sing in harmony with nature.
But the mistakes are real too – and don’t we know it.
One architectural aberration can have far reaching consequences. People often say the Cahill Expressway is an ugly structure.
But it’s so much worse than that.
It destroys the ambience of everything in its wake.
So it’s no wonder the wharves below struggle to live up to their potential.
Don’t even get me started on the Sirius building and the 70s modernist monstrosities lurking out the back of Macquarie Street that sever our city from the green beauty of the Domain and the Gardens.
These buildings become barnacles, impossible to scrape from the Harbour City’s majestic bow.
Sydney’s natural beauty deserves an elegant city.
Beauty matters.
Roger Scruton once said:
Art once made a cult of beauty. Now we have a cult of ugliness instead.
This has made art into an elaborate joke, one which by now has ceased to be funny.
I want to put beauty back in the public square – literally.
The first step is to uncover more of the beauty that lies hidden in plain sight.
This week we announced plans for the Sydney Great Walk.
It will connect all of the Harbour City’s most iconic landmarks in a single, spectacular trail.
This will be the most iconic urban walk in Australia – there is simply no question about it.
The only real question is, why hasn’t it been done before?
We must also turn Macquarie Street into a genuine cultural precinct that is open to all people, and tells the story of Sydney.
From our earliest First Nation’s history through to today.
Right now, Macquarie Street is a weekend ghost town, when it should be a worthy gathering place.
This year Lucy Turnbull and Paul Keating produced an excellent plan. My intention is to put it into action.
These projects are focused on the Eastern Harbour City.
But the principles apply across the board.
As we plan. As we build. As we renew and revitalise – our goal should be to make every corner of our city beautiful.
The great cities of the world – Paris, London, Rome – inspire us with their built beauty that stands the test of time.
That should be our aspiration for Sydney too.
So that is my vision: a livable, workable, beautiful city.
And if we realise that vision, Sydney can be two things at once – fulfilling its dual destiny as a great global city, and a great local city.

Going to the next level

Lastly I want to touch on how our vision for our state is evolving too.
Great cities are hungry, and grow at pace.
What governments must do is ensure that as we grow, we grow well.
The point is not to plan for what NSW is today – but for what it could be tomorrow. That’s what John Bradfield did.
That’s what we must do too.
The pandemic has given us new ways to re-imagine living and working.
Technology is breaking down the barriers of distance and time, providing workers in many industries with newfound flexibility and choice.
So our thinking on how we plan our state should also change.
Five years ago, at this very forum, Lucy Turnbull launched our vision for a metropolis of three cities.
The chorus of critics again swelled into song, but now that is the Sydney we know:
The Eastern Harbour CBD, Parramatta’s Central River City, and the Western Parkland City.
Yesterday I was with Lang Walker, topping out the new tower in Parramatta Square.
As I stood at the highest point of the Central City – looking back at the Eastern City where we are today – it was clear to me what vision has achieved for our city.
And looking further west, to Bradfield, what it will achieve in years to come.
Because in just five years, our three-cities vision has already become strikingly real. Now is the time to start thinking bigger again.
At present our vision spans east to west.
But there is Newcastle and the Central Coast to our north, and Wollongong to our south. These are cities already undergoing rapid change and revitalisation.
They have been the industrial workhorses of the past. And they should continue on their trajectory to become future focused precincts of tomorrow.
So today I can announce our three cities strategy will grow to a six-cities vision.
Again, universities will be at the heart of this expansion.
Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong are already home to campuses that punch well above their weight – with growing global reputations in fields like energy, engineering, and health science.
Enhancing and better connecting this expertise to local industries can supercharge these cities.
And connecting these centres to the three cities strategy will do the same thing for our entire state.
The east-west axis of the three cities connects our airports.
Adding a north-south axis connects our major sea ports.
Together this network will link every port – integrating six cities like never before.
And it will accelerate the next stage of our economic evolution – a NSW that is more open to the world than ever, and ready to take it on.
More trade opportunities. More job opportunities. More affordable homes and better lifestyles – world class education and world class services – all within reach of an urban hub.
To bring this vision to life, the Greater Sydney Commission will become the Greater Cities Commission.
And in my new cabinet, I will appoint a dedicated Minister for Cities – to maintain the momentum we have built, and deliver on the next evolution of our vision.

Our choice: to build, not bow out

Let me conclude by saying that I know the pandemic has not been easy for the people of our state and more challenges lie ahead.
But throughout history, the great cities of the world have responded to crises by going to the next level.
And today we are the beneficiaries of those who have come before us who choose hope over fear.
To build – not bow out.
In Sydney, this is the proud legacy of John Bradfield.
And this is the legacy that we here today inherit.
As leaders in industry, in media, in culture, in politics – our choice must be the same too. To combat crisis with confidence.
And to build a better future for those who are yet to come.

Sydney’s largest, and one of the state’s healthiest, koala populations will be further protected under new measures being implemented as part of the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan (CPCP).
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the changes put the protection of one of Australia’s most iconic threatened species at the heart of planning in south-west Sydney.
“After seeking advice from the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer on the draft Plan, I’m pleased to confirm we are adopting all 31 recommendations to protect our critical koala population,” Mr Stokes said.
“We have updated the Plan to protect additional areas of habitat and ensure that wildlife corridors are suitable for koala movement.
Member for Penrith and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the koala population of the Greater Macarthur region is one of healthiest colonies in the state and one which continues to grow.
“It’s important that we support the region’s koala population, while also managing a growing community in Sydney’s south-west,” Mr Ayres said.
“This area is also rich in significant Aboriginal culture and history, and we’re committed to working more closely with Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Traditional Custodians to preserve this in our planning for the community.”
Environment Minister Matt Kean said one of the leading threats to koala populations in the wild, is the loss and fragmentation of their habitat.
“South West Sydney is home to the only disease-free koala populations in the Sydney basin and it is one of the most important koala popualtions anywhere in the state,” Mr Kean said.
“This advice from the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer is crucial in protecting koala habitat in the Campbelltown and Macarthur regions as we finalise the implementation of the CPCP.
“As this part of Sydney continues to grow these recommendations will guide future development in the area and ensure koala habitat and wildlife corridors are protected in perpetuity.”
The Greater Macarthur 2040 Plan is also being finalised which will work alongside the CPCP to create koala movement corridors, improve connections and allow koalas to travel more safely throughout the region.
The CPCP and Greater Macarthur 2040 Plan are expected to be finalised and released in 2022.
For more information on the CPCP visit: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/CPCP

The NSW Government today announced its proposal to investigate building a new, state-of-the-art TAFE NSW campus in the heart of Gosford CBD.
The proposal will see a new campus built as part of the Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct, which is an election commitment of the NSW Liberals, and will support the creation of 1,000 local jobs and up to 3,000 tertiary and vocational education opportunities.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is championing the state’s growth by developing education and industry precincts.
“The growth, innovation and evolution of the Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct will underpin the economy of the area as well as provide greater access to jobs, goods and services,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said this was another example of how the NSW Government is supporting skills training across the State.
“A business case is being developed for this very exciting initiative to build brand new facilities to help meet the current and future skills needs of the Central Coast,” Dr Lee said.
“The proposed state-of-the-art campus would be located in the heart of Gosford as part the reinvigoration of the city, and will provide greater access to TAFE NSW training.”
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the new campus will be conveniently located on Mann Street in the heart of Gosford to give students and employers local access to world-class learning opportunities.
“The proposed multi-million dollar revitalisation demonstrates the NSW Government’s support for skills and jobs across regional NSW and will supercharge vocational education and training in the Central Coast through increased access to teachers, support services, and the latest learning technologies,” Mr Crouch said.
The proposed vertical campus will be located close to retail businesses and local public transport. The proposal will also integrate TAFE NSW with the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music, providing them with a permanent home and secure future.
This proposed campus will play a central role in educating and training the current and future workforce on the Central Coast and support its growth as a major centre for education in NSW.”
Landcom CEO John Brogden said the proposed vertical TAFE campus would free up land for redevelopment that will act as the catalyst for the renewal of the Gosford CBD.
“Landcom has a proud history of developing sites throughout NSW which are synonymous with quality, affordability, and sustainability which we will replicate here in Gosford,” Mr. Brogden said.
“This site provides the potential for delivery of high-quality housing targeting more affordable ownership and rental with excellent access to facilities and transport in the Gosford CBD.”
The business case  forms a key part of ensuring a strong, sustainable, and future-proofed TAFE NSW that can meet NSW’s training needs by ensuring it is equipped with the right facilities and equipment to do the job.
Architectural renderings are available here.

Small businesses who are still doing it tough across the State will continue to benefit from rent relief until 13 January 2022, ensuring ongoing support for small businesses over the Christmas and New Year’s Period.
Treasurer Matt Kean said as the economic recovery continues, many small businesses are still not back at their pre-COVID turnover and rent is still one of their biggest fixed costs.
“Small business is the engine room of our economy and as we recover from the pandemic we need to make sure we leave no one behind and support impacted businesses as they continue to recover,” Mr Kean said.
“Continuing rent relief measures for impacted small businesses will provide a necessary buffer to allow businesses time to get back on their feet and begin to thrive again.”
The Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation 2021 rent relief provisions will continue for eligible businesses with a turnover of less than $5 million, a more targeted level of support from the previous turnover threshold of $50 million.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said landlords will still be required to negotiate rent relief with eligible commercial and retail tenants that are experiencing a turnover decline of 30 per cent or more.
“Lockdown may be over but there are still small businesses, particularly in our CBDs, that are facing a slower recovery and are continuing to do it tough,” Mr Tudehope said.
“As the State continues to transition out of lockdown, 97 per cent of NSW businesses will retain access to COVID-19 rent relief provisions if they continue to experience a significant decline in turnover.”
Small commercial and retail tenants that would have continued to meet the eligibility criteria for JobSaver or the Micro-business Grant, after ending on 30 November, will remain eligible for rent relief negotiations with their landlords.
Under the Regulation, landlords are required to negotiate rent relief having regard to National Cabinet’s Code of Conduct. As a starting point, rent relief should be proportionate with eligible tenant’s decline in turnover, with at least 50 per cent in the form a waiver, and the balance a deferral.
Landlords can access the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund, which currently provides small commercial or retail landlords with a monthly grant up to the value of any rental relief provided, to a maximum of $3,000 per month per property.
Alternatively, land tax relief is available for eligible commercial landowners who have reduced their tenants’ rent due to COVID-19, between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021. The reduction in land tax payable is the lesser of:

• the amount of rent reduction provided to an eligible tenant for any period between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021, or
• 100 per cent of the land tax attributable to the parcel of land leased to that tenant.

For more information on rent relief visit:
Commercial leases and COVID-19 FAQs | Small Business Commissioner (nsw.gov.au)
For more information on COVID-19 assistance for commercial and residential landlords visit: COVID-19 assistance for commercial and residential landlords | Service NSW