Category: NSW News

Global ratings agency Moody’s has reaffirmed New South Wales’ triple-A credit rating, just days after Fitch also awarded the State the same top tier rating.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Moody’s triple-A rating highlights the resilience of the NSW economy, which is being bolstered by businesses reopening after the extended three-month lockdown due to the Delta outbreak.
“The triple-A ratings reaffirm the economic strength of NSW which has remained resilient despite a myriad of challenges over the past two years,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW is the only state in Australia with a Moody’s triple-A credit rating which we have retained despite allocating about $45 billion to support people and businesses and to bolster the health system to combat COVID-19.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said the two triple-A ratings recognise the NSW Government’s strong economic management during COVID-19.
“The NSW Government has been assigned two triple-A credit ratings despite the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been due to our diverse, resilient and flexible economy, and world-leading response to COVID-19.” Mr Kean said.
“The latest Moody’s rating highlights the State’s ability to manage our record $108.5 billion infrastructure pipeline as we continue to invest in our economy, transport, health, education and innovative technologies.”
The Moody’s report said the triple-A rating reflects the State’s “proven history of fiscal resolve”, which is highlighted by NSW’s “debt retirement strategy following the recently completed WestConnex transaction.”
NSW has two triple-A credit ratings (Moody’s and Fitch) and one double-A plus credit rating (S&P Global).

The end is near for single use plastics, including bags, straws, cotton buds, plates, bowls and cutlery, after the Plastics and Circular Economy Act 2021 passed NSW Parliament today.
Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean said plastic packaging and single-use plastics make up 60 per cent of litter across the state, with single-use plastics to be phased out from June next year.
“Only 10 per cent of plastics in New South Wales are recycled, with the rest ending up in landfill, or worse, littering our streets, dumped in our parks and washing up in our waterways,” Mr Kean said.
“The NSW Government is spending $356 million over the next five years to deliver the NSW Plastics Action Plan and the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041. This will help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics litter, while encouraging the development of new and innovative products.
“This legislation is expected to stop 2.7 billion single-use items from ending up in our natural environment and waterways over the next 20 years, and is a game-changer in the fight against plastic waste across our state.”
Businesses will be supported to transition to alternative products before the phase outs come into effect. Excemptions will also apply for members of the community who rely on particular single-use plastics for disability of health needs.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Felicity Wilson said a range of education and engagement campaigns will run to support consumers and businesses transition.
“I want to thank the many businesses and households who have already voluntarily taken action to reduce their single-use plastics, particularly those who take their own reuseable bags to the shops,” Ms Wilson said.
“By this time next year, the NSW Government will have phased out plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and bowls, as well as cotton buds with plastic sticks and microbeads in personal care and cosmetic products.
“Our goal is to reduce as much plastic waste as possible, while protecting the environment, sustainably managing resources and ensuring materials circulate in our economy for as long as possible.”
The NSW Government has established a legislative framework to tackle harmful and problematic plastics though the setting of design standards.
The first design standard has been set for microbeads in cosmetic and personal care items, and will ensure microbeads are phased out from 1 November 2022.
The legislation will prohibit the supply of lightweight plastic bags from 1 June 2022. The supply of other items will be prohibited from 1 November 2022, including single-use plastic straws, cutlery, stirrers, cotton buds, plates and bowls, and expanded polystyrene foodservice items.
For more information on the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics

The NSW Government is set to repeal Section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 while ensuring workers are still protected if they contract COVID-19 in the workplace. Changes to the Act were made in May 2020, when very little was known about COVID-19 and its transmission.
The amendments included a presumption that workers who contracted COVID-19 had done so at work. Premier Dominic Perrotett said workers will still be entitled to make a workers compensation claim if they contract COVID-19 in their workplace when the legislation is repealed.
“Now we know more about COVID-19 and its transmission, amendments under Section 19B of the Act must be repealed so the workers compensation system is both fair to employees and ensuring businesses aren’t hit with an unexpected spike in their insurance bills”, Mr Perrottet said.
“When the NSW Government originally made the amendments, we had little information about how COVID-19 was spread and whether it was more likely to be contracted in workplaces, and we certainly didn’t have a vaccine rollout.”
“Now that the economy is steadily reopening, we want businesses investing in new staff and higher wages, not inflated insurance bills.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said the NSW Government is ensuring businesses don’t foot the bill for more than half a billion dollars in premium increases by repealing these amendments.
“Small businesses have been hit hard enough by COVID-19 restrictions over the past two years, so now would be the wrong time for them to be slugged with a massive, unexpected insurance premium increase,” Mr Kean said.
“If the NSW Government doesn’t repeal this amendment, we risk losing jobs just as our recovery is gaining momentum across our State.”
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the scheme could be hit with more than 25,000 extra claims over the coming year and small businesses could be slugged with an average increase in their insurance premiums of $950, if these changes are not made.
“Removing the automatic workers compensation entitlements will not remove a worker’s right to make a claim if they contract COVID-19 as a result of their employment. This right is retained,” Mr Dominello said.
“There is nowhere else in the world with automatic workers compensation rights due to COVID-19 that are as broad as those in NSW.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said recent estimates based on Doherty Institute modelling, indicate COVID-19 claims could cost the NSW workers compensation system up to $638 million over the coming year.
“The NSW Government is calling on the Opposition to support this legislation to give businesses confidence and certainty as we reopen our economy.”
The COVID-19 presumption, introduced by Section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987, provides automatic workers compensation rights for workers who contract COVID-19 and who work in industries such as healthcare, education, retail, transport, emergency services, construction, disability and aged care, dining and entertainment.
“With this presumption wound back, workers can still make claims and insurers can focus on good claims management practices,” Mr Tudehope said.
The NSW Government will introduce a bill to repeal the automatic workers compensation presumption established under section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 this week.

New English and Mathematics syllabuses for the State’s youngest students were released today, marking a major milestone in the NSW Government’s Curriculum Reform agenda.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said students in kindergarten, year 1 and year 2 would be the first to benefit from the changes, following the first comprehensive review in more than 30-years.
“One of the most important things a government can do is provide a quality education and reform was needed to bring our curriculum into the 21^stcentury,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The new approach will ensure our youngest learners are provided with a solid foundation to grow from, with a focus on literacy and numeracy skills.”
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said for the first time the curriculum is completely online and comes with explicit teaching examples.
“We heard clearly from teachers that navigating syllabuses was unnecessarily arduous,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The new online curriculum removes ambiguity for teachers, and comes with explicit teaching advice on an online platform. This will be particularly helpful for early-career teachers.”
Changes in the new K to 2 English and Mathematics syllabuses include:

• Simple, concise language which identifies key knowledge and skills.
• Easily accessed and navigated on a new Digital Curriculum platform.
• Clear expectations on student reading progression.
• Renewed focus on handwriting.
• New supports for students with significant intellectual disability.
• Emphasis on ‘reasoning’ in mathematics.
• Advanced counting strategies.

The reformed curriculum will be delivered to schools on a new Digital Curriculum platform, a $13.6 million NSW Government investment.
The new syllabuses are available at curriculum.nsw.edu.au. Implementation begins next year, with all NSW schools teaching the syllabuses from 2023. The NSW Government continues its work to deliver the new K – 12 NSW Curriculum by 2024.

A new fleet of drones will be deployed to help prevent shark attacks with custom first-aid kits and technology rolled out to surf clubs up and down the NSW coast as part of a new strategy to help save lives.
In an Australian-first, the NSW Government will partner with Surfing NSW to deliver shark attack specific first-aid training, life-saving technology and custom first aid kits to more than 160 board rider clubs and surf schools across the coast.
As part of the shark incident response program, up to 20 drones deployed to patrol surf events.
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall made the announcement today and said Surfing NSW would receive $500,000 in funding to roll-out the revolutionary strategy.
“Sadly, most recent shark attack victims have been surfers, so this investment is about doing everything we can to ensure they get help quickly,” Mr Marshall said.
“Every surfer in NSW will now have access to first-aid training through Surfing NSW’s Surfers Rescue 24/7 program, while customised medical kits and training will be supplied to more than 110 NSW boardrider clubs and 55 surf schools.
“To help keep surfers even safer, an additional fleet of 20 drones will be used by Surfing NSW to patrol their events, in addition to our world-leading fleet of shark-spotting drones already delivered by Surf Life Saving NSW.
“NSW has the largest shark management program anywhere across the globe and this is just another tool to help keep swimmers and surfers safe at the best beaches in the world.”
Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden said partnering with the NSW Government would upskill surfers to ensure they had the knowledge and tools needed in dire situations.
“I think I speak for a lot of surfers in this state, when I say that we’re grateful for this support that will ultimately benefit all NSW surfers,” Mr Madden said.
“These skills and resources could prove life-saving, especially in remote regions where emergency services may be some distance away.
“Every one of us wants to make sure we have the skills and tools we need so that if the worst happens to one of our mates, we can do everything we can to save them.”
The NSW Government’s 2021-2022 Shark Management Program includes:

• The largest fleet of shark-spotting drones keeping watch over 50 beaches;
• 37 VR4G listening stations to detect tagged sharks;
• 170 SMART drumlines;
• The continuation of 51 shark nets between Newcastle and Wollongong; and
• The SharkSmart app and community awareness and education programs and shark research.

The NSW Government encourages beachgoers to be SharkSmart when entering the ocean and download the SharkSmart app. For more information, visit www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government today announced $3 million in funding to boost COVID-19 response efforts for small rural and border councils to support their communities.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said NSW Partnerships: Local Councils Program – Stage 2 would provide grants of $90,000 each for 33 bush and border councils.
“While our State is reopening as COVID-19 restrictions ease and vaccination rates increase, we need to ensure we continue to support our vulnerable communities hardest hit by the pandemic,” Mrs Hancock said.
“The grants, targeted at small rural councils and those adjoining state and territory borders, recognise the additional challenges they have faced during the pandemic such as resource constraints, isolation, the tyranny of distance, border closures and other cross-border impacts.”
Mrs Hancock said Stage 1 of the program provided funding to the former 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of concern in Sydney.
“Now I am delighted to extend financial support to our small rural and border councils and communities,” Mrs Hancock said.
“I also want to congratulate our councils for their dedication and commitment to continuing to support their communities during such unprecedented challenges.”
Minister for Multiculturalism Natalie Ward said the NSW Government is dedicated to supporting those in need during the pandemic and building community resilience.
“These grants will help ensure critical support for some of our most vulnerable living in our rural and border areas, including Indigenous communities, migrants, seniors, and people with a disability,” Mrs Ward said.
“These council-led initiatives could include caseworkers, bilingual workers, mental health support, communication activities to reach target groups, emergency meals, transport to vaccination hubs, and small business assistance, particularly in tourism and hospitality.
“As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease and our vaccination rates increase, it’s paramount that we have the right support in place across our rural and border communities to ensure no one is left behind.”
The program will provide funding to the following councils:

Albury	Balranald	Bega Valley
Berrigan	Bogan	Bourke
Brewarrina	Broken Hill	Carrathool
Central Darling	Coolamon	Coonamble
Federation	Gilgandra	Greater Hume
Gwydir	Hay	Inverell
Kyogle	Lockhart	Moree Plains
Murray River	Murrumbidgee	Queanbeyan-Palerang
Snowy Monaro	Snowy Valleys	Tenterfield
Tweed	Walcha	Walgett
Warren	Weddin	Wentworth

Penrith and Nepean Blue Mountains communities can now take their first look inside Stage Two of the $1 billion Nepean Hospital Redevelopment, with the unveiling today of fly-through animation showcasing the world-class health facilities.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said hospital staff and community representatives had provided valuable input into the design of the new facilities to ensure they meet the community’s growing healthcare needs.
“The $1 billion redevelopment and expansion of Nepean Hospital will transform healthcare in the region – bringing world-class health services much closer to home for the Penrith and Nepean Blue Mountains communities,” Mr Hazzard said.
Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said the redevelopment project would expand and upgrade Nepean Hospital and community health services in two stages, to benefit the Penrith and Nepean Blue Mountains communities for years to come.
“This major project will generate thousands of jobs and deliver the very best healthcare available to the community, making the region an even more appealing place to live and work,” Mr Ayres said.
“This project is a huge win for the wider Penrith community and future proofs healthcare for our growing population.”
Stage Two delivers the expansion and upgrade of essential clinical services including a new intensive care unit, in-centre renal dialysis unit, medical imaging and nuclear medicine, more beds, cardiology services and integrated community health services, as well as the new front of house for the campus.
Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies said she was very pleased to see Stage Two fast-tracked, delivering more much needed health services sooner.
“We are using the COVID stimulus funding to get on with Stage Two while work is continuing on finalising Stage One of the redevelopment. That means continuing construction jobs for locals and a huge boost to health outcomes for my communities,” Mrs Davies said.

Expectant parents who lose an unborn child due to another person’s criminal act will be better supported and offenders will face tougher sentences under a suite of reforms proposed by the NSW Government.
Attorney General Mark Speakman said creating new criminal offences will expressly recognise the loss of an unborn child as a unique injury and loss for the pregnant woman and other family members.
“Currently, there is no stand-alone offence of causing the loss of an unborn child. These proposed changes will better acknowledge the heartbreak suffered by families and punish offenders appropriately,” Mr Speakman said.
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Loss of Foetus) Bill 2021 proposes to strengthen the law by creating two new offences in the Crimes Act 1900:

• A stand-alone offence of ‘Causing the loss of a foetus’, which will apply to a wide range of criminal acts and carry a maximum penalty of 5 to 28 years imprisonment depending on the type of act (such as dangerous driving or grievous bodily harm with intent to the pregnant woman). The combined maximum sentence for this offence and the existing criminal offence will be 3 years higher than currently available for this conduct under existing law.
• An offence of ‘Causing the loss of a foetus (death of pregnant woman)’ which can be charged with a homicide offence (such as murder, manslaughter, dangerous driving occasioning death) where the foetus is lost and the pregnant woman is killed due to a third party criminal act. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment and apply in addition to the maximum penalty for the homicide offence.

These can be charged where the foetus was at least 20 weeks or 400 grams weight.
The reforms will also improve support and recognition available to parents who have lost an unborn child of any age as a result of a third party criminal act. The reforms will enable:

• family members to make victim impact statements that may be taken into account by the courts when sentencing offenders;
• the name of an unborn child lost as a result of a criminal offence to be included in the formal wording of charges against an accused (the indictment);
• family members to claim funeral costs for the loss of an unborn child caused by a car accident.

When either of these new offences are charged, families may also be eligible for a one-off $3,000 payment when the accused is charged with one of the new offences. This bereavement payment will assist families to seek counselling and other support services.
Mr Speakman said the proposed amendments do not affect reforms introduced by the Abortion Law Reform Act 2019. The offences will expressly exclude any act or omission by the pregnant woman.
Significantly, these reforms are not intended to displace the centuries old ‘born alive rule’, which provides that a crime of violence such as homicide can only be committed on a legally recognised person – a status attained when someone is born and takes their first breath.
“The reforms recognise the loss that parents and families go through in these cases, without undoing longstanding legal principles,” Mr Speakman said.
“The NSW Government has consulted community and stakeholders, listened carefully to the variety of views, and developed reform that is proportionate and appropriate to better recognise the loss of expectant parents and their families in these tragic circumstances.”

GIANTS Netball and Australian Diamonds midcourter Jamie-Lee Price was named the state’s Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year when she took home the Marilyn Melhuish OAM Medal at the 2021 Netball NSW State Awards on Wednesday evening.
The Medal is presented to the standout player from Netball NSW’s two professional clubs – the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball – over the course of the Super Netball regular season. Price tallied the highest number of points throughout 2021 to win the Medal for the first time.
Price’s award was one of several presented on the evening as Netball NSW moved its end-of-season celebration online for the first time in the organisation’s history.
Two of NSW’s best up-and-coming players from the Origin Energy Premier League were celebrated with the Sutherland Stingrays’ Toni Anderson winning the Nance Kenny OAM Medal for the Opens Player of the Year, while Isabella Rankin of the UTS Randwick Sparks collected the Wendy Archer AM Medal in the Under 23s competition.
There was further good news for the GIANTS when Ali Tucker-Munro (Randwick Netball Association), who heads up their Academy, was named the Margret Corbett OAM Coach of the Year with Ang Frketic (Liverpool Netball Association) winning the club’s Marj Groves AM Scholarship for 2021 while Lili Gorman-Brown (Sutherland Shire Netball Association) was named the recipient of the same Scholarship on the Swifts side.
Young Liverpool umpire Sarah McNamara was named the Neita Matthews OAM Umpire of the Year while Margot Patterson (Northern Suburbs Netball Association) was named the Lynn Quinn OAM Bench Official of the Year with Anne Tait (Inner Western Suburbs Netball Association) winning the Dot McHugh OAM Administrator Award.
In recognition of their outstanding contribution to the promotion and growth of netball over many decades, the following volunteers were presented with the Anne Clark BEM Service Award: Doreen Snedden (Newcastle), Maureen Munce (Randwick), Helen Steunkel (Tumut), Karon Dawson (Kiama) and Marie Kelly (Randwick).
In the Judy Dunbar Media Awards categories, the following journalists were recognised: Sarah Keoghan/Sydney Morning Herald (Best Overall Media Coverage), Emma Greenwood/The Daily Telegraph (Best Feature), Steven Markham/Speed Media (Best Photo), Nathan Taylor/Western Weekender (Best Local Media Coverage).
Netball NSW CEO Tain Drinkwater paid tribute to the game’s community after a tough 2021, which was impacted by COVID-19 enforced lockdowns of Greater Sydney and much of rural NSW.
“To say it’s been a challenging year would be the understatement, but here we are – still standing,” she said.
“Netball – as ever – stood up, was counted and didn’t shy away from our responsibility to do the right thing by the wider community.
“Given the huge challenges of lockdowns I am truly honoured and proud that we still have had so much to celebrate at both the elite and grassroots level of our game.
“It may not have been a regular netball season, but it was one where we all collectively focused our energies on what we could control and there were some pretty fantastic results.
“I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone in the netball community for what they’ve done to advance the game as the force of good it is over the past 12 months.”
2021 Netball NSW Awards Winners
Marilyn Melhuish OAM Medal – Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball)
Nance Kenny OAM Medal – Toni Anderson (Sutherland Stingrays)
Wendy Archer AM Medal – Isabella Rankin (UTS Randwick Sparks)
Marj Groves AM Scholarship – Ang Frketic (GIANTS Academy/Liverpool), Lili Gorman-Brown (QBE Swifts Academy/Sutherland Shire)
Margaret Corbett OAM Coach of the Year – Ali Tucker-Munro (Randwick)
Neita Matthews OAM Umpire of the Year – Sarah McNamara (Liverpool)
Lynn Quinn OAM Bench Official of the Year – Margot Patterson (Northern Suburbs)
Dot McHugh OAM Administrator Award – Anne Tait (Inner Western Suburbs)
Judy Dunbar Media Awards:
– Best Overall Media Coverage: Sarah Keoghan/Sydney Morning Herald
– Best Feature: Emma Greenwood/The Daily Telegraph
– Best Photo: Steve Markham/Speed Media
– Best Local Media: Nathan Taylor/Western Weekender

Children who play football will have an opportunity to be front and centre at the upcoming games between the Matildas and world number one team the United States, with $5 tickets going on sale.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said kids aged 12 years and under, who are registered to play in Australia’s largest club-based participation sport, will be able to access the discounted tickets with an accompanying adult or concession ticket purchase, thanks to the Football Australia initiative.
“This is an exciting era in Australian women’s football and it’s great our sports-loving kids can witness world-class action right here in NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The NSW Government will work with Football Australia to ensure this event is COVID-safe and families can enjoy a great atmosphere watching some of the best players in the world.”
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said this is another great coup for NSW and will help to get the state’s visitor economy back on track.
“NSW has kicked another goal bringing out the world champion US team to face-off against our mighty Matildas and is again leading the return of international sport as the nation’s home of football,” Mr Ayres said.
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the upcoming blockbuster games were just a taste of what’s to come ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our kids who play football to cheer on their heroes right here on home soil,” Mrs Ward said.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said providing an occasion for the next generation of footballers to see their heroes live was essential for the game’s future.
“These players are not only some of the best in the world at what they do on the pitch, but are also an inspiration off the pitch as well,” Mr Johnson said.
Commonwealth Bank Matildas midfielder and Newcastle native Emily van Egmond said the team was excited that even more football fans have the chance to see the team live in action.
“My dreams to play for Australia started on the pitches of Newcastle and I know how amazing it would have been to be able to watch world class footballers when I was growing up. To be able to be those footballers that inspire the next generation, to build a legacy for football, is a real privilege and we can’t wait to see the fans again,” Ms van Egmond said.
Sydney’s Stadium Australia will host the USA on Australian soil for the first time in 21 years on Saturday 27 November, with the return matchup scheduled for McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Tuesday 30 November.