Category: NSW News

The NSW Government has welcomed a report from the Independent Community Commissioner for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis which outlines 40 recommendations to better support local landowners.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes appointed Professor Roberta Ryan to the role of Independent Community Commissioner in May to address the concerns of landowners in the area.
“The planning and delivery of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is one of the biggest projects in the state’s history and as a result is incredibly complex,” Mr Stokes said.
“We wanted to ensure that all voices were heard and Professor Ryan has done an outstanding job over the last few months by meeting with more than 100 landowners potentially affected by the rezoning plans.
“We’ve released an initial response to the Commissioner’s findings that commits to supporting most recommendations and we will provide a more detailed whole-of-government response in the next couple of months.”
Some recommendations require changes to planning controls and these will be considered as the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment finalises the planning framework, due to be completed by the end of this year.
Key recommendations supported by the Government include:

• Establishing the Independent Community Commissioner as an ongoing role to improve communication with landowners;
• Creating a Community Consultative Committee to provide an engagement forum for the community and improve communication with landowners; and
• Investigating adjustment of zoning boundaries and other changes as recommended in the report.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was critical for the Government to listen to the community and respond to their concerns.
“A vital part of the response right now is improving the way we communicate with landowners,” Mr Ayres said.
“We’ve extended the Commissioner’s role so Professor Ryan can continue to provide support to landowners.
“We’re also developing a Community Participation Plan and implementing other measures to provide a better pathway for the people of Western Sydney to participate in planning this new, world-class city.”
More information about the Independent Community Commissioner’s report, and the preliminary responses from the NSW Government is available here: https://bit.ly/3zkC007

The NSW Government has announced a $200 million support package for the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector to help organisations faced with the financial impacts of the current restrictions.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government recognised many NFPs, which provide such vital support for the most vulnerable members of our community, were in need of more support themselves in this lockdown.
“NFPs in the social support and animal welfare sectors are in more demand than ever as we battle this Delta outbreak and this package will support those doing so much of the heavy lifting to help vulnerable communities in this pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.
The funding initiative comes on top of the more than $5.1 billion, including $1 billion in Commonwealth support, announced by the NSW Government since the end of June.
“We’re continuously monitoring the impacts of this outbreak to see what adjustments or additional measures are needed,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Some NFPs did not meet the 30 per cent turnover threshold required for JobSaver so we’ve reduced that to 15 per cent for social support and animal welfare sectors, to ensure they can continue delivering the same level of service to those most in need.”
“We’ve also set up a $50 million Social Sector Support Fund to support vulnerable people and provide these NFPs with another avenue for financial assistance where they are experiencing increased demand for their services.”
The support package targets those NFPs providing social support and animal welfare with Service NSW and the Department of Communities and Justice to process applications from next month.
The Social Sector Support Fund will provide grants and direct payments to eligible NFPs and provide a Workforce Surge Payment to support social sector organisations to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks where staff have been furloughed.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the targeted support package includes measures designed to provide direct relief to organisations financially impacted by the pandemic.
“This support package is multilayered in recognition of the diversity of our social services organisations which are working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable people in our community during this challenging time,” Mr Henskens said.
“This investment will deliver targeted financial support to organisations to help ensure the continuity of the important services they provide to those most in need.”
Further details will become available in the coming weeks.

People across NSW who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed more freedoms next month after NSW hit the target of six million jabs.
This is the first step in the roadmap and further freedoms will follow for those who have had the jab when the state hits new vaccination targets of 70 and 80 per cent.
Following consultation with Dr Kerry Chant and her team, as well as the NSW Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright, the following individual freedoms will be allowed for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
From 12.01am, Monday, 13 September:

• For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, outdoor gatherings of up to five people (including children, all adults must be vaccinated) will be allowed in a person’s LGA or within 5km of home.
• For those who live in the LGAs of concern households with all adults vaccinated will be able to gather outdoors for recreation (including picnics) within the existing rules (for one hour only, outside curfew hours and within 5km of home). This is in addition to the one hour allowed for exercise.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked the millions of people across NSW who came forward to receive their vaccine, helping hit the six million doses target.
“We are so grateful for every person who comes forward to get vaccinated because the more jabs we get into arms, the sooner we can lift restrictions,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We appreciate the community’s patience in the lead up to 13 September, this additional time will allow the recent surge of vaccines to take effect.”
As part of the roadmap when the following targets are hit, freedoms will be as follows:

• 70 per cent full vaccination: a range of family, industry, community and economic restrictions to be lifted for those who are vaccinated.
• 80 per cent full vaccination: further easing of restrictions on industry, community and the economy.

The government is also investigating trials of certain industries in coming months, as a proof-of-concept measure to prepare the businesses to open up and operate in a COVID-safe way.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said this roadmap is our path to freedom and is our biggest incentive yet to get vaccinated so we can return to a level of normality.
“The roadmap announced today outlines a clear pathway forward in which a range of family, industry, community and economic restrictions will be lifted for those that are fully vaccinated when NSW hits 70 per cent,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Having a meal with loved ones, or having a drink with friends is just around the corner, but to get there, we need to keep up momentum in the vaccination rollout.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said two doses of the vaccine not only helps protect people from hospitalisation and death, but also helps reduce transmission.
“Two vaccine doses leads to around a 90 per cent overall reduction in transmission of the virus,” Mr Hazzard.
If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.
There are several options to receive your ‘proof of COVID-19 vaccination’:

• Download your COVID-19 digital certificate via the Express Plus Medicare mobile app or your Medicare online account through myGov.
  • You can add your COVID-19 digital certificate to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
  • Instructions are available on the Services Australia website.
• If you can’t get proof online, your vaccination provider can print your immunisation history statement for you.
• Call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm) and ask for your statement to be sent to you. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.
• If you’re not eligible for Medicare you can call the Australian Immunisation Register and request your certificate be mailed to you or add your COVID-19 certificate to your digital wallet using the Individual Healthcare Identifiers service (IHI service) through myGov.

For the latest information visit nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Healthcare workers in NSW will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help ensure the safety of colleagues and patients in all public and private hospitals.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said under the Public Health Order, health staff must have a first dose of vaccine by 30 September 2021 and be fully vaccinated by 30 November 2021, or at least have their second appointment booked to continue working.
“Many health workers in NSW are already vaccinated but if all of our staff are vaccinated it will provide greater protection for patients, visitors and other health staff,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It will also ease pressure on our health system during this challenging time. More than 1,200 healthcare workers have been in isolation each day over the past seven days and we cannot afford that right now. Vaccinations will help ensure our fantastic staff can continue to care for patients.
“The public and private health systems have a responsibility to implement every possible measure to provide a safe work environment for their staff and most importantly, safe circumstances for their patients.”
Frontline health staff and their families have had priority access to COVID-19 vaccines since the commencement of the Federal Government’s vaccination rollout in February.
National Cabinet agreed in June to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for aged care workers. NSW will now ensure the same protections exist for all our health workers.
Already in NSW, mandatory vaccinations for frontline health staff are required for contagious diseases including influenza, chicken pox, measles and whooping cough.
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination will apply to all NSW Health staff, as although NSW Health employs staff across a wide range of settings and organisations, these staff work together for many reasons, particularly during a pandemic.
“The great news is eight in 10 (80 per cent) of all NSW Health staff have already had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination,” Mr Hazzard said.
NSW Health has consulted with unions, peak bodies and private health providers about mandatory vaccination. We will all work together to help staff meet this obligation.
Staff will be required to provide evidence they have received their first dose to their employer by 30 September 2021 or they will be excluded from the workplace.
Those who have a medical contraindication will be exempt if a medical practitioner confirms the medical contraindication.

Purchasers of new electric vehicles will be able to claim rebates worth $3,000 and refunds on stamp duty retrospectively if legislation underpinning the NSW Government’s $490 million Electric Vehicle Strategy passes in its entirety when NSW Parliament resumes.
Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, NSW Parliament has not been able to sit – with legislation, including the Electric Vehicles (Revenue Arrangements) Bill 2021, delayed.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance, and Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, announced the support measures contained in Australia’s most generous EV package will be backdated so long as Parliament passes the legislation.
“The NSW Government remains fully committed to the Electric Vehicle Strategy and delivering on what we promised for this emerging industry,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We will keep to our September 1 go-live date, however, it is important both the industry and those considering purchasing an EV understand the availability of incentives is contingent on the Electric Vehicles (Revenue Arrangements) Bill 2021 passing Parliament.”
“It’s incumbent upon all political parties to get behind this Bill and this industry.”
If legislation passes, retrospectively from 1 September 2021, EV purchasers will be able to apply for a refund for the following:

• Stamp duty on eligible EVs (battery and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) priced up to $78,000;
• A rebate of $3,000 for the first 25,000 eligible EVs under $68,750.

Mr Constance said providing these incentives now will ensure that manufacturers know the NSW Government is committed to driving uptake of electric vehicles.
“Electric vehicles are the way of the future and that’s why we need to reduce the barriers and create the right market conditions to ensure we are not left at the back of the starting grid,” Mr Constance said.
“This package not only reduces the costs of purchasing an electric vehicle, but also boosts competition and signals to the market NSW is ready for a greater number of new models.”
Mr Kean said the NSW EV Strategy is fundamental to NSW achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2050.
“Our aim remains to increase EV sales to more than 50 per cent of new cars sold in NSW by 2030 and for EVs to be the vast majority of new cars sold in the State by 2035,” Mr Kean said.
“For that reason, we have applied retrospectivity to our policy, to ensure the market is not held up due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Electric Vehicle Strategy will cut taxes, incentivise uptake and reduce barriers for electric vehicle purchases over the next four years.
For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/electric-vehicle-reform

Police have issued a further 28 Penalty Infringement Notices and a prohibition order following a gathering in Sydney’s west at the weekend.
Just before 7.30pm on Sunday (22 August 2021), officers from Blacktown Police Area Command attended a premises on Fourth Avenue, Blacktown, following reports to Crime Stoppers of a gathering in breach of the Public Health Orders.
Police arrived and located a group of approximately 60 adults and children inside the building, participating in a sermon.
Additional police attended to assist and the details of those at the location were obtained, before the group were dispersed and directed to return home.
Inquiries revealed there was no QR code present at the entry to the building and those in attendance were from various other LGAs including Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool.
Thirty adults were issued $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices for fail to comply with noticed direction re s7/8/9 – COVID-19 and the organisation was issued a $5000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction – Corporation.
Following further inquiries, police issued 27 $500 PINs to the same attendees for failure to comply with a direction to wear or carry a mask.
A prohibition order was also served on the pastor about 6am today (Wednesday 25 August 2021), which prevents the church from operating for a seven-day period.
He was also issued a $500 PIN as he was not wearing a mask while in a public place.
Inquiries continue.

Promoting women into leadership roles at sporting organisations will be actively supported by a further $600,000 from the NSW Government.
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the funding package will increase the number of exciting new leadership opportunities for women in sports-based roles both on and off the field.
“I am a passionate supporter of women being involved in all levels of sport, and this package will help open the door for those who aspire to leadership positions,” Mrs Ward said.
“Funding will go towards initiatives that promote women in roles such as coaching, officiating, board directorship and developing inclusive sporting cultures.”
The funding boost is in addition to $640,000 recently announced through the Her Sport Her Way Grant Program.
“The Her Sport Her Way strategy acknowledges the importance of female leaders and mentors in the sector as coaches, officials and administrators,” Mrs Ward said.
“This investment will enable education programs and support organisations in embedding equitable leadership at all levels of sport, from grassroots through to boardrooms.”
Sport NSW will deliver gender inclusive training to sporting organisations and support professional development programs for female leaders.
Sport NSW Chief Executive Officer Ross Bidencope said the funding would support the sector in increasing the number of women in leadership roles and on boards.
“This funding will allow us to expand on programs that promote women in leadership and equip aspiring females with the tools and confidence they need to take on these roles,” Mr Bidencope said.
“There will also be a focus on supporting sporting organisations to shift thinking and cultivate positive change so female representation on boards increases.”
Other initiatives to be delivered include the development of mentoring programs, female coaching and leadership programs, mental health networks and youth leadership programs for girls from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Cycling NSW Chief Executive Officer Graham Seers said the grant would help create more female leaders in the sport.
“Through our partnership with AusCycling’s She Rides program, this funding will empower more women to step into mentoring roles,” Mr Seers said.
“These new female mentors will teach, guide and inspire beginners, helping them overcome barriers such as fear of traffic and lack of practice, and getting more women riding confidently.”
Football NSW Chief Executive Stuart Hodge said his organisation was committed to developing the skills of the sport’s female leaders.
“Football NSW, working in conjunction with Football Australia, has identified the wonderful opportunity provided by our co-hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to shine a light on the need to develop, support and empower the many wonderful women involved across all facets of our game,” Mr Hodge said.
“Working with our clubs and associations, it is our intention to provide capability building programs to further the leadership skills for some of our champions in women’s football, be they coaches, referees, administrators or volunteers.”
To find out more about the Her Sport Her Way Strategy, visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/hersportherway

During the current lockdown pets are more important than ever, and from 25 August the NSW Government’s new laws will to put an end to blanket bans on animals in strata.
The changes follow a detailed review of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (the Act) and extensive public consultation, focusing on the keeping of animals in strata schemes.
Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the new laws reflect broad community sentiment from the review, and demonstrate a balanced approach for both residents and owners corporations in keeping furry friends in strata.
“A lot has changed since the Act commenced in 2015, including a huge shift to apartment living as more and more people in NSW are choosing to buy and rent in higher density areas,” Mr Anderson said.
“On top of that, research tells us that Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with 61 per cent of households including a pet in their family, and 91 per cent of households owning a pet at some point in their lives.
“Following extensive feedback from the community we have implemented fair and sensible regulations that prevent schemes from introducing blanket bans on keeping pets in apartments, while ensuring owners corporations can refuse pets where they unreasonably impact other residents.”
From 25 August 2021, the new regulations will prescribe a limited list of specific grounds where an owners corporation can refuse a lot owner from keeping an animal in a strata scheme or take steps to remove an existing animal from the scheme. These circumstances include repeated damage of the common property, menacing behavior, persistent noise and odour.
Owners corporations will also be able to set reasonable conditions through their own by-laws on how pets are kept in their scheme, for example whether they have to be supervised on common property or enter and exit through a dedicated entrance or lift.
“As a dog owner myself I understand how important pets are for families in this state, and their companionship cannot be understated, particularly during the current pandemic,” Mr Anderson said
“Living in strata is becoming more popular and while we don’t want strata residents deprived of the benefits of owning a pet it’s also important the amenity of neighbours and others in the building isn’t impacted. Our new laws have been designed to strike the right balance for everyone living in strata communities, putting an end to blanket bans on pets while giving owners corporations clear guidance on how they can set rules to ensure other owners aren’t impacted.”
NSW Fair Trading will be offering support, advice and mediation services for residents and owners corporations who are unsure about the new rules and how they apply within their scheme. Unresolved disputes can also be escalated to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal where appropriate.
For more information around the new laws, visit: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/strata-and-community-living/strata-schemes/by-laws-in-your-strata-scheme

The NSW Government has announced an additional 3000 training places for people across NSW to skill up at home during lockdown.
An extra 60 short courses are now on offer to study for free including business skills, mental health, marketing, finance and IT skillsets.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the courses are an expansion of the 10 free skillsets recently announced by TAFE NSW.
“We know there is great demand for training at the moment, which is why we have added additional free courses and more training places so people can come out of lockdown with skills they can take with them into the workplace,” Mr Lee said.
“The free courses are available to anyone across the State who is unable to work due to public health orders.”
“We have specifically targeted those LGA’s and suburbs in lockdown and are working with local communities and industry to understand what skills are in demand and where shortages exist.”
“There has never been a more crucial time to upskill or reskill through the pandemic and the NSW Government is here to support the people of NSW every step of the way.”
“This isn’t just about upskilling though. In these difficult times, the opportunities provided by these courses can have a hugely beneficial impact on the well- being of participants.”
Training will be funded through the JobTrainer program, which has already seen more than 120,000 people in NSW skill up since it was announced in October last year.
For more information and to see full eligibility, please visit: https://bit.ly/37DYSvq

Police have issued thirty-one Penalty Infringement Notices following a gathering in Sydney’s west yesterday.
Just before 7.30pm (Sunday 22 August 2021), officers from Blacktown Police Area Command attended a premises on Fourth Avenue, Blacktown, after Crime Stopper reports of a gathering in breach of the Public Health Orders.
Police arrived and located a group of approximately 60 adults and children inside the building, participating in a sermon.
Additional police attended to assist and the details of those at the location were obtained, before the group were dispersed and directed to return home.
Further inquiries revealed there was no QR code present at the entry to the building and those in attendance were from various other LGAs including Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool.
Thirty adults were issued $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices for fail to comply with noticed direction re s7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The organisation has been issued a $5000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction – Corporation.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any public health order or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community by contacting Crime Stoppers: on 1800 333 000 or via https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.