Category: NSW News

Eight people from declared LGAs were issued infringements after being detected at a Kiama construction site.

On Monday (16 August 2021), officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District were notified of workers allegedly from Sydney, staying in Kiama.

Police attended an address on North Kiama Drive about 7.30pm and spoke with the occupants, who were part of a construction team, building a unit complex on Collins Street, Kiama.

About 11am on Tuesday (17 August 2021), police attended the worksite and saw a number of employees run into a nearby carpark.

Police located 33 workers and spoke to the project manager.

Following further inquiries, police issued eight infringements to construction workers who were found to be in breach of the Public Health Orders.

These workers are from declared Local Government Areas – four from Bayside, two from Fairfield and two from Blacktown.

Inquiries are continuing.

Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

The NSW Government has announced it will provide increased security for tenants and financial support for landlords by extending the Residential Tenancy Support package.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said the Residential Tenancy Support package will now be paid for a second month and eligible landlords can now apply for up to $3,000 to cover the two months from 14 July 2021, assuming they have reduced rent for their tenant by at least that much.
“The NSW Government is ensuring both residential tenants and landlords have ongoing support by extending financial assistance for private landlords who pass on rent relief,” Mr Anderson said.
“Keeping people safe doesn’t just mean reducing the health threats of the virus. It is vital we help keep a roof over the heads of those who may be suffering financial hardship at this difficult time.”
Mr Anderson said landlords who have already applied can make an additional application and those who are yet to apply will be able to make one application for the total amount of rent waived, up to $1,500 a month.
“We have always encouraged landlords and tenants to work together to negotiate on rental agreements and the NSW Government has now made that conversation easier by supporting landlords so they can reduce rent for their tenants,” Mr Anderson said.
“It’s hard enough having to lockdown in your home while we stop the spread of the virus, but this NSW Government support means you can do that without fear of being evicted.”
Landlords will also have the option to apply for the COVID-19 land tax benefit instead of applying for the Residential Tenancy Support Payment, which is an offset of the land tax liability equal to the rent reduction granted.
Eligible COVID-19 impacted residential tenants who cannot meet their residential rent payments will be protected from eviction during the moratorium period commencing from 14 July and finishing at the end of 11 September 2021.
For more information on the package or to apply go to Residential tenancy support package | NSW Fair Trading

Increased fines of up to $5,000 for COVID breaches, $320 COVID-19 Test and Isolate Support Payments, permits to enter regional NSW and a heightened police presence will be introduced, as NSW continues to battle the Delta variant.
In addition, in Greater Sydney and other lockdown areas, the 10 kilometre rule will be reduced from 12.01am Monday, August 16, with shopping, exercise and outdoor recreation to be done in a person’s local government area (LGA) or, if outside their LGA, within 5 kilometres of home. LGAs of concern must still exercise and shop within 5 kilometres from home only.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the vast majority of people are doing the right thing but there are a handful of people who are wilfully breaking the rules and putting the rest of the community at risk.
“The increased fines and heightened police presence are about ensuring people who are doing the wrong thing are caught and punished appropriately,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Under the changes, there will be increased fines for Public Health Order breaches, a permit system to enter regional NSW and tightened rules for people in LGAs of concern to help reduce the spread of the Delta variant.
Increased fines for Public Health Order breaches (from 12.01am, Monday, 16 August):

• $5,000 on the spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules;
• $5,000 on the spot fine for lying on a permit (already a criminal offence);
• $5,000 on the spot fine for lying to a contact tracer (already a criminal offence);
• $3,000 on the spot fine for breaching the two person outdoor exercise/recreation rule; and
• $3,000 on the spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW for authorised work, inspecting real estate and travelling to your second home.

Permit system to enter regional NSW (from 12.01am, Saturday, 21 August):

• Any person who wishes to travel to regional NSW for one of the following reasons must have a permit which will be made available on Service NSW.
  1. authorised workers from LGAs of concern;
  2. Inspecting real estate. Any person inspecting real estate in the regions must now genuinely need a home to live in (no investment properties); and
  3. Travelling to your second home. This is now only allowed if you are using the home for work accommodation or if the home requires urgent maintenance and repairs (if so, only one person may travel there).

Changes for residents in local government areas of concern:

• From 12.01am, Monday, 16 August: only exercise and supervision of children allowed (no outdoor recreation);
• From 12.01am, Saturday, 21 August: People who live alone must now register their “singles bubble”. Registration will be made available on nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the NSW Police Force will also have an increased and more visible presence across Greater Sydney, backed up by 500 additional Australian Defence Force personnel.

The NSW Police Force has welcomed 182 police recruits after they were sworn-in as probationary constables at a private attestation ceremony, held in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, in Goulburn today.
The new probationary constables have been assigned to police area commands and police districts across the state.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott congratulated the recruits who are starting their new careers in times of unprecedented challenges
“Congratulations to the men and women of class 348, who graduate today and will join the NSW Police Force when it most needs versatile, adaptable officers,” Mr Elliott said.
“The career path you embark on today will test your courage, your resilience and your decision-making.
“You are joining a police family of more than 17,000; a modern, well-equipped force focused on driving down crime rates and protecting the community.
“The NSW Government will be there, too, to support you and ensure you have world-class training, and the technology and resources you need to best serve the people of NSW,” Mr Elliott said.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller welcomed the new probationary constables acknowledging they’re commencing a challenging career at a challenging time.
“The pandemic is impacting many aspects of our lives but as police, we have taken an oath – a promise – to protect and serve the people of this state while exercising the highest level of integrity,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“Despite the challenges ahead, our newest recruits can expect a rewarding career and will have the camaraderie and guidance of their new policing family every step of the way.
“I hope these officers are as proud to join the NSW Police Force as I am to swear them in. I’m looking forward to seeing them out on the beat.”
Class 348 includes 121 men and 61 women. Twenty-three recruits were born overseas in countries including Canada, China, Columbia, Fiji, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Syria, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Many are from backgrounds where English is a second language Assyrian, Arabic, Dari, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Urdu.
Six recruits are indigenous, with two recruits joining through the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program.

For the latest COVID-19 advice & information please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

LAND TAX RELIEF TO HELP LANDOWNERS AND TENANTS AFFECTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

• Applications are now open for eligible commercial and residential landowners who provide rental reductions to tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 to claim land tax relief or a tenancy support payment.
• Through the package:

1. residential landlords can choose between applying for land tax relief or a payment of up to $1,500 per tenancy if they agree to reduce the rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants from 14 July 2021 to 31 December 2021.
2. eligible NSW landowners may receive a reduction of up to 100 per cent of their land tax liability for 2021.
3. residential landowners can receive the land tax relief or, may elect to claim a payment of up to $1,500 per tenancy agreement if they provided a reduction in rent from 14 July 2021 to 31 December 2021, to a residential tenant who has lost 25 per cent or more of household income due to COVID-19.

• Extra staff have been engaged to assist with the high volume of applications.
• For eligibility requirements and to apply for land tax relief, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-land-tax-relief.
• For eligibility requirements and to apply for residential tenancy support, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-residential-tenancy-support-payment.

HUNDREDS OF NEW EXPERTS TO LIFT LITERACY AND NUMERACY

• Hundreds of new literacy and numeracy experts will join NSW public schools as part of the NSW Government’s continued focus on lifting student results.
• As part of a $256 million investment, every public primary school across NSW will receive a dedicated Curriculum Assistant Principal.
• More than 1,300 new positions will strengthen a continuous focus on literacy and numeracy and support curriculum implementation with the new K-2 English and Mathematics syllabuses rolling out from 2022.
• The new positions have an explicit focus on leading schools with evidence-based teaching and assessments to improve student outcomes.
• The leadership roles will support a strong instructional leadership model in all schools, coordinating professional learning for teachers, monitoring student outcomes, and supporting families to be key partners in student learning.
• The new program will begin from 2022, with all positions in place ahead of full implementation of the new K-2 English and Mathematics Syllabuses in 2023.

IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO COVID-19 CHECK IN SYSTEM

• Checking into venues and managing your check in history has become easier thanks to a new COVID-19 check-in card and suite of updates to the Service NSW app.
• Customers can now register for a COVID-19 check-in card which they can present to supermarkets and other essential retail businesses to scan as a faster and safer way to complete the self-service webform check-in or paper sign-in currently used by customers without a smartphone.
• Customers can download and print their COVID-19 check-in card or have a plastic card mailed to them. Their contact details will be securely stored within the QR code, which will prepopulate the webform when scanned by the business.
• In response to customer demand Service NSW is also rolling out two further enhancements to the Service NSW app. The first allowing customers to review their check out history and add check out times and the second to make it easier for customers to sign into the Service NSW app wearing a mask.
• Customers will be able to register for their COVID-19 check-in card via the Service NSW website or by calling 13 77 88 from 13 August and can opt to receive it via email to print at home, or via postal mail.

$10 MILLION BOOST TO SOCIAL SERVICES SECTOR

• A variety of free online tools, courses and resources is being rolled out to organisations working in the social services sector as part of a $10 million investment which aims to support non-government providers through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
• The NSW Government’s Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF) is delivering a $50 million boost to not-for-profits during the pandemic.
• The SSTF will support organisations to improve how they do business by giving them access to better technology, free legal services, workforce development opportunities, practical support and resources to strengthen governance and strategy.
• The Social Sector Transformation Fund assists organisations to improve outcomes in homelessness, disability, health, and child and family services.
• For more information, visit https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/providers/deliver-community-and-sector-assistance/social-sector-transformation-fund.

SUPPORT FOR LEGAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GROUPS

• More than 70 organisations providing legal advice or domestic violence support have now been awarded $4.45 million in grants to modernise and expand their operations.
• A total of $2.06 million has been granted to 44 organisations that provide family and domestic violence services, while 28 groups, which deliver legal services, will receive $2.39 million in total.
• This initiative will help these charities and not-for-profits increase capacity, provide better digital service delivery, and enhance remote working options. It will help future-proof their operations and enable them to remain efficient, effective and viable so they can continue their invaluable work to support domestic violence victim-survivors.
• The funding comes from the NSW Government’s $50 million Social Sector Transformation Fund (SSTF) announced in the 2020-21 State Budget.

LOCKDOWN SUPPORT – NSW GOVERNMENT BOOSTS VIRTUAL SERVICES FOR NEW PARENTS STRUGGLING IN LOCKDOWN

• Parents of newborns and toddlers impacted by the current COVID restrictions can access a range of free virtual early childhood health services, thanks to a $348,000 NSW Government grant to Karitane.
• The not-for-profit parenting support service has recorded its highest ever number of referrals in the last four weeks, many from parents struggling to cope with recent restrictions.
• This grant will allow Karitane to expand its virtual services to affected parents, including home visits, residential stays, breastfeeding clinics, mental health consults, toddler behaviour programs, playgroups and daily parenting workshops.
• This is in addition to the recently announced joint Commonwealth and NSW Government COVID-19 mental health support package worth $17.35 million.
• For information on Karitane’s services, please visit: https://www.karitane.com.au/.

PARRAMATTA ROAD PLANS READY TO PROGRESS  

• The revitalisation of Sydney’s oldest road with thousands of new homes and jobs is one step closer following changes to accelerate the planning process.
• The changes mean planning proposals for the Parramatta Road corridor can now be lodged and progressed to public exhibition to coincide with the completion of traffic studies.
• The NSW Government is now welcoming proposals to deliver up to 27,000 new homes and 50,000 jobs along Parramatta Road. The changes will allow proposals to be assessed in consultation with the community, fully informed by the transport studies now being finalised.
• The Ministerial Order is accompanied by an updated implementation plan to guide the preparation of planning proposals and development along the corridor.
• The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will now work with relevant councils to progress planning proposals already in the system to Gateway determination.
• For more information visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/parramattaroad.

YOUNG NSW RFS VOLUNTEERS HONOURED

• The achievements of young members of the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) have been recognised with the announcement of two Young Volunteers of the Year and the NSW Secondary School Cadet of the Year.
• The 2021 Young Volunteer of the Year recipients are Tim Hearn of Llandilo Brigade (Cumberland District) and Lavhynnia Lowe from Bathurst Brigade (Chifley District), while the Secondary School Cadet of the Year for 2021 is Nathan Hindmarsh from Braidwood Central School/Krawarree Brigade.
• The effort and enthusiasm of young members in the NSW RFS is significant and these awards acknowledge their hard work, camaraderie and community participation.
• These young people have demonstrated the commitment and enthusiasm that ensure our great volunteer emergency services will go from strength to strength in coming years and I congratulate each of them on their well-deserved awards.

Officers from Leichhardt Police Area Command have served a business on Norton St, Leichhardt with an order to close this morning (Saturday 14 August 2021) due to alleged repeated breaches of the public health orders.
The closure order follows a number of previous interactions with the business owner due to numerous complaints from members of the public.
Police have attended the café a total of ten times in the past two weeks and issued the owner five PINs for breaching the public health orders. The owner has also been arrested and charged on two separate occasions with a number offences relating to alleged breaches of the public health orders, and those matters remain before the courts.
Police will allege the owner has been seen on a number of occasions preparing and serving food without a mask and allowing customers to sit inside and outside the café, in contravention of the current rules.
He has also allegedly refused to produce a COVID-19 Safety Plan when asked, as required under the public health order.
This café owner, a 44-year-old man, has shown a blatant disregard for the health and safety of his community for an extended period of time, and his business will now stay closed until I’m satisfied there is no further risk to public health.

The NSW Police Force will launch Operation STAY AT HOME from 12.01am Monday 16 August 2021, in a significant boost to public health order enforcement efforts across the state.
The operation will utilise resources from all Police Districts and Police Area Commands under Metropolitan and Regional Field Operations alongside officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Police Transport Command, Dog and Mounted Unit, and a number of other specialist commands as required.
Significantly, 1400 officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command will be dedicated to both static and mobile COVID-19 compliance operations on the state’s roads.
A further 500 Australian Defence Force troops, in addition to the 300 already deployed, will assist with compliance checks and patrols.
Operation STAY AT HOME will be coordinated from the Police Operations Centre (POC) in Sydney under the command of Acting Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the NSW Government was supporting the Commissioner’s call for assistance in the most practical way.
“The Commissioner asked for tighter Public Health Orders and the government agreed, the Commissioner asked for higher fines and the Government agreed, and the Commissioner asked for more ADF personnel and we have an additional 500 highly-trained ADF personnel arriving to assist,” Mr Elliott said.
“We’ve had to tighten the current public health orders because of the minority who exploited them. Enough is enough. If you do it, you will get fined.
“The only way out of this COVID-19 crisis is if we support each other and support the NSW Police-led compliance operation, Operation STAY AT HOME.”
Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Metropolitan Field Operations, said the operation would see more police on the ground across Greater Sydney, utilising some of the strongest powers ever given to police.
“The level of non-compliance by some members of the community is unacceptable and we will be doubling down with compliance and enforcement to make sure we get ahead of the Delta strain,” Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.
“It only takes one person to do the wrong thing to facilitate considerable spread of the virus.
“We will be issuing $5000 fines to people and closing any businesses which continue to breach the health orders, and will not apologise for these increased enforcement efforts going forward.”
Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, Regional NSW Field Operations, said preventing movement to regional areas from Sydney, and between regional areas, would be a key focus of the operation.
“There will be more roadblocks on main arterial roads and backroads from tomorrow, and these operations will continue to expand throughout this week in order to enforce the permit system announced by the NSW Government this morning,” Deputy Commissioner Willing said.
“There will be nowhere to hide if you are doing the wrong thing. If you travel anywhere beyond your LGA at the moment, you are putting everyone else in NSW at considerable risk.
“From the start, this has been about reducing movement across the state and protecting the health and safety of everyone, and this operation significantly strengthens those efforts.”
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

The NSW Police Force has welcomed 182 police recruits after they were sworn-in as probationary constables at a private attestation ceremony, held in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, in Goulburn today.
The new probationary constables have been assigned to police area commands and police districts across the state.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott congratulated the recruits who are starting their new careers in times of unprecedented challenges
“Congratulations to the men and women of class 348, who graduate today and will join the NSW Police Force when it most needs versatile, adaptable officers,” Mr Elliott said.
“The career path you embark on today will test your courage, your resilience and your decision-making.
“You are joining a police family of more than 17,000; a modern, well-equipped force focused on driving down crime rates and protecting the community.
“The NSW Government will be there, too, to support you and ensure you have world-class training, and the technology and resources you need to best serve the people of NSW,” Mr Elliott said.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller welcomed the new probationary constables acknowledging they’re commencing a challenging career at a challenging time.
“The pandemic is impacting many aspects of our lives but as police, we have taken an oath – a promise – to protect and serve the people of this state while exercising the highest level of integrity,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“Despite the challenges ahead, our newest recruits can expect a rewarding career and will have the camaraderie and guidance of their new policing family every step of the way.
“I hope these officers are as proud to join the NSW Police Force as I am to swear them in. I’m looking forward to seeing them out on the beat.”
Class 348 includes 121 men and 61 women. Twenty-three recruits were born overseas in countries including Canada, China, Columbia, Fiji, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Syria, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Many are from backgrounds where English is a second language Assyrian, Arabic, Dari, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Urdu.
Six recruits are indigenous, with two recruits joining through the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program.

Applications are now open for eligible commercial and residential landowners who provide rental reductions to tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 to claim land tax relief or a tenancy support payment as part of a suite of measures introduced by the NSW Government to help reduce the stress and financial burden of COVID-19 restrictions.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the land tax relief and tenancy support payments are designed to make it easier for landowners to support their tenants during this challenging time.
“Many renters, commercial and residential, are doing it tough right now, with reduced turnover or work hours due to the COVID-19 restrictions,” Mr Tudehope said.
“We’ve heard from landowners that they would like to help their tenants, but they also have bills to pay. Providing financial relief will enable them to work with their tenants to offer rent reductions and to alleviate some of the cost-burden during restrictions.
“This new package follows a similar land tax relief program which ran from May 2020 to May 2021, which saw more than 17,200 applications received and $186 million of relief provided to date.
“This land tax relief program is demand driven; there is no limit to the number of landowners that can receive support from the Government.”
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said residential landlords can choose between applying for land tax relief or a payment of up to $1,500 per tenancy  if they agree to reduce the rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants from 14 July 2021 to 31 December 2021.
“During times like these we need solutions that work for everyone and the NSW Government is committed to supporting tenants and landlords as they get back on their feet, giving people one less thing to worry about,” Mr Anderson said.
“This $1,500 payment means landlords will be less likely to face missing mortgage repayments. Extra protections for residential tenants means they won’t have to worry about being evicted at this time due to circumstances outside of their control.”
Extra staff have been engaged to assist with the high volume of applications.
Eligible NSW landowners may receive a reduction of up to 100 per cent of their land tax liability for 2021. Residential landowners can receive the land tax relief or, may elect to claim a payment of up to $1,500 per tenancy agreement if they provided a reduction in rent from 14 July 2021 to 31 December 2021, to a residential tenant who has lost 25 per cent or more of household income due to COVID-19.
To be eligible for land tax relief, landowners must be leasing to a commercial tenant who has an annual turnover up to $50 million and is eligible for either the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant, JobSaver or the COVID-19 Micro-business Grant, or leasing to a residential tenant who has lost 25 per cent or more of household income due to COVID-19.
The landowner must have reduced rent for the affected tenant by at least the amount being claimed for any period between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021. Both commercial and residential landowners cannot require their tenants to repay the reduced rent they claim through the rebates.
Applications for land tax relief can be submitted at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-land-tax-relief
Applications for residential tenancy support can be made at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-residential-tenancy-support-payment

Small businesses will have additional support from business advisory service Business Connect with 20 new advisors providing free advice and a range of new resources, as the NSW Government ramps up its support for COVID-19 impacted businesses.
An additional $3.5 million has been allocated to Business Connect to meet the demand from small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said some of the new advisors were expected to be on board as early as mid-August.
“The funding will go towards a range of support measures including new advisors, more hours for existing part-time advisors and more events and resources,” Mr Tudehope said.
Mr Tudehope said Business Connect had advisors across NSW and all advice related to COVID-19 is free of charge.
“Small businesses affected by the current COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions can seek independent advice from Business Connect and business owners can access a range of webinars and online resources,” Mr Tudehope said.
“The right advice at the right time can be the difference between success and failure for mum-and-dad businesses and entrepreneurs. If we keep businesses in business, we keep people in jobs.
“Business Connect advisors and resources can help you to develop a recovery plan, consider your options, manage change and cashflow and market your business to reach new customers.”
Many of the advisors have run their own businesses in industries dramatically impacted by COVID-19 including retail, hospitality, tourism and the arts and creative industries. Multicultural advisors and translation services are available for businesses from non-English speaking backgrounds.
For more information on the support measures for businesses visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-businesses. For more on Business Connect visit: www.nsw.gov.au/businessconnect