Labor’s health crisis oversees historic wait times

According to the data, 2022-23 saw the worst average emergency department wait times in a decade, while the wait times for elective surgery have almost doubled compared to 20 years ago.

Capacity has also reached critical levels, with the proportion of public hospital beds available for every Australian over 65 at an all-time low of 14.3 beds per 1000 population.

This comes as the Coalition has been calling on the Government to take urgent action to fix the primary healthcare crisis, which we know is only adding further pressure to our already strained hospital systems.

Last year, we saw more than 1.2 million Australians avoid going to a GP due to concern over cost, as bulk bulling rates collapsed to decade lows.

Since then, we know that out-of-pocket costs have continued to rise to the highest level on record, which means it has literally never been more expensive to see a GP.

It has also never been harder, with the serious impact of the current workforce crisis being felt in GP practices and aged care facilities across the country.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the data released today is extremely concerning, but she has been warning the Government that this serious situation is pushing more and more people towards hospitals and blowing out wait times.

“Our primary care system is key in preventing Australians from needing emergency hospital support, but we know Australians are not only having trouble accessing a GP, but they’re also struggling to afford one.

“At the same time, critical workforce shortages are putting significant strain on our aged care facilities as they struggle to meet the Government’s new rigid staffing requirements.

“Aged care providers are also integral in freeing up hospital beds, but the Government has abandoned them amongst these challenges,” Senator Ruston said.

The Coalition continues to call on the Government to implement a national and comprehensive workforce strategy for the entire care sector, as the only way to adequately deal with these pressures.

The Albanese Labor Government must also take decisive action to address the primary care crisis, including by standing up to state premiers on GP payroll taxes.

Labor reaps dividends from the misery of escalating student debt

Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson, says the Albanese Government is reaping dividends from the misery of escalating student debt, with ATO data revealing Australians paid a record $2.9 billion in voluntary HELP debt repayments in 2022-23, up from $780 million in the previous year.

As a result of Labor’s sky high inflation, the 2022-23 HELP indexation rate was 7.1 per cent, triggering a 272 per cent increase in voluntary repayments.

“Hit by a crippling 7.1 per cent increase in their student debts, 164,000 Australians made voluntary repayments averaging $17,636 in an attempt to pay down or pay off their debt,” Senator Henderson said.

“Despite this surge in repayments to the Commonwealth, Education Minister Jason Clare has sat on his hands taking no action on crippling increases in student debt caused by Labor’s economic mismanagement.

“After an indexation rise of 3.9 per cent in June 2022 and 7.1 per cent in June 2023, HELP loans are forecast to rise by at least 4 per cent this June. This is in stark contrast to annual indexation under the former Coalition government which averaged just 1.7 per cent.

“Since Labor was elected, 3 million Australians with an average HELP liability of $26,494 are facing a total increase in their student debt of at least 15 per cent – an increase of around $4,000,” Senator Henderson said.

There are also growing numbers of very high student loans with the latest data showing 335,293 Australians owe more than $50,000 and 47,847 Australians owe more than $100,000.

“Minister Clare’s lack of action on student debt is abysmal. He has even failed to fix the inequitable ATO HELP payments system which doesn’t account for debt repayments in real time. This is so inequitable that Australians are being indexed on debts they have already repaid.

“While more and more Australians are caught in a student debt trap, Labor has been tone deaf to the cost of living crisis so many young people are facing. It is no wonder domestic university enrolments have fallen by five per cent, compounded by the housing crisis which is putting tertiary study out of reach for so many young Australians,” Senator Henderson said.

Labor caught out being loose with the truth

Reports today that the Treasurer asked his department for advice on changes to the stage three tax cuts as early as June 2022 raises serious questions about the Albanese Labor Government’s integrity and credibility.

The Prime Minister and Treasurer said on at least 100 occasions they had no plans for changes since the May 2022 election.

The Prime Minister repeatedly claimed earlier this year that his government only sought advice over the summer break.

But FOI documents revealed today suggest the Treasurer sought advice just a couple of weeks after the Albanese Labor Government was sworn in.

It is abundantly clear that Labor says one thing to Australians, while doing the complete opposite behind the scenes.

Voters have a right to ask what else the government has been lying about.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Australians deserve better.

“This is an egregious breach of trust.

“The Coalition’s stage three tax cuts were part of a broader tax reform package designed to tackle bracket creep. The policy went to two Federal Elections.

“Labor’s changes are literally banking on bracket creep, with Treasury’s own forecasts showing it will cost Australians an extra $28 billion in taxes over the next 10 years.

“To add insult to injury, the government is spending $40 million of taxpayers’ money on a spin unit to sell its broken promise. It also appears from reports that the government has spent significant taxpayer funds to block FOI requests.

“The Coalition is the party of lower, simpler, fairer taxes and we will never stand in the way of tax cuts.

“But the way Labor has gone about this – by robbing Peter to pay Paul – and lying to Australians about it is unacceptable.”

City of Newcastle joins global fight against plastic pollution

City of Newcastle (CN) is helping to create a new generation of waste warriors, hosting a hands-on event at Newcastle Museum today as part of global environmental initiative, Earth Day.

The annual awareness day, dubbed the largest civic event on Earth, activates one billion people around the world to advocate for the health of the planet.

City of Newcastle's Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, artist Ken O'Regan and Councillor Carol Duncan with Ken's work Fractured Sanctuary as part of Earth Day at Newcastle MuseumCity of Newcastle’s Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, artist Ken O’Regan and Councillor Carol Duncan with Ken’s work Fractured Sanctuary as part of Earth Day at Newcastle MuseumNovocastrians of all ages turned out in force for the free event at the Museum, which featured a range of fun and educational activities based around the global theme for 2024 – Planet vs Plastics.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said CN is committed to continuing its decades-long action and advocacy to protect and improve our environment.

“It takes collective action, commitment, and leadership to safeguard the environment for the future,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As a leader in this space, City of Newcastle is making change through its Climate Action Plan, Sustainable Waste Strategy and Newcastle Environment Plan.

“These strategies provide a roadmap for a sustainable Newcastle through the priority areas of climate change, nature-based solutions and the circular economy.”

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Community and Culture Advisory Committee, Councillor Carol Duncan said CN was committed to championing innovation and delivering free, educational opportunities for the community.

“Every year, Australians send more than 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste to landfill, while globally, at least 14 million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans annually,” Cr Duncan said.

“Events such as Earth Day at Newcastle Museum allow us to connect local actions with global outcomes, sparking conversations about the impact of plastics in our local and global communities to inspire a vibrant future.”

Highlights of today’s event included a recycled plastic art-making workshop with local artist, Ken O’Regan, inspired by his work Fractured Sanctuary, which is currently on display in the Museum’s Earthball Gallery.

O’Regan used discarded everyday plastic items to create an illuminated display inspired by the rose windows of mediaeval cathedrals, the leadlight of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and the neon signage of modern commercial life. 

Children’s author Deb Kelly was on hand to read from her book Little Horses, which was inspired by the success of the local Seahorse Hotel Project to create habitat for the endangered White’s Seahorse off the coast of Port Stephens and Newcastle.

CN’s Waste Services team presented activities about the lifecycle of plastics, while visitors also enjoyed the Museum’s popular science shows, craft activities and a special screening of the award-winning documentary, A Plastic Ocean, which documents the global effects of plastic pollution and highlights innovative solutions to create a cleaner ocean.

Big boost to reliable renewables in NSW

The Albanese Government today announces the largest single ever tender for renewable energy in Australia, with the first auction as part of our Reliable Renewables Plan set for late May. This national Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) tender will target 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects for the National Electricity Market (NEM). 

The Albanese and Minns Governments have also signed a new deal to deliver more reliable renewables for NSW households and businesses, with at least 2.2 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy specifically for NSW, enough to power over 1 million households.

An allocation of 300MW for variable renewable energy will also be exclusively dedicated to projects delivered in South Australia.

The NSW agreement builds on the success of the first CIS/NSW Roadmap pilot tender conducted in 2023, which is delivering six battery and virtual power plant projects with more than 1GW of capacity in NSW and creating 400 jobs.

The Albanese and Minns Governments are continuing to work closely together to advance a single combined tender process for generation infrastructure under the CIS and NSW Roadmap from November this year.

The inclusion of NSW projects in this first CIS tender will replace the scheduled Q2 2024 generation Long-Term Energy Service Agreements (LTESA) tender under the NSW Roadmap. Generation projects that are eligible for LTESA tenders will be eligible to participate in the CIS tender.

NSW will proceed with its scheduled Q2 2024 LTESA tender for long-duration storage infrastructure as well as processes to award access rights for NSW’s Central West Orana and South-West Renewable Energy Zones.

Both governments will continue to work together to finalise a Renewable Energy Transformation Agreement.

The Albanese Government’s guarantee of a minimum 300MW in SA is subject to final agreement between the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments. It will encourage investment in strategic electricity reserves, and deliver new renewables projects that ensure improved reliability, to support an orderly transition.

Our Reliable Renewables plan is delivering 32 GW of new energy infrastructure in total across Australia between now and 2030, transforming Australia’s energy system to a reliable 82 per cent renewable grid, supported by gas, storage and transmission.

The first round of tenders for Western Australian projects, targeting 500MW of dispatchable power through storage for renewables, will open mid-year, subject to consultation and final agreement. It would be enough to power 45,000 homes.

A market briefing on the May tender will be released in early May outlining the tender process. Tender rounds will run in the NEM approximately every six months until 2027.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said:

“We are getting on with the job of delivering practical solutions to keep the lights on for households and businesses using the cheapest, cleanest form of power – reliable renewable energy.

“The rain doesn’t always fall, but we always have water on tap because we store it for when we need it – our energy plan does just the same thing for reliable renewables.

“Our plan is delivering the certainty and confidence the market needs to deliver the energy we need, when we need it.

“This is in stark contrast to the Coalition’s risky reactor plan which won’t do a thing to plug the electricity gap as 90 per cent of the existing coal fleet retires over the next ten years.”

NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“NSW is leading the nation when it comes to delivering the energy transition. We’re already about half-way to meeting our generation target, and a quarter of the way to meeting our storage target.

“This is a significant win for NSW electricity consumers, with the Commonwealth supporting our biggest round of generation projects yet to deliver low-cost, reliable energy to homes and businesses.

“I look forward to working with the Australian Government over the next few months to finalise the ongoing implementation of the CIS in NSW.”

No new funding for road safety: Summit confirmed as a talk fest

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to confirm whether there is any new funding for road safety initiatives following the release of the NSW Road Safety Forum 2024 outcomes report late on a Friday afternoon.

While the Opposition in principle supports the six mostly consultative initiatives announced today, the Government did not announce any new funding for road safety in the package.

Following months of lobbying by the Opposition amid a 25% increase in the road toll under the first year of a Labor Government, the Roads Minister organised the Summit, declaring “nothing was off the table”.

Today’s announcement yet again shows that funding for road safety initiatives is clearly not a priority for the Minns Government, after the savage $140 million cut to the Road Safety line item in Labor’s first budget.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward commented “While I support any initiative that helps lower the road toll, it needs to include the funding to back it up.”
 
“The budget shows a $140 million cut to road safety initiatives under Labor and yet again we are seeing press releases not investment to help curb the rising road toll.”  

Riverside Revitalisation Project opened

Prime Minister Albanese has officially opened Mackay’s Riverside Revitalisation Project which has transformed the former industrial precinct into a destination locals and visitors alike can explore and enjoy.

The $9.7 million project was jointly funded with the Australian Government investing $4.1 million and the Mackay Regional Council investing $5.6 million.

The Prime Minister visited Mackay this morning to join Mayor Greg Williamson, Councillors, council CEO Scott Owen and other stakeholders for the official opening.

The revitalisation includes the recently completed Pioneer River Pontoon at Bluewater Quay and the nearby River Wharves public area.

The opening included a ribbon cutting at the pontoon, where a Wildcat boat was moored, and a tour of River Wharves.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I am delighted to be in Mackay to open this important revitalisation of the riverside.

“Parents with their kids, locals enjoying their beautiful river and tourists visiting this great part of the world will benefit from this revitalisation for so many years to come.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Mackay Riverside Revitalisation is a great example of the Australian Government working in partnership to deliver critical local community infrastructure.

“This facility provides a new leisure, commercial and tourism offering to support the Mackay Waterfront project and bring fresh life to a former industrial precinct.”

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson:

“Both projects have provided improved public access to the wonderful Pioneer River and were part of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA).

“These projects will be catalysts for future projects, including private investment, along the riverfront.

“For example, Renew Mackay has recently unveiled plans for a major commercial and residential development on the Brisbane Street car park site adjacent to Bluewater Quay.

“The council-owned building at 8 River Street is also currently being demolished. It will be a prime site for redevelopment and in the interim will also be able to be activated for the community.”

NSW 19 & Under Team Dominate at 2024 Nationals

In a dominant performance at the 2024 National Netball Championships in Frankston, Victoria the NSW 19 & Under State Team have taken home the gold medal, while the state’s 17 & Under side secured a top-four finish.

Winning nine out of nine games, the NSW 19s were a class above throughout the tournament as they finished off the weekend in fine style with a 10-goal Grand Final win over a strong Queensland side (42-32).

Defenders Frederika Schneideman, Katarina Sinceck and Eugenie Little were outstanding, forcing the opposition to make multiple mistakes due to the pressure they applied which enabled NSW to turn over plenty of ball.

Hope White was prolific in wing attack with Neveah Metenga dominating in centre. The midcourters had the ball on a string throughout the match, driving hard to the circle edge and delivering pin-point feeds into the NSW attack circle.
The strength and accuracy of Monika Ötai and Grace Whyte was a pleasure to watch as they rewarded the great work of the team’s efforts in all areas of the court.

The depth in Amber Cross’s 19 & Under side, the majority of whom were Nationally Identified in 2023, was exceptional and the effort, team culture and energy from each athlete was a standout characteristic over the course of the whole competition.
Meanwhile there was heartbreak for the NSW 17 & Under side who missed out on a bronze medal after an extra time thriller against Victoria.

The sides played out a draw earlier in the week and in the third-place playoff the Victorians weren’t able to shake off a resilient NSW side who got back in level terms just before fulltime. Unfortunately, they were unable to get over the line in added time, and they went down fighting 47 – 44.

Netball NSW General Manager Performance and Pathways Mardi Aplin was extremely proud of all the athletes across the week:

”Both NSW teams played with immense pride and passion the whole week,” she said.

“For our 19s to go through undefeated is testament to their character, resilience and hard work in the lead up to Nationals and their team work and determination throughout the tournament.

“While the 17s side will be understandably disappointed, the fight they showed in that final game is something they should be very proud of and they will learn so much from this year’s Nationals and will continue to grow as both an athletes and people.

“A huge thank you goes not only to the athletes who represented NSW so well but also the team behind the team who led from the front this entire campaign.”

To cap off a terrific week NSW 19U defender Frederika Schneideman was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player while Hope White was Player of the Grand Final.

19 & Under Team
Charlie Hawkins (Randwick)
Eugenie Little (Manly Warringah)
Freddie Schneideman (Randwick)
Grace Whyte (Tumut)
Hope White (Newcastle)
Isabella Degei (Penrith District)
Katarina Sincek (Penrith District)
Monika ‘Otai (St George District)
Nevaeh Matenga (Liverpool City)
Nicola Barge (Sutherland Shire)
Olivia Harris (Penrith District)
Yasmeen Janschek (Randwick)

Head Coach – Amber Cross (Wyong District)
Assistant Coach – Stephanie Harrison (Camden & District)
Apprentice Coach – Sam May (Penrith District)
Team Manager – Jenny Gage Trail (Northern Suburbs)
Head Physiotherapist – Jess Harrison (Newcastle)
Assistant Physiotherapist – Hayley Simmons

17 & Under Team
Acacia Elers (Newcastle)
Ellie Hart (Campbelltown District)
Ellie Stacey (Maitland)
Emily McPherson (Wagga Wagga)
Evie Economou (Sutherland Shire)
Grace Tracey (Illawarra District)
Harlym Jennings (Liverpool City)
Kelis Ogle (Liverpool City)
Matilda Fanning (Sutherland Shire)
Matilda Percival (Newcastle)
Monique Johnson (Sutherland Shire)
Siulolo Richter (Liverpool City)
Skye Thompson (Sutherland Shire)

Head Coach – Abbey McCulloch (Sutherland Shire)
Assistant Coach – Nardia Trevor (Baulkham Hills Shire)
Apprentice Coach – Gima Crowdy (Woy Woy)
Team Manager – Kate Carneiro (Sutherland Shire)
Head Physiotherapist – Chris Portlock (Central Coast Heart)
Assistant Physiotherapist – Emily Brisbane (Orange)

New playgrounds open as City of Newcastle delivers multimillion-dollar investment into recreation

City of Newcastle (CN) has delivered a school holiday boost for children across Newcastle, with four new or upgraded playgrounds now open as part of the annual playground replacement program.

The community helped officially open a new play space at Adamstown Park today, which was relocated and expanded as part of CN’s $600,000 investment into the four playground projects.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz join excited locals to officially open the new Adamstown Park playground.Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz join excited locals to officially open the new Adamstown Park playground.Popular recreational areas at Rawson Park in Stockton and Waratah’s Coolamin Reserve also received new equipment, while Islington Park’s playground was upgraded with new rubber softfall and a fresh coat of colour.

Additionally, work is progressing at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park where a significant new $3 million playspace is being delivered as part of the park’s Masterplan, with the project expected to be completed in October.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said CN is committed to delivering enriched neighbourhoods with spaces that bring people together for active living and social connection.

“We know how much our community values open spaces and their local playgrounds, which is why it is vital we continue to deliver our playground replacement program and other recreation projects to ensure everyone has the opportunity to access quality facilities now and into the future,” Cr Nelmes said.

“As part of our commitment to undertake a staged implementation of the newly adopted Adamstown Park Masterplan, the Adamstown playground was relocated, upgraded and expanded, activating the green space.”

Councillor Carol Duncan, who is also the Chair of the Community and Culture Advisory Committee, said it’s not just children who’ll benefit from the new playground.

“We’re catering for the recreation needs of teenagers and adults who visit this area of Adamstown Park, with a new basketball court expected to be completed in the coming weeks,” Cr Duncan said.

Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said this is another example of CN providing facilities that are safe, engaging and support the community’s wellbeing.

“New accessible pathways have been created to link the Adamstown playground with Glebe Road, while a sheltered picnic table offers visitors and locals seating and shade,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

CN has invested more than $10 million into projects over the past five years as part of its commitment to delivering enhanced and accessible recreational opportunities for the community, with more than 116 playgrounds located across the local government area.

New diploma gives the future of planning a strong start

In a first for NSW, budding planners will soon have a TAFE pathway into the planning profession with a new diploma open for enrolments.

The brand-new Diploma of Local Government (Planning) will support school leavers and future planners on their way into paraplanning, a role that manages a lot of the initial assessment, research and review to provide valuable support to planners.

Through a collaboration between the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, TAFE NSW, Local Government NSW and the Planning Institute of Australia, the Diploma has been adapted from TAFE SA’s curriculum to reflect planning practices in NSW.

The Australian National Skills Commission has identified planning as a skills shortage area with a strong future demand, with strong demand for a diploma of this nature.

In a recent survey, more than 85 per cent of council respondents indicated they would consider upskilling existing staff with the qualification or employing planning cadets currently enrolled in the diploma. 

Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, shortages of planners contributed to a 28 per cent increase in the average number of days taken to determine local development applications in NSW.

A recent Productivity Commission report found that between 2016 and 2021, Sydney lost twice as many people aged 30 to 40 as it gained. 35,000 came to Sydney, but 70,000 left.

While we have a whole generation of people who can’t afford to rent or buy a home in NSW, we can’t afford to be slowing down housing approvals.

In addition to the TAFE Diploma, the Strong Start Mentoring Program which began in February with 60 mentors continues, and registrations are now open for up to 250 planning mentors and mentees.

Planning students and recent graduates working in councils across the state are invited to register to be paired with experienced planners for professional coaching and support.

This year, senior planners in local government are also invited to register as mentors. Last year’s inaugural program was an overwhelming success, with all participants reporting improved wellbeing, job satisfaction, career development and personal growth.

One mentee from Shoalhaven City Council described their greatest takeaway as “the ability to feel confident in prioritising my career needs and then working out ways to achieve them.

“My mentor helped me identify strategies to build my confidence and encouraged me to improve communication lines with my supervisor around my needs,” they said.

Mentees receive ongoing professional development with quarterly check-ins and workshops run by professional facilitators.

Group sessions will be available for participants to engage in peer-to-peer mentoring.

For more information about the Diploma or Strong Start visit NSW Planning

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Our role is to create capacity in the planning system for industry to deliver more homes, services and jobs.

“Addressing the planning skills shortage through TAFE and the Strong Start mentoring program will play a critical role in delivering better and more timely outcomes for communities.

“Planners do work that benefits everyone. I’m pleased that the NSW Government is continuing to support this vital profession with this new pathway and by connecting existing talent with emerging talent.”

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

“This new Diploma will help deliver a strong pipeline of skilled workers to the planning industry.

“Planners are a key part of alleviating the NSW housing crisis and I’m glad TAFE can play a role in training the next generation.”