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Taking Pressure Off Emergency Departments

People in Sydney’s inner south and Canterbury Bankstown area will be able to avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department (ED) for urgent conditions, thanks to an expansion of local urgent care services.

The Minns Labor Government has announced two new urgent care services at Green Square and Belmore will open next Monday, 15 July.

Both services will be open 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm, staffed by General Practitioners and nurses, with important diagnostic services close by including radiology and pathology.

The services are well-supported to treat a range of illnesses and injuries that are deemed urgent, but not life-threatening, such as minor wounds that need stitches, suspected broken bones and skin infections that need antibiotics.

To access the services, patients should call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

A registered nurse will assess the patient’s condition and then discuss with the patient the best place for their care needs.

This may include an appointment at an Urgent Care Service, a telehealth appointment with the virtualKIDS or virtualGP services, or escalating their care to other services like NSW Ambulance if required.

NSW Health is partnering with primary health networks to deliver additional urgent care services right across the state to ease pressure on busy hospital EDs and ensure the people of NSW continue to receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

The NSW Government has committed $124 million over two years to deliver 25 urgent care services in NSW by mid-2025. It is also supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government.

The Minns Labor Government has a plan to relieve pressure on EDs and reduce wait times, through our Budget emergency department relief package which will invest:

  • $171.4 million to introduce additional virtual care services helping 180,000 people avoid a trip to the ED.
  • $100 million to continue funding our urgent care services for a further two years to provide a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients.
  • $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours.
  • $15.1 million to for an Ambulance Matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times.
  • $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed.
  • $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identifying patients early on that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place.

The Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“At a time when our EDs are packed and it’s difficult to find a GP, this government is delivering alternative pathways to healthcare so people across the state get the timely healthcare they deserve.”

“It’s a win for patients who will get care closer to home when they need it, and it’s a win for hospitals because it helps relieve pressure on our busy EDs.”

The Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“I’m committed to increasing availability of healthcare to communities through urgent care services just like these, which are aimed at bridging the gap between primary care and emergency care, ensuring that patients have fast access to the urgent care they need.”

“Our health care system is under immense pressure, especially at this time of year with a huge volume of respiratory viruses circulating in the community.”

Final Report of the Independent Toll Review

The report exposes the full impact of toll road privatisation by the former government.

The report highlights Sydney’s toll road network is a poorly functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures that will cost motorists $195 billion in nominal terms in tolls over the next three and a half decades on top of the billions they have already paid.

The report notes the lack of a unified tolling system has created complexity, inefficiency, inequities and unfairness, with those in Western Sydney financially impacted the most.

There are a range of recommendations presented to Government by Professor Fels and Dr Cousins for consideration including:

  • Tolls should be based on a declining distance basis charged on a per kilometre basis but with the per kilometre rate declining the greater the distance travelled. This would deliver greater fairness to motorists in Western Sydney.
  • An infrastructure charge should be introduced for parts of toll roads that have been costly to build e.g. ventilated tunnels, Sydney Harbour Bridge.
  • Two-way tolling on the two current Harbour crossings and the Eastern Distributor, with this additional revenue gained being put into the lowering of tolls on the remainder of the network. This will also ensure a consistent tolling and traffic integration approach when the Western Harbour tunnel opens around 2028.
  • Decisions on toll setting should be overseen by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

The Government notes the final report also provides two distinct “bookend” scenarios that model the impact on motorists spend when additional toll relief is provided or removed from the system.

The NSW Government will now consider the report and respond in due course.

The Government promised at the election to introduce long-term reform for the world’s most tolled city and an end to the Liberals’ “toll mania” in Sydney.

The NSW Government is committed to reforming Sydney’s toll network to restore fairness, simplicity and transparency to the system and put the interests of motorists above those of private investors.

The Toll Review confirms this will be a complex task but one that the state must embark on as the Government provides essential cost-of-living relief through Labor’s $60 toll cap.

Roads Minister John Graham said:

“Toll reform is critical for Sydney and this is a once in a generation chance to address this issue.”

“Former governments have had an attitude of set and forget on tolls, but the result is now a combined burden of $195 billion to be paid out to 2060 and a city that is more congested, more divided.”

“Under these long-term contracts, Sydney is a place in which people make choices about where they work based on the need to avoid paying tolls. The problem grows each year. Over decades, it will become unsustainable.”

“We are determined to put motorists first as we push ahead with these challenging reforms.”

“I welcome the offer by motorway concessionaires to work with the Government on a new, network approach to tolling. We will also consider legislation consistent with the recommendations in the final report to achieve this important reform.”

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:  

“The NSW Government is committed to relief and reform.”

“Relief began with our $60 toll cap.  And today’s report is the next important step in reforming an unnecessarily complex and costly system.”

“Every year motorists are paying $2.5 billion in tolls. Without reform, that burden will continue to land heaviest on those who can least afford it in Western Sydney and other car-reliant areas.”

Full final report of the Independent Toll Review: https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/toll-review 

Taking Pressure off NSW Hospitals

Last quarter alone there were 810,291 ED attendances up 5.2% on the same quarter last year, which is an additional 40,235 attendances in just one quarter within 12 months.

If you combined the populations of the Penrith, Newcastle, Wollongong and Fairfield Local Government Areas you would still just fall short of the number of ED attendances in NSW hospitals over 3 months.

It’s why last month our Budget delivered almost a half a billion dollars towards an ED Relief Package.

Today I announce the first stages of implementing this critical investment.

Firstly, to support people with alternatives to EDs.

The fact of the matter is sometimes people turn up to hospital when it’s not an emergency.

We’ve seen what happens when alternatives are available.

Our virtualKIDS service has cared for more than 3,600 children in just 4 months. We’ll next roll-out virtualADULTS to help to manage urgent care that can be safely assessed and treated by virtual care in the patient’s home.

If you or a loved one are feeling unwell, worried about symptoms or need health advice you can call healthdirect anytime on 1800 022 222 to get the help you need.

A registered nurse will assess your condition and connect you with the care you need, whether an appointment at a local urgent care service or virtual care.

It means healthcare, anywhere, in the time it takes to make a phone call.

Secondly, we need to enhance our capacity in EDs. Short Stay Units get people in and out of EDs swiftly and safely when they don’t require a hospital admission.

We’re investing a further $70 million in expanding these units.

The first additional unit is now operational at Maitland Hospital.

Thirdly, we seek to get patients safely out of hospital and into the comfort of their own homes quicker.

We’ve invested $53.9 million towards a new Discharge Concierge Service.

These roles will ensure the often complex and time-consuming discharge process is better coordinated.

The ED relief package will mean 290,00 trips to the ED and 76,800 hours waiting in the ED are avoided each year.

For health workers, who have been through so much in recent years, means more time with their patients, more colleagues to share this immense workload and better tools to do their job.

For patients, it will mean more options to get care beyond the ED, a shorter wait when they do need an ED – more time at home, less time in hospital.

For our state, it means the right level of care, support, and access.

Tamara Smith MP Visits Wollongbar Pods, Addresses Housing Crisis for Flood-Affected Families

Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP, today visited residents of the Wollongbar temporary accommodation pods, following Ballina Shire Council’s recent decision to extend the lease of the pod village by just six months.

In 2022, NSW Reconstruction Authority leased the land off Ballina Council to situate temporary pods to house displaced families after the devastating floods of the same year.

Earlier this month, these displaced families received a letter advising they had to move out of the Wollongbar pods by November 2024 due to the lease of the Council land being up.

Following a request from the Reconstruction Authority to extend the lease for as long as possible, Ballina Council voted to extend it by only six months, which means pod residents will have to leave early 2025.

Today, Tamara Smith MP and Greens Councillor Kiri Dicker visited residents of the Wollongbar pods to discuss what this means for the vulnerable people living there.

During her visit, Tamara Smith MP spoke with several families who shared their anxieties about the approaching deadline. Many expressed frustration and fear about finding suitable, long-term accommodation during a housing crisis, within such a tight timeframe.

“It beggars’ belief that there are sitting councillors on Ballina Council who have denied a 12 month extension of these vulnerable residents for no good reason”, Ms Smith said.

“There is an acute housing crisis, the Wollongbar community including our sporting clubs have been so generous and welcoming towards our flood affected neighbours, and the residents of the pod village have been exemplar.

“Who exactly would be hurt by extending the lease on humanitarian grounds?”

“The Reconstruction Authority asked for as much of an extension as possible in discussions leading up to a formal request but were informed that only two months was on offer. Thankfully our Greens Councillors pushed hard for longer and and we got a six-month extension.

“I reassured the residents that I am here to support them and to back in the work of the Reconstruction Authority who are doing everything they can to transition residents into secure housing. I am deeply disappointed with the councillors who voted to turn them out”, Ms Smith concluded.

‘Right to a Safe Climate’ could be enshrined in Victorian Law, Due to Push by Young Victorians, Supported by the Greens

‘RIGHT TO A SAFE CLIMATE’ COULD BE ENSHRINED IN VICTORIAN LAW, DUE TO PUSH BY YOUNG VICTORIANS, SUPPORTED BY THE GREENS

Today young people from across Victoria will come to Parliament to attempt to enshrine the ‘right to a safe climate’ in Victoria’s human rights charter. The move is supported by the Victorian Greens who will introduce the legislation.

The move comes just weeks after a Federal Labor-led Senate Committee rejected a bill to legislate a duty of care, which – developed following 2022’s historic but unsuccessful Sharma v Minister for the Environment case – would have ensured that lawmakers consider the health and wellbeing of young people when making decisions that cause climate harm. 

Many other jurisdictions have similar measures enshrined into their Charter of Human Rights, including in the ACT here in Australia as well as places like Colombia, the Philippines, South Korea and even the state of Montana in the US. 

This Bill will add the Right to a Safe Climate to the Victorian Charter of Human Rights. The Bill legislates the fact that every Victorian deserves the right to a safe climate and provides a legal tool for future generations and frontline communities, who are most impacted by the climate crisis, to hold governments to account for any actions that make climate change worse, such as opening new coal mines or gas drilling.

Prominent youth climate activist Anjali Sharma has endorsed the Victorian Greens Bill, saying that the right to a safe climate is long overdue in Victoria. Anjali is known for her landmark legal case, Sharma v Environment Minister. Now she’s championing the campaign for a federally legislated duty of care and thrown her support behind the Right to a Safe Climate in Victoria.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“Young people across Victoria are terrified about the world they’re going to inherit. Young people know they’re the ones who have to live with the consequences of climate change, which is made worse by Labor and Liberal Governments opening up new coal mines and gas drilling.”

“The Greens MPs are proud to stand alongside these brave young people who are calling for their right to a safe climate to be put into Victorian law..”

climate activist, Anjali Sharma: 

“Young people have been campaigning for the recognition of their right to a safe climate and safe future for many years. 

“To legislate this would be a recognition of the intergenerational inequity of climate change, the fact that current and future generations will be worst affected by climate disaster and that governments have an obligation to ensure that the young people of today and tomorrow can continue to experience the world in the same way that generations before them have.

“Young people are staring down the barrel at a world that could be characterised by climate disaster increasing exponentially in frequency and severity. 

“The right to a safe climate is universal and inalienable, and to legislate this in Victoria is long overdue. 

“Immediate and decisive recognition of this right is needed to ensure we can provide current and future generations with the safety and security they deserve in the face of runaway climate change.”

Jesse, 26-year-old bushfire survivor and the Co-Founder of Victorian Parliament’s Youth Advisory Group: 

“In February 2009 when I was ten years old, I saw the Black Saturday bushfires from my own backyard. My mum told me to pack my favourite things and a change of clothes. My family had to flee in case our house burnt down.

“This event was traumatic for my local community. While my family was lucky, many people lost their lives, including three of my Year 5 classmates. And everyone at my primary school suffered from this trauma in one way or another.

 “Climate change is an existential threat that disproportionately affects young people. A safe climate is a human right, that is not an abstract idea, and the Victorian State Government has a responsibility to act on it.”

Report Backs in Greens Call to Scrap Undemocratic Group Voting

A report released today from the Electoral Matters Committee (EMC) into Victoria’s group voting system finally backs what the Greens have been calling for, for years, recommending that group voting be scrapped in Victoria. 

Victoria is the only state in the country where voting for a party above the line gives that party full control of a voter’s preferences. It means that parties can make backroom deals that undermine the will of the voter and funnel people’s votes to parties they would never support. 

Ahead of the 2018 and 2022 state elections, Glenn Druery arranged microparties into preference-swapping cartels, in exchange for money. Successful candidates paid him 50-60 thousand dollars.

The Victorian Greens spokesperson for integrity, Dr Tim Read welcomed the EMC report, saying that the Greens and experts have been calling for group voting tickets to be scrapped for years. 

He added that Labor must commit to electoral reform now so that we don’t see a repeat of the seats for cash scandal, which has put people into the upper house on as little as 0.6% of the vote. 

The undemocratic system leaves many Victorians completely unaware of who they’re voting for in the Upper House and must be reformed before people go to the polls in 2026. 

Greens spokesperson for integrity, Dr Tim Read: 

“Group voting tricks voters into electing parties they haven’t heard of and may not support, ahead of candidates with a larger vote, leaving Victoria with an unrepresentative upper house.

“Upper house politicians elected by group voting are more accountable to the backroom preference dealer who took their money than they are to voters.

“Our Parliament should reflect and authentically represent the people of Victoria, not be a reflection of backroom deals between parties. 

“We need group voting reform now. Labor needs to take these recommendations seriously and ensure that group voting is scrapped by the 2026 election so that the people elected to the Upper House reflect the people they serve.” 

World Day against Trafficking in Persons

Today, on the 10th World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Australian Government reaffirms our commitment to tackle modern slavery and to protect and support victims, survivors and individuals at risk.

This year’s global theme, ‘leave no child behind in the fight against human trafficking’, shines a light on this appalling abuse of the most vulnerable members of society.

This year, the Albanese Government established Australia’s first federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner. The Commissioner will work across government, industry and civil society to support victims and survivors, raise awareness and help business address the risk of modern slavery practices in their operations and supply chains. Recruitment of the Commissioner is currently underway and will be progressed through a merit-based selection process.

We are also working closely with state and territory counterparts to enhance civil protections and remedies for individuals in, or at risk of, forced marriage – a modern slavery crime that disproportionately affects women and children. Public consultation to assist in developing this model is now open.

Australia’s efforts continue to be recognised globally, with Australia maintaining a Tier One ranking in the US Government’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for the 21st year.

Australia takes a strong and inclusive approach to our response to human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery within our region. This includes our work with Indonesia as co-chairs of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, our support for the ASEAN-Australia Counter-Trafficking program, and our engagement with ASEAN member states to develop special measures for children involved in the justice process as victims, witnesses or suspected offenders.

Australia is also supporting Pacific Island Countries to implement the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols, including its protocol on trafficking in persons.

If you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of human trafficking, call 131 237 (131 AFP) or report online at afp.gov.au. In an emergency, call 000.

Pauline Hanson Personally Pays For Child’s Tonsil Operation

After 7 years on the public hospital waiting list – 9 year old Kadee will finally receive surgery after Pauline Hanson stepped in to pay for the Yeppoon girl to go private.

Young Kadee was told she would have to repeat grade 4 if she continued having days off with tonsillitis.

We broke the news yesterday to mum, Kahlia at the event we hosted at Roslyn Bay Ampol.

Government funded TAFE student numbers remain lower under Labor

The latest data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research (NCVER) confirms that the number of Australians taking up a government funded TAFE course remains lower under Labor than under the Coalition. This comes despite repeated claims from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor, before and after the last election, that Fee Free TAFE would increase enrolments by hundreds of thousands of students.

The Albanese Government has repeatedly stated its Fee Free TAFE policy would increase the number of students taking up training by over 300,000.

Minister Brendan O’Connor said:

“After smashing our Fee-Free TAFE targets in 2023 with almost 300,000 enrolments as at September 30, I’m delighted we’re rolling out an additional 300,000 places from 2024.” – January 2024

“New figures reveal 355,557 Australians enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE across Australia during 2023, smashing the initial first-year target of 180,000.” – March 2024

But the official data demonstrates that in 2023 the number of Australians taking up a government funded TAFE course increased to 659,185, which is 12,200 fewer than the number of government funded TAFE students under Coalition in 2020, and in line with 2021 figures. 2022, the year Labor took office, saw a sharp decline in numbers as Labor delayed action on skills funding to keep announcements for its sham Jobs and Skills Summit.

This means Labor’s marquee skills program – Fee Free TAFE – has not materially increased the number of government funded students taking up training at TAFEs across the country.

Acting Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Skills and Training, Sussan Ley, said there was a clear gap between what Labor promised on skills and what it is delivering.

“Despite promising to increase the number of students at TAFE by hundreds of thousands, there are fewer than under the Coalition.

“Federal Labor, it appears, is just subsidising State budgets instead of having a meaningful impact on skills shortages by funding new students through new places at TAFEs.

“Compounding this failure, since Anthony Albanese took office, we have lost 85,300 apprentices and trainees from the workforce.

“Despite all of Labor’s grand promises to ‘skill more Australians’ the data demonstrates their policies just aren’t working and we are going backwards.”

This latest update follows the release of data from NCVER last week that shows apprentices and trainees in-training dropped to 343,640 in December 2023, 85,360 fewer than when Labor took office, or a loss of one in five.

Over the same period new training starts, or ‘commencements’, dropped to just 170,370. Meaning there are 107,500 fewer apprentices and trainees starting a trade or a skill, or a drop of 39 per cent since Anthony Albanese took office.

Trade apprentices in-training hit record highs in the final months of the Coalition Government and as of June 2022 there were 429,000 apprentices and trainees in-training and 277,900 commencements.

The number of female apprentices and trainees in training has fallen by 25 per cent and female commencements have fallen by 40 per cent.

Despite Labor promising to skill more construction workers, there are 5,300 fewer Construction Trades Workers apprentices in training since they took office and new starts have dropped by 23 per cent.

Labor came to power promising it would solve skills shortages. But according to Jobs and Skills Australia, 36 per cent of occupations were assessed as in-shortage in 2023, up from 31 per cent in 2022. 66 occupations were added to the in-shortage list in 2023 meaning on Labor’s watch, over 330 occupations are in-shortage across Australia.