Category: NSW News

Victims of domestic and family violence will now have easier access to NSW public hospitals for the treatment of their injuries, as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 response.
The NSW Government has changed its NSW hospital fees policy so that Medicare ineligible victims of domestic and family violence (DFV) – like those on Temporary Protection Visas – will no longer be required to report the crime to police in order to access public hospitals at no cost.
Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said the change follows an Australian Institute of Criminology report that found DFV had risen during the pandemic, but a large proportion of victims were not reporting to police.
“Many women will choose to contact the Domestic Violence Line, specialist frontline domestic violence services or medical care before they’re ready to report to police for a range of reasons, including fear of repercussions,” Mr Speakman said.
“Those suffering domestic violence need every lifeline we can give them, especially now when COVID-19 measures are potentially forcing victim-survivors into isolation in the same household as the perpetrators of their abuse.
“This reform is focused on removing obstacles for especially vulnerable victim-survivors to ensure immediate medical support is available and accessible when it’s needed most.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it is vital that people facing violence at home feel safe to seek support and care in our public hospitals, without fear of reprisal from perpetrators.
“A tragic, often hidden cost of the COVID-19 pandemic is the rise in violence on the homefront and fewer opportunities to reach out for support,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The NSW Government is helping to clear the way for victims of domestic and family violence to receive essential medical treatment and care in our hospitals, whenever they need it.”
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence, when it’s safe to do so, you can contact the following supports:

• NSW Domestic Violence Line, for crisis counselling, referral or support on 1800 65 64 63;
• 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling and support services;
• Link2Home on 1800 152 152 who can help refer women experiencing domestic violence to crisis accommodation; and
• Men’s Referral Service for men who use violence, or their friends and family on 1300 766 491 or https://ntv.org.au/.

If you are in immediate danger or in an emergency, always contact Triple Zero (000).
For more information on services and supports, visit the NSW Government’s ‘Speak Out’ webpage: https://www.speakout.dcj.nsw.gov.au/.

A new online toolkit is helping businesses as they continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19.
Developed by the NSW Government’s business advisory service, Business Connect, the toolkit includes more than 35 webinars on a range of business-related subjects, fact sheets and training videos.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the webinars contained invaluable tips for business owners across the state.
“It’s been a really tough year for small businesses, with drought, bushfires, floods and the ongoing COVID-19 global health pandemic hitting the hip pockets of business owners right around the state,” Mr Tudehope said.
“This is just one way businesses can get access to the tools and resources they need to relaunch or re-establish during these challenging times.
“Anyone can access the toolkit, and since the webinars are all pre-recorded, they can be watched at any time.”
Topics include Building a Successful Online Store, Survive and Thrive during COVID-19 and Brand Building.
“I also encourage small businesses to look at other services available from Business Connect, as there are more than 120 Business Connect advisors who can provide free-of-charge advice during COVID-19.”
Mr Tudehope said 97 per cent of businesses who used Business Connect would likely recommend the program.
Other webinar topics include Business Disruption: Rural and Regional, presented by Sue Williams, founder of the Great Lakes Food Trail, Organic Facebook Marketing, and Smart Phone Flat Lay Photography.
To access the Business Connect Online Toolkit click here.

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) is re-appealing for assistance from the community after new details came to light in the investigation into the 1980 assassination of a Turkish diplomat and his bodyguard in Sydney’s east. Turkish Consul-General
Sarik Ariyak, aged 50, and his bodyguard, Engin Sever, aged 28, were shot outside a residence on Portland Street, Dover Heights, about 9.45am on Wednesday 17 December 1980.
Mr Ariyak and Mr Sever were leaving the residence in separate vehicles, when they were approached by two unknown men, who fired multiple shots at close range before fleeing the area on a motorcycle.
Mr Ariyak died at the scene, and Mr Sever died a short time later at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Despite extensive investigations by police at the time and over the years, no one has ever been charged.
Following a formal review last year, the NSW JCTT, which comprises the NSW Police Force’s Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission, established Operation Esslemont to re-investigate the murders and is using advancements in investigative techniques and forensic technologies.
To assist their initial inquiries, the NSW Government reward for information was increased to $1 million on the 39th anniversary (17 December 2019), which has assisted in providing a number of new lines of inquiry.
Acting on these new lines of inquiry, police divers from Marine Area Command recently conducted initial searches in Sydney Harbour off Greenwich Point regarding items of interest to the investigation.
As investigations continue – both domestically and internationally, JCTT officers are re-appealing to the community for information, which may assist with current lines of inquiry.
Investigators are keen to speak with anyone who may have details relating to the persons responsible for, and assisting in; the planning and carrying out of the assassination, and the concealment of items such as the motorcycle, weapon and other items used during the assassination both before and after the offence.
NSW Police Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, said despite encouraging leads being followed by investigators, the JCTT needs further community assistance.
“Operation Esslemont investigators have been working meticulously through the original case files and have established new and significant lines of inquiry,” Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said.
“Since our appeal late last year, we have received incredible interest from the community but given the politically motivated nature of the assassination, we believe there’s still a reluctance to help us.
“But experience tells us that the passage of time – particularly changes in relationships between people with knowledge of a crime – coupled with a hefty reward can be the key to breaking the wall of silence.
“With that in mind, I urge anyone who has information that will help the JCTT deliver justice for Mr Ariak and Mr Sever to come forward now and share what they know with investigators.”
JCTT investigators remind the community that the $1 million reward remains in place for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Mr Ariak and Mr Sever’s murders.
Anyone with information that may assist Operation Esslemont investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or 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.

Police will address the media after nine people were arrested following an investigation into an IED detonation that injured a woman in Sydney’s inner west earlier this year.
On Monday 8 June 2020, a woman was inside her home on Robert Street, Canterbury, when she noticed a fire on the front balcony about 11.20pm.
The woman walked outside to investigate and when she tried to extinguish the fire, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated.
The 55-year-old woman was treated at the scene, before being taken to Concord Hospital for treatment of burns to her face, hands, chest and legs.
A 19-year-old man who was also home at the time was uninjured.
Detectives from Burwood Police Area Command established Strike Force Shalimah to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators, with assistance from Auburn, Fairfield and Campsie Police Area Commands and Central Metropolitan Region ODIN, attended homes across Sydney from about 7am today (Thursday 13 August 2020), and arrested eight males, aged between 17 and 20.
They were taken to Mascot, Bankstown, Burwood and Fairfield Police Stations.
Search warrants were executed at three homes in Zetland, Concord and Fairfield, where officers seized clothing, phones and other items relevant to the investigation.
Just before 9am, an 18-year-old man was arrested after attending Mascot Police Station
Inquiries continue.
Anyone with information that can assist Strike Force Shalimah investigators are urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or 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.

Police have charged a man in Sydney’s CBD after he allegedly spat at multiple officers yesterday.
About 6.30pm (Wednesday 12 August 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were called to a hotel on George Street, Sydney, after reports of an altercation.
Police stopped a man at Railway Square, at the intersection of George and Lee Streets and the 32-year-old was arrested after he refused to provide details and attempted to walk away.
His identity was established, and he was issued a move-on direction.
After failing to comply, the man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station where he allegedly repeatedly spat at multiple officer’s while being held in custody.
The man was charged with use offensive language in/near public place/school, refuse/fail to comply with direction under Part 14, and not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19.
The man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Thursday 13 August 2020).
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 approved the development of the State’s first hydrogen gas facility at Horsley Park, paving the way for more clean energy, more jobs and an $18 million boost to the local economy.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the project will be the largest renewable gas trial in the country and could provide green gas to power Sydney’s homes and businesses in as little as five years if the trial is rolled out.
“The $18 million Western Sydney Green Gas Project will be a prototype for future green hydrogen projects,” Mr Stokes said.
“Hydrogen can revolutionise the fuel and gas industry, creating opportunities for low emissions technologies and jobs.”
The project will operate as a trial over five years to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of power-to-gas technology.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the flagship project, delivered by Jemena and partially funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, will inform the State’s transition to an economically and environmentally sustainable energy supply into the future.
“This will help to position NSW as a nation-leader in green gas supply and storage projects as we transition to a low carbon gas network,” Mr Kean said.
“It will also help us reach our ambitious aspiration of injecting 10 per cent hydrogen into our gas network by 2030.”
The project involves converting tap water and grid electricity from renewable sources into hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is then injected into the gas distribution network to supply homes, power buses and generate electricity.
Construction will commence in the next 3 months, with the facility due to be completed by early next year.
The Western Sydney Green Gas project is the latest to be determined through the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program that is keeping people in jobs and the economy moving during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the program has created opportunities for 41,000 new jobs, injected $18.2 million into the NSW economy and delivered 400 hectares of open space, parks and land for environmental conservation.

The Shoalhaven will benefit from a pipeline of Defence-related activity including up to 48 new jobs servicing the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of MH-60R maritime helicopters.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, Member for the South Coast, Shelley Hancock and Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward today visited defence industry sites and businesses in the region, including Sikorsky’s purpose-built helicopter facility in Nowra.
The Lockheed Martin Australia company has been awarded a $276 million five-year contract to maintain the Navy’s 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, based with the Fleet Air Arm at HMAS Albatross.
The contract includes, repairs, depot level maintenance and logistics support for the Navy’s next-generation helicopters, equipped for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, logistics, personnel transport and medical evacuation. It will also create opportunities to re-skill some workers from the civil aerospace sector affected by the COVID-19 downturn.
“It’s fantastic to see how important Defence projects can benefit local communities, providing employment, training and other opportunities while also playing a vital role in sustaining Australia’s Defence capability,” Mr Ayres said.
“NSW has a highly skilled labour market, a deep and complex industrial base, world class research institutions and a geographically significant position on the Australian east coast and is well positioned for future Defence investment,” Mr Ayres said.
The new employees will join 140 already working at the site, including three apprentices from the recent Shoalhaven STEMship Program – a NSW Government funded initiative designed to support defence industry workforce development.
Mr Ward said the region’s growing Defence capability was an asset for NSW and Australia.
“I’m proud of the great effort and commitment our local workforce has shown helping secure key defence contracts. They’re doing a great job providing security to their families and communities, and the nation as a whole,” Mr Ward said.
Mrs Hancock said the NSW Government was committed to ensuring the region continued to grow its defence industry.
“The NSW Government is working with Defence prime contractors, to grow key defence industry regions and precincts, create skilled jobs and generate economic growth as the State economy recovers from COVID-19,” Mrs Hancock said.
“Projects like the $276 million Sikorsky sustainment contract will create skilled employment opportunities in the Shoalhaven region for local people, together with an opportunity for local SMEs to enter the global supply chain.”
Mr Ayres Mr Ward and Mrs Hancock also visited nearby Mellori Solutions to open its new Electronic Warfare Testing and Evaluation Laboratory, and toured co-located Global Defence Solutions (GDS) headquarters to inspect its deployable force infrastructure platforms, due for export to the New Zealand Defence Force.
The STEMship Program was launched at GDS-Mellori in 2019 and the companies currently employ 29 workers, with potential to create an additional 20 local jobs over the next two years.

A new, state-of-the-art hospital on the Central Coast is one step closer to completion with the six-storey clinical services building reaching its highest point.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $200 million Wyong Hospital redevelopment would provide first-class healthcare services to the Central Coast.
“The $200 million Wyong Hospital Redevelopment will not only significantly increase health service capacity for the local community, it is also boosting employment for the region,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This redevelopment has created more than 800 construction jobs, with more than 650 of these workers living locally.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the redeveloped hospital would have 60 additional inpatient beds.
“The NSW Government is continuing to invest in public hospitals across the state, with more than 30 per cent of the almost $2.7 billion allocated for health capital works in 2019-2020 going to regional and rural areas,” Mr Hazzard said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said between 2016 and 2041 an additional 95,250 people are expected to call the Central Coast home.
“This $200 million transformation of Wyong Hospital will cater for our community’s health care needs now and into the future. It builds on the hundreds of millions of dollars the NSW Government is investing in roads, schools and community infrastructure across the Coast,” Mr Crouch said.
The new clinical services building will include:

• A new emergency department;
• A new intensive care unit;
• A new psychiatric emergency care centre;
• A new ambulatory paediatric unit;
• A new and expanded medical imaging department;
• A new and 28-bed medical assessment unit; and
• Additional 60 inpatient beds with future expansion space.

The redevelopment also includes a refurbishment of the existing hospital to provide more operating theatre capacity, an expanded medical day unit and an expanded transit lounge.
The new building will be complete in mid-to-late 2021 and the refurbishment will be finished in early 2022.

Police charged a man in Northern NSW and fined a woman in the Central West yesterday over alleged non-compliance with COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
Just before midday yesterday (Monday 10 August 2020), officers from Tweed/Byron Police District were called to a hotel on Wharf Street, Tweed Heads, after reports a man was refusing to leave.
Police were told the man was refused entry after he refused to sign-in or provide identification to comply with COVID-19 requirements but entered the establishment regardless, before allegedly intimidating and threatening the manager.
On arrival, police located the 38-year-old man – and his associates – in the carpark and requested their details, before the man became aggressive and abusive towards the officers.
A second man, aged 29, also became aggressive and was swearing at police, while the rest of the group walked away.
After the older man again refused to provide details and continued to act in an aggressive manner, he was arrested, and while he was being placed in a caged truck, the younger man was continuing to swear at police.
The younger man was issued an infringement for offensive language and given a move-on direction, while the older man was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.
He was charged with intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, excluded person fail to leave premises when required, use offensive language in/near public place/school and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The Banora Point man was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today (Tuesday 11 August 2020).
In a separate and unrelated incident, officers from Central West Police District became aware of reports a woman at Lake Cargelligo, who had recently entered NSW from Victoria, was failing to comply with the conditions of her entry permit on Sunday evening (9 August 2020).
An investigation commenced and officers spoke with the 34-year-old woman yesterday morning (Monday 10 August 2020), and directed her to comply with the conditions of her permit, which includes self-isolation at an address at Murrin Bridge.
Following further inquiries, police attended the designated address at Murrin Bridge again this morning (Tuesday 11 August 2020), and spoke with the woman before she was issued with a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) for breaching the Public Health Order on Sunday.
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.
 

A licensee has been charged after allegedly failing to implement a COVID-19 Safety Plan, despite being warned and the business previously being issued with a $5000 Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN).
About 11.40am last Friday (7 August 2020) officers from Richmond Police District attended a licensed premise on the Bruxner Highway, west of Casino, to conduct a COVID-19 compliance check.
They spoke to the licensee, a 65-year-old man, who informed them he did not have a COVID-19 Safety Plan, as he was going to complete one the day before but his printer wasn’t working.
The premises was issued with a $5000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction, and the licensee was provided with further advice as to how to comply with the current health restrictions.
About 10.45am yesterday (Tuesday 11 August 2020) officers again attended the premises to ensure the correct practices had been put in place, however, when they arrived, the licensee was still unable to produce a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
This morning (Wednesday 12 August 2020) police returned to the premises and issued the man with a Court Attendance Notice for not comply with noticed direction.
He is due to appear at Casino Local Court on Thursday 8 October 2020.
In a separate incident, the licensee of a hotel at Tuncurry was issued with a $1000 PIN following an investigation into alleged breaches of COVID-19 Public Health Orders over the weekend.
On Saturday 8 August 2020, officers from Manning Great Lakes Police District were conducting proactive patrols when they attended the premises on Manning Street and identified a number of potential breaches.
Of note, a 21^st birthday gathering was underway, which inquiries revealed had been booked for 10 people, however, numerous others were in attendance.
Further, social distancing was not being adhered to, in particular in the pub’s gaming area.
Following further inquiries, the licensee was issued with a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction yesterday (11 August 2020).
Investigations remain underway into the planned birthday party.
Three PINs were also issued to individuals in separate incidents yesterday (Tuesday 11 August 2020):

• A 23-year-old man was issued a $1000 PIN by officers from Murray River Police District after attempting to enter NSW for the third time without a valid permit.
• A 65-year-old man was issued a $1000 PIN by officers from Barrier Police District after continuing through the Buronga border checkpoint despite being denied entry due to not having a valid permit.
• A 58-year-old man was issued a $1000 PIN by officers from Murray River Police District after entering NSW without a valid permit. The man was stopped on the Hume Highway at Woomargama for the purposes of a Random Breath Test yesterday (Tuesday 11 August 2020). When spoken to by officers, he produced a Victorian licence and an invalid NSW border entry permit. He was issued a $1000 PIN, directed to leave NSW and escorted back to the Victorian border.

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.