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Councils across the state are being encouraged to hold more community events, with assistance from the NSW Government’s Open Streets program.

At a time when cost of living pressures are being felt across the state, this program will offer much needed assistance for local communities to come together.

Under Open Streets, councils can apply for up to $150,000 to facilitate the closure of streets to vehicles to host creative and cultural events that are free to access and safe to enjoy.

Depending on the community and the location, this could include markets, live performances, outdoor dining, artistic installations or street parties.

Open Streets is part of the NSW Government’s $15 million Vibrant Streets package and complements the Vibrancy reforms that passed Parliament in December. The reforms introduced a streamlined process that involves no Development Application.

The reforms will substantially reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning for events – in many cases by a fifth of the current cost. It can currently cost between $48,000 – $122,000, depending on the street and area, to close a local street for an event.

Applications open from Monday 29 January, with activities and events funded under the program to be held by January 2025. 

For more information visit Vibrant Streets Package.

NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The NSW Government’s number one priority is helping people across NSW with cost of living pressures. These grants combined with the Government’s regulatory reform will cut costs associated with street events. That is great news right now for a community under financial pressure.

“People want to be able to use their streets and public spaces – they own them. Open Streets provides an opportunity for councils, local businesses, and creatives to work together and play a part in invigorating and making the most of their local streets.

“Streets can be transformed into destinations themselves where people can spend time outside, socialise, connect and support their local community right across NSW.

“This $4.5 million in funding from the Open Streets program will go a long way to allowing councils to enact plans previously beyond their financial reach.

The extraordinary NSW duo, melanoma treatment pioneers Professors Richard Scolyer AO and Georgina Long AO have taken out top honours in the 2024 Australian of the Year awards at the national ceremony in Canberra.

The NSW Premier has commended the extraordinary work of the life-saving professors for their trailblazing contributions to our state and the nation.

The Sydneysiders’ enduring partnership has saved thousands of lives from melanoma, often referred to as Australia’s national cancer.

Professors Scolyer and Long are the co-medical directors of Melanoma Institute Australia, are sought-after media commentators and advocates for sun-safe behaviour and melanoma prevention.

Less than a decade ago, advanced melanoma was fatal – but thanks to the pair’s immunotherapy approach, which activates a patient’s own immune system, it has become a curable disease.

Last June, when Professor Scolyer, 57, was diagnosed with incurable grade-4 brain cancer, he and Professor Long, 53, developed a series of world-first treatments based on their melanoma breakthroughs.

Professor Scolyer became the world’s first brain cancer patient to have pre-surgery combination immunotherapy.

By undertaking an experimental treatment with the risk including the potential of shortening his life, he has advanced the understanding of brain cancer and is benefiting future patients.

This week, Professor Scolyer proudly announced his “brilliant news” that his eight-month brain scan showed no recurrence of the cancer.

For more information visit australianoftheyear.org.au

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“On behalf of the NSW Government and the entire state I want to congratulate Professors Richard Scolyer AO and Georgina Long AO on becoming the 2024 Australians of the Year. We are so proud of them.”

“The true spirit of being an Australian is helping others. This pair’s legacy is not only etched in the archives of scientific history but also in the hearts of those whose lives you have touched and transformed.

“These two Sydney trailblazers, armed with brilliance and a passion for making a difference, have turned the once-dire prognosis of advanced melanoma into a story of triumph.

“Their research has not only saved lives but painted a vibrant canvas of hope for countless individuals and their families.

“Congratulations to all the NSW Australians of the Year, for their incredible contributions to make our state and our nation a better place.”

Australia Day is a day to count our blessings. We share a stable, peaceful, democratic, culturally rich and diverse, prosperous, free and beautiful country – I think the luckiest country in the world.
 
When we see the turmoil around the world, we have a daily reminder about just how lucky we are to call ourselves Australians – not in hubris but in gratitude for our good fortune and for those in our history on whose shoulders we rest. We often take our freedoms for granted, but they were hard fought for and it’s our joint responsibility to protect and enhance them.
 
While Australia Day is a day to count our blessings, it’s also the occasion to engage in a constructive reminder about what needs to improve. In particular, we still have a long way to go to in reconciliation and closing the gap of Indigenous disadvantage.
 
Australia is a remarkable fusion of three strands.
 
There is our Indigenous strand – the world’s oldest living civilisation, the ancient custodians of our vast continent, whose ancestors go back 65,000 years.
 
There is our British strand – the structures of government and civic society, the rule of law, scientific and technological advancement, language and literature, faiths and creeds, which came with the early settlers and evolved locally.
 
And there is our multicultural strand – waves of arrivals on our shores who have enriched Australian society in the arts, sciences, sport, education, business, public life and so many other ways.
 
My greatest enjoyment on Australia Day is seeing, at citizenship ceremonies, our newest citizens make the choice to declare their allegiance to Australia and our core democratic values.
 
How ever you spend it – whether in a quintessentially laid back Australian way at the beach or at a BBQ, or in a more serious way – let’s reflect, respect and celebrate.
 
Happy Australia Day!

Communities across NSW are benefitting from a major boost to the state’s medical workforce – with more than 1000 medical graduate interns starting work in NSW public hospitals this month.

Minister for Health Ryan Park today met with some of the more than 120 new junior doctors working across hospitals in south-western Sydney.

Interns are medical graduates who have completed their medical degree and are required to complete a supervised year of practice in order to become independent practitioners.

The interns will work with and learn from NSW Health’s experienced and highly skilled medical staff in one of the world’s best health systems.

The new doctors starting their internship will be entering a training program with networked hospitals throughout the state, providing formal and on-the-job training.

They receive 2-year contracts to rotate between metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals to ensure the diversity of their experience.

They also rotate across different specialties during the intern year, including surgery, medicine and emergency medicine.

The NSW Government is undertaking an ambitious plan to rebuild the state’s health workforce, including through:

• implementing safe staffing levels of nurses and midwives beginning in our emergency departments
• saving 1112 temporary nurses by making them permanent
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering record pay increases for nurses, paramedics and other health workers as well as salary packaging
• beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities
• doubling the health worker study subsidies.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“I wish these new junior doctors all the very best for a long and rewarding career in the NSW public health system.

“NSW employs more than 170,000 people in public hospitals across the state – making us the largest health system in Australia and a very attractive choice for young doctors looking to train in a diverse range of clinical settings.

“From doctors, to nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals – we are rebuilding an engaged, capable and supported workforce.

“When we boost and support our health workforce, we will see improved health outcomes, it’s as simple as that.”

The Minister for Transport has announced an ambitious policy reform program to address the key issues facing the freight industry in NSW.

The program will deliver prioritised and practical policy reform focused on the key current and emerging challenges facing the NSW freight task.

It will be led by Transport for NSW under the leadership of an Independent Advisory Panel of eminent experts all who have deep experience in the freight and logistics sector reporting to the Minister who will assist in the development of a new freight strategy for the State. 

The panel will consist of:

• Kerry Schott AO
• Lucio Di Bartolomeo
• Hermione Parsons

This policy reform will focus on the different parts of the supply chain, with ports, rail, road and intermodal facilities all considered as part of a coordinated supply chain to determine the right policy framework to optimise safety, sustainability and productivity.

A more productive freight sector makes it easier for businesses to operate and can also deliver lower retail prices for customers right across NSW.

Immediate priorities for the panel will include consideration of the determination of compensation to be paid by the Port of Newcastle for increasing container operations as part of NSW port policy.

The panel will also review and consult with industry on the recommendations made by Mr Ed Willett’s review of the port regulatory framework and the regulation of the movement of containers at Port Botany.

The program will identify short, medium and long-term actions for Government to support the ongoing improvement of freight transport across NSW.

The freight task in NSW is a complex and evolving with a need to respond to advances in technology and a move toward net zero emissions, the ongoing development of major infrastructure, the changing ports landscape, national harmonisation policies and global trade fluctuations.

The Freight Reform Program will deliver a comprehensive strategic reform agenda to optimise freight transport to benefit NSW communities.

There will be comprehensive stakeholder consultation undertaken as part of this program. It is intended that the first phase will follow release of a Discussion Paper and is expected to occur in in the first quarter of next year. 

Find out more about freight reform

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Safe, sustainable, and productive freight transport is critical to support the people, businesses and industries of NSW. A more productive freight sector can deliver reduced costs for businesses and lower retail prices for ordinary people right across NSW.”

“Our freight network is still too disjointed and inefficient with policy and infrastructure bottlenecks right across the supply chain.

“I am pleased to be able to announce the beginning of this significant reform agenda to inform government policy and provide an evidence-based action plan that will optimise the freight transport network in NSW.

“The appointment of the Independent Advisory Panel will work with my department and provide independent and expert advice on the Program. 

“I have confidence that with their diverse expertise in their fields, the Panel is well placed to lead us through this significant reform in freight transport policy.”