Category: NSW News

Police have charged one man under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued eight COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) since the last update.
Charges:

• About 1pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command spoke to a 58-year-old man on King Street, Newtown in a current alcohol-free zone. He was allegedly consuming alcohol and speaking to another man. Further inquiries revealed the man had received a PIN for not complying with a noticed direction the day before (Tuesday 7 April 2020). He was issued with a second PIN for failing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and directed to move on. Police returned to the location about 6.25pm and the 58-year-old was observed allegedly urinating in public. He was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with fail to comply with section 7/8/9 under the Public Health Act, and offensive behaviour. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newtown Local Court on Thursday 25 June 2020.

PINs include:

• A woman has received a PIN after ignoring a warning issued to her 20 minutes earlier for gathering in a group of more than two. About 4.40pm(Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Police Transport Command spoke to five people congregating on The Crescent, Fairfield. The group was given cautions for failing to comply with a ministerial direction and asked to move on. About 5pm, police approached another group of four people a short distance away. Among that group was an 18-year-old woman who had received a caution 20 minutes prior. Police issued her a PIN and directed that the group separate and return to their homes.

• Just before 10pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), a motorcyclist was stopped by police on Oxford Street, Gateshead. Officers spoke with the 36-year-old man, who allegedly provided multiple conflicting reasons for not being home before stating he was on his way to help a friend fix a bike. The officers deemed his reasons for travel as non-essential and issued the man with a $1000 PIN.

• About 10pm on Tuesday (7 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District attempted to pull over a vehicle on Eucalyptus Avenue, Worrigee, when the car stopped in a driveway and the 35-year-old male driver attempted to flee. He was stopped and spoken to along with his 26-year-old female passenger. Checks of the man’s licence revealed he was disqualified from driving until March 2021. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located suspected prohibited drugs and drug paraphernalia, which was seized for further examination. The man was given a court attendance notice for drive while disqualified and both he and his female passenger received $1000 PINs for failing to comply with the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW).

• At 10.50pm on Tuesday (7 April 2020), officers from South Coast Police District were conducting a proactive patrol at Sanctuary Point when they observed a 20-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy approaching a home on Idlewild Avenue. After officers spoke with the pair and advised them they were in breach of a ministerial direction, the man ran away. During a subsequent search of the teen, police allegedly located and seized MDMA. While this was occurring, the man returned to the street and refused to go home. The teen was taken home and dealt with under the Young Offenders Act, while the man was issued with $1000 PIN.

• Two teenagers have been issued PINs following an investigation into an alleged negligent driving incident in the state’s central west. About midnight on Saturday (4 April 2020), a Holden Commodore came to rest near flood waters on the Kidman Highway, Cobar. The driver waved down a Toyota Hilux for assistance; however, the driver of the Hilux allegedly circled around the Commodore several times, flooding it with more water. Later that morning, police found the Hilux bogged in mud off Bourke Road, Cobar, with five people inside. Two of the occupants ran, and officers from Central North Police District spoke with three remaining teenagers. A 16-year-old girl was returned to her Cobar home and issued with a formal warning for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. Two 17-year-old boys were taken to Cobar Police Station, where the driver was issued with penalty infringement notices for negligent driving, P1 driver under 25-years drive between 11pm & 5am with passenger under 21-years, and fail to comply with noticed direction section 7/8/9 under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW). His passenger was also given a $1000 PIN for his failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Since 17 March 2020, police have issued 12 Court Attendance Notices, and 151 PINs for breaches of the Public Health Act.
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.

Minister for Transport Andrew Constance today announced the start of the tender process to build almost 50km of new metro railway tunnels between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD on the Sydney Metro West project.
The NSW Government has called for expressions of interest for the mega project’s first two major infrastructure packages – the delivery of twin tunnels between Westmead and The Bays.
“Now more than ever, infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro West support jobs, communities and the economy – Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs, with thousands of these jobs being generated by these new tunnelling contracts,” Mr Constance said.
“These contracts will require tunnellers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete workers, truck drivers, labourers and security guards.”
The first of four mega tunnel boring machines are expected to be in the ground before the end of 2022.
Expressions of interest have been called for the first two tunnelling contracts from Westmead to Sydney Olympic Park and from Sydney Olympic Park to The Bays.
“Sydney Metro West is a truly once-in-a-century city shaping project that will forever change how we get around Sydney,” Mr Constance said.
“Just as importantly, the construction of this mega project will create many thousands of new jobs and support families across Sydney.”
The Sydney Metro West project will deliver a new underground driverless metro railway from Westmead to the city, doubling the rail capacity of this corridor and cutting travel times to around 20 minutes between Parramatta and the city.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is now better equipped to respond to emergencies and calls for assistance from the community following the rollout of a fleet of new next generation response vehicles.
As part of a $28 million aerial replacement program funded by the NSW Government, fire stations like Parramatta and Hornsby will put to good use one of 13 new Bronto Skylift Ladder Platforms and the EGI Klubb Aerial Pumpers.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the new vehicles would serve to improve emergency response in NSW at a time when it is needed most.
“FRNSW do an incredible job in responding to countless emergencies across NSW, which was on display to the community during the horrible bushfire season we experienced over the summer. It’s only fitting that the NSW Government continues to back our frontline emergency services workers through an investment in vehicles to improve emergency response,” Mr Elliott said.
“The communities in and around Parramatta and Hornsby will be the first to benefit from these state-of-the-art fire trucks, with the remaining vehicles to be deployed by the Commissioner over the next few months”.
“While the NSW Government is rightly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives, it’s important we still work to ensure all our fire agencies have the equipment and resources they need ahead of the next fire season.”
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the new vehicles would add to the already high emergency response capabilities of the organisation.
“Along with their compact boom design and realtime image capture ability, the Bronto Skylift will enable us to reach a working height of 45 metres, compared to our current 37 metre vehicles, making it the highest reaching vehicle of any fire service in Australia,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“Just like the Bronto Skylift, the new EGI Klubb Aerial Pumpers are equipped with rescue cages with breathable air and the ability to send realtime imagery. It is a more compact unit than our current design operating at an increased working height from 15 metres to 24 metres due to its unique articulating boom.

NSW frontline healthcare workers will be provided with free accommodation to protect their loved ones as part of $100 million in extra measures to support frontline staff battling COVID-19.
The NSW Government is allocating almost $60 million to provide doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital and ambulance staff with the option of staying in out-of-home accommodation during the pandemic.
The package will also support medical research and vaccine trials to beat COVID-19, as well as commercialise research products and boost domestic supply chains.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this funding would not only provide support for healthcare workers now but would also give them the resources to tackle COVID-19 head-on in the coming months.
“Nobody should go to work and worry that it will put their families at risk especially when they are working so hard to protect us. This funding is the least we can do to keep healthcare workers and their families safe,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our health professionals are among the best in the world and we must do everything we can to help them not just now but also in the weeks and months ahead as we battle this virus.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said providing free accommodation to hospital staff was a crucial plank in the health support package.
“The last thing the brave men and women in our health system should have to worry about is that their jobs will result in their loved ones being exposed to this virus,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As was the case during the bushfires our health system will have all the resources it needs so our frontline health workers can save lives and look after themselves.”
Local health districts will work with staff to make sure accommodation is close to work or their families, depending on individual needs.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said no stone would be left unturned when it came to supporting the health system. Mr Hazzard said the vital health package will also include $25 million in funding for medical research and vaccine trials to help develop a cure to beat COVID-19 as well as $11 million to quickly get work from NSW’s world class universities and partner research institutions to market.
“Frontline health staff who have the community’s back now know that the community and the government have their back. This funding gives them options on accommodation when they’re doing battle with COVID-19,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Options to protect their family and to protect themselves are critical, and now they can choose what’s best in their own circumstances without worrying about a drain on their budget.”
The package also includes $10 million to work with NSW engineering, electrical and manufacturing businesses to urgently undertake pilot projects to produce ventilators and other critical medical equipment locally.
Key elements of the support package include:

• $58 million for health worker accommodation
• $25 million for medical research and vaccine trials
• $11 million for commercialisation of research products
• $10 million Funding to partner with industry to boost domestic supply chains.

The NSW Government has already committed $700 million extra funding for NSW Health as part of a $2.3 billion health boost and economic stimulus package announced on March 17.
This funding boost is helping double ICU capacity, preparing for additional COVID-19 testing, purchasing additional ventilators and medical equipment and establishing acute respiratory clinics.

The NSW Police Force investigation is underway to examine the circumstances surrounding the docking and disembarking of the Ruby Princess last month.
Earlier this week, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller announced the commencement of a criminal investigation into the communications, actions, and other circumstances that led to the docking and disembarking of the vessel at Sydney Harbour on Thursday 19 March 2020.
A team of 30 detectives from across State Crime, Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics and Marine Area Commands have been seconded to Strike Force Bast, who will be assisted by intelligence analysts and other specialist officers.
The first investigations briefing was conducted this morning (Wednesday 8 April 2020), and taskings have since commenced.
Strike force investigators will interview high-priority witnesses in coming days, but they are still urging those with relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers as soon as possible.
Anyone who has information relevant to the investigation, including details of symptoms, illness, or medical advice during the voyage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
The community is reminded that their information is treated in strict confidence.

Police have charged one person with offences under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 15 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) since the last update.
Charges:

• About 8.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 7 April 2020), police from Tuggerah Lakes Police District were patrolling Yarramalong Rd, Wyong Creek, when they stopped the driver of a Hyundai for a random breath test, which returned a positive reading. The 27-year-old man was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station, where a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.200. When asked about his reason for being out, it’s alleged the man was uncooperative and could not provide a reasonable excuse. While in custody, it’s further alleged the man urinated throughout the cell. He was charged with drive with high range PCA, destroy/damage property, and not comply with notice direction. The man is due to appear in Wyong Local Court on 29 April 2020.

PINs include:

• About 12pm yesterday (Tuesday 7 April 2020) officers attached to Mt Druitt Police Area Command were conducting a proactive patrol at a shopping mall in Mt Druitt when they located a man sitting at a picnic table. Police spoke with the 20-year-old man and established he had been warned on three separate occasions the day before (Monday 6 April 2020) after being sighted at the same location. He was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• During the same proactive patrol, at 12.20pm, officers spoke with a 37-year-old man in the vicinity of the shopping mall. He advised police he had left his home as he had to get out and see his friends. Officers issued him with a warning. About two hours later, at 2.30pm, the same male was seen sleeping on a bench nearby. He was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• About 2.15pm yesterday, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a home at Edgeworth after receiving information a number of people were at the location in breach of a ministerial direction. On arrival, police spoke with two female residents of the property and two male visitors. Further inquiries established there had been previous calls to police for social gatherings at the location. The 25-year-old and 21-year-old men were each issued with a $1000 PIN.

• About 11.45am yesterday, officers from Inner West Police Area Command were conducting a proactive patrol when they observed two males sitting on a ledge. The men were not able to give a reasonable excuse for being there, and further inquiries established they had been given formal warnings for breaching a ministerial direction the previous evening. They were issued a move on direction and given a second warning. About 2.45pm, police were made aware of a group of four males congregating at a park nearby. Officers established two of the men (a 43-year-old man and a 58-year-old man) had been involved in the earlier interaction and they were issued with $1000 PINs. The remaining two men were given a warning and move on direction.

• About 8am yesterday, officers from Chifley Police District were patrolling the Bathurst township when they sighted a man walking along the footpath. Police spoke with the 41-year-old man, who gave several different reasons for being out of his home. He was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• About 8.45pm yesterday, officers from Newcastle City Police District stopped a vehicle on Russel Road, New Lambton, as part of inquiries of into an unrelated incident. Police spoke with the female driver and 27-year-old male passenger. Subsequent checks revealed the man had previous been given two warnings under the Public Health Act in the previous two days. He was issued a $1000 PIN after being unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being out, while the woman was given a warning, and both were directed to return home.

• Just after 6.30pm yesterday, officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a vehicle on Campbell Parade, Bondi, and spoke with the 30-year-old male driver, who advised he was going to visit a friend. Checks revealed the man’s vehicle was unregistered and didn’t have his licence on him. The Tamarama man was issued with Traffic Infringement Notices totalling $2172 for driving unregistered and uninsured and not carrying a licence, as well as a $1000 PIN under the Public Health Act.

• Police have issued three PINs after responding to a noise complaint in Forster last night. About 7.30pm, officers attached to Manning Great Lakes Police District attended a unit on South Street. As officers approached the door, the occupants were allegedly heard referring to “police” and the need for “social distancing.” Officers entered the unit and spoke with four people, one of whom resided at the address. The others, a 20-year-old woman and two men aged 29 and 25 were unable to provide a valid reason for not being home and were issued with $1000 fines.

• Three juveniles have been issued PINs after ignoring warnings to return to their homes. About 10.15pm on Monday (6 April 2020), officers attached to Wollongong Police District attended a unit on Carrington Street, Woonona, and spoke with four young people. One of them lived at the address, but the remaining three did not and had received warnings earlier that day regarding their failure to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. The three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, have been issued with PINs for failing to be home without a reasonable excuse.

Since 17 March 2020, police have issued 11 Court Attendance Notices, and 136 PINs for breaches of the Public Health Act.
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 woman has been charged with assault after she allegedly spat on a supermarket worker in the South Coast today.
About 2pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), a woman attended a supermarket on Burton Street, Vincentia, and was asked to follow new social distancing procedures while shopping due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The woman, aged 35, became verbally abusive to one staff member before being denied entry into the store by a second staff member.
Upon being refused entry, the 35-year-old allegedly became aggressive and when she was asked to leave by the staff member, a 49-year-old woman, she allegedly spat in her face.
A further physical struggle followed, with the 35-year-old allegedly pulling the 49-year-old woman’s hair, gouging her eyes and causing jewellery to be damaged, before she left the scene.
Both women suffered minor injuries.
Officers attached to South Coast Police District were alerted to the incident.
Following inquiries, police attended a home on Walmer Ave, Sanctuary Point, and arrested a 35-year-old woman.
She was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice to appear at Nowra Local Court on Monday 15 June 2020, for the offences of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and destroy or damage property.

The NSW Police Force has been joined by the Australian Defence Force to assist in quarantine compliance at selected NSW Ports.
As part of arrangements with Australian Border Force relating to the management of shipping in NSW, the Marine Area Command has coordinated the deployment of police to the ports of Newcastle, Port Kembla, Port Botany and White Bay.
To assist with deployments, ADF personnel will be stationed at selected ports to monitor compliance under the Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order 2020.
NSW Police Force officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command and Lake Illawarra and Wollongong Police Districts, supported by ADF personnel commenced deployments at Port Botany and Port Kembla yesterday (Tuesday 7 April 2020).
Deployments to other ports – including Newcastle and Eden – are expected to roll out later this week.
The ADF personnel are in supporting roles and are not authorised as law enforcement officers.

NSW frontline healthcare workers will be provided with free accommodation to protect their loved ones as part of $100 million in extra measures to support frontline staff battling COVID-19.
The NSW Government is allocating almost $60 million to provide doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital and ambulance staff with the option of staying in out-of-home accommodation during the pandemic.
The package will also support medical research and vaccine trials to beat COVID-19, as well as commercialise research products and boost domestic supply chains.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this funding would not only provide support for healthcare workers now but would also give them the resources to tackle COVID-19 head-on in the coming months.
“Nobody should go to work and worry that it will put their families at risk especially when they are working so hard to protect us. This funding is the least we can do to keep healthcare workers and their families safe,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our health professionals are among the best in the world and we must do everything we can to help them not just now but also in the weeks and months ahead as we battle this virus.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said providing free accommodation to hospital staff was a crucial plank in the health support package.
“The last thing the brave men and women in our health system should have to worry about is that their jobs will result in their loved ones being exposed to this virus,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As was the case during the bushfires our health system will have all the resources it needs so our frontline health workers can save lives and look after themselves.”
Local health districts will work with staff to make sure accommodation is close to work or their families, depending on individual needs.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said no stone would be left unturned when it came to supporting the health system. Mr Hazzard said the vital health package will also include $25 million in funding for medical research and vaccine trials to help develop a cure to beat COVID-19 as well as $11 million to quickly get work from NSW’s world class universities and partner research institutions to market.
“Frontline health staff who have the community’s back now know that the community and the government have their back. This funding gives them options on accommodation when they’re doing battle with COVID-19,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Options to protect their family and to protect themselves are critical, and now they can choose what’s best in their own circumstances without worrying about a drain on their budget.”
The package also includes $10 million to work with NSW engineering, electrical and manufacturing businesses to urgently undertake pilot projects to produce ventilators and other critical medical equipment locally.
Key elements of the support package include:

• $58 million for health worker accommodation
• $25 million for medical research and vaccine trials
• $11 million for commercialisation of research products
• $10 million Funding to partner with industry to boost domestic supply chains.

The NSW Government has already committed $700 million extra funding for NSW Health as part of a $2.3 billion health boost and economic stimulus package announced on March 17.
This funding boost is helping double ICU capacity, preparing for additional COVID-19 testing, purchasing additional ventilators and medical equipment and establishing acute respiratory clinics.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will remain in the hands of NSW businesses from today, giving them much needed cash flow and allowing them more scope to retain employees, with the NSW Government’s payroll tax assistance beginning to take effect.
The NSW Government has deferred payroll tax payments for all businesses for six months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Businesses with payrolls of $10 million or less will also be eligible for a 25 per cent reduction in their annual liabilities for 2019-20, when they complete their annual reconciliation. These businesses will save around $450 million in payroll tax in 2019-20.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said these measures will provide much needed cash flow and boost the liquidity of business at a critical time.
“This is about ensuring businesses are not paying tax when they are most in need,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Instead of sending the Government a payment we have deferred their tax to free up their funds at this critical time.”
The latest monthly payroll tax payments for businesses are due on 7 April and these payments can be deferred.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the health, families and jobs of the people of the state are all top priorities.
“This will leave money in the pockets of businesses which will help them deal with this once-in-a generation event,” he said.
“These are unprecedented times and we want to give NSW businesses every opportunity to make it through to the other side.”
The NSW Government on 17 March announced the following measures:

• 25 per cent reduction of annual payroll tax liabilities for businesses with payrolls of $10 million or less in 2019-20, meaning these businesses will save a quarter of their annual payroll tax bill for 2019-20. This measure will provide $450 million in tax savings.
• Bringing forward the next round of payroll tax cuts by increasing the threshold to $1 million on 1 July 2020. This measure will provide $56 million in tax savings.

The NSW Government on 27 March announced the following measures:

• The deferral of payroll tax payments for all businesses, including those with payrolls over $10 million, for six months (up to $4 billion deferred). Small businesses that already received a 25 per cent reduction in payroll tax for 2019-20 in the first announcement would now get an additional three-month deferral as well.

On 3 April, the NSW Government announced thousands of small businesses across NSW would receive grants of up to $10,000 under the $750 million Small Business Support Fund.
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government is doing all it can to help keep businesses afloat.
“We’re supporting them to keep people in jobs and businesses in business,” he said.