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Road experts gather in Sydney for safety’s sake

Road safety experts from Australia and overseas, along with advocates for motorists and road victims will today gather at the NSW Government’s 2024 Road Safety Forum.

More than 90 experts are being brought under the same roof for the first time – and many more joining online – to focus on ways to improve safety on roads right across NSW.

Like all other Australian states, NSW has experienced a rise in fatalities on our roads since the COVID era and the forum will be an invaluable setting to consider solutions and innovations, drawing on the experience of Scandinavian countries that have had success in lowering their road tolls over the past decade or more.

The NSW Government is determined to co-operate with the Commonwealth on the national conversation on road safety, with a particular focus on data sharing among the states.

The Government has this week agreed to begin sharing crash information with motoring group NRMA to ensure continued transparency of road safety trends in NSW.

The forum’s keynote address is to be delivered by Dr Johan Strandroth who was instrumental in the implementation of Sweden’s “Vision Zero” approach which has been credited with lowering fatalities there since its introduction in the late 1990s.

According to the Australian Government, Sweden has the second lowest road fatality rate in the world behind only Norway. Australia was ranked 18 out of 31 OECD nations.

A key focus of today’s forum will be regional road safety and the effect of speeding, drink and drug driving. A third of the NSW population resides in regional areas, but just over two-thirds of the state’s road fatalities take place in our regions, including urban centres in regional areas.

The NSW Labor Government has been active in introducing new road safety measures, including the expanded use of mobile phone detection cameras that will this year begin enforcing the use of seatbelts.

The Government has also pioneered the carrot-and-stick approach through the demerit point scheme. More than 1.2 million NSW drivers will be rewarded with having a demerit point removed from their licence from April in return for maintaining a spotless record for 12 months from 17 January 2023.

In conjunction with the forum, Transport for NSW is running an online survey to allow the public to have a say on a range of road safety topics.

Have your say on road safety until 4pm Wednesday 6 March 2024

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“NSW is pleased to host this most important forum and I look forward to hearing from the most pre-eminent experts from Australia but also from countries that have had success in reducing fatalities on their roads in recent decades.

“Road fatalities have increased across Australia and many parts of the world after Covid. This forum is an opportunity to tap into the best ideas to counter that trend and make sure everyone gets home to their loved ones every time.

“The enhanced sharing and use of data around road crashes is an important element in improving safety in NSW and other states which is why our Memorandum of Understanding to share more information with the NRMA is another advance that we can build on.

“I want to remind the wider community that your input into this important issue is welcome and urge you to take part in the online survey being run in conjunction with today’s forum.”

Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Today’s forum is an important opportunity to collaborate and share ideas to help reduce fatalities and improve safety on our roads.

“I’m acutely aware that too many people are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, or in the passenger seat, and never coming home.

“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and has a lasting impact on not only the friends, families and communities of those involved but on our first responders who attend far too many fatal incidents.

“The NSW Police Force are out there day and night working to protect the community but they can’t do it alone. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to keeping our roads safe.

“Everyone has a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other roads users every time they get behind the wheel.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Today is an important day in NSW road safety history, as we gather together many different experts and stakeholders in the road safety space for the first time.

“Any death on our roads is a tragedy and as Regional Roads Minister I am particularly concerned that more than two thirds of these deaths take place on regional roads.

“We know country driving can be challenging – drivers in regional areas often drive longer distances on higher speed roads compared to those driving in the city. We know they’re often in older vehicles and environmental factors such as roadside hazards and bends in the road mean that a poor decision or mistake can be fatal.

“This is a conversation that I have been having across regional NSW since I came to office. I look forward to hearing the expert advice and to continue to work with rural, remote and regional communities to improve road safety in country NSW.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility and I urge every single road user to help us make sure everyone makes it home safely.”

Senator Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport said:

“Today’s road safety forum is an invaluable gathering that I hope will provide ideas and outcomes can be carried through to the National Road Safety Conference coming up.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility- from local, state and territory governments as well as the Australian Government and individual road users.

“The National Road Safety Conference has been convened to bring together Road Safety Ministers and Police Ministers from across the country to engage on the worrying trends we are seeing on our roads.”

NSW Government to transform SafeWork NSW into standalone work, health and safety regulator

The NSW Government will transform SafeWork into a standalone regulator following a 12-month inquiry by former judge The Hon. Robert McDougall KC.

The government has released the independent report as it continues work to create a modern, strong and fit for purpose work health and safety regulator.

The government has endorsed the report’s recommendations with further work underway to determine specific implementation details.

Many of the recommended reforms started after March last year, including reviewing SafeWork’s capabilities in triaging of incidents, improving the responsiveness of contact centre staff and pulling together SafeWork staff previously spread across the Department of Customer Service.

Other critical recommendations include:

Requiring SafeWork to keep those affected by workplace incidents, including families of deceased workers and those seriously injured at work, informed of progress of investigations and prosecutions.
Training more inspectors in dealing with psychosocial hazards in the workplace such as extreme workload and bullying.
Reviewing complaints handling policies.
Formalising data collection and analysis to make better compliance and enforcement decisions.

In opposition, Labor fought for the establishment of this inquiry to ensure that workers were protected, following a spate of scandals under Liberal-National Ministers such as an inadequate response to the emerging silica threat.

The Independent Review was informed by public consultation including submissions by former and current SafeWork staff, families of injured and deceased workers, unions and peak bodies, employer groups and SafeWork itself.

Detailed options are being developed on the possible design of the standalone regulator for the Government’s consideration.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“This government commits to all NSW workers that it will never allow the health and safety regulator to be compromised so badly again.”

“Worker safety is not red tape, it is not a tick a box function, it is not a cost of doing business.”

“It is a fundamental right for every worker to go to their job and come home safely.”

“We are committing to ensuring for family members that SafeWork will create improved processes to ensure they are informed at all steps of an investigation.

“We are committing to SafeWork’s inspectors that they will get the support they need to do their vital work.”

“I thank the Hon. Robert McDougall KC and those who made submissions to the review for their work.”

SafeWork NSW’s Trent Curtin said:

“SafeWork NSW is entering a new era. Our dedicated and passionate staff want to make sure that everyone that goes to work can come home safely.”

“The recommendations set out by the Hon. Robert McDougall KC will assist SafeWork to become a strong and responsive work health and safety regulator for NSW.”

“With work already underway, SafeWork NSW will take all steps necessary to analyse our regulatory approaches and support systems to ensure best-practise work health and safety regulation for NSW workers.”

NSW Government releases Bus Taskforce Second Report

A bold new blueprint that will deliver the biggest improvements to NSW bus services in a generation has been outlined in the Bus Industry Taskforce’s second report released today.

The Taskforce, established in May 2023 and chaired by John Lee, has handed down further recommendations to deliver better bus services, improving reliability and equity across the state.

The Second Report outlines a plan to fix the deterioration of bus services that carry 40 per cent of all public transport passengers but receive only 2 per cent of capital expenditure in transport.

This includes:

Immediately addressing more than a decade of neglect of investment in school and local bus services and additional frequent and local services to areas with no or very poor service levels
Providing a long-term vision for rapid bus services to be rolled out on key Sydney corridors.
Calling out the continued challenges with bus drivers and operational staff to ensure the growth can be matched with appropriately trained and available workforce.
A renewed focus within Transport for NSW on better asset management, risk management and safety outcomes, and,
A practical plan for the roll out of electric and zero emission buses
The report notes expected population growth has not been catered for in funding for new bus services, leaving growing communities disconnected from essential services.

The 204-page report calls for modern, fit for purpose bus contracts in the regions. The outdated contract model has meant bus services in rural and regional NSW have not been given the same degree of attention as services in Sydney.

Local Government also plays a critical role in how bus services are delivered which can be improved by identifying funding options and streamlining delegations to speed up decisions that improve local roads and footpaths for bus users, pedestrians, and cyclists.

The report makes clear more work needs to be done to better plan and manage essential transport infrastructure, including depots, facilities, bus stops and supporting technology.

The Taskforce has consulted extensively with the community and stakeholders in developing the report, with the Parliamentary Secretary hosting bus passenger forums around the state, forums with councils and industry and around 8,000 submissions received to date.

The NSW Government has asked Transport for NSW to put plans in place for how to best move forward with the recommendations, including:

Transport for NSW is developing a proposal for a State-wide Medium Term Bus Plan, short-term improvements to local services to catch up to population growth.
Exploring changes to the roll out of Zero Emissions Buses including looking at options for more ZEBs and supporting infrastructure in Western Sydney. Improvements to rural and regional contracting to be in place by 2026 with a detailed plan outlined in the Final Report.
Working closer with councils and across government to look at strengthening the ability of Councils to enhance public transport infrastructure on local roads.
Reviewing aspects of Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme and replace out of date guidelines with a risk-based approach for better safety outcomes.
Work is already underway to address some of these issues and recommendations handed down in the First Report, including technology enhancements to help eliminate ‘ghost buses’ appearing on planning apps and more transparent service performance data provided to customers.

Howard Collins has already been appointed as the Coordinator General, reporting directly to the Secretary of Transport for NSW, centralising responsibility for bus operations within one area.

Safety of bus services remains a top priority of the Taskforce, with a multi-year campaign to promote seatbelt use on buses already underway.

Work is also continuing on options for safety improvements for standing passengers on buses, including consideration of whether an 80km/h rule for dedicated school bus services could be rolled out to all services.

Bus driver recruitment initiatives continue, with a recent recruitment campaign lifting Bus Driver Authority applications by nine per cent over two months, and free Opal cards for drivers set to be rolled out.

The Taskforce will provide the NSW Government with its Final Report and recommendations by 1 May 2024.

Read the Bus Taskforce Second Report

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“The Second Bus Taskforce report will deliver the biggest improvement to bus services that NSW has seen in a generation.”

“For too long bus services have been the forgotten mode of Transport in NSW. They carry more than 40 per cent of passengers but are lucky to get more than 2 per cent of capital investment. This must change. Tens of thousands of passengers rely on the bus network and we need to do better.”

“Too many growing communities were neglected because the former government had no plan for what their future bus services would look like. We now have plan to make sure those communities get the bus services they need.”

Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins said:

“We know the community is calling for better bus services and I would like to thank the Bus Industry Taskforce for their work in producing this latest detailed report.”

“We recognise the important role of buses in our integrated transport system. Investing in buses means less traffic congestion on the road, less pollution in the air, greater accessibility for the community, and more jobs in the industry.”

“We are focused on delivering a medium-term bus plan that sets us up for success, and gives clear, equitable improvements to services across NSW communities.”

“Transport will continue to work with operators, drivers, unions and the wider community as key changes are implemented. We believe we can deliver immediate improvements then build on the findings of these reports for many years to come.”

Chair of the Bus Industry Taskforce John Lee said:

“The lack of investment in bus services or the forgotten mode of public transport is shameful.”

“Buses are the largest public transport mode in the State and it needs well thought through plans to be implemented to fix this neglect.”

“We have recommended a strong, detailed and scalable plan for the Government to consider.”

“That means more money for services, bus stops, road priority and smart people delivering the plan.”

NSW public hospitals to begin safe staffing roll out

The NSW Government is delivering on its promise to rollout a major staffing reform set to boost the number of frontline healthcare workers in NSW public hospitals.

The safe staffing levels rollout will see more nurses and midwives in NSW public hospitals between now and July 2027.

The new minimum staffing requirements will be rolled out in stages, starting at hospitals with emergency departments (EDs), who treat the most critically ill patients, and will be progressively implemented across other hospital departments.

The move follows extensive discussions at the Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce, responsible for the implementation of the Government’s commitment.

The Taskforce includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and New South Wales Health.

The safe staffing reforms will be first implemented at Liverpool Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital EDs. The Safe Staffing Taskforce will review this initial rollout and use it to inform the roll out to future sites, which it will continue to oversee.

Phase one of the roll out will see a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay units.

The NSW Government’s hospital safe staffing levels reforms forms part of a broader range of measures designed to build an engaged, capable and supported workforce, including:

Saving 1,112 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; and
Doubling the health worker study subsidies.

These reforms will improve conditions and staff experience and, in turn, boost retention, capacity and capability.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“This Government continues to deliver on its commitment to ensuring our hospitals have the frontline healthcare workers they need to continue to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients. This reform will mean more nurses providing frontline care to the people of NSW.

“We listened to the nurses, midwives, patients and other stakeholders who have told us of the need for these changes and have acted to ensure we have a health system that delivers the best care possible for all of NSW, now and into the future.

“This important reform will deliver improved experiences and outcomes of care for patients while backing essential frontline workers in all corners of the state.

“It will help retain our existing staff while also helping attract our future workforce.

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

“I want to thank the Safe Staffing Taskforce for their work to bring this Government’s commitment to fruition.”

Man charged over child abuse material – Muswellbrook

A man will face court for a transmission of child abuse material through social media.

In October 2023, officers attached to Child protection Unit in St George Police Area Command commenced an investigation into an alleged circulation of child abuse material through social media after they seized devices containing child abuse material at an address in Rockdale.

Following extensive inquiries, officers attached to St George Police Area Command, with the assistance of Hunter Valley Police District, and Digital Forensic Unit, arrested a 19-year-old man at an address on Osborn Avenue, Muswellbrook, about 9.40am on 20 February 2024.

Police also seized number of mobile phone devices along with three computers at the scene.

The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday (27 February 2024).

REINFORCING FAILURE, LABOR REFUSES TO MAKE THE HARD CALL TO CANCEL THE DISASTROUS $45 BILLION HUNTER FRIGATES

The Albanese Government is reinforcing and rewarding failure with its review of the Australian Navy’s surface fleet, released today.

More than a decade after it was conceived the Hunter Frigate program is being backed in with the same eye-watering price tag of $45 billion but producing six instead of nine ships. If ever built they will be the most expensive, and some of the least useful, warships of their class on the planet.

The Hunter Frigates program was referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission last year by the Greens due to the lack of value-for-money assessment, uncompetitive tender and systemic failures.

Remarkably, the same senior people in Defence that landed us with the Hunter Frigates mess are now being rewarded with an extra $11.1 billion to buy a new class of unidentified Tier 2 ships.

The current price tag for Labor’s “enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet” review is a total spend of $54.2 billion over the next decade. This is on top of the $368 billion on yet-to-be-designed AUKUS submarines.

In short, Defence has kept all their money, kept all their failed projects and been given more money and more projects to play with. Rewarding failure like this makes us less safe.

Greens Defence Spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge said:

“This review is about reinforcing failure, recommitting to the disastrous $45 billion Hunter Frigates and expecting the same team that led us into this mess to fix it.”

“Two years of dithering by Defence Minister Marles has led us to this point. The push for continuous shipbuilding in Adelaide, linked to local politics and the hope to keep a nuclear submarine workforce, is what’s driving this multi-billion dollar mistake.

“No matter how many times Defence leadership fails, both overcharging and underdelivering, they keep their jobs and get rewarded with billions more public dollars.

“The goal in this review is to more than double the size of the combat surface fleet, with unclear timelines and increasing budgets. It is not a review it is a shopping list and it will be impossible to hold Defence to account for the inevitable future failures.

“The framing of this review to increase lethality and Defence expenditure should tell you everything you need to know, it is all about threatening our neighbours not defending Australia.

“One of the most remarkable features of this $54 billion shopping list is how little it connects with the $368 billion AUKUS submarine project.

“If you were looking for a coherent plan to defend Australia you won’t find it in this review,” Senator Shoebridge said.

$80 million Institute of Applied Technology for Construction Opened in Western Sydney

The NSW Government today officially opened the $80 million Institute of Applied Technology for Construction at TAFE NSW Nepean – Kingswood.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan joined industry and university partners of the Institute for a ribbon cutting and official unveiling of the facility.

The Institute of Applied Technology is a partnership between TAFE NSW, construction company CPB Contractors, and Western Sydney University.

The new facility features a civil construction sandpit, and large workshop spaces to accommodate the construction of full-scale buildings for use in carpentry, plumbing, and electrotechnology training.

In addition to traditional trades, the Institute also designs and delivers market-leading training that rapidly responds to industry needs.

The Institute of Applied Technology educational model brings together vocational education, universities, and industry to fast-track training solutions for sectors that are in a constant state of skills transformation.

The new 7500^m2 facility at TAFE NSW Kingswood achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). It features a solar system that generates more than 50 percent of its daily power usage, and electric vehicle charging stations for learners and staff.

Find out more about courses offered by the Institute of Applied Technology for Construction.

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

“This new facility will provide specialist training in civil construction, carpentry, electrical and plumbing, helping to fill skills gaps in Western Sydney and across the state.

“The Institute is doing an amazing job by delivering online Micro skill and Micro credential programs in project management, contract administration, building information modelling, and digital skills in construction.

“I’m so pleased to see that learners across Australia have already enrolled in more than 10,000 micro-skills or micro-credentials delivered by The Institute of Applied Technology Construction.

“The Institute will help upskill the next generation of construction workers, who will be able to continue to build the much-needed homes this state needs.”

Institute of Applied Technology Construction course list

Micro credentials

2D CAD Drawings and 3D Models in Construction
Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Construction
Commercial & Contract Management in Construction
Contract Administration Fundamentals
Contract Administration in Construction
Cost Management in Construction
Emerging Leaders in Construction
Excel in Construction
Frontline Leaders in Construction
Introduction to Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Construction
Introduction to Project Scope Management in Construction
Microsoft Office 365 Foundations in Construction
Power BI Fundamentals in Construction
Project Management Foundations in Construction
Project Management Fundamentals in Construction
Project Management Fundamentals in Construction
Project Risk Management in Construction
Schedule Management in Construction
Stakeholder Engagement and Management in Construction

Micro credentials in development:

Experienced Leaders in Construction
Project Integration Management in Construction
Quality Management in Construction
Scheduling – MS Projects in Construction
Power BI Data Visualisation in Construction
Procurement and Commercial Management in Construction
Construction Communication
Contract Law/Dispute Resolution
Introduction to Claims and Variations in Construction
Reality Capture Technologies
Integrating GIS and BIM in Construction

Micro skills

Experienced Leaders in Construction
Project Integration Management in Construction
Quality Management in Construction
Scheduling – MS Projects in Construction
Power BI Data Visualisation in Construction
Procurement and Commercial Management in Construction
Construction Communication
Contract Law/Dispute Resolution
Introduction to Claims and Variations in Construction
Reality Capture Technologies
Integrating GIS and BIM in Construction

Pink buses to feature in Mardi Gras Parade

Two eye-catching pink buses will start driving passengers across Sydney in celebration of the 46th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2024.

The wrapped buses will be on the road throughout the Mardi Gras season before taking part in the parade on Saturday 2 March.

Rainbow Families will proudly take a seat in the decorated Transit Systems buses for the parade, joining the 200-float street parade as parts of Transport for NSW’s float as it rolls through Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade.

Bus Operator Transit Systems is showcasing its commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment, servicing public transport routes across Sydney.

The pink bus wraps align with the Mardi Gras Festival 2024 theme, “Our Future” as Transit Systems and Transport for NSW focus on attracting the next generation of workers and creating a welcoming environment across all of our transport networks.

During the Mardi Gras season, Sydneysiders will also spot rainbow buses in North Sydney and the Northern Beaches, a “Happy Mardi Gras” wrapped tram on the L2 & L3 and decorations across city train and light rail stations.

Transport Minister, Jo Haylen, said:

“The Sydney Mardi Gras is a celebration of diversity and inclusion, and I am thrilled to see our buses are part of the festivities.”

“With over 12,000 marchers for the Mardi Gras Parade, public transport will be playing a major role, in helping passengers get to where they need to go, but also in the parade itself.”

“Public transport should be a safe place for all and I thank Transit Systems for their work in celebrating diversity.”

Rainbow Families, Bern Foley, said:

“We are thrilled to see public transport represented in the Mardi Gras Parade, and it has already started the sharing of transport stories about our experiences and challenges.”

“Having this amazing bus in our Rainbow Families entry has meant we can ensure accessibility, allowing for more of our community members to take part. Hopefully we can continue to improve the journey as we ensure a more inclusive future together.”

“We are proud to partner with Transit Systems in ensuring each and every passenger feels safe and respected.”

Transit Systems CEO, Michael McGee, said:

“Our support for the Mardi Gras reflects our commitment to celebrating diversity and promoting a positive, accepting culture within our organisation.”

“We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where individuals feel comfortable expressing their authentic selves. At Transit Systems, we envision a future where everyone is celebrated for their unique identities.”

Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray. said:

“These bus wraps will serve as a moving billboard, promoting the values of inclusion and support throughout Sydney.”

“It is great to see our private operators investing in this important celebration and working hard to make all their passengers feel welcome on public transport.”

Continued action on imported red fire ants threat

The NSW Government is continuing to take swift action to the threat of imported red fire ants with amendments to the Biosecurity (Fire Ants) Emergency Order.

These amendments will strengthen the requirements for Queensland turf suppliers and installers, as part of its hardline approach to stop fire ants from entering the state.

The movement of turf from Southeast Queensland remains a high-risk carrier material of fire ants and has been linked to the fire ant nest found in Murwillumbah in late November 2023.

Businesses, individuals and the turf industry are now being asked to get behind the fight against fire ants by ensuring their turf products are treated and fire ant free, to reduce the risk of fire ants spreading into NSW.

Turf sourced from the fire ant infested area of Queensland must now be treated at the point of lay in NSW. Installers must either treat turf immediately following lay, or store in preventative conditions until installation.

A Record of Movement Declaration must be completed by anyone who initiates the movement of turf from either a fire-ant-infested area in Queensland or movement control area in NSW.

Queensland-sourced turf must also include the upload of a plant health certificate, ensuring that the supplier has complied with all treatment, harvest and transport requirements in the order.

Chemicals used in the treatment of the turf must be approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) and used in accordance with label directions and permit conditions.

For businesses ‘on-selling’ turf products, it is crucial that treatment requirements and necessary documentation are passed onto consumers.

This is the latest in the NSW Government’s comprehensive response to the threat of red fire ants, which has included:

increasing NSW’s funding from $15 million to $95 million to combat the threat
300 heavy vehicles stopped and inspected at the NSW/Qld border to check compliance
reached 200,000 users through the government’s social media fire ant information program.

For more information about red imported fire ants and the Emergency Order, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government takes biosecurity seriously and I am committed to doing what is needed to strengthen our controls in the fight against fire ants.

“Fire ants are commonly spread through human activity, such as the movement of materials used for landscaping, building and agriculture, such as soil and turf.

“Fire ants are not marching into NSW; they are being carried, and it’s this human behaviour we are addressing both through education and compliance measures.

“The Emergency Orders already identify and manage the movement of fire ant carrier materials that present high risks of carrying fire ants.

“Turf is a high-risk carrier, providing the perfect environment for ant settlement and movement.

“By applying this treatment and keeping fire ants out of NSW, the turf industry is contributing to protecting our environment and economy.

“The treatment chemical that is now required to be applied to turf products is low toxic, safe to be around humans and animals, low cost, readily available and approved by the APVMA.

“So far, the northern NSW community has played a crucial and proactive role, and we thank them for their cooperation.”

The Biosecurity (Fire Ants) Emergency Order explained:

The Order places restrictions on the movement into NSW from the fire-ant-infested area of Queensland of fire ant carrier materials including organic mulch, compost, growing media, manure, soil and anything with soil on it, hay, straw, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural equipment, earth moving equipment, sand, gravel, chitters, coal fines, coal stone, overburden and decomposed granite. It outlines the requirements for the movement of each carrier into NSW from the fire ant infested area in Qld.
A person in breach of an emergency order is guilty under the Biosecurity Act 2015 of a category 2 offence, for which the maximum penalties are:
- in the case of an individual $1,100,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of $137,500 for each day the offence continues
- in the case of a corporation $2,200,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of $275,000 for each day the offence continues.

Nation-leading Business Charter provides a big change for small business

The NSW Government has delivered on another election commitment for small businesses across the state with the launch of the Charter for Small Business.

The Charter gives small business owners a seat at the table and a genuine say in the way government supports businesses across the state. The Charter commits to a stronger partnership with small business and sets out the key principles and actions on the way which the NSW Government will work on with the sector.

The Charter for Small Business is the first of its kind in Australia and reflects the economic and social value that small businesses bring to NSW.

The NSW Government has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement with peak industry bodies and community organisations to ensure the Charter for Small Business reflects the needs of businesses.

The Charter for Small Business includes 6 key principles and commitments to support its implementation and application in NSW:

Clear and strong focal point to support small business to start, grow and thrive.
Stronger engagement on new policy and regulation.
Listen and respond to red-tape and other pain points.
Boost government procurement from small businesses.
Introduce and report on metrics and identify opportunities for supporting small business policy, regulatory and economic settings.
Deliver key actions and commitments to timeline.

The Charter for Small Business closely follows on from the government’s launch of the Service NSW Business Bureau, which is a key source of advice and personalised support for small business. The Service NSW Business Bureau will oversee the Charter for Small Business, to ensure its commitments and actions benefit the sector.

There are more than 850,000 small businesses in NSW which make up 97% of all businesses in the state. NSW small businesses employ 1.7 million people, which is around 43% of the state’s private sector workforce.

Find out more information about the Charter for Small Business and the Action Plan.

Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper said:

“Having worked in the private sector for more than 30 years, I understand how important it is to work with business owners to make being in business easier.”

“The Charter for Small Business is a nation-leading agreement which reflects our commitment to work in lockstep with small businesses across NSW to inform our policies and programs.”

“We don’t want businesses getting stuck in the mud with government transactions, red tape and paperwork. Every delay costs time and money, 2 things small businesses can’t afford.”

“People in NSW can confidently count on the NSW Government to support our business environment and help small businesses to navigate compliance obligations.”

Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter said:

“Business NSW continues to welcome the Minister’s support for small business and positive engagement with SMEs on initiatives like procurement reform, the Service NSW Business Bureau and now the Charter for Small Business.

“Our members often tell us that managing government permitting and form-filling is one of the most challenging tasks for their business.

“We want government to not just to listen but to respond to and address red-tape pain points. We believe the new Charter for Small Business will work towards addressing this issue.

“The aim should be to reduce businesses’ need to access concierge services to navigate processes because the processes themselves are becoming more straightforward.

“The Business Bureau – which Business NSW supported when it was launched in October last year – can build on the best-in-class products from Service NSW, which did so much for NSW during the tough times of Covid.”