16 News

The Opposition has called out today’s ferry announcement as another broken promise, saying it falls short of the Labor Government’s commitment to build public transport vehicles in NSW.

Earlier this year, Transport Minister Jo Haylen said Labor’s ‘Made in NSW’ domestic manufacturing policy meant that “We need to build our trains, trams, buses and ferries right here.”

The announcement that the ferries will now be built in Tasmania is clearly yet another embarrassing broken promise by the Labor Government.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward said “Firstly, this investment in providing world-class public transport services was secured under the former Liberal and Nationals Government.”

Shadow Minister Ward continued, “This is a great deal for Tasmanian workers, but workers in NSW are getting shafted by a Premier who is now sending jobs he promised them to another state.”

“Manufacturing elements of the Sydney Ferry fleet in Tasmania is not a revolutionary step in domestic manufacturing, the previous Government utilised the capability during our time in office.” Mrs Ward said.

In 2015 the Liberals and Nationals Government awarded Incat Tasmania a contract to build six new ferries in its Hobart Shipyard.

In addition, in 2020 the Liberals and Nationals Government announced three new Emerald class ferries were to be completed in Port Macquarie with 70% Australian content for the ferries including all the design, procurement, engineering, and project management for the project.

“This announcement is a smokescreen by the Government to cover up for the facts that they haven’t delivered on their election commitments and can’t guarantee when the jobs they promised will be available.” Mrs Ward said.

More than 1.7 million drivers will be eligible to have a demerit point scrubbed from their licence record as the NSW Government’s trial to encourage safer driving comes into effect six months sooner than flagged.

Drivers who have maintained a clean record since January 17 this year will need to continue that spotless behaviour until January 17 next year to qualify to have a demerit point removed from their record.

Announced during the state election, the trial had originally been slated to start on July 1, but the Minns Government is determined to allow drivers who do the right the chance to shed a demerit point sooner.

Transport for NSW will take a ‘snapshot’ of the demerit point register as it stood on January 17 this year – the day the initiative was announced – to identify all unrestricted and professional licence holders with active demerit points recorded against them.

Under the 12-month trial, eligible motorists who have at least one demerit point on their record from January 17 but remain offence-free for 12 months to January 17, 2024, will have one demerit point removed from their driving record. It normally takes three years for a demerit point to be expunged.

It is expected to take about three months to finalise offences, so eligible driver will start seeing one demerit point removed from their records starting in mid-April 2024.

Learner and provisional licence holders are not included in the trial given they are subject to strict conditions of the Graduated Licensing Scheme.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, said:

“Reducing the road toll and rewarding safe driving across the state is the aim of this trial and we hope it gives drivers that little bit of extra incentive to achieve a spotless record.”

“It’s time we put safety back at the centre of our road rules, not revenue raising.”

“This is an appropriate way for good drivers to earn a point back.”

“Our message couldn’t be clearer: drive safely and you’ll get a point scrubbed from your licence. The more people who qualify for a point, the safer our roads.”

Minister for Roads, John Graham, said:

“Drivers in NSW are very much used to the stick approach, so this demerit trial is an important carrot for them to maintain a clean record over a 12-month period to the benefit of all motorists, pedestrians, and communities.”

“Under the previous government, there were almost a million demerit points on records, yet the road toll was rising. Now is the time to try the carrot approach and reward good behaviour.”

“We need everyone to work together to create a safer driving environment and ultimately push road trauma to zero.”

“The 12-month trial will be closely examined to assess its impact on road safety and the effectiveness of the demerit point changes.”

The passage of the Rental Fairness Bill means the Minns Labor Government has:

• Closed existing loopholes and extended the ban on soliciting rental bids so it applies to third-party platforms and owners, not just real estate agents,
• Empowered the NSW Rental Commissioner to gather pricing data from agents, allowing them to advocate for renters and provide quality advice to government, and;
• The powers needed to get on with designing and implementing a portable bond scheme that will deliver significant financial relief to renters.

After 12 years without a voice, the Government has heard renters and is acting to boost their rights and deliver relief.

When designed and in place, a portable bonds scheme will deliver critical financial relief to renters by making sure they don’t have to pay twice.

Closing loopholes and providing the NSW Rental Commissioner with the powers needed to find solutions across government will pave the way for further action.

Aside from rental reforms, the Minns Government is taking steps to increase housing supply across the state and ease pressure on the rental market, including creating a pathway for faster planning decisions and incentives for developers to include affordable housing in their plans.

The NSW Government has also begun an audit into surplus public land that could be rezoned for housing, it has included housing supply in the Sydney Metro review and the Government will establish a Building Commission to make sure NSW is building good quality, affordable homes. 

Minister for Fair Trading and Better Regulation Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Our focus is on getting the balance right with responsible reforms that deliver better rights for renters and changes to get new homes built to drive down rents.

“In the existing system, a renter paying $550 per week faces a bond cost of $2,200 if they want to move.

“A portable bonds scheme will end the system that sees the average renter forced to spend the equivalent of 11 weeks’ groceries to move from home A to home B.

“Today’s reforms are the first step, not the last. We’re already working on the next tranche of changes to deliver relief, including making it easier to have pets in rentals and ending no-grounds evictions.”

The NSW Government has reduced the number of poker machines able to be operated in the state by more than 3000.

The NSW Government is delivering on its ongoing commitment to gaming reform, reducing gambling harm and preventing money laundering.

Under regulation, pubs and clubs need to have sufficient gaming machine entitlements to legally operate poker machines, and these entitlements can be traded between venues.

The government has lowered the state’s cap on poker machines entitlements available to pubs and clubs across NSW by more than 3000, limiting it to entitlements currently in circulation.

The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority has also approved a tenfold decrease in the cash feed-in limit for all new poker machines entering service from 1 July.

The new limit will be $500, down from $5000, reflecting the government’s pre-election commitment.

These announcements follow on from the government’s ban on external signage for gaming rooms, which will come into effect on 1 September 2023.

Venues have until then to remove signs like ‘Dragon’s Den’, ‘VIP Lounge’ or other names that allude to gambling.

The government has also already passed legislation that bans political parties accepting financial donations from clubs with gaming machines from 1 July 2023.

Prior to the election, the NSW Government committed to a number of changes to curb gambling harm and prevent money laundering, including:

• increasing the forfeiture of gaming machines entitlements
• implementing a cashless gaming trial of 500 machines
• establishing an independent panel to oversee the cashless gaming trial.

For more information about gaming machine entitlements (GME), visit Liquor and Gaming NSWlaunch.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“We promised the people of NSW that we’d reform the gaming sector in a way that reduced gambling harm while future-proofing the industry.

“One of these commitments was to reduce the number of poker machines in this state – and this is an important step forward.

“Further down the track, we’ll also be changing the GME forfeiture scheme so that for every 2 entitlements traded, 1 will be forfeited – which will see numbers drop at a faster rate.

“It’s important that as we navigate through these changes, we engage with industry so that we can ensure vibrancy of our hospitality and gaming industries.”

OneCrown cemeteries is set to complete amalgamation of Rookwood General, Northern Metropolitan and Southern Metropolitan cemeteries by 1 July under the new name of Metropolitan Memorial Parks.

Within his first few weeks the new administrator Ken Morrison has been able to steer the three cemeteries through the complex amalgamation process. As part of this amalgamation OneCrown cemeteries will now be known as Metropolitan Memorial Parks.

This decision is part of a wider strategy to encourage the public use and enjoyment of the green space that can be found in our crown cemeteries.

Metropolitan Memorial Parks Administrator Ken Morrison said: 

“The NSW Government has provided us with a clear directive to amalgamate the three crown cemetery operators and we are getting on with the job.”

“This important step means we can now take the necessary steps to ensure the provision of available and affordable interments for all communities, and long-term sustainability of the crown land we manage.”

“Our new name reflects the important services we provide to the community – supporting people to grieve, celebrate life, and remember loved ones, as well as providing much-needed green space for the community.”

NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
“We are pleased by the direction and action taken by Ken Morrison and the Metropolitan Memorial Parks team to date.”

“We will continue to work collaboratively with Metropolitan Memorial Parks to address the challenges our cemeteries sector is currently facing.”

The NSW Government has appointed an Interim Biosecurity Commissioner who will guide the formation of an independent biosecurity commission and begin work to map out the pest and weed threats impacting the state.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said interim Commissioner Dr Marion Healy has more than 20 years of high-level expertise and experience related to identifying and managing the biosecurity risks related to the movement of plant products and their impact on the Australian environment.

“Last month I announced plans to establish an independent biosecurity commission and today I am pleased to welcome Dr Healy as interim commissioner,” Ms Moriarty said.

“I know biosecurity risks present the most significant threat to the primary industries sector, the economy, the environment and our communities, and today’s appointment demonstrates that we are delivering on our election commitments.

“Dr Healy is well-respected by her peers across the industry and her biosecurity expertise will ensure the independent biosecurity commission is equipped and ready on day one to build and strengthen the resilience of our agriculture industry.”

Ms Moriarty said Dr Healy, working with the Department of Primary Industries, will during the next 3 months;

• develop a discussion paper on the role and powers of the NSW Biosecurity Commissioner for targeted consultation across Government and stakeholders
• engage the Natural Resources Commission to develop a baseline report on the extent of pests and weeds on public lands
• commence scoping guidelines and focus of the $10 million Good Neighbour Program.

“It’s really important that we tackle the biosecurity challenges that come from pests and weeds and that government are good neighbours,” Ms Moriarty said.

“Farmers and landowners do their very best to keep weeds and other pests out, and we need to make sure all other landowners are doing the same – including the government.”

The statutory position of Independent Biosecurity Commissioner will be created and appointed by the end of 2023.