Holsworthy kids get early access to free pre-kindergarten

Liberal Candidate for Holsworthy, Tina Ayyad, welcomes the Perrottet Liberal Government’s announcement today that tens of thousands of kids across the state will have access to free preschool sooner, with a re-elected NSW Liberal Government to accelerate the rollout of its $5.8 billion one-year free pre-Kindergarten program.

The commitment will bring forward $1 billion to commence construction on the first of the new preschools in the second half of this year, with the first 500 on public school sites to be completed within four years.

By 2030, every single child in NSW will have access to a full year of free, play-based learning in the year before school.

A re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government will also legislate the right to one-year free pre-Kindergarten in the next term of government.

“Free pre-Kindergarten is a landmark reform for families and education across Holsworthy.” Ms Ayyad said.

“This is a game changer for working parents and businesses, but most importantly for our kids getting a head start in their social and educational interactions.

“The commitment to our kids and families in Holsworhty with the construction of a new pre-school connected to Hammondville Public School, is a true reflection of the Perrottet Liberal Government’s focus on empowering local communities.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this would kick-start learning for tens of thousands of kids across the state, setting them up for future success.

“NSW is leading the nation with our pre-Kindergarten program, which will give every single child access to free, high-quality learning in the year before they start school,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We know there is significant demand for childcare and preschool services across NSW, with many families facing long waitlists or long commutes to the nearest facility.

“That is why we will accelerate the program and get shovels in the ground this year to deliver the first 500 new preschools within four years, making it easier for working parents and getting our kids learning sooner.

“The benefits of this are huge. Not only are we giving our kids a head start in life by kick-starting their early learning, we’re giving more time back to busy parents.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said universal pre-Kindergarten will help grow the economy by setting ours kids up for lifelong financial success. 

“Because of our universal pre-kindergarten policy, thousands more children are expected to go to preschool, adding $123,000 on average to their lifetime earnings,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said that she was pleased to be able to unveil the first 500 schools that will have purpose-built infrastructure for universal pre-Kindergarten.

“Universal pre-Kindergarten will require 100,000 places for our youngest learners, and we will deliver 50,000 in the next four years on public school sites alone,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Our experience and capacity to deliver quality school infrastructure means we’ve been able to identify and assess initial sites faster than anticipated.

“Cementing universal pre-Kindergarten as a new part of the education journey for children in NSW will be the first thing on the legislative agenda for a re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.

“Under a Liberals and Nationals Government families have certainty. Labor’s commitment of 150 ‘new or upgraded’ preschools creates less than 6,000 places – a drop in the ocean compared to the 100,000 our universal pre-Kindergarten plans will deliver. Chris Minns will leave young families with less.”

The NSW Liberal Government is investing more than $15.9 billion in early childhood to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW.  

This includes the introduction of universal pre-Kindergarten, the Brighter Beginnings initiatives, a workforce package for early childhood educators and the Affordable Preschool fee relief.    

Bipartisan NO campaign tour launched with Tamworth event

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson will join former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, former Labor minister Gary Johns and veteran broadcaster Alan Jones in Tamworth this month to launch a bipartisan campaign for the NO vote in the coming referendum on the voice to Parliament.

Senator Hanson said opposition to the proposed voice was increasing as concerns grew over revelations it would have much more power than the Albanese government has let on, and was only the first step towards permanently dividing and separating Australia on race and the creation of an Aboriginal state.

“Labor has repeatedly downplayed the powers and scope of the voice despite increasing evidence it has the potential to hold Parliamentary supremacy hostage in the High Court,” she said.

“More recently however, advocates for the voice have revealed just how powerful they want it to be. In fact they anticipate the High Court will play a prominent role in deciding – and expanding – its powers.

“Make no mistake, black nationalism activists will not stop with the voice. They will continue until they have their own nation within Australia, one which the rest of us pay for and one which has sovereignty over the rest of us.

“Advocates have also come clean that this is precisely why they want to enshrine this race-based voice in the Constitution.

“They do not believe all Australians should have an equal say in how their country is governed. They believe that Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders should have more power than the vast majority of the Australian people, based solely on race. They saw how the corrupt Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was abolished in 2004 and they don’t want that to happen to their voice.

“Anthony Albanese refuses to reveal planned details like this because he knows the Australian people won’t like them. Fortunately, sensible opposition to the voice has been raising these and many other problems for months now. We could easily be heading into a series of constitutional crises which could effectively make Australia ungovernable until they’re sorted out.

“Tamworth will host the first of many speaking events bringing these hard facts to people all over Australia. I have always fought for equality among all Australians, which is why I oppose the voice in all forms and why I’m pleased to play a role in this vital campaign for the NO vote.”

NSW election an opportunity to end new Sick Tax on patients in the Hunter region 

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is warning that unless the New South Wales Government acts on new payroll tax obligations for general practice, patients in the Hunter will face higher fees to see their GP and some practices may be forced to close.

The RACGP has been advocating for a fair go for practices for more than a year after a new interpretation of payroll tax law in a NSW tribunal ruling. The tribunal found that tenant GPs, who pay a percentage of their earnings to a clinic rather than being paid a wage, count as employees for payroll tax purposes. This disrupts established business models for practices, which now face the unenviable choice of charging patients more or shutting up shop.

The Queensland Government has agreed to a grace period until 2025, giving GPs and practice teams two-and-a-half years to ensure they are tax compliant. However, other jurisdictions, including NSW, have so far remained silent. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has been “in talks” with NSW Treasurer Matt Kean on this issue, but there is no sign yet of any relief for hardworking practices in NSW.

A recent survey of almost 1,300 GPs and practice staff found that:

  • just 3% of practices are in a position to absorb the costs associated with GPs becoming liable for the tax
  • almost one in five respondents said that their practice would close should state and territory governments change the current payroll tax interpretation and start considering tenant doctors as employees
  • a staggering 78% said they would be forced to raise fees, meaning patients would be paying more for every GP consult.

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said the NSW Government needed to act decisively to save general practice care.

“This Sick Tax could cripple general practice care in Newcastle and the broader Hunter region,” she said.

“While practices around the country, including in the Hunter, already pay payroll tax on employees such as receptionists and administrative workers, a sweeping extension of payroll tax following the New South Wales tribunal ruling will represent a huge increased tax burden beyond the margins of most practices.

“Practices in the Hunter will have little choice but to either pass the cost on to patients by charging more or face the prospect of shutting up shop. Some patients won’t be able to afford increased out-of-pocket costs, so they will delay or avoid the care they need and end up in a hospital bed with a far more serious condition. As a result, the entire health system will suffer for years to come. I believe that all patients deserve better, everyone should be able to access high-quality general practice care regardless of their postcode.”

RACGP NSW Chair Professor Charlotte Hespe said that the NSW Government should pay close attention to what GPs and practice teams are saying.

“Patient care must come first,” she said.

“I’m not surprised that respondents to the survey are so alarmed and that more than three quarters of those surveyed said that they would be forced to raise patient fees if new payroll tax obligations are imposed on them. That includes some practices ending bulk billing and moving to a private billing model and others substantially increasing their private billing fees. It is also no shock to learn that so many practices would have to shut up shop at a time when we face a GP shortage in many communities, particularly outside of major cities.

“In rural and remote areas, this will leave some communities with no practice to turn to. This is a disaster just waiting to happen and something that must be averted at all costs.”

Newcastle GP Dr Fiona Van Leeuwen said that any new payroll tax obligations would have a host of complex and unintended consequences.

“The closer you look at this, the more worrying it all gets,” she said.

“The ruling potentially has many impacts, including the ability to share complex chronic care of patients, being able to teach, as well having an after-hours roster. State and territory leaders have been on the record as saying that our health system is broken, and Mr Perrottet said fixing it is ‘our most urgent national priority’. The very least the NSW Government can do is take steps to protect patient care by exempting practices from this new tax burden.

“I will say it until I am blue in the face – practices should not be slugged with this additional tax on top of everything else we are dealing with. Medicare rebates have not kept pace with the costs of providing high-quality care and the Medicare freeze has taken $2 billion from general practice care.

“We are urgently repeating our calls for an exemption in every state and territory, including NSW. The NSW Government must act to ensure people in Newcastle and the broader Hunter region can access high-quality affordable general practice care when they need it.”

FEDERAL FUNDING KEY TO TACKLING INVASIVE SEA URCHIN

The Tasmanian Government’s allocation of an additional $5.1 million to the Abalone Industry Reinvestment Fund is welcome, but must now be backed up by Federal funding. 

Federal funding will be critical for the containment and management of the invasive sea urchin and ensuring the recovery of our abalone and rock lobster fisheries habitat. 

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“Long-spined sea urchins have been range-shifting down our east coast with climate change over recent decades, decimating southern ocean marine ecosystems and fisheries in their wake, yet virtually nothing has been done by the federal government to research, manage or mitigate this risk.

“At the last federal election both influential recreational and commercial fishing groups called for federal government attention and assistance on this critical problem. The state government can only do so much, it’s time the federal government acted. 

“I initiated a Senate inquiry into the spread and impacts from the invasive long-spined sea urchin, and evidence presented at the inquiry’s hearings so far suggests the need and strong appetite for state and federal government cooperation on this most challenging issue.

“Scientific modelling predicts that by 2050 half of lutruwita/Tasmania’s reefs will be turned into urchin barrens if we don’t take immediate action on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

“Stopping the formation of new urchin barrens is critical to the recovery of federally endangered Giant Kelp forests. Funding for pest urchin removal could be part of an EPBC recovery plan for this marine habitat.

“The Greens call for a federally coordinated funding approach to managing climate invasive marine pests through a Great Southern Reef Research Centre of Excellence. The Great Barrier Reef rightly receives billions of dollars in funding to help tackle the invasive crown of thorns starfish. A $40m commitment to a Great Southern Reef Research Centre of Excellence would be just a drop in the ocean in comparison.” 

HMAS Canberra to deploy to Vanuatu

The Australian Government will today deploy HMAS Canberra following a request from the Government of Vanuatu.

The 230-metre long Landing Helicopter Dock has completed loading equipment, stores and personnel and will sail from its homeport of Sydney to Vanuatu to provide support to the country following Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin.

The Ship and more than 600 ADF personnel will bring a versatile set of capabilities to support the Whole-of-Government response to the cyclones, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The deployment of HMAS Canberra follows two Royal Australian Air Force aircraft which have already reached the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila.

A C-17A Globemaster has delivered a 12-person Rapid Assessment Team and Australia’s initial humanitarian assistance, which includes, shelters, water purification supplies and other essential items for impacted communities.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP said:

“HMAS Canberra has a significant capacity to provide ship-to-shore connections via its Landing Craft and three embarked Australian Army CH-47 helicopters, fresh water and has its own hospital facilities.

“The ADF personnel on board bring recent experience from other relief efforts in the region over the past two years and Defence is proud to support a member of the Pacific family.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“Our close partnership with Vanuatu means we have been able to mobilise assistance quickly and contribute to the Government of Vanuatu’s immediate requests following Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin.

“With HMAS Canberra we are providing more humanitarian supplies and much needed logistical support. This shows our continued commitment to the Pacific family.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“The Pacific family can rely on Australia to work with them in times of crisis.”

“The deployment of HMAS Canberra follows two RAAF aircraft and Australia’s rapid assessment team, who are supporting the Government of Vanuatu to assess the impacts of these cyclones.

Historic global agreement reached on the high seas

An Australian-backed global treaty to conserve the world’s high seas and ensure they are used sustainably has been agreed to at the United Nations.

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to see a Nature Positive Australia and a Nature Positive World.

The treaty builds on the Government’s work at the Montreal Biodiversity COP where Australia led negotiations for a high-ambition Global Biodiversity Framework – protecting 30 per cent of the oceans by 2030.

Australia’s leadership and cooperation with like-minded countries has seen the new Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions treaty (High Seas Treaty) agreed overnight.

The new treaty creates stronger protections for our oceans and increases opportunities for international collaboration, including on marine science and marine protected areas (MPAs) on the high seas.

The treaty:

  • creates a framework to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the high seas,
  • puts in place a rigorous environmental impact assessment process to achieve nature positive outcomes,
  • ensures that the interests and contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities are recognised,
  • and puts in place a regime to regulate the use of marine genetic resources.

High seas make up 60 per cent of the Earth’s surface and there is a growing interest in using the marine resources found in them.

As a member of the High Ambition Coalition, Australia like many other countries, including Pacific Island countries, sought and achieved a highly ambitious treaty.

The formal adoption of the treaty text will take place in the coming months.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“The new global oceans treaty is a remarkable milestone to protect the world’s oceans.

“This outcome is particularly significant for the Blue Pacific Continent – the basis of livelihoods and food security for many in the Pacific family.

“The Albanese Government is delivering on its election commitment to protect the world’s oceans.

“Australia’s support has also enabled Pacific participation in the historic negotiations.”

Minister for the Environment and Water the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP said:

“The High Seas cover 60 per cent of the world’s surface. International cooperation to protect and manage them is vital. This treaty will give us a huge boost towards meeting our global biodiversity goal of protecting 30 per cent of our earth’s oceans.

“Australians know how important marine protected areas are in our own country – sanctuaries for marine life to grow and flourish. This treaty puts a framework in place to establish Marine Protected Areas in the high seas, leading to stronger protections for oceans around the world.

“Since coming to office the Albanese Government has been a leader on the world stage in ocean protection – from our role at the UN Oceans Conference last year to our strong leadership in seeing the high-ambition Global Biodiversity Framework signed in Montreal last December.

“Australia is proud to have joined with other nations in working tirelessly to achieve an ambitious oceans treaty. Our oceans need stronger environmental protections world-wide and this will help to deliver that.”

Come From Away cast takes final bow in Newcastle to rave reviews

The curtain will come down one last time tonight bringing Come From Away’s record-breaking Newcastle season to a close, after sweeping audiences to their feet for a standing ovation after all 23 shows.

More than 21,500 theatregoers attended from across the Hunter and beyond, who flocked to the Civic Theatre during Come From Away’s three-week extended run to share in the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from around the world who were grounded in Newfoundland Canada in the wake of 9/11.

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Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Come From Away has impressed theatregoers during its Newcastle debut and whet the city’s appetite for more musical theatre already proven on Broadway.

“Newcastle has waited 30 years to see the return of a professional Broadway production and Come From Away has been well worth the wait. Having smashed previous box office ticket sales records, our city’s appetite for live musical theatre is alive and well,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Attracting a professional Broadway production of this calibre is a testament to Newcastle’s growth as a world-class cultural city and indicative of our thriving live performing arts scene. As a city, we can’t wait to welcome the next Broadway hit to Newcastle.”

Of the more than 21,500 theatregoers, almost 50 per cent of tickets were purchased by visitors outside of Newcastle and the Hunter, from intrastate destinations like Narrabri and Bellingen to interstate destinations like Tasmania, delivering a ripple effect to accommodation providers, local businesses and the wider visitor economy.

Local accommodation providers like QT Newcastle have been welcoming guests from far-flung country NSW to Melbourne during the past three weeks according to General Manager Michael Stamboulidis.

“We’ve been run off our feet with guests here to catch a glimpse of Broadway,” Mr Stamboulidis said.

“Our accommodation/theatre packages have been popular among theatregoers and the hotel has seen high demand whilst Come From Away has been showing.”

Among the opening night crowd was Canadian-born super fan Zarina Varley Scott, who travelled to Newcastle from Sydney’s Northern Beaches to experience Come From Away’s Newcastle debut.

“This is the ninth time I’ve seen Come From Away, in various locations around the world, and I couldn’t wait to see it again in Newcastle. It did not disappoint,” Ms Varley Scott said.

Novocastrian Di Flemming was also thrilled to see Come From Away in Newcastle at the historic Civic Theatre on the opening night.

“It was a rollercoaster of a ride, I had the best time,” Ms Flemming said.

$56 million upgrade for Parramatta’s green oasis

One of the state’s most important public parklands is set for a $56 million makeover thanks to the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s WestInvest program, making it one of the best places to walk or ride a bike and soak up Parramatta’s history.  

Treasurer Matt Kean said the funding would future-proof the World Heritage-listed Parramatta Park as a crucial public space for the growing Western Sydney community.

“Parramatta Park is an 87-hectare green oasis on the doorstep of the Parramatta CBD and Westmead Health Precinct and it must be able to cater for the growing number of families flocking to the area,” Mr Kean said.

“We’re building two new pedestrian and cycling bridges over the area known as Little Coogee, making it easier than ever to walk or ride between the park and the Parramatta CBD, Commbank Stadium and Westmead Health Precinct.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said funding would go towards reconfiguring the way people move around the park.

“We can now realise our vision for the People’s Loop, a 3.2 kilometre path for walkers, runners and bike riders, while creating new access points and parking bays for families who need to drive to the park,” Mr Stokes said. 

“We’ll also restore the original vision for the town of Parramatta, reinstating the historic connection between Old Government House and the Parramatta River, with an uninterrupted walk through the old gatehouse along George Street.”

Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said Parramatta’s heritage would be further celebrated with the restoration of Wistaria Gardens and Glengarriff House.

“Parramatta Park is a heritage gem and I’m delighted to see that these two important pieces of Parramatta’s history will be restored to their former glory,” Mr Lee said.

Liberal candidate for Parramatta Katie Mullens said this investment would mean the park can accommodate the community for generations to come.

“The park welcomes two million visitors every year and that’s expected to grow 65 per cent by the year 2036, which is why this funding is so crucial to ensuring everyone can continue to enjoy it,” Ms Mullens said.

The project will be delivered by Greater Sydney Parklands over the next five years in consultation with the community.

A new high school for Sydney’s growing south west

Liberal candidate for Leppington, Therese Fedeli, has welcomed the announcement that a re-elected NSW Liberal Government will deliver a new high school for the growing suburbs across Sydney’s South West, as part of its record investment in public education infrastructure.

“This a terrific announcement for families in the south west,” Ms Fedeli said.

“The Liberal Team knows how to manage the state’s finances and that means significant investments like a new high school for this community are able to be made, and will be delivered.

“The Perrottet Government has a long term financial plan for the future to keep NSW moving forward.”

The new school will be located within the South West Growth Area and service suburbs such as Austral, Leppington, Denham Court, Gregory Hills and Gledswood Hills.

Site options in the area are being considered as part of the project’s early planning phase, alongside analysis of community needs.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the site for the new high school needs to be carefully considered so that it supports all future students in the community.

“We are looking at all options to determine where this new high school will be located, and how it can best serve the entire local community,” Ms Mitchell said.

“We know there is strong community interest for a new high school here, and we want to ensure the correct site is chosen to allow us to deliver a project that supports the best for all local students.

“This investment adds to an already historic school building program, with new schools in Gregory Hills and Edmondson Park opened this year, planning for a new high school in Edmondson Park underway as well as upgrades for Austral Public School and Leppington Public School announced in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.”

The NSW Liberal Government will work with the community through the planning phase and provide further updates as they become available.

This commitment comes with confirmation the new selective high school for South

West Sydney will be built in Leppington on land adjacent to the train station.

“After careful consideration, with a particular focus on of transport links, a site owned by government near the train station has been identified as the most suitable location for the new selective high school,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This allows us to progress to the next stage of the project as we look to offer aspirational families in South West Sydney access to a world-class selective high school.”

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, a program of $17.7 billion in public education infrastructure.

Support for Indian cultural celebrations

The state’s Indian communities will once again be supported to hold cultural celebrations and festivals by a re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said in its next term of government, the NSW Liberals and Nationals will invest $900,000 over four years to help Indian communities celebrate major events and festivals across the state.

“We believe in helping our state’s diverse communities be proud of who they are, and one of the ways we do that is by helping them celebrate their culture with everyone,” Mr Perrottet said.

Over the past four years, the NSW Liberals and Nationals invested $900,000 into Indian community groups and organisations to host events and festivals throughout the state.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the Perrottet Liberal Government is proud to invest further funding for our Indian community in NSW to run festivals and events such as for major cultural celebrations like Holi and Diwali.

“Over the past four years we have seen so many incredible events, which showcase the colour and vibrancy of the Indian community. We want to see more of that continue, and that is why we are committing to providing $225,000 a year for four years to help Indian communities host these wonderful events,” Mr Coure said.”

Liberal candidate for Londonderry, Samantha Talakola, said the Indian community has been making an important contribution to our state for generations.

“As someone who migrated from India to Sydney because of the great opportunities and the wonderful and welcoming local community, I know how important it is to come together and celebrate our new home and our traditions,” Ms Talakola said.

Liberal candidate for Parramatta, Katie Mullens, said the Indian community has grown to become an integral part of the state’s multicultural society.

“The Indian communities are a true reflection of our state’s multicultural society—each community brings its own diversity and vibrancy that adds to the rich mosaic of cultures we have in the Parramatta electorate and the entirety of NSW. I am so pleased a re-elected Perrottet Liberal Government will continue to help these communities showcase their diversity to everyone,” Ms Mullens said.

Liberal candidate for Riverstone, Mohit Kumar, added that Indian events are some of the brightest and most inviting.

“Indian communities are incredibly inviting to all those who want to learn and immerse themselves in Indian culture, and one way they do that is through events. The more we support communities to celebrate their diversity, the more we can help build harmony across our communities,” Mr Kumar said.