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Government opens up Sydney New Year’s Eve premium vantage points for the public

The NSW Government has today confirmed that NSW government owned sites around the Sydney Harbour foreshore will be free for the public this New Year’s Eve, fulfilling an election commitment.

The announcement comes as six thousand front row positions for the world-famous fireworks atop the Cahill Expressway go up for grabs from Tuesday with the launch of a free ticket ballot.

The move will allow more than 60,000 Sydneysiders and visitors to once again access some of the harbour’s best vantage points free of charge.

The Government is making fireworks viewing free again across Barangaroo Reserve, West Circular Quay (including First Fleet Park), Campbells Cove, Hickson Road Reserve and locations in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and The Domain, including the renowned Mrs Macquarie’s Point. Tickets at these locations last year ranged in price from $12.50 to $520.

Most of these vantage points will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with monitored capacity limits in place. Each vantage point will be closed once capacity is reached.

Further NSW Government public domain venues within Sydney Harbour will also be free, with access managed through a ticket system. This includes NSW National Parks and Wildlife’s Bradleys Head, Strickland Estate, and the idyllic Clark Island, Me-Mel (Goat Island) and Shark Island.

Tickets at these NSW National Parks and Wildlife venues last year cost between $24 and $286. Instead, people who secure tickets this year will only pay a modest fee covering their return ferry voyage.

The Transport for NSW ‘NYE on the Cahill Expressway’ will remain the same as 2022, with free access managed through a ticket system. The family-friendly, alcohol and smoke-free celebration boasts live music, entertainment and an amazing view.

People can nominate their preference to attend either the 9pm or midnight session, with a maximum of five tickets available per ballot entry. Around 3,000 can take in the fireworks display at each session, with a dedicated accessibility viewing area available to up to 200 people.

The ballot for tickets to NYE on the Cahill Expressway 2023 opens at 9:00am Tuesday 5 September and will close on Friday 6 October at 11:59pm, with people invited to enter the draw to attend one of two sessions.

Successful applicants will be informed by email between Monday, 16 October and Friday, 8 December 2023.

Enter the ballotlaunch

The Government has provided limited exemptions to two charities, the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia and the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation, allowing their annual New Year’s Eve fundraisers to continue. The not-for-profit events underpin the conservation and scientific work of the two important NSW public institutions.

The Royal Botanic Gardens’ limited exemption allows its Foundation and Friends Picnic, established in 1996, to take place once again on the Mare and Foal Lawn. The picnic also serves as the Royal Botanic Gardens’ designated accessible viewing area, with complimentary tickets issued via a public ballot to people with a disability.

Planning in all precincts is now underway. Access arrangements, including free tickets, will be made available over time via the City of Sydney’s website.

City of Sydney will continue to put on the world-famous firework display on December 31, ensuring Sydney maintains its globally recognised reputation as the New Year’s capital of the world.

Sydney Harbour will once again be the focal point with two fireworks shows, the 9pm fireworks followed by the dazzling midnight show.

NSW Government agencies including the NSW Police are already working together to ensure appropriate safety and security measures will be in place across the city to ensure revellers can welcome in 2024 safely.

Unsung heroes of the child protection system celebrated

This Child Protection Week, the NSW Government is recognising and celebrating the unsung heroes of our child protection system – the dedicated caseworkers and frontline staff who keep children safe.

Child Protection Week begins today and serves as an important reminder that safeguarding our children requires collective effort, urging every Australian to recognise their role in nurturing a safe environment for the younger generation.

At the heart of the NSW child safety system are more than 2,300 specialised caseworkers and frontline personnel who respond to the hundreds of child safety reports received by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) every day.

DCJ’s Child Protection Helpline is the first touch point of the NSW child protection system. Helpline staff assess reports and work swiftly to ensure children are kept safe and families are supported.

The Helpline:

operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week
answers more than 140,000 calls each year
answered more than 10,000 calls in July this year alone
completed more than 16,500 assessments in July this year (including assessments in response to e-reports).

The NSW Government is committed to supporting and celebrating the thousands of dedicated frontline staff who keep children safe across NSW.

Child Protection Weeklaunch runs from 3 to 9 September.

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“Child Protection Week is an opportunity to recognise the vital work caseworkers and frontline staff do every day to support children.”

“Caseworkers offer invaluable support to at-risk children and families, work that is often extremely complex and incredibly challenging.”

“Protecting our state’s most vulnerable children is not possible without the efforts of these workers.”

“I’ve been so impressed by the caseworkers I’ve met right across the state, including the team at the Child Protection Helpline in South West Sydney. They approach their difficult work with big hearts, driven by the desire to see children and families receive the support they need.”

“Thank you to our incredible Helpline staff at Liverpool and the tireless efforts of all child protection workers across DCJ and NSW.”

Appeal to locate woman missing from Newcastle

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman reported missing from the Newcastle area.

Bree Gray, aged 28, was last seen leaving a hospital on Edith Street, Waratah, about 5.30pm on Friday (1 September 2023).

When she could not be located, officers from Newcastle City Police District were notified and commenced inquiries to locate her.

Police hold serious concerns for her welfare due to medical concerns.

Bree is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 170 – 175cm tall, medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.

She is known to frequent the Waratah, Lambton, Raymond Terrace and Newcastle areas.

Anyone who sees Bree or has any information on her whereabouts is urged to contact Newcastle City police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Australia-China high level dialogue

The 7th Australia-China High Level Dialogue will be held in Beijing on 7 September, providing a platform for senior representatives from industry, government, academia, media and the arts to exchange perspectives across the breadth of Australia and China’s bilateral relationship.

The Dialogue is an opportunity for constructive discussion between stakeholders on both sides of the bilateral relationship across a range of issues, including trade and investment, people-to-people links and regional and international security.

Former Trade Minister, the Hon Dr Craig Emerson, will co-chair the Dialogue as the head of the Australian delegation.

Reflecting bipartisan support for the Dialogue since its establishment, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop, will participate as a delegate and session lead.

Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Jan Adams AO PSM, will also attend as part of the delegation and participate as a session lead.

The Dialogue has contributed to Australia’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China since it was first held in 2014.

The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Chinese People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs co-host the Dialogue. China’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Honorary President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, Li Zhaoxing, will co-chair and lead the Chinese delegation.

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

“This is first time the Dialogue has been held since early 2020 and it represents another step towards increasing bilateral engagement and stabilising our relationship with China.
“The resumption of the Dialogue was one of the outcomes of my meeting with China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, in Beijing in December.
“It provides an opportunity for representatives from both countries to discuss our perspectives and how we can grow our cooperation in areas of shared interest.”

Hon Dr Craig Emerson said:

“Since it was established, the Dialogue has been an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding with Chinese participants and to find common ground.
“I am proud to lead the Australian delegation and contribute to the Albanese government’s efforts to stabilise the relationship with China.”

Tunnel boring machine smashes through at future Western Sydney Airport Terminal Station

Western Sydney residents are one step closer to catching fast metro rail services, with TBM Peggy smashing through at the future Airport Terminal station in a major milestone for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project.

The 1,066-tonne mega-machine completed the first leg of its 5.5-kilometre journey to the Aerotropolis, following TBM Eileen, who made her historic first breakthrough last month.

Peggy has worked around the clock at an average speed of 120 metres per week to build the fully lined 1.26-kilometre tunnel from the Airport Business Park, excavating around 112,000 tonnes of rock – enough to fill about 18 Olympic swimming pools.

In preparation for Peggy’s arrival, approximately 293,000 tonnes of rock (about 48 Olympic swimming pools) have been excavated from the 25-metre-deep Airport Terminal station box.

The enormous machine will now traverse the station box before being relaunched, to tunnel under the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, with the TBM expected to arrive at the Aerotropolis metro station site in 2024.

TBM Peggy is named after Peggy Kelman OAM, an Australian aviation pioneer and adventurer.

Peggy Kelman was a friend of Nancy-Bird Walton, the namesake of the new international airport.

A total of four TBMs will build the 9.8-kilometre-long twin tunnels for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport railway line between St Marys and the Aerotropolis.

TBM Eileen is carving the metro tunnel alongside TBM Peggy from Airport Business Park to the Aerotropolis. TBM Catherine and TBM Marlene have begun their 4.3-kilometre journey from Orchard Hills to St Marys.

A joint venture between CPB Contractors and Ghella was awarded the $1.8 billion Station Boxes and Tunnelling contract in 2021 to deliver 9.8 kilometres of twin metro tunnels, five station boxes and two services facilities shafts for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project.

The line will be operational when Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens for passenger services in 2026, with an expected travel time of 15 minutes from St Marys metro station to the Airport Terminal Station and a further five minutes to the Aerotropolis Station.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

“The spectacular arrival of TBM Peggy marks the fantastic progress underway on this vital 23-kilometre transport link, which will not only benefit Greater Western Sydney residents, but for those visiting from around the globe.

“We are thrilled to be shaping the future of this vibrant and growing region with reliable and fully accessible metro services, ready for when planes start taking off at the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.”

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“This city-shaping project is supporting the local economy with more than 14,000 jobs generated during construction, including 250 new apprentices and at least 20 per cent of the contract workforce coming from Greater Western Sydney.

“This project is making Western Sydney the doorway to the rest of the world, and we can’t wait to see it continue to take shape.”

Member for Werriwa Anne Stanley said:

“The community benefit, as the Western Sydney (Nancy – Bird Walton) International Airport continues toward completion, are immense.

Our residents are looking forward to the opportunities, jobs for the future, as well as the construction jobs which support families and the economy in Western Sydney.”

The Powerhouse Museum Ultimo revitalised

The NSW Government is delivering on its election commitment to save the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo and preserve the Wran legacy.

The Government is committing $250 million for a heritage revitalisation to the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo.

The iconic and much-loved 1988 Wran building will be saved.

The Powerhouse Museum was established in 1879 as the Technological, Industrial and Sanitary Museum of New South Wales. In 1978 an investment by the NSW Wran Labor Government investment transformed it into the modern Powerhouse Museum.

There has been no significant capital investment into Ultimo Powerhouse Museum since the museum opened in 1988.

The former government allocated $481 million for a Powerhouse renewal project.

NSW families are facing rampant inflation, as well as rising energy and housing costs. The $230 million balance from this decision will support the construction of new school and hospital projects as part of a new era of responsible long-term budget repair.

Independent engineering advice is that there are significant systems that need to be replaced to meet operation and building code requirements.

The NSW Government will undertake further consultation with current staff as well as the arts and culture sector, business and creative industries groups, the education sector, peak bodies, expert advisors, local communities, and the public on the details and timing of this heritage redevelopment.

Minister for Arts John Graham said:

“We promised at the election that we would preserve the Wran legacy and keep the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo open. We are doing just that.

“The area around the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo has changed extensively since the museum opened in 1988. It is now a major hub for creative industries, technology, innovation, education, and research. This prudent investment allows us to save the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo and preserve the Wran legacy in a tough fiscal environment.

“We have responded to community calls for a more modest redevelopment, saving the Powerhouse Museum and preserving the Wran legacy with a $250 million heritage redevelopment.”

Man charged after police officer assaulted – Port Stephens-Hunter PD

A man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a police officer on the Port Stephens-Hunter region this morning.

About 8.25am (Friday 1 September 2023), police were called to a property on Morna Point Road, Anna Bay, following a concern for welfare report.

On arrival, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District located a man and woman inside the property.

Upon making further inquiries at the scene, a male constable was allegedly stabbed by the man with a narrow metal instrument.

The 42-year-old man was arrested and taken to the Mater Hospital for assessment.

The 31-year-old constable was taken to the John Hunter Hospital for the treatment of non-life-threatening facial injuries.

Upon his release from hospital, the 42-year-old man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with seven offences, including:

take etc person intend serious indictable offence,
common assault,
stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm,
assault occasioning actual bodily harm,
wound police officer executing duty reckless as to actual bodily harm,
use etc offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, and
possess prohibited drug.

The Anna Bay man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Saturday 2 September 2023).

PLIBERSEK APPROVES LABOR’S FOURTH COAL PROJECT

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has today approved the fourth coal project this year, at the Gregory Crinum Coal Mine in the Bowen Basin, to run until 2073.

This follows project approvals for the Isaac River Coal Mine, the Star Coal Mine, and the Ensham Coal Mine.

Last week’s emissions update found that fossil fuel emissions continue to rise under Labor, their weak 43% by 2030 target won’t be reached until 2037, and Australia won’t hit net zero until 2080.

Even if Labor’s 43% emissions reduction target was reached, it is consistent with a global temperature rise of over 2C, in breach of our Paris Target commitments.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP said:

“Labor is making global heating worse by opening new coal mines,” Mr Bandt said.

“Tanya Plibersek has just approved a new coal project that will run until 2073, when we’re meant to be reaching net zero. That’s another 50 years of coal, when the science tells us we can’t open any new coal or gas mines.

“The science is crystal clear. If we’re going to stop the world going over the climate cliff, we can’t open up a single new coal project, but Labor has approved four.

“With Labor opening new coal and gas mines, it is no surprise that emissions are continuing to rise under Labor.”

Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Environment Spokesperson, Senator for SA said:

“Another day, another coal mine approved by the so-called Environment Minister.”

“Every time this Government approves a new coal or gas project they are risking our River Murray, our Reef and the safety of our children.

“Our environment laws are broken. We need laws that stop native forest logging and the stop pollution that fuels the climate crisis.

“The Minister has promised to fix our environment laws this year and that must include making sure they account for climate change when assessing these projects, at the very least.”

RIGHT TO DISCONNECT SHOULD BE IN IR REFORM: GREENS

In his speech at the National Press Club today the Minister for Industrial Relations Tony Burke signalled the government’s intention to criminalise wage theft but there was no mention of a glaring problem that costs Australian workers $93 billion a year in unpaid overtime.

Minister Burke’s outline of the next round of IR reforms in the Closing Loopholes Bill to be introduced to Parliament next week ignores a major loophole in our employment laws. The unrestricted access employers currently have to workers outside their paid working hours is costing the average Australian worker six weeks of unpaid overtime per year.

The Greens want to see a right to disconnect in our workplace laws to further protect Australian workers from ongoing wage theft.

Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens spokesperson on Employment said:

“Australian workers need a right to disconnect to stop wage theft and close a critical loophole for undercutting wages.

“Australian workers do an excessive amount of unpaid overtime, in large part because they are always contactable. Workers should have the right to turn off their phones, block their bosses’ calls, and switch off their emails when they’re finished work for the day.

“With so much workplace technology intruding into our lives outside work we need some legislated protections that will allow workers to get their lives back. So many ordinary Australians have caring responsibilities and need to be able to give their full attention to their families and those they care for, as well as to recharge their batteries and do the things that are important to them.

“We need a more productive workforce and the best way to achieve this is by working smarter not harder. And this means having a right to disconnect from workplace distractions when we are on our own time.

“I’m also keen to see more detail on proposed protections for workers in the gig economy which are not just the people who deliver your meals but also the workers in the care economy who look after your children or your grandparents.

“While Minister Burke signalled some minimum standards for gig workers including a minimum wage, there are some other big issues that remain unaddressed including minimum hours, pay during wait times and health and safety compensation.

“The Labor Government could be ushering in a new class of underprivileged workers with the introduction of employee-like workers if these protections are not included.”

GREENS DEMAND URGENT ACTION TO FIX MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN PRISONS

The Australian Greens are demanding urgent action be taken in Australia’s corrections system to address a mental health crisis and prevent further deaths in custody.

A coronial report into the death of 30-year-old First Nations man Mr Blanket, handed down by Coroner Philip Urquhart in Western Australia, has highlighted a ‘chronic shortage’ of safe cells.

Mr Blanket died in his cell at the privately run Acacia Prison in 2019, after his mental health deteriorated and he experienced multiple episodes of psychosis and self-harm.

WA Greens Senator, First Nations portfolio holder and Yamatji-Noongar woman, Dorinda Cox said:

“It is simply unacceptable that someone has been able to take their life in prison because there are not enough safe cells available, particularly for those who are also vulnerable due to their mental health.

“The evidence shows there were many failings of the current system including failure to provide previous mental health assessments to Acacia’s mental health service providers, that Mr Blanket expressed suicidal ideations to prison staff, and his mother had told prison staff of his suicide risk, but wasn’t listened to.

“Red flags were missed despite Mr Blanket having a history of self-harm and attempted suicide and Mr Blanket was not moved to a safe cell in time.

“It is time for the what the coroner described as a ‘chronic shortage’ to be addressed.

“These shocking and continuing deaths are avoidable and the coroner has found that the treatment and care provided to Mr Blanket was anything but culturally appropriate.

“The continuing deaths in custody cause ongoing distress for First Nations communities and Mr Blanket’s family has been seeking answers and change so that no other family endures the pain of losing a loved one.

“I have previously called on our governments to implement all the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody report handed down in 1991, I reiterate that call with what is another tragic and devastating death in custody.”

Greens Justice Spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge said:

“More than 30 years since the Royal Commission we have a prison where only a tiny fraction of cells were safe cells without hanging points, that’s disgraceful.

“The coroner has found that the lack of safe cells a cause of Mr Blanket’s death, meaning the WA Government cannot dodge responsibility for this dreadfully predictable loss.

“It is deeply distressing for Mr Blanket’s family to hear how the lack of treatment programs denied him parole and left him in jail as his mental health deteriorated.

“Mr Blanket was killed by a system that refused to provide him with treatment and then locked him in a room with hanging points, a situation we have known is unsafe for decades.”

George Newhouse, Principal Solicitor of the National Justice Project said:

“The coroner has made some significant recommendations however they do not go far enough and Aboriginal medical services need to provide culturally safe therapeutic health care in prisons.

“The prison system needs to listen to families who know their loved ones well; they need a voice, they need to be heard.

“The failure to allow Mr Blanket to participate in a rehabilitation program meant that he was precluded from parole which destabilised him and contributed to his mental health crisis.

“The coroner has called on the Department and Serco to address the inability of short-term prisoners to access programs that are necessary to get parole. Corporate prison operators like Serco have an economic incentive to deny programs to prisoners and keep people like Mr Blanket behind bars but that can destroy lives.”