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The Liberal and Nationals Government today announced a record investment of $40.6 million in funding to improve the welfare of animals across the State.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the major funding boost will provide greater outcomes for animal rehoming organisations and crack down on animal abusers who violate the Governments strict animal cruelty laws.

“The past few years have shown just how important companion animals are to the wellbeing of families and households across the State,” Mr Perrottet said.

“These programs will increase capacity of those organisations that support rehoming and animal welfare to ensure more companion animals are given a safe and secure place to call home.”

The funding includes:

·           $20.5 million for the RSPCA NSW to expand enforcement of animal cruelty laws

·           $5.5 million Animal Welfare League to expand enforcement of animal cruelty laws

·           $12 million to support the construction of new facilities for companion animal rehoming at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home at Kurnell

·           $1.5 million to the Cat Protection Society to deliver cat desexing programs

·           $750,000 for Lucy’s Project, an organisation which improves access to support for people with animals experiencing domestic and family violence

·           $350,000 to Greyhound Rescue to support the rehoming of greyhounds

Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the funding package follows a review of animal rehoming practices, focused on actions to reduce unnecessary euthanasia and to increase the rehoming of companion animals.

“This record investment by the Liberals and Nationals will ensure that unclaimed or abandoned cats and dogs can be quickly adopted by new families and into their forever home,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“This Government has made major investments in shelters across the State to fast-track upgrades and worked closely with metropolitan, rural and regional councils to better understand rehoming practices.

“We’ve also introduced free lifetime pet registration for people who adopt a rescue dog or cat from shelters or pounds, another cost-saving incentive to adopt your next family pet.”

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders welcomed the funding boost for animal welfare enforcement.

“It’s important that RSPCA NSW and the Animal Welfare League have the resources they need to continue to do their important work to stamp out animal cruelty in NSW,” Mr Saunders said.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals have a strong track record when it comes to animal welfare in NSW, following the implementation of some of the most severe penalties for animal welfare in the country.”

RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said the enforcement capacity boost accelerates the organisation’s plans centred around the Inspectorate to achieve its mission of reducing animal cruelty.

“This funding unlocks growth in our enforcement agency so we can continue prosecuting those who cause harm, while implementing prevention programs that reduce animal cruelty across the state.” Mr Coleman said.

General Manager of the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home Melissa Penn said this capital funding will help build a new shelter in Kurnell to address Sydney’s surge of unwanted pets now and into the future.  Having been at risk of closure, this permanent facility secures the future of Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.

“After almost 80 years of service, Sydney Dogs & Cats Home has been an essential service supporting over 1.1 million Sydneysiders. We have the experience and expertise and with a permanent facility securing our future, we can scale up and help even more lost, abandoned and unwanted pets,” Ms Penn said.

“Thank you, Minister Tuckerman, for funding 60% of our new purpose-built shelter in Kurnell and supporting us to continue our essential community service. This is a critical first step to not only helping us save thousands of animals every year, but to growing our community programs and support, creating a lifeline to both the animals we care for and those in the community who need it most.”

Member for Cronulla Mark Speakman said the future of the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home was secure thanks to the Liberals and Nationals in Government.

“My family adopted our beautiful Golden Retriever Lucy from the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home in 2018, and she has brought my family so much love and joy. I’m proud to be part of a Government which is ensuring this organisation can continue to do their amazing work and bring the same joy to future families and pets.” Mr Speakman said.

Multicultural groups will receive an extra $2 million in funding as part of a record investment by the Liberal and Nationals Government to address domestic and sexual violence.

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the funding will ensure faith based and community response services can assist more people than ever before.

“Domestic violence does not discriminate and every victim survivor should be able to receive the help they need regardless of their background,” Mrs Ward said.

“We know there are victim-survivors in diverse communities who are reluctant to seek mainstream support because of their visa status, the absence of a trusted social network in Australia or language and cultural barriers.

“These grants will increase the capacity of our response services across NSW and provide more targeted support for victim survivors in diverse communities.”

Eligible faith and multicultural community based applicants can apply for a one-off grant from a minimum of $20,000 up to $150,000.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said that in a culturally diverse society like NSW, everyone must have the means to respond and be safe from domestic violence.

“Domestic violence is not unique or isolated to any one community, which is why we all must rally together to bring an end to it,” Mr Coure said.

“We know that no two communities are the same, and that is why we are providing the investment to grassroots groups and organisations that know their communities best to deliver meaningful outcomes.

“This is about empowering local groups to respond to domestic and family violence in their communities in a way that is inclusive, culturally respectful, and accessible.”

The Government is investing record funding of over $700 million in initiatives to support Women’s Safety including:

• $426.6 million to expand the Core and Cluster initiative, to deliver and operate new women’s refuges that will support up to an additional 2,900 women and children escaping domestic and family violence each year. This is the largest funding commitment ever made to the domestic violence sector;
• Landmark laws to criminalise coercive control in intimate partner relationships
• Nation-leading affirmative consent laws, which commenced on 1 June 2022.
• Facilitating the immediate termination of a tenancy to escape violence;
• The ‘Right To Ask’ scheme where people can find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence offences;
• $20 million over two years for up to 200 additional electronic monitoring devices;
• Providing 24/7 support via the NSW Domestic Violence Line to help victims find a safe place to stay, or transport for them and their children; connecting them to police, courts, lawyers and counsellors; and help with a safety plan;

If re-elected, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has also committed to:

• Reviewing all NSW sentences for domestic violence related offences;
• Funding a specialist Domestic and Family Violence List across three local courts and funding a surge of five additional magistrates to ensure cases are heard earlier in the next term of Government.
• Waiving the Rentstart Bond Loan eligibility criteria for people leaving domestic violence;
• Providing access to First Homer Buyer Choice and First Home Buyer Assistance schemes to victim survivors;

Grant applications will open on 13 February and close on 27 March.

Funds will be released in June 2023 following the grant assessment and approval process and must be expended by 30 June 2024.

Further information is available here – https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/grants/domestic-family-sexual-violence-multicultural-community-grant.html

The NSW Government has appointed a new specialist careers adviser who has been tasked with showing the employment opportunities available to the state’s multi-lingual young people and boosting its interpreting and translating ranks.

A first-of-its-kind in Australia, the new adviser will work with students fluent in another language across high schools, community language schools, and universities to show them the opportunities to work as interpreters and translators.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said this new role will be a big win for multi-lingual young people and the NSW Government’s language services. 

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals are committed to supporting our multicultural state. But, to do that, we need to increase our interpreting ranks, especially with people that speak languages from new and emerging communities that weren’t prevalent five or ten years ago,” Mr Coure said. 

“Through this new adviser, we will be able to strengthen our language services while also connecting young people with opportunities that are available simply for being fluent in another language, whether as a professional interpreter or as a means to earn money while undertaking further study.” 

Identified students will have the opportunity to secure a partial or full interpreting and translating scholarship, where those who complete the program can access employment, mentoring and professional development opportunities with Multicultural NSW. 

“With more and more people speaking a language other than English at home and people needing help accessing services or information, we should be empowering those that can speak a second or third language with these opportunities,” Mr Coure said. 

“Thanks to an $8 million investment into the NSW Government’s language services, we will provide 450 scholarships a year to people wanting to become interpreters and translators. 

“While this will give opportunities to people to find employment using their language skills, it will also mean we have more people to call on to help make sure our services and information are accessible to everyone.”

Chief Executive of SydWest Multicultural Services Elfa Moraitakis hailed the new initiative as a great investment into the state’s multicultural future. 

“Speaking a second language myself and being very passionate about language and culture, I am very pleased to see the level of investment that has been made into increasing the opportunities for young people to use these skills as a profession,” Ms Moraitakis said. 

“Recognising the importance of speaking another language will give our youth a sense of pride and belonging. It is a skill that is not easily obtained, and it is great to see that it is appreciated and valued.”

Over the past four years, the NSW Government has provided more than 400 Scholarships to budding interpreters covering more than 55 different languages. 

In December, the NSW Government announced that HSC language students who achieved a Band 6 score in targeted extension languages would also be eligible for scholarships to become interpreters or translators.

To find out more about the NSW Government’s language services and Interpreting Scholarship Program, visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au. 

Women and girls across NSW will have access to more inclusive sporting facilities, thanks to the NSW Government’s $25 million Female Friendly Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades Program.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said 94 community sport facilities are set to be transformed, delivering female-friendly change rooms, amenities and lighting upgrades, which is one of the biggest barriers that prevent women and girls from playing sport.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government recognises the critical role local sport infrastructure plays in keeping our communities healthy and active,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Community sport is where it all begins, and by investing in our local communities to help boost female participation, we will ensure any young girl or woman who wants to shoot a hoop, score a try or kick a goal, can do so in a supportive environment.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said since 2017 the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has committed more than $1 billion to deliver new and upgraded community sport facilities.

“Women’s sport is booming in NSW and this program will deliver the facilities women and girls need and deserve,” Mr Kean said. 

“This groundbreaking program will level the playing field by improving facilities that for decades have been predominately used by men, but now cater for a growing number of women’s and girls’ sporting teams.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said major events including the recent FIBA Women’s World Cup and upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup are creating enormous excitement and inspiring the next generation of female sporting stars.

“Whether it’s on the court, field or track, we continue to be inspired by our homegrown talent like Ellyse Perry, Lauren Jackson, and Madison de Rozario who are captivating the nation with their extraordinary athleticism and passion,” Mr Henskens said.

“The Liberal and Nationals Government’s investment in community sport infrastructure is improving facilities for women and girls, and boosting female participation in sport, in line with our Her Sport Her Way strategy.”

Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said we know that when women and girls feel comfortable, they are more likely to stick with their chosen sport.

“Some of the biggest barriers faced by women and girls are the lack of female change rooms and amenities,” Mrs Taylor said.

“I am so thrilled that more than 90 projects will be funded through this program, with more than half of those in our regional communities. This means more women and girls in the bush will have equal opportunity to play their favourite sport.”

More information about the program and the list of successful recipients is available online.