PRIME MINISTER’S LITERARY AWARDS CELEBRATES CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards recognises the best of Australian literature and celebrates writing as a valuable cultural and intellectual influence.

Today in Launceston, the 2022 award winners have been recognised for their contributions and literary talents.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Awards highlighted the creativity and excellence of Australian literature.

“It is through great writing we are able to celebrate and build upon our cultural and creative identity,” the Prime Minister said.

“I congratulate this year’s winners and thank them for their efforts in showcasing the diversity of Australian voices.”

Minister Burke said these awards are fundamental in creating a pathway for future and aspiring authors, poets and historians.

“The work Australian writers do matters. It matters because it shapes the narrative of our everyday lives, and that is something that needs to be supported.

“Writers provide the pathway for Australians to know themselves, for us to know each other and for the world to know us.

“It’s important we make sure that Australian stories continue to be told, both here at home and overseas. Thank you to all this year’s winners for doing just that.”

The Awards are presented in six categories – fiction, poetry, non-fiction, Australian history, children’s and young adult literature with winners sharing in the total prize pool of $600,000.

We thank the independent judges Professor Chris Dixon, Dr Deborah Hope, Troy Bramston, Professor Gail Pearson, Chris Mitchell, Geoffrey Lehmann, Associate Professor Sandra Phillips, Stephen Romei, Peter Craven, Caroline Overington, James Roy, Demet Divaroren, Erica Wagner, Paula Kelly Paull and Dr Anthony Eaton for their work.

The Awards will be livestreamed on the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Facebook page.

For more information about the winning and shortlisted works, visit the PM’s Literary Awards.

The 2022 Prime Minister’s Literary Award winners:

Fiction

  • Red Heaven by Nicolas Rothwell

Poetry

  • Human Looking by Andy Jackson

Non-fiction

  • Rogue Forces: An explosive insiders’ account of Australian SAS war crimes in Afghanistan by Mark Willacy

Australian history

  • Semut: The untold story of a secret Australian operation in WWII Borneo by Christine Helliwell

Children’s literature

  • Mina and the Whole Wide World by Sherryl Clark, illustrated by Briony Stewart

Young adult literature

  • The Gaps by Leanne Hall

STATEMENT FROM PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE

All Australians are shocked and saddened by this tragic loss of life.

Two Queensland police officers, their lives cut short by this atrocity.

Constable Matthew Arnold, just 26 years of age.

Constable Rachel McCrow, just 29.

Constables from Tara Police Station, who lost their lives in this tragedy.

I pay tribute to them.

I pay tribute as well to their surviving fellow officers, Constable Randall Kirk and Constable Keeley Brough.

In addition, I pay tribute to a neighbour driven by the instinct to help. Alan Dare also lost his life in this tragedy.

Three lives cruelly cut short.

This is, indeed, a devastating day for everyone who loved these Australians.

And our hearts go out to those in the grip of terrible grief.

We know that this news has fallen hard on a close-knit and caring Queensland community.

As well as, of course, the community to which all police officers belong.

Today is a rough day, indeed, for all police officers and their families.

Every officer knows the risk that they face in the life of duty. They are all too aware of the dangers that they face.

Yet they do their job. They do it for our communities.

That is courage, and it is public service at the highest level.

And today and every day I pay tribute to each and every one of the police officers who serve their local communities and who serve their nation.

This is not a price that anyone who puts on the uniform should ever pay.

We can never count the true cost.

My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this tragedy.

With honour, they served.

And Australia mourns with you today.

We stand with you always.

PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT PAPUA NEW GUINEA JANUARY 12-13

Prime Minister Albanese will travel to Papua New Guinea from 12-13 January to attend the Annual Leaders’ Dialogue alongside his counterpart Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby.

Following the Dialogue, the Prime Ministers will travel together to Wewak on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea to visit the resting place of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“I have spent time with my good friend Prime Minister Marape on several occasions this year, including here in Australia at the Prime Minister’s XIII Rugby League match.

“I am looking forward to starting the New Year with a visit to Papua New Guinea to reinforce the strong bond between our two countries.

“Australia and Papua New Guinea are close not just geographically, but also because of our long history and shared vision for the future.

“I thank Prime Minister Marape for the invitation and look forward to continuing our discussion in Port Moresby and Wewak.”

Vanuatu and Australia sign Bilateral Security Agreement

Today in Vanuatu, Australia and Vanuatu signed a Bilateral Security Agreement.

Australia and Vanuatu’s security is intertwined and we are committed to enhancing the peace, prosperity, resilience and safety of our region for future generations.

The Agreement recognises that our security cooperation must continue to adapt, including to better address the implications of climate change, to help manage the human security effects of COVID-19, and to meet shared challenges across the full scope of the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security.

The Agreement cements our ability to work together across a broad range of security cooperation areas including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; policing, law enforcement and justice; defence; border security, human security; environment and resource security; biosecurity; cyber security; maritime safety and security; and aviation safety and security. It also enables strengthened information and assessment exchange.

A new joint security dialogue will help guide implementation.

As nations committed to democracy, accountability and transparency, the Agreement will be publicly available.

Australia also handed over the newly redeveloped Mala Base Wharf and gifted police boat RVS Mataweli to Vanuatu as part of our long-standing maritime security cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP said:

“The Australia-Vanuatu Bilateral Security Agreement is a practical expression of the family first approach to peace and security in our region. It reflects Australia and Vanuatu’s ongoing commitment to working together as members of the Pacific family to address shared security challenges.”

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

“Australia and Vanuatu enjoy a deep security partnership developed through decades of practical cooperation. This Bilateral Security Agreement will formalise our partnership across the full suite of our shared security interests and make a valuable contribution to the security of the Pacific family.”

Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP said:

“Australia and Vanuatu over many years have worked together as members of the Pacific law enforcement community to combat security challenges to keep the Blue Pacific safe. The bilateral security agreement will take these relationships across the law and justice sector to a new level.”

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

“This Agreement builds on our strong and enduring security partnership based on respect, shared values, and decades of cooperation. It will underpin our ability to contribute to our region’s security, giving effect to the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.”

Search is on for First Nations creatives to star in Newcastle Museum exhibition

First Nations artists are being invited to take part in a major new community exhibition being curated by Newcastle Museum.

Entitled FIRST, the exhibition will challenge perceptions of traditional and modern creative practices by showcasing the diverse works being produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this exhibition would be the first of its kind for the Museum.

“Newcastle Museum is on the cutting edge of contemporary museum practice and has been nationally recognised for its innovative exhibitions, which create insightful ways to interpret and preserve our city’s fascinating history,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This exhibition will provide a wonderful avenue through which we can gain new perspectives and celebrate the work of local emerging and established First Nations creatives.”

Newcastle Councillor and proud Wiradjuri woman Deahnna Richardson said Newcastle Museum offers an invaluable vehicle through which we can tell our city’s story and understand our identity.

“The Awabakal and Worimi communities have cared for this country we call Newcastle for more than 60,000 years and have carried rich and diverse arts practices and knowledge through many generations to contemporary life,” Cr Richardson said.

“I applaud Newcastle Museum for working alongside the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to provide a space to celebrate their extraordinary creative and cultural practices.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island creatives who have a link to Newcastle and the Hunter are invited to submit an expression of interest to take part in the free exhibition, which will be on display at Newcastle Museum beginning in April next year.

City of Newcastle’s Museum, Archive, Libraries and Learning Director Julie Baird said the project has a strong focus on collaboration and consultation, employing First Nations creatives in the development of the exhibition.

“FIRST offers a blank canvas for creatives to broaden the community’s perception on contemporary and traditional practices,” Ms Baird said.

“It will offer new insight into the variety and possibilities offered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives while also providing them with an opportunity to leave a first and lasting impression with potential collaborators, clients, and audiences.”

The exhibition will be accompanied by an online portfolio where visitors can connect directly with artists’ online profiles.

Expressions of interest are open now and will close on Sunday 12 February. Visit the Newcastle Museum website for more information.

Protection for Stockton Beach

Newcastle City Council on Tuesday evening will consider a tender for the construction of a buried protection structure at the southern end of the existing Mitchell Street seawall in Stockton.

The protection structures will shield Stockton’s coastline in the event of large swells, significantly reducing the chances of erosion.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said that she was pleased that the delivery of the promised next stage of onshore works at Stockton is occurring.

“These works will see City of Newcastle’s (CN) investment at Stockton since the adoption of our Coastal Management Plan in 2020 increase to $9.5 million. Council has already committed $27.5 million to protecting Stockton Beach.”

The buried protection structures and emergency works complement the NSW Government’s proposed mass sand nourishment on the beach. CN has already undertaken significant work to understand the cause of erosion and beach recession, and gain community support for an evidence-based solution in close collaboration with the Stockton community.

CN’s Executive Director City Infrastructure Joanne Rigby said that the first of three proposed structures will consist of underground vertical concrete piles that extend from street level to 8.5m below ground. Once constructed, only the very top of the round beams will be visible at ground level.

“The design of the structure considers its ability to address erosion from storm events, as well as long-term beach recession. It also considers the requirement to protect public assets at high-risk.”

CN today met with the Stockton Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Group to ensure current and future works respect the significance of the Stockton coastline to the Worimi people and protects their heritage.

Meanwhile, CN has continued the work required to be able to receive and place sand on Stockton Beach and expects to have the placement designs and environmental approvals finalised in early 2023 – meaning that once a sand source is confirmed, Stockton will be ready to receive the sand.

CN is waiting for the NSW Government to finalise its role as outlined in its application for the recently awarded $6.2 million Coastal and Estuarine Risk Management Grant, which includes $4.7 million from the Federal Government and $1.5 million from CN.

A Stockton Community Liaison Group (CLG) meeting Monday morning discussed the issues around the NSW Government’s commitment to project managing the work as outlined in its grant application to the Federal Government, which funds the delivery of sand for initial amenity nourishment at Stockton Beach, as well as the additional investigations and approvals required for mass sand nourishment.

Chair of the Stockton Community Liaison Group, Barbara Whitcher, called on the State Government to commit to a solution as a matter of urgency.

“We supported the NSW Government’s application on the understanding that they would undertake the project management of this important work, and that they would own the associated licences required to obtain sand for Stockton.”

“At today’s meeting, the community members were dismayed to hear of the lack of State Government commitment and action, especially as we had been so hopeful when Federal and CN funding was announced at Stockton in recent months. The Stockton community really need to see immediate action from the State Government to get sand back on our beach,” said Ms Whitcher.

“The serious issue of erosion of the Stockton coastline will bring further anxiety when the east coast lows arrive, and we need all three levels of government to commit fully to addressing this issue in the immediate and longer term.”

“We welcome Council’s investment of more than $9 million for additional onshore delivery of protections structures for Stockton. This continued investment from City of Newcastle is vital to the protection of Stockton beach and in line with the 2020 CMP.”

Community to have their say on future of Newcastle 500

City of Newcastle will seek feedback from the community before, during and after next year’s Newcastle 500 as part of a consultation strategy prepared to guide future decisions on the event.

Councillors will vote tonight to place the draft strategy on public exhibition ahead of its planned implementation leading into the Supercars season-opener, which will be held in Newcastle from 10-12 March 2023.

Next year’s race is the final event to be held under the existing agreement between Supercars Australia, City of Newcastle and Destination NSW.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the future of the Newcastle 500 beyond the final race is a decision of the NSW Government in the first instance as the consent authority for the race.

“Any inclusion of Newcastle as a potential host city for another five years will be subject to broad community and stakeholder consultation, and a decision of the elected Council after the March 2023 event,” Cr Nelmes said.

CEO Jeremy Bath said City of Newcastle is committed to undertaking broad community consultation prior to entering into any agreement should Destination NSW and Supercars Australia propose a five-year extension to continue the event in Newcastle.

“The draft community consultation strategy has been developed by KPMG and includes an evidence-based methodology to understand the opinions of the Newcastle community and ensure that key stakeholders have their voices heard and considered,” Mr Bath said.

“At this time, no decision has been reached by any of the three parties on an extension of the race beyond March 2023.”

The draft consultation strategy proposes gathering feedback from the community via a random telephone survey across the entire city, designed to canvas a range of views from across Newcastle’s demographic profile and an online survey that will allow all members of the community to take part in the consultation process.

In-person surveys are proposed around the event precinct during the race period to provide insight into attendees’ behaviours including visitation to local businesses, while three post-event stakeholder workshops with community, business and industry representatives will also be held.

The consultation strategy will be placed on public exhibition for six weeks and finalised following community and stakeholder feedback. A report on the feedback and insights from the community to inform the decision about any potential extension of the Newcastle 500 will be prepared for Council mid next year.

Community input sought for the new healthcare facility

Liberal candidate for Bega, Russell Fitzpatrick, is encouraging communities across Batemans Bay and surrounding areas to help guide the design of a new $20 million health facility.
 
The Perrottet Government is putting $20 million into the Batemans Bay health facility, which was announced earlier this year and will deliver community healthcare services, including GPs, allied health services, child and family services, community mental health and immediate care.
 
Mr Fitzpatrick said that local communities had an opportunity to play an important role in the planning of the health facility that will transform local health services.
 
“With a project manager and architect now appointed to spearhead the design, this is the perfect time to have a say and help guide important decisions,” said Mr Fitzpatrick. “I am incredibly proud to be running as a candidate for the Perrottet team that is making this kind of investment in local health, and is open to being guided by our community on the best way to implement that investment.”
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the NSW Government is investing $20 million to provide a modern, new health facility that will meet the south coast communities’ healthcare needs close to home, well into the future.
 
“The appointment of the project manager and architect is a major milestone in the delivery of this health facility, as planning will now move to the next level, and we’re inviting the community to get involved and have their say,” Mr Hazzard said.  
 
“Building any new healthcare facility involves in-depth planning, and this experienced project team has been selected to design a first class facility that will fulfil the requirements of staff, patients and the broader community.”
 
The appointments followed a competitive tender process and include: 
• bd infrastructure as the project manager 
• Conrad Gargett as the architect. 
 
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said that with the project team now on board, master planning is expected to be completed in mid-2023, and will involve consultation with key stakeholders including clinicians, staff, patients, carers and the local community to inform planning and design. 
 
“Feedback and input from staff, the local community, carers and patients will be an important part of the planning process, to ensure the new healthcare facility reflects the needs and values of the Batemans Bay community,” Mrs Taylor said.   
 
Community members are invited to meet the project team and find out more about the healthcare facility and how to get involved.  
 
The meet and greet session will be held in the Batemans Bay SEARMS Meeting Room, 2 Museum Place on Tuesday 13 December from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. No RSVP is required, and everyone is welcome.   
 
To find out more about the project or how to become involved, visit www.hinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/batemansbayhealthone or contact the project team on 1300 391 949 or at HI-BatemansBayhealth@health.nsw.gov.au.   
 
The new Batemans Bay community health facility is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26, with nearly a third of the capital allocation in this financial year going towards regional and rural health facilities. 
 
Also part of the Perrottet Government’s record health infrastructure spend is the new $260 million Level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital which is on track to open to patients in 2025.
  
Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 180 health capital projects across NSW, with more than 130 projects currently underway – of those, more than 90 are in rural and regional areas.

Sydney scores a goal as new home of A-Leagues Grand Finals

Sydney has cemented its position as the nation’s home of football, securing the Men’s and Women’s A-Leagues Grand Finals from 2023 – 2025.
 
The NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW has partnered with Australian Professional Leagues (APL) to bring its showpiece events to the Harbour City, including a new grand final week festival of football to create an unprecedented event destination experience for football fans.
 
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the addition of the A-Leagues Grand Final to Sydney’s annual sporting events calendar is a huge coup for NSW.
 
“With the FIFA Women’s World Cup coming and on the back of the Socceroos historic World Cup in Qatar, football in Australia is going from strength to strength,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“NSW is home to the most clubs in the both A-Leagues competitions, with the greatest supporter base, most passionate fans, the highest level of football participation and the best football venues.”
 
“This new week-long event will provide football and sports fans with an experience unique to all other codes and cement the A-Leagues Grand Finals amongst the very best fixtures on our national sporting calendar.”
 
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said securing the event would deliver significant economic benefits for NSW.
 
“As the nation’s home of football I am delighted to be partnering with the APL to bring the Men’s and Women’s A-Leagues Grand Finals to Sydney,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“Sydney is renowned for hosting world-class sporting events and we are going to create a new tradition for football fans, making the A-Leagues Grand Finals a week-long extravaganza that showcases football and the best of the Harbour City.
 
“Tens of thousands of football fans are expected to flock to Sydney for the A-Leagues Grand Finals and are forecast to inject $26 million of visitor expenditure into NSW.”
 
“This is another incredible addition to the already impressive calendar of world-class major events we are building for Sydney, which is a key pillar of our goal to make NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”
 
Danny Townsend, CEO of the APL, said: “The FIFA World Cup 2023 showed that we are a country of football fans and whet the region’s appetite for the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year. But fans don’t want to wait for four years in-between competitions to see our best sporting talent perform. 
 
“Football fans now get the best of both worlds – they can now look forward to a showpiece Grand Final event in a set location, as well as watching A-Leagues and national team stars week-in-week-out at their local A-Leagues team.  
 
“This is a unique opportunity to build a tradition for football fans. When you think about a cup final in England, you think about the trip to Wembley, and we want fans in Australia to look forward to the A-Leagues finals in the same way.
 
“We have already broken the previous record for attendance this season in the Liberty A-League Women and have a clear objective to make history again with Grand Final attendance in the year that we host the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
 
Venues for the 2023 Men’s and Women’s A-Leagues Grand Finals will be announced in the coming months.
 

Hundreds of new bus services for Greater Sydney

Commuters across Greater Sydney and the Ilawarra will benefit from almost 400 new bus services following the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government’s investment to provide communities with more travel choices.
 
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott visited the Chatswood Bus Interchange today with the Member for Willoughby, Tim James, to announce the new weekday 113 bus service from Chatswood to Royal North Shore Hospital.
 
“These services will benefit commuters right across the Greater Sydney region from Chatswood, St Leonards and Ryde to Quakers Hill, Nirimba Fields and West Dapto – with some areas receiving a weekend timetable for the first time,” Mr Elliott said.
 
“As the population grows across Greater Sydney it is important we listen to local communities to improve and refine the bus network to deliver a system that offers a seamless travelling experience between all modes.
 
“As a result of feedback from commuters, the NSW Government will introduce new weekend and additional weekday services, a new bus route for people wanting to travel to the Royal North Shore Hospital as well as a new school service.”
 
Mr James said residents in his electorate deserved a public transport system that made it easy for commuters to be able to travel to and from health appointments, businesses, work and school.
 
“I am delighted that this government has listened to the local community and has introduced a brand new bus route, 113, which will see 70 additional weekly services for the area,” Mr James said.
 
“As from today (Monday 12 December), commuters will now be able to travel between Chatswood and Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards.
 
Primary and high school students in western Sydney started term 4 with a brand new service in Nirimba Fields, commuters in West Dapto had new services introduced in mid Novermber while other services in Ryde will start next month.
 
The 378 new services include:
 

  • 198 extra weekly services in West Dapto which will provide an hourly service connecting Kembla Grange Estate to Dapto via Wongawilli;
  • 110 additional weekend services in the Ryde area on four bus routes (513, 523, 524 and 544), starting in January 2023 – this will be the first time some of these areas have had a weekend service;
  • 70 additional weekly services on a new route (113) in Sydney’s north, starting today, which will enable commuters to travel between Chatswood and Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards.
  • A new school service for Hambledon Primary School and Quakers Hill High School students living in Nirimba Fields. The new dedicated school service has been operating since the beginning of term 4 this year.

 
Since 2011, the NSW Government has introduced close to 47,000 extra bus services in Greater Sydney and outer metropolitan areas.