16 News

Foster and Kinship carers are critical individuals in our community ensuring our state’s most vulnerable children and young people have a safe and supportive place to call home.
 
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said this Foster and Kinship Care Week is a time to acknowledge the invaluable work that our carers do across NSW. 
 
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving home,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“To take a child who needs help into your home is the epitome of community spirit.
 
“We have 12,600 carer households across the state and I thank each and every one who ensure children and young people in need have a nurturing and supportive home.
 
“The work out-of-home care service providers do to recruit carers and provide safe homes for vulnerable children is crucial and I thank every one of our providers for the incredible work they do.”
 
Vikki Minard became a carer in 2009 and has had more than 30 children pass through her home.
 
“I thought I would be changing the lives of children, but the children changed me,” Ms Minard said.
 
“It made me a more flexible and open-minded person, handling the children and the various situations they were in.”
 
Simon Rowe and his wife Anne have been caring for children for more than three years.
 
“It’s not as onerous as people may think and it exposes you to a better side of yourself, helping you to become a more generous and understanding person,” Mr Rowe said.
 
To learn more about becoming a foster carer visit myforeverfamily.org.au/

The NSW Government has invested almost $1 billion to fast track elective surgeries which have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To minimize disruption to this program, Health Minister Brad Hazzard has instructed NSW Health to encourage all local health districts to retain as much of their planned elective surgery on 22 September as possible, subject to staff availability.

“Obviously many of us feel great sadness following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II but as Health Minister, it is my role to ensure our hospitals continue to perform necessary activity where possible, while also respecting the protocols that have been put in place to mark this special day,” Mr Hazzard said.

Surgical activity has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at various stages in recent years – with suspensions and reductions in activity – and NSW Health is working hard, in collaboration with our private hospital partners, to ensure everyone receives the procedures they need as soon as possible.

Thursday, 22 September 2022 has been declared a public holiday in NSW by the Minister for Employee Relations Damien Tudehope under section 5 of the Public Holidays Act 2010.
 
The Order will be published on the NSW Legislation website as soon as possible.
 
This follows the announcement made by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the National Day of Mourning on 22 September 2022 will be recognised as a National public holiday across the country.
 
The day coincides with the National Memorial Service to be held in Canberra.
 
Shops and retailers can trade as they normally would on other public holidays such as Australia Day or New Year’s Day. This additional public holiday will not be a “restricted trading day” (such as Good Friday or Anzac Day) under the Retail Trading Act 2008.
 
For banks and other financial institutions it will be a “bank close day” under the Retail Trading Act 2008.
 
For employers and employees the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 that deal with working on public holidays will apply. For more information, go to https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/public-holidays.
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard has instructed NSW Health to encourage all local health districts to retain as much of their planned elective surgery on 22 September as possible, subject to staff availability.

Registered heavy vehicle operators can now access their drivers’ demerit points balance, allowing them to better manage driver behaviour and improve road safety.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the Liberal and Nationals Government was committed to making NSW roads the safest in the country and reducing the number of crashes involving heavy vehicles is critical to achieving this goal.

“Transport for NSW has worked closely with the heavy vehicle industry and listened to their calls for a clearer system to help both operators and drivers carry out their work safely,” Mr Farraway said.

“Giving operators access to their drivers’ demerit points record will allow them to identify and work with their drivers to address potential safety issues early.

“Improved education and training will help employers work with their drivers to prevent them from losing their licence and save lives on our roads.

“Crashes involving a heavy vehicle are likely to have more serious consequences due to their size and extra time and distance needed to stop.  

“It’s also timely to remind all road users that they have an important part to play in preventing crashes involving heavy vehicles – give heavy vehicles plenty of space, stay out of their blind spots, take care and be patient.”

An operator must receive driver consent before accessing their drivers’ demerit points record. Providing consent to the release of personal information is voluntary.

To find out more about HVOSIP, please visit https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/heavy-vehicles/schemes-programs/hvosip.html

The NSW Government today confirmed that once operational, the WestConnex M4-M5 Link project will be officially referred to as extensions of the M4 and M8 motorways.

Once complete, the 7.5 kilometre underground mega tunnels will connect the two motorways, providing a seamless link between Haberfield and St Peters and cutting travel times by up to 40 minutes between Western Sydney and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the operational names aligned with the NSW motorways’ numbering system, making it easier for motorists travelling across the broader network.

“We are in the final stages of one of the most significant road infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Australia,” Ms Ward said.

“Naming the tunnels the M4 and M8 motorways will help motorists join the dots on the new and improved network when the tunnels open next year.

“Once complete, the tunnels will significantly improve connections between west and southwest Sydney, reducing travel times into the city for Western Sydney residents.

“This is all about making a real difference to people’s daily lives, with our Government committed to providing them with the transport connections they need to move quickly and safely across our city.”

The new link between the M4 and the M8 is expected to open in early 2023 and will connect to the Rozelle Interchange at the end of 2023, marking the completion of Australia’s largest road infrastructure project, WestConnex.

The project will also include future links to the Western Harbour Tunnel, Sydney Gateway and the M6, to better connect communities across the city and improve freight routes.