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Sydney Festival 2023 has today opened the doors to its signature event, Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon.
 
The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has secured the exhibition exclusively for Sydney as part of the Sydney Festival program. This world-class exhibition will take over The Cutaway in Barangaroo with nine rooms of multi-sensory experiences exploring the life and work of one of history’s most influential artists.
 
Minister for Tourism and the Arts Ben Franklin said Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon will showcase Sydney as a global cultural destination. 
 
“This extraordinary exploration of one of the greatest cultural icons of the 20^th century is the perfect way to open Sydney Festival,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon provides audiences with a uniquely immersive experience through interactive spaces, incorporating photographs, films, digital environments, collector’s items, music and live performance.
 
“This incredible Frida Kahlo exhibition is expected to draw thousands of visitors to Sydney and inject $3 million into the NSW economy.
 
“Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon is a must-see exhibition at this year’s Sydney Festival, which is once again setting a national benchmark for excellence in major arts and cultural events.”
 
From 5 – 29 January, Sydney Festival will reimagine a range of Sydney’s iconic and undiscovered venues, from the CBD to Western Sydney, with 25 days of site-specific programming that will have audiences viewing Sydney from a whole new perspective.
 
Frida Kahlo: The Life of An Icon runs from 4 January – 7 March 2023 at The Cutaway in Barangaroo. For more information on Sydney Festival and to book tickets go to www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Sydneysiders and visitors to the State are set to be inspired and entertained once again this summer as Sydney Festival returns with a full program of over 100 unique events.

Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the NSW Government is proud to be the largest single financial supporter of the Sydney Festival, which is on track to attract thousands of people across the State and internationally to support our creative and 24-hour economies.   

“Sydney Festival is a major visitor drawcard for NSW that attracts tens of thousands of people to Sydney each year, who stay in our hotels, eat and drink in our restaurants, cafes and bars, visit our attractions and explore our regions,” Mr Franklin said.

“In 2023, Sydney Festival presents an exceptional program, showcasing Sydney’s magnificent art and cultural spaces. I invite you to indulge in what promises to be an unmissable festival and enjoy the incredible homegrown and international talent.       

“The NSW Government is proud to support this major NSW cultural event as Festival Partner and celebrate bold, powerful, playful stories throughout Sydney Festival 2023.”

Artistic Director Olivia Ansell said there is nowhere better than Sydney to experience an exhilarating summer of art. 

“Made possible by over 1,000 local and international artists and the rich diversity of stories and cultures shared. Please join us this January for a blockbuster line up – from proud First Nation stories, groundbreaking international collaborations, a dedicated contemporary music club through to underbelly immersive experiences that invite you to rediscover this city differently,” Ms Ansell said.

The Festival includes 50 free events across 55 venues from 5-29 January 2023.

For more information on Sydney Festival and to book tickets go to www.sydneyfestival.org.au.

Recently launched by the NSW Liberals and Nationals in Government, the service is staffed by registered bilingual mental health professionals covering languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Korean, Vietnamese and Ukrainian. 
 
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said this new phone line would support people from diverse communities who are struggling with their mental health to access appropriate services.
 
“While there is a wide range of mental health services available to all NSW residents, language and different cultural understandings of mental health can act as a barrier for people when accessing services,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“This new phone line will support people to get the help they need, with a specialist team of health care professionals ready to provide care and connect people with the appropriate services.”
 
Available Monday to Friday between 9:00am to 4:30pm on1800 648 911, the Transcultural Mental Health Line improves access to mental health care and support for diverse communities. 
 
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said this initiative once again shows the NSW Government’s commitment to supporting the state’s rich multicultural society.
 
“We understand that finding the right words to express how we are feeling can be hard, let alone for people that might struggle with English,” Mr Coure said.
 
“This new service makes mental health support more accessible, and will give people the peace of mind to speak freely in a language they are more comfortable with,” Mr Coure said.
 
The Transcultural Mental Health Line joins a host of services, programs and initiatives the NSW Government is funding to support the mental health of people from diverse communities. This includes the funding of STARTTS, which offers a 24/7 counselling service for people that have experienced trauma related to war and violence overseas. 
 
If you, or someone you know, is in a life-threatening situation please seek help immediately by calling 000.  If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please call Lifeline 13 11 14  orSuicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. The NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 is a 24/7 service that can advise you on appropriate local mental health services for you or a loved one.
 
For multilingual mental health resources, visit the Transcultural Mental Health Centre website via www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/tmhc.
 
The $3.2 million investment over four years is part of the $130 million COVID-19 Mental Health Recovery package and builds onthe $2.68 billion 2022-23 NSW Mental Health Budget, the largest mental health investment in the state’s history.

NSW hotels and clubs will keep their doors open for longer for special events this year, to help support the State’s hospitality industry and night-time economy.
 
Minister for Hospitality and Racing, Kevin Anderson said the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government was pleased to confirm more extensions to trading hours for special events in 2023, including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, World Pride Sydney, the NRL Grand Final and Vivid Sydney.
 
These extensions will provide an extra 44 hours of trading across the year and will deliver a huge boost to our State’s hospitality industry, by creating more jobs and boosting business, while giving patrons more opportunities to socialise at venues during and after special events,” Mr Anderson said. 
 
“The 2023 events calendar is taking shape and will be an exciting year, with the NSW Government already approving 20 special extensions, giving people more options to enjoy major sports, arts and cultural events.” 
 
Hotels and registered clubs can trade for longer to celebrate the special cultural and sporting events on the days listed below:
 

 
These trading extensions do not affect takeaway alcohol trading times. Individual trading restrictions or other special conditions that apply to a venue’s liquor licence also remain in place for these events.
 
For more details, please visit: www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/operating-a-business/running-your-business/longer-trading-hours-to-celebrate-special-events

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has announced a $500 million boost to help metropolitan and regional councils tackle the mammoth task of repairing the state’s road network, following months of extreme weather events. 

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new Regional and Local Roads Repair program would provide even more support for councils to continue to carry out urgent repair work to ensure people stay connected and safe.
“We have listened to councils and we understand the pressure they are under from many months of wet weather. This funding boost will help councils continue the huge job of bringing roads back up to scratch to keep our state moving,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We are making sure our roads are in the best nick possible so NSW families, truckies, farmers and tradies can travel around our state safely. 

“We recognise potholes are a major hazard right now. This critical funding injection will help every council across the state patch up potholes as well as carry out other emergency repair work.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the road network had been battered, with hundreds of thousands of potholes opening up across the state and some roads washed away by landslips. 
“Families who hit the road during Christmas would have seen firsthand the scale of the damage caused by last year’s flooding and rain,” Mr Toole said. 

“This $500 million boost is on top of the $50 million already provided by the Liberals and Nationals Government to help regional councils carry out emergency pothole repairs. We always said there would be more support on the way and today we are delivering on that.

“Since the February floods we have repaired more than 170,000 potholes across regional NSW alone. This additional funding will help repair hundreds of thousands more, right across the state.”

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the NSW Government is working closely with local councils to provide more funding for road repairs and new technology to fix potholes faster.  

“Following the heavy rainfall and floods we provided early access to flood recovery funding for impacted councils and this additional funding announced today is to make sure councils can complete those vital repairs,” Mrs Ward said.  

“On state-owned roads across Greater Sydney, the equivalent of standard football fields 139 times over have been repaired already and this latest funding will mean the potholes on your local street can be repaired by councils. 

“In addition, we are trialing new ways to fix potholes faster with a rapid sealing “cold mix” product roads and investing in technology that finds pot holes before they find you through using vehicles to track and prioritise repairs across our roads.”

This funding will be on top of the Liberal National Government’s $1.5 billion commitment to maintaining our state roads each year. 

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the application process will be simple and the cash will be available immediately so councils can get on with the job of urgently restoring the state’s road network.

“The new funding will start landing in councils’ bank accounts within weeks so work can begin right away on repairing the essential roads locals, tourists and freight operators use every day,” Mr Farraway said. 

“We understand that it’s not just about financial assistance, manpower is also needed, which is why the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government has already redeployed 200 Transport for NSW crews to Western NSW to help in the worst impacted areas.” 

Funding under the $500 million Regional and Local Roads Repair Program is available to Local Government areas in both Greater Sydney and Regional NSW. Repair work must be carried out by 31 December 2023.

Sydney’s Cahill Expressway at Circular Quay will be transformed into one of the world’s most spectacular party venues tonight when ELEVATE Sydney kicks off. 

Tens of thousands of ticketholders will revel to more than 120 Australian performers over five nights, four days and 13 sessions, with the iconic Sydney Harbour as the awe-inspiring backdrop.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said ELEVATE Sydney would remind the world why the Harbour City is the Asia Pacific’s best major events destination.

“This novel setting on the Cahill Expressway with its stunning views offers a very unique experience and I’m not surprised to hear tickets for ELEVATE Sydney were snapped up very quickly,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Sydneysiders and visitors are ready to keep the festivities going well into the new year and we’re meeting that demand with another incredible event.

“We’ve got the greatest city on earth, we’ve got incredible summer weather and for the next five nights and four days we’ll be showing the world why Sydney is the place to be in 2023.”

Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the 30,000 ticketholders would enjoy the unique outdoor entertainment and cultural celebration with acts from children’s entertainers to electronic music plus a nightly SkyShow and some of the best local food and wine.

“All the tickets to this free event have been snapped up and we know that everyone that attends will enjoy a memorable experience,” Mr Franklin said.

“The NSW Government is committed to delivering world-class events like ELEVATE Sydney that showcase our vibrant CBD and support Sydney’s night-time economy, to achieve our goal of making Sydney and NSW the major events capital and premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”

ELEVATE Sydney will return for its second year and run from 3 – 7 January 2023. The SkyShow will take place nightly at approximately 10:30 pm, pending weather conditions. The Long Bar will be open from 4-7 January during ELEVATE Social in the afternoons and ELEVATE Nights.

The Cahill Expressway will be closed to traffic and pedestrians during ELEVATE Sydney and will reopen on Monday 9 January, with public transport and alternate routes available for visitors and residents.

To find out more about ELEVATE Sydney go to: www.elevatesydney.com

Toll relief is on the way for drivers across our state with the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Toll Relief Rebate Scheme open for applications from 24 January. 
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said under the new and improved toll relief initiative, around half a million drivers will be able to claim 40 percent of their toll spend up to $750 a year. 
 
“The new Toll Relief Rebate Scheme will start putting money back into drivers’ bank accounts once they spend $375 a year on tolls,” Mr Kean said.
 
“We’ve more than doubled the number of drivers eligible for toll relief and for the first time, pensioners will be able to claim a rebate while still receiving free car registration.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the new toll relief scheme will make traveling more affordable particularly for those in West and South West Sydney.
 
“Drivers from Casula to Liverpool, Rouse Hill and Campbelltown will be the big winners, but everyone across New South Wales will have the chance to cash in on the new Toll Relief Rebate Scheme,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“This is about putting more cash into the pockets of hardworking NSW families at a time when they are feeling the pinch from cost of living pressures. 
 
“We’re making sure everyone gets the chance to use our world class motorway network which saves families precious time, gets tradies to more jobs and creates a safer journey for all.”
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the new scheme will be administered through Service NSW and payments would start flowing into bank accounts within days. 
 
“This is just one of 70 cost of living rebates on offer from the NSW Liberal and National Government, which is adding money to household budgets across the state,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Eligible customers can log into their Service NSW account, link to their toll account before lodging their toll relief rebate claim. And there will always be the option to go into, or call, a Service NSW Centre for assistance. Claims will then be paid directly into their nominated bank account. 
 
“Start the New Year right by boosting your household budget through Service NSW. You can assess your eligibility for the rebates by using the Savings Finder tool or booking an appointment with a Saving Specialist.”
 
Rebates will be backdated to 1 July 2022 and payments will start to flow from within days of applications being received.
 
For more details on the new Toll Relief Scheme please visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/new-toll-relief-scheme-faqs