Newtown School of Arts to undergo $2 million upgrade

The historic Newtown School of Arts will be upgraded into a fit-for-purpose modern facility for the State’s next generation of creatives thanks to a $2 million investment through the NSW Government’s Creative Capital Program.

Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the funding will see a new 200-seat theatre, cabaret, and music venue; a 50-seat theatre for the development of new work; upgraded artist studios, incubator spaces and creative meeting rooms, and a new café.

“This investment from the NSW Government will help modernise the internal school space while creating secure employment opportunities for 900 artists,” Mr Franklin said.

“The upgraded facilities will allow the school to host spectacular productions and will provide a suitable space for our next generation of creatives to hone their craft and develop exciting new works for the community to enjoy.

“Cultural equity is at the heart of the NSW Government’s Creative Capital program, and thanks to the $72 million investment, more projects like this can realise their ambition of providing more people with access to world-class arts and culture.”

Director of the Newtown School of Arts Bruce Turner thanked the NSW Government for the funding saying the investment will ensure the school serves the arts community for years to come.

“An upgraded creative space enhances our ability to support new, emerging, and established Australian artists while delivering a positive economic impact for the local area,” Mr Turner said.

“This is a very significant investment from the NSW Government and we are very grateful for their support.”

Further details on the Creative Capital program are available on the Create NSW website at www.create.nsw.gov.au.

Western Sydney Startup Hub takes shape

Jump on board as Spacecubed launches the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs at the new Western Sydney Startup Hub (WSSH).
 
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said Spacecubed will operate the 1,500 square metres of affordable co-working space, as part of the revitalised Parramatta North Heritage Precinct, due to its reputation for empowering positive change in the community.
 
“Technology and innovation are at the heart of attracting significant global investment in NSW, helping to create the jobs of the future for our next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in Western Sydney,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“Spacecubed offers the best and most diverse services for WSSH, ensuring a bright and competitive future for Western Sydney’s innovation and technology sectors.
 
“Continuing on our commitment from this year’s NSW Budget to support more women in the workforce, Spacecubed will host a regular SheCodes program developed to upskill our future female coders.
 
“The hub will help grow and showcase innovation opportunities through the Westmead Health and Innovation District ecosystem, generate even more new jobs in Western Sydney and secure a brighter future for NSW.”
 
With $300,000 in funding from the NSW Government for its fit-out, Spacecubed will become the hub’s first operational business when it opens in October.
 
As part of the operator agreement, Spacecubed has committed to:
 

  • A minimum 70 per cent of desks for startups and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) at affordable rates;
  • Running an annual incubator program;
  • Offering a minimum of 20 scholarships per year for social impact startups, and free/discounted spaces for program participants; and
  • Offering all WSSH members free access to Spacecubed programs, and discounted rates for booking events and meeting spaces.

 
In December 2021, the NSW Government announced $53.8 million of additional funding for the restoration and activation of the Parramatta North Heritage Precinct.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the WSSH will have an important part to play, fusing the precinct’s rich cultural history with new innovation and technology opportunities.
 
“This innovative space will encourage job creation, more visitors and a vibrant atmosphere to the revitalised Parramatta North Heritage Precinct,” Mr Roberts said.
 
Member for Parramatta Dr Geoff Lee said Western Sydney and the Parramatta North Heritage Precinct, with its new-age facilities and collaborating spaces, continues to be a breeding ground for up and coming innovators and entrepreneurs.
 
“We look forward to Spacecubed paving the way and providing a platform for those innovators and entrepreneurs looking for an edge in Western Sydney,” Dr Lee said.
 
“The WSSH provides a platform for talented individuals to meet like-minded organisations, joining forces and as a result, delivering new and improved outcomes for the people of NSW.”
 
Spacecubed CEO Brodie McCulloch said the hub will cement Western Sydney as a premier destination for innovation and technology on the global stage.
 
“The innovation and technology sector is rapidly growing in Sydney and we’re privileged to play a key role in its expansion,” Mr McCulloch said.
 
“With the continued support of the NSW Government, we will do all that we can to drive Western Sydney as a competitive place for business investment and forward thinking innovators.”
 
For more information, visit: Western Sydney Startup Hub | NSW Government.

New youth voices advise on future of children and young people

A group of impressive and inspiring young people from across the state have been appointed to the 2022-23 Youth Advisory Council that will advise the NSW Government on matters impacting children and young people. 
 
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said 12 newly appointment members of the Youth Advisory Council will work together to provide advice to NSW Government during their one-year term.
 
“We know that young people know what’s best for them and by actively listening and responding to young people, we ensure we are creating policies and services that truly reflect their needs,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said. 
 
“I congratulate the 12 members of the Council on their appointments and I look forward to working closely with them to ensure the NSW Government is best supporting our children and young people to achieve the best start in life.”
 
Following an extensive recruitment process that saw more than 500 young people aged 12 to 24 apply, the Youth Advisory Council will have the opportunity to influence decisions that will create positive outcomes for their peers.
 
“Being part of the NSW Youth Advisory Council gives young advocates an opportunity to effect real change. I congratulate the members and look forward to seeing their work over the next 12 months,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
Throughout their one-year term, the Youth Advisory Council will be supported in their work by the Advocate for Children and Young People Ms Zoë Robinson.
 
“The NSW Youth Advisory Council is one of the most valuable ways that NSW Government engages with and creates space for young people to be involved in solutions that will deliver real outcomes for all young people in NSW,” Ms Robinson said.
 
“By listening and acting on what we are hearing from young people, we create a better NSW for all of us,” Ms Robinson added.
 
More information about the Youth Advisory Council is available online.

Two charged after investigation into home invasion and public place shooting – Edgeworth

Two people have been charged following a joint investigation by detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District into an alleged home invasion and public place shooting in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.

Police had been told a 24-year-old woman attended John Hunter Hospital about 11pm on Tuesday 8 March 2022 suffering a laceration to her leg and head, after two men allegedly forced entry to her home in Edgeworth and slashed her with a machete.

Local police later attended the Laurel Avenue home and commenced inquiries, which were later taken carriage by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad.

Then about 9.10pm on Friday 8 April 2022, emergency services responded to reports of a public place shooting at a carpark on Arnott Street, Edgeworth. 

A 27-year-old man was found suffering gunshot wounds to the right leg and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced investigations into the shooting under Strike Force Undola.

Initial investigations led detectives to believe the incidents were linked and allegedly involved members of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

As part of ongoing joint investigations, strike force detectives have previously executed a search warrant at a Cardiff storage facility earlier this month, where a number of weapons, ammunition and a machete were located and seized.

Police also seized a number of items consistent with the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang during a subsequent vehicle stop conducted at Blackalls Park that same day.

Following further extensive joint inquiries, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home at Blackalls Park about 10.10am on Monday (29 August 2022).

A number of items relevant to the investigation were seized, including mobile phones and documents.

A 42-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where she was charged with 12 offences, including special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, accessory after the fact of discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm, conceal serious indictable offence, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess unauthorised pistol, possess unauthorised firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, act with intent to influence witness, and threat/cause injury/harm to prevent information to police.

She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 30 August 2022), where she was formally bail refused to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 25 October 2022.

A further two search warrant was executed at a home on Crestview Street, Gillieston Heights, about 7am yesterday (Tuesday 30 August 2022).

A 27-year-old man was arrested at one of the homes and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.

He was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, accessory after the fact of special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm, steal property in dwelling, and threat/cause injury/harm to prevent information to police.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday, where he was formally bail refused to reappear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 31 August 2022).

Investigations under both strike forces are ongoing, with further arrests expected.

Statement on Russian obstruction of the nuclear treaty conference

The Australian Government is deeply disappointed that the tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) did not reach a consensus outcome, despite the urgency of the international security environment.

After four weeks of negotiations in New York, all State Parties except Russia were ready to agree to a meaningful and balanced outcome across the treaty’s three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Russia has deliberately obstructed progress. Its actions directly challenge core tenets of the NPT.

We condemn Russia’s ongoing unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression and call on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory.

At the heart of the NPT is the goal of a world without nuclear weapons, a goal to which Australia remains deeply committed.

Australia is steadfast in our support of the NPT as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime. Irrespective of this outcome, the treaty continues to deliver tangible security benefits to us all.

We must redouble our efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. Australia will continue to make constructive contributions and work with others to strengthen the NPT.

I thank Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres for leading Australia’s delegation to the Conference earlier this month and delivering our National Statement.

Aid package needed for Pakistan floods

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and International Aid spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that Australia must immediately provide aid funding and assistance to Pakistan as the country deals with unprecedented and disastrous flooding.

Senator Faruqi said:

“What’s unfolding in Pakistan right now is nothing short of disastrous and horrific. We are seeing people who did little to contribute to the climate emergency facing its worst consequences.

“Australia should deliver aid funding and assistance to support relief and reconstruction efforts, as well as the planning of climate-resilient infrastructure which can better withstand floods and extreme weather.

“Australia has a clear role to play here: not only as a wealthy country in our region, but also as a big contributor to the climate crisis which is driving more disasters.

“Australia needs to view the climate crisis with the urgency it demands, and commit to no new coal and gas as well as net zero emissions by 2035. That’s the action needed to tackle the systemic causes of the tragedies we see unfolding today.”

Do Blak Lives Matter to Shaquille O’Neal?

PointsBet Australian brand ambassador Shaquille O’Neal has met with Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss their proposal for a Voice to Parliament.

This comes as Minister Burney met with the Joint Council on Closing Gap last week. The latest data from the Productivity Commission indicates that that the rates of suicide, incarceration and children in out-of-home care have risen for First Nations people.

“Why is Labor talking to American celebrities about advisory bodies, when we’ve got First Nations people dying in custody?” Said Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Greens spokesperson for First Nations and DjabWurrung, Gunnai and Gunditjmara woman.

Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Greens spokesperson for First Nations said:

“We have the solutions. We’ve had the solutions for decades and Labor is ignoring them. Want to prevent First Nations people from going to jail in the first place? Implement the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

“Approximately 40% of the Commission’s recommendations are about social factors: education, health, employment, housing and land rights. Implementing these recommendations will save peoples lives, before any referendum.

“You don’t need a Voice to Parliament to tell us that the recommendations from a 31 year old Royal Commission needs to be urgently implemented, to reduce the incarceration of our people. 

“Labor needs to stop tinkering around the edges with new so-called solutions. I’m seeing a lot of time and energy being put towards laying out a pathway to the Voice, while neglecting work that is decades overdue. 

“This is not the first time Labor has been in Government and ignored the self-determined solutions our old people gave them, in favour of photo ops. Is this a Government that takes Blak Lives Matter seriously? Will they implement the remaining recommendations? Clock’s ticking, Labor.”

Deliver fee-free uni and TAFE to boost education

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of fee-free tertiary degrees for nursing and midwifery students, and called for universal free higher education.

Senator Faruqi said:

“It’s great that thousands of nursing students won’t go into enormous debt in order to get an education. That opportunity should be extended to everyone.

“Free higher education has the potential to transform our society, giving students a world-class education while ensuring no one is saddled with a debt sentence as they start a new phase of their lives.

“Student debt is skyrocketing, with almost three million students owing a record $69 billion as of last year. It is out of control and we should be wiping it, not adding to it.

“The Greens want free education for everyone, whether you are leaving school, changing careers, retraining later in life or looking to gain new skills and knowledge. Education is a right, not a privilege reserved for just those who can afford to pay for it.”

Greens to move for energy transition authority in Parliament

The Greens Industry, Transition and Regional Development spokesperson and Gladstone local, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, will give notice of a Bill to establish a National Energy Transition Authority in the next sitting of Parliament.

The announcement comes after climate bill negotiations between the Greens and government, during which the government undertook to consider the Greens’ proposal for a statutory transition authority to support coal and gas communities and give them control over their futures as Australia tackles the climate crisis. 

The Greens were the only party to campaign at the election on a fully costed platform for statutory transition authorities to be established in coal and gas regions, managed by locals, unions and businesses, and funded to grow new industries and secure jobs.

The Bill will: 

  • Establish an independent statutory National Energy Transition Authority tasked with planning and coordinating to facilitate new economic opportunities for workers and communities who are currently involved in fossil fuel production and associated industries.
  • The National Energy Transition Authority will provide policy coordination and planning nationwide to enable regulatory conditions conducive to stable investment by both governments and business in clean energy and supporting infrastructure.
  • The Authority will draw on a Diversifying Coal Communities Fund of $2.8 billion over ten years, which will approve and fund local plans across the nation, developed by regionally based transition bodies in partnership with the National Energy Transition Authority.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“Everyone knows the phase out of coal is underway so we have to put in place plans and institutions to support the communities that will be affected. This must be on the table at the Jobs and Skills Summit.

“There is so much opportunity for new jobs and industries in the coal regions, we just need to get on with it. Where I live, in Central Queensland, coal and gas workers tell me they know their jobs are on the way out and they’re sick of governments pretending that it isn’t happening. They want some honesty, and they want a plan.

“As we have seen with the Latrobe Valley Authority, a locally led transition with national support can start to get results for coal workers, their families and their communities.

“During negotiations on the climate change legislation the government agreed to consider the Greens’ plans for a transition authority. If the Government and Greens make serious progress on this issue over the next three years, Coalition climate scare campaigns will fall on deaf ears because coal and gas communities will know their future is being planned for and that their children will have a secure future.

“The experience in Europe shows that if you plan the transition, workers can move into new well-paid jobs, be redeployed through industry-wide polling or benefit from early retirement, but it needs leadership from government.”

The Greens’ election policy, Powering Past Coal and Gas, outlined a plan for the transition authority, as well as a ‘Job for Job Guarantee’ wage support plan for coal workers. The ACTU has called for the establishment of a transition authority and although Labor did not propose any policies before the election, it is consistent with the policy platform set by its members, suggesting the Greens’ bill could pass Parliament. 

Reserve Bank modelling of the climate commitments of Australia’s major trading partners, including China, Japan and South Korea, could see our coal exports fall by up to 80%.

ARC review welcome but NIT and veto have to go

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed today’s announced review of the Australian Research Council but urged action on a number of fronts.

Senator Faruqi said:

“The Senate inquiry I initiated earlier this year did recommend an independent review, and I’m glad Minister Clare has taken this up. It’s beyond time for a good hard look at the ARC.

“A couple of things are crystal clear: the ministerial veto power and the national interest test have to go. Scrapping the veto power is overwhelmingly backed by universities and researchers.

“The national interest test is completely unnecessary and onerous, and has attracted significant criticism. It has to be ditched, not tweaked.

“The minister can make these changes without delay.

“Let’s go back to first principles: the people who know best about what research to fund are those in the research community. Rigorous peer review is fundamental, but it’s been undermined by politics for far too long.

“The review should not narrow itself to governance and operations. We need to ask the basic question of why we can apparently only afford to fund as few as one in five projects under many schemes, despite vastly more projects being of high quality. A lack of proper funding is really harming Australian research.”