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VISIT TO AUSTRALIA BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, to Australia on 7 February.

This visit will mark Prime Minister Hipkins’s first international trip as leader.

Australia values the priority that both countries place on the bilateral relationship. As partners and allies, our bilateral agenda is unparalleled in its scope.

Australia and New Zealand will celebrate important milestones in 2023, marking 40 years of our Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement – one of the most comprehensive free trade agreements in the world – and 80 years of diplomatic representation.

Prime Minister Hipkins’s visit comes as New Zealand begins its recovery from the serious flooding and loss of life in Auckland. Australia stands ready to support New Zealand as needed.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Hipkins to Australia. Australia and New Zealand have an extremely close relationship, underpinned by our shared history and generations of personal, business and government links.

“I offer my condolences to all those affected by the devastating floods and loss of life in Auckland. We stand ready to support our family and friends in New Zealand, if needed.”

“I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Hipkins to Canberra and discussing ways to build on trans-Tasman cooperation.”

CCTV footage released as police continue to investigate Heddon Greta fatal shooting

Homicide Squad detectives have released an image of a man and CCTV footage of a vehicle, as they continue to investigate the fatal shooting of a man in the state’s Hunter region late last year.

About 10.50pm on Tuesday 27 December 2022, emergency services responded to reports of a man being shot at a home on Traders Way, Heddon Greta, about 20km east of Cessnock.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man; however he died at the scene.

He has since been identified as 25-year-old Zachery ‘Zac’ Davies-Scott, known to many in the area as ‘Donnie’.

Local police from Hunter Valley Police District conducted initial investigations, before the matter was referred to the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad under Strike Force Roslyn.

Police have been told a number of people forced entry to the home before Mr Scott was shot. The group then left the scene in a white SUV.

As investigations continue, strike force detectives have released CCTV footage of a white SUV seen driving erratically along Main Road, Heddon Greta, shortly after 10.50pm.

Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said police are examining Zac’s associates and interactions in the days and weeks leading up to his death.

“From our investigations, it appears he was better known as ‘Donnie’ to his friends and associates.

“We are treating this murder as a targeted attack, with detectives canvassing if Zac had any ongoing conflicts or issues.

“The footage we have released shows a white SUV driving on Main Road in a very erratic manner immediately after the murder, overtaking a van on the inside shoulder of a single lane road.

“We are in the Hunter again today to continue asking all of these questions, canvassing for more witnesses and CCTV, and continuing to piece together who Zac was and how he came to be a victim of an horrific crime,” Det Supt Doherty said.

FAMILY LAW REFORMS WELCOME, BUT INADEQUATE FUNDING LEAVES WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT RISK

The Greens welcome the announcement of family law amendments aimed at putting children’s welfare first in family law matters.

After years of inaction, and unnecessary, damaging inquiries, we welcome the government’s willingness to listen to the experts instead of the political grandstanding that has traumatised survivors of family and domestic violence and provided a platform for hate and misinformation.

Fair, child-safety focussed outcomes can only be achieved with adequate resources, yet both the Federal Circuit and Family Court and the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children remain woefully underfunded.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Finally, after years of wasted time and damaging misinformation campaigns – including Pauline Hanson’s toxic family law inquiry – we may start to see real improvements to the family law system.

“The evidence has repeatedly shown that gendered violence is a core problem at the heart of the family law system, and that children frequently bear the brunt of violent relationships and protracted legal matters.

“The sector has long called for removal of the presumption of equal shared parenting, strengthening the obligations of Independent Children’s Lawyers (ICLs) and family report writers, and definitions of family that respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and kinship. We are pleased to see the Labor government listening to the experts and implementing these changes to centre children’s safety.

“Children’s safety must be a key consideration in all situations, including matters under the Hague Convention. We know that many perpetrators of family and domestic violence have been able to weaponise the court process to continue their abuse and control. The proposed amendments will give the courts more capacity to identify and prevent systems abuse, and help to keep women and children safe.

“The Greens will review the proposed amendments and work with stakeholders and the government to ensure a strong, fair, and safe family law system.

“Failing to adequately fund the courts and frontline family and domestic violence services has created delays and gaps in the system that continue to put women and children at risk.

“The only way to strengthen the outcomes and timeliness of family law matters is to ensure they are heard by experienced, specialist judges. Funding for judicial training, as well as wraparound support services including safe rooms, risk screening and triaging programs, and cultural liaison workers are essential to the success of any reform.

“The National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children, released last year to great fanfare, has laudable goals. But ambitious aims need to be backed with funding.

“The women’s safety sector has repeatedly called for a $1B per year investment to ensure funding meets demand, and the Greens support these calls. The Government’s budget response was nowhere near this amount, leaving frontline services about $700m short.

“If the Attorney General wants these reforms to work, his government needs to stump up the funding for them to do so, as well as properly resourcing frontline domestic, family and sexual violence support services and prevention programs including age-appropriate education.”

Elevating people with lived experience of mental ill-health to drive reform

The Albanese Government will invest $8.5 million to support those with a lived experience of mental health to shape the policies and programs that affect them.

Funding of $7.5 million will establish and operate two independent national mental health lived experience peak bodies – one representing consumers and the other representing carers, families and kin.

Lived Experience Australia will also receive $900,000 to continue its work to lead lived experience research and build the capacity of consumer and carers. Funding of $100,000 will establish a regular stakeholder forum to increase transparency, accountability and partnership with the sector.

These steps address recommendations made in recent inquiries including the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health and work undertaken by the National Mental Health Commission.

The announcement of two independent national peak bodies comes as the Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride hosted people with lived experience alongside experts, clinicians and service providers at the Mental Health and Equity and Access Forum in Canberra.

People with a lived experience of mental ill-health made up the largest cohort of the more than 80 attendees, sharing invaluable insights into a system in need of repair.

The Forum recognised the shared goals of Government, the mental health sector, and those with a lived experience, and a commitment to working together to continue to build an equitable mental health system.

Discussions at the Forum focussed on how to make services more affordable and accessible to those who need them most, as part of broader system of care.

The Forum follows the release of the independent Better Access evaluation by Melbourne University, which showed that while the program delivers promising outcomes, many Australians continue to miss out.

In 2022, less than half of people from low socioeconomic backgrounds in major cities were able to access treatment they needed – despite most services being delivered in these areas.

Minister Butler said:

“Mental ill health can affect every Australian, but we know that it hits some of us harder than others. Which is why we brought together people with lived experience alongside experts and clinicians to discuss how to improve mental health for everyone, whether you live in the wealthiest suburbs of our capital cities or the poorest parts of regional Australia.”

“Hearing from those with lived experience is incredibly important to making improvements in mental health. Progress will come from putting consumers and carers first.”

“These two independent national bodies will amplify the voices of consumers and carers to drive equitable reform in mental health.”

Assistant Minister McBride said:

“The further you live outside a big city the worse your access to mental health care is likely to be – this needs to change.”

“We are committed to build a system that works well for everyone, wherever they live and whatever they earn.”

“This investment puts the voices of people with lived and living experience at the centre of decision making as we work together to create a fairer, improved, system that meets the needs of Australians.”

City welcomes step forward for Stockton Beach

City of Newcastle has welcomed this morning’s announcement by the Deputy Premier Paul Toole, that NSW Public Works will be charged with project managing key activities to enable sand nourishment for Stockton Beach.

In October 2022, the NSW Government was successful in obtaining a $6.2 million grant through the Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program, which includes $4.7 million from the Federal Government and $1.5 million from the City of Newcastle.

CN supported the NSW Government’s application on the basis that the Hunter & Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) would undertake the project management services for the sand nourishment as part of the grant, including the work to obtain all remaining licences and approvals for the project, as outlined in the NSW Government’s grant application.

The NSW Government applied for the funding on the basis that it is the sole landowner of Stockton Beach (and the coastal waters from which offshore sandmining would occur).

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the Deputy Premier’s announcement, affirming the importance of working together to deliver solutions for Stockton Beach.

“This morning’s announcement is an important step, and is the logical way to move forward given that the NSW Government’s grant application nominated a NSW Government entity to coordinate this important work,” Cr Nelmes said.

“It is appropriate that the NSW Government be tangibly involved in a solution for Stockton Beach, as it is their infrastructure, namely the breakwater and deepwater navigation channel of the Port of Newcastle, that has been proven as the primary cause of ongoing erosion at Stockton Beach, which it also owns.

City of Newcastle’s Executive Manager Planning and Environment Michelle Bisson said mass sand nourishment remained the long-term solution to protecting Stockton Beach.

“The long-term plan is to secure the 2.4 million cubic metres of sand needed for initial mass nourishment, as outlined in the Stockton Coastal Management Program endorsed by the NSW Government in 2020,” Ms Bisson said.

The grant will fund the investigations and approvals needed to secure multiple sand sources – from the north arm of the Hunter River, as well as suitable bodies of sand in the Stockton Bight, which were identified in the NSW Government’s 2021 Stockton Offshore Sand Exploration Project.

“Securing multiple sand sources builds flexibility into the mass-nourishment strategy, ensuring the longevity of sand supply to Stockton Beach, building necessary resilience and future-proofing the project,” Ms Bisson said.

Last year City of Newcastle progressed the design work for sand placement and anticipate having the associated environmental approvals finalised over the next few months. The new placement plans are informed by the most recent sand movement study and will ensure that sand sourced for Stockton is placed in the most effective location.

These new plans are intended to accommodate the receipt of any and all sources of sand, regardless of the quantity. This means that the smaller volumes of sand sourced from the Port of Newcastle’s maintenance dredging activities, through to large volumes that could be sourced through dredging needed for future infrastructure development in the Port area, can be placed effectively at Stockton.

Council committed $27.5 million to respond to the immediate risks to Stockton’s coastline in the 2020 Coastal Management Program with $9.5 million already invested. A further $21 million is needed from the State Government to fund the long-term solution of mass sand nourishment.

Get your new Active Kids voucher now

Families are being reminded to download their new Active Kids voucher and save $100 per child on sport and recreation activities.

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said a new Active Kids voucher became available on 1 January and would help ease pressure on family budgets.

“It might be the middle of summer, but winter sport registration is heating up and now is the perfect time for families to turn their attention to their new Active Kids voucher,” Mr Henskens said.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Active Kids program has turbocharged sporting participation across NSW, with more than 4.85 million vouchers redeemed, saving families $481 million.

“It’s the largest grassroots sport funding initiative in the nation and is driving enormous increases in participation across all sports.”

The NSW Government recently extended the Active Kids voucher program to include school holiday sports and recreation activities.

The expansion of the program has contributed to a 40 per cent increase in voucher creation compared to the same period last year.

“NSW Labor wanted to cancel one Active Kids voucher per child at the last election, and Chris Minns endorsed this policy as a member of the Shadow Cabinet,” Mr Henskens said.

“It’s clear that NSW families have embraced the Liberal and Nationals Government’s Active Kids program and its expansion to include school holiday programs has been a hit.”

Families can access their child’s Active Kids voucher via the Service NSW app or website, attending a Service NSW Centre or by calling Service NSW on 13 77 88.

For further information on the Active Kids Program, visit www.sport.nsw.gov.au/active-kids.

Flood evacuation upgrade for Richmond

Flood evacuation routes near Richmond will be upgraded as part of a $1 billion Liberal and Nationals Government investment through WestInvest, targeting Western Sydney roads.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said $15 million has been allocated to upgrade the intersection of The Driftway and Londonderry Road to deliver a new roundabout and an extra lane.

“After unprecedented rain and consecutive flooding events across Western Sydney, it is more important than ever that we provide the infrastructure needed to protect communities and ensure they have safe evacuation routes,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This important upgrade will boost capacity on this important evacuation route and support the new Richmond Bridge, which has been designed with increased flood resilience.”

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said early works will begin shortly, ahead of major construction next year.

“We want to give the community the assurance that if the last two flood events were to occur again, they would not be cut off from the services they need,” Mrs Ward said.

“As well as improving flood resilience, the two projects will ensure double traffic capacity across the Hawkesbury River and reduce travel times.”

Other road projects already announced include:

· $200 million for safety improvements on Elizabeth Drive at critical sections between Devonshire Rd and Western Road, Kemps Creek;

· $100 million to construct the Pitt Town bypass which has been identified as a crucial project following recent flooding events in the Hawkesbury-Nepean valley;

· $100 million to enable the upgrade of a 3.4 kilometre section of Garfield Road East between Piccadilly Street, Riverstone and Windsor Road, Box Hill.

For more information, go to https://nswroads.work/NewRichmondBridge.

$253m tutoring boost for NSW students

Thousands of students across NSW will benefit from more catch up classes this coming school year thanks to a $253 million funding boost from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the pioneering small group tutoring initiative, started following COVID lockdowns to support school students who fell behind, is being extended to supercharge student learning as education moves beyond the pandemic.

“Making sure every student has the best possible start in life is a priority for the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government, and small group tutoring has been an important part of student growth these last two years,” said Mr Perrottet.

“This program has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s a no-brainer to boost the funding for this coming school year, so thousands more students continue to benefit.”

A recent evaluation of the Intensive Learning Support Program (ILSP) looked at the impact of the initiative on student learning and engagement from the teachers’ perspective. It showed student confidence and engagement improved by 80 per cent, and students’ motivation and attitude towards school had improved by 77 per cent and 69 per cent respectively.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government was seeing benefits for students and early career teachers.

“We are seeing students’ confidence and classroom engagement improve thanks to the support they’re receiving. At the same time, hundreds of pre-service teachers are gaining invaluable hands-on experience that will only strengthen their teaching over the long term,” Ms Mitchell said.

“It’s fantastic that students across all school sectors in NSW will continue to benefit from this scheme, thanks to the long-term economic plan of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.”

A wider evaluation of the program, including academic outcomes of students involved, will be completed by mid-2023 and will inform the approach to embedding small group tuition as part of the school system beyond 2023.

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government invested more than $700 million in catch up classes for students in 2021 and 2022. Schools have already been provided $80 million in tutoring funding for the start of 2023, which will now be supplemented by a further $173 million.

Labor’s shake-up will lead to more broken families

Labor’s proposal to remove the equal shared parental responsibility provision from family law will lead to more broken families and unjust outcomes for both children and parents.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson said Labor had form in supporting an unbalanced family law and child support system.

“Labor has tried to remove this provision before, when Graham Perrett introduced family law amendments in 2020,” Senator Hanson said. “It ignores the truth that both parents are equally responsible for bringing a child into the world, and therefore share equal responsibility for raising that child no matter what.

“Labor may have examined the recommendations of the family law inquiry I recommended the Coalition establish, but it doesn’t appear to have looked at the evidence presented in submissions and hearings by parents who’ve been through the system like I have.

“That evidence was quite clear – the system is weighted heavily against fathers. Lawyers take advantage of this, creating a highly adversarial system which can be weaponised by vexatious or vindictive partners.

“Under this system, step-fathers have more parental rights than actual fathers and children are treated as footballs. It’s in no-one’s interest – especially the child’s.”

Senator Hanson said that while she welcomed Labor’s support for expanding and extending the Lighthouse Project, she was disappointed sensible changes to the child support system were not being considered.

“The system needs to be made much fairer,” she said. “My recommendations would have done that: assessing net rather than gross incomes; ensuring parents weren’t left with annual incomes below $27,000; assessing salaries on a 38 hour week; basing child support on the number of children at the time of separation and not on additional children to other partners; assessing residential costs individually; including Family Tax Benefit in assessing incomes but excluding lump sums such as Workcover, TPI or superannuation payments; and having payments paid to a separate child support account.

“I will continue to advocate these measures to fix Australia’s broken child support system, and continue to advocate for a fairer family law system.”

REVIVE: AUSTRALIA’S NEW NATIONAL CULTURAL POLICY

A new chapter in Australia’s cultural story has begun.

The Albanese Labor Government’s new National Cultural Policy – Revive – has been released today and will set the course for Australia’s arts, entertainment and cultural sector for the next five years.

Revive will empower our talented artists and arts organisations to thrive and grow – unlocking new opportunities, reaching new audiences and telling stories in compelling new ways.

It will bring drive, direction and vision back to the $17 billion industry – which employs an estimated 400,000 Australians – after a lost decade of federal policy drift and funding neglect.

Backed by $286 million in dedicated funding over four years, Revive’s centrepiece is the establishment of Creative Australia.

Creative Australia will be the Government’s new principal arts investment and advisory body.

The governing body of Creative Australia will continue to be known as the Australia Council.

Creative Australia will expand on and modernise the Australia Council’s work with additional funding of $200 million over four years – restoring the money cut by the former Liberal and National Government.

Funding decisions will be made on the basis of artistic merit and at arm’s length from Government.

Within Creative Australia four new bodies will be established:

A new First Nations-led body that will give First Nations people autonomy over decisions and investments
Music Australia, a dedicated new body to support and invest in the Australian contemporary music industry
Writers Australia, to support writers and illustrators to create new works
A new Centre for Arts and Entertainment Workplaces to ensure creative workers are paid fairly and have safe workplaces free from harassment and discrimination

Revive is built on five pillars but puts First Nations first – recognising and respecting the crucial place of these stories at the heart of our arts and culture.

That’s why in addition to the Creative Australia First Nations body, Revive commits the Government to:

Introducing legislation to protect First Nations knowledge and cultural expressions, including the harm caused by fake art
Developing a First Nations creative workforce strategy
Funding the establishment of a National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs and an Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Perth
Providing $11 million to establish a First Nations Languages Policy Partnership between First Nations representatives and Australian governments

Revive also commits the Government to regulating Australian content on streaming platforms; improving lending rights and incomes for Australian writers; increased funding for regional art; and dozens of other measures.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“After a decade of neglect and funding cuts, today we start a new chapter in Australia’s art and culture sector.

“Our new cultural policy Revive will provide the support Australian artists need to thrive and grow.

“I am excited by the potential it will unleash, and to see our extraordinary and diverse Australian stories continue to be told with originality, wit, creativity and flair.

“It builds on the proud legacies of earlier Labor governments that recognised the importance of art and culture to Australia’s identity, social unity and economic prosperity.”

Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said:

“Under Revive, there will be a place for every story and a story for every place. It is a comprehensive roadmap for Australia’s arts and culture that touches all areas of government, from cultural diplomacy in foreign affairs to health and education.

“Our artists are creators and workers. This sector is essential for our culture and for our economy. As the sector recovers from years of neglect followed by the tough pandemic period, Revive will set the arts sector on a new trajectory with fresh momentum.”

To read the National Cultural Policy in full, visit: A new National Cultural Policy