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For governments of a long duration, probity in office can often seep away and its members find themselves accused of a lack of integrity or mired in political scandal. It often doesn’t manifest itself in large rackets or kickbacks and bribes – it could also be a culture of spending public money for political ends or misusing taxpayer-funded positions for cronies and pals.

How do I know that? Because as a member of the New South Wales Labor Party I have seen with my own eyes – inside my own party – what happens when a government loses the will to place integrity at the centre of everything they do.

I have seen the drift and the grift, the dramas and the scandals, the self-obsession and self-aggrandising that consumes a government from within when they decide to put their own political hopes and dreams ahead of the public good.

If I have learned anything about integrity from my time in politics, it’s that even though integrity is a noun, as a politician – and as the leader of a party – you are better off thinking of it as a verb. It’s not an outcome you reach, it is a continuous and relentless determination to place integrity at the heart of all your decisions and actions, and that’s precisely what all sides of politics in New South Wales need to do.

That’s why from opposition we have introduced a private members bill that makes the grants process fairer and more accountable by imposing new reporting requirements on ministers and agencies; conferring new powers on the auditor-general to follow the money; and introducing new grants guidelines.

We can’t afford to wait for the next election to start acting on integrity. We need to begin that work today. I have not hesitated to back Gladys Berejiklian or Dom Perrottet when I thought they were on the right path, and I call on the premier to do the same thing and back this important, considered, and urgently needed bill.

At the end of the day, public funds are not the government’s own piggy bank. We want to work with the premier and the government to realise these reforms now.

I’ve said before and I’ll keep saying it – NSW Labor supports the Independent Commission Against Corruption not because it investigates our opponents but because it investigates us. Knowing ICAC is watching helps people have faith and trust in their government and political leaders. I believe in many cases its presence stops corruption before it even begins.

Under a government I lead, Labor will legislate to guarantee independent funding for ICAC. We need a strong and independent ICAC, free to continue its important work unencumbered. If the premier wants to implement this policy before the next election, he will have my full support.

I’ve also announced that Labor will abolish the Liberals’ and Nationals’ senior trade and investment commissioner roles. If Labor wins government in March these $500,000-a-year contracts will not be renewed.

We all know this money could be better spent and the public has the right to know that if Labor does form government we won’t turn around and appoint our own former MPs to jobs that pay more than the premier.

From hard experience, Labor has learned that the pursuit of integrity is not a burden we absolve ourselves of, but an unwavering commitment to always be probing ourselves, and others, to ensure there is integrity in public life in NSW.

The measures outlined here are a good start and will help bring integrity back into the centre of state government decision-making. But they are the beginning of the job, not its end. It also goes to culture.

A senior minister told me at the conclusion of Labor’s time in office that Labor had lost the sense that we are only custodians of high office; that we have no proprietorship, that it can be taken away at any time by the people and we have a duty to hand it back better than how it was when we inherited it.

That’s a lesson I will take into government if we are able to secure the public’s confidence after 12 years in opposition.

Aboriginal people will benefit from the expansion of a grants program, which will create more opportunities for education, training and employment in the NSW public service and local government agencies.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the NSW Government has expanded the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grants to provide more tangible and meaningful pathways for Aboriginal people.
 
“This initiative enables the public service and local councils to deliver more education, training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“The NSW Government’s record investment in skills in the 2022-23 Budget means we can expand the program to support 250 School Based Apprentices and Trainees and more than 20 permanent, temporary or post-high school roles.”
 
The annual grants are named in honour of community leader Elsa Dixon who played a critical role in improving social outcomes for Aboriginal people in the 1970s and 1980s.
 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said the program aligns with Closing the Gap targets to increase the number of Aboriginal people engaged in sustainable employment, education and training pathways.
 
“This is an incredible expansion and will see more Aboriginal people secure employment or greater opportunities and choice in their local communities,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“We encourage government agencies and local councils to come forward with their innovative ideas and help remove barriers to education, training and employment for Aboriginal people.”
 
For more information about the grants and how to apply, visit the website.

Up to 6,000 native trees are on offer to residents across Greater Sydney this month, with the latest round of the NSW Government’s Tree Giveaway kicking off today.
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said it was great to see the program continuing in partnership with Bunnings Warehouse stores.
 
“I’m thrilled that Sydney residents can head into spring with this new round of tree giveaways,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“We’ve seen incredible progress in tree planting numbers since we began this project in 2020.
 
“This latest round will give us a final push towards achieving the Greening our City Premier’s Priority of planting one million trees in Greater Sydney by the end of the year. We are closing in on that target with 922,814 already planted.”
 
This month’s giveaway focuses on providing a range of native trees, including Fringed Wattles, Lilly Pillies and Bottle Brushes. With the hope to secure some more varieties later in Spring.
 
Mr Roberts said trees are vital to maintaining health and wellbeing, as well as keeping backyards nice and shady and our homes cooler.
 
“They make the air we breathe more pure and healthier not to mention the beautiful wildlife they attract,” he said.
 
“With summer fast approaching, now is a good time for community to get involved in planting efforts.”
 
The Tree Giveaway is open to residents from all 33 council areas in Greater Sydney, who have not already received a free tree this year.
 
For more information and to claim your free tree, visit: dpie.nsw.gov.au/free-tree

Communities in South Western Sydney will be better protected following the delivery of a new $2.5 million aerial firefighting truck to Revesby Fire Station.
 
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the Compressed Aerial Pumper (CAP) features an air foam system, a 2,000 litre water tank, a 24.5 metre extendable ladder with an outreach of 11 metres, and has the capability to haul 330 kilogram loads.
 
“While the skyline across South Western Sydney continues to grow with new residential and business developments, it’s important firefighters are equipped with state-of-the-art appliances to support and protect people and property in a range of emergency situations,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“The delivery of this aerial pumper delivers on the NSW Government’s $37 million commitment to increase and upgrade the FRNSW aerial fleet.”
 
Member for East Hills Wendy Lindsay today handed over the truck’s keys to firefighters at Revesby Fire Station.
 
“Whether it’s large-scale fires in shopping centres, industrial complexes and multi-storey residential buildings or other operations like rescues and evacuations, this pumper will give our Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) personnel the equipment they need to better protect the community,” Ms Lindsay said.
 
“This is the first of 11 aerials pumpers being rolled out across the State and I’m so proud it’s based at Revesby.”
 
Each CAP is also fitted with thermal imaging cameras to detect heat signals which can be transmitted in ‘real-time’ to the FRNSW Command Centre.
 
FRNSW Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Darryl Dunbar, said the new asset provides firefighters with the best tools to do their work and protect the irreplaceable.
 
“We are always on the lookout for new equipment and technologies to help our crews adapt to the changing needs of the communities they serve,” Chief Superintendent Dunbar said.
 
“The addition of the CAPs to the FRNSW fleet allows firefighters to quickly reach the seats of multi-storey blazes and extinguish them more efficiently and effectively.”