NEW LAW TO PROTECT STATE’S ENERGY SECURITY AND SYDNEY’S WATER CATCHMENT
- The NSW Government will introduce new laws to put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices, protect energy security and jobs by ensuring the ongoing operation of the Mount Piper power station.
- Mount Piper is supplied by the Springvale mine, which was threatened by a recent court decision. The Court of Appeal determined that the Planning Assessment Commission used an incorrect formula to determine the mine’s impacts on local water.
- This new treatment plant will see zero mine water discharge into the Coxs River, is supported by the EPA and WaterNSW and has separately been approved by the independent Planning Assessment Commission.
MAJOR TICKET SCALPING REFORMS TO COMBAT PRICE GOUGING AND PUT CONSUMERS FIRST
- Tough new ticket scalping reforms will help stamp out dodgy price gouging practices in the live entertainment industry.
- The proposed reforms would put consumers first and stop tickets from being swept up and resold at grossly inflated prices on the secondary market.
- The proposed Amendments would also include:
- In an Australian first, outlawing the use of “bots” – security manipulation software that allows ticket scalpers to buy tickets in unauthorised high quantities;
- Cracking down on advertising, or hosting advertisements, for tickets that breach the new resale laws; and,
- Fostering greater transparency in the primary market by giving the Minister the power to require event organisers to publicly disclose the number of tickets available for sale to major NSW events.
WOOLWORTHS BECOMES RETURN AND EARN’S FIRST RETAIL PARTNER
- Up to 180 reverse vending machines will be positioned at or near Woolworths supermarkets across the state by 1 December when the container deposit scheme, Return and Earn, starts cashing in containers.
- This agreement will see up to 180 reverse vending machines positioned at or near Woolworths supermarkets across the state by 1 December with more to come in early 2018.
- People will be able to choose to donate their refund directly to selected charities or transfer it to their designated account. People will also be able to use a credit voucher towards their shopping at Woolworths or redeem the refund from all Woolworths supermarkets across NSW (except Metro branded Woolworths stores).
STATE’S FIRST HEALTH AND WELLBEING NURSE FOR YOUNG
- The NSW Government has announced a state-first school health pilot program designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of primary and high school students in Young, NSW.
- A Wellbeing Hub and the nurse coordinator role will be trialled at Young High School in southern NSW next year in an innovative program designed to give the community’s school students improved access to health services.
- Services that will be available through the Wellbeing Hub include counselling services, child and adolescent mental health services, drug and alcohol services, sexual health services and allied health services, including dietetics and speech therapy.
MILLION DOLLAR BOOST FOR RIVERINA RAIL
- The NSW Government has announced a $1.1 million dollar investment in two new rail projects for the Riverina.
- The investment provides funding for both the Junee North Triangle, and the Narrandera-Tocumwal Railway re-activation.
- Travel times from Junee to Port Botany and Port Kembla could be reduced by up to three hours, and provide greater capacity at the busy Junee railyard.
NSW BUSINESS CONDITIONS LEAD THE NATION
- NSW is the best place to do business in Australia, according to the latest NAB Business Survey.
- NSW has recorded positive business conditions for a 43rd straight month and the state’s business confidence levels have delivered positive readings for more than four years.
- The survey’s findings for September 2017 showed that NSW delivered the strongest business conditions of any state over the 12 months to September.
OPAL CUSTOMERS SAVE $120 MILLION IN 12 MONTHS
- Opal has put $120 million back in the pockets of NSW transport customers over the past year alone thanks to the introduction of the Opal Transfer discount.
- The numbers show more than half of all Opal users have benefited from the rebate, particularly in areas like Greater Parramatta, Western Sydney and South West Sydney.
- The NSW Government is committed to putting commuters first. Since Opal’s introduction in 2012, average Opal fares have not risen above CPI.
- Along with the Opal transfer discount, customers can also make regular savings through the Weekly Travel Reward with customers receiving a 50 per cent discount on all fares after their eighth paid journey for the week plus for seniors the Gold Opal remains at $2.50 all day travel.
TEAR UP THE PAPER, LEARNER DRIVER LOG BOOK GOES DIGITAL
- The NSW Government has announced the statewide launch of the digital learner driver logbook as an alternative to the outdated paper version.
- All learner drivers are now able to use one of three apps – Licence Ready, Roundtrip and L2P – to log the required 120 hours of driving practice and then submit their logbook electronically with RMS.
- In addition to logging hours and verifying details, the apps make use of GPS tracking, automated weather conditions, profile set up as well as summary dashboards.
NSW CONSUMERS TO GET A FAIRER DEAL ON GIFT CARDS
- Consumers across NSW will have more money in their pockets thanks to Australian-first gift card reforms.
- The proposed plan would see mandatory three-year expiry dates for all gift cards sold in NSW, putting up to $60 million a year back in the hands of shoppers.
- After consultation with key stakeholders, including retailer groups, a Bill is being prepared to put before Parliament.
POWER SAVINGS TO BENEFIT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
- NSW households and businesses will be rewarded for modifying their power consumption this summer through demand management.
- Four pilots are being co-funded with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to free up electricity supply during peak periods.
- The program rewards participating households and businesses that voluntarily reduce their consumption through batteries and smart appliances.
NEW FUELCHECK APP TO SAVE MOTORISTS MONEY AT THE BOWSER
- Motorists across NSW could save hundreds of dollars at the bowser by using the NSW Government’s new FuelCheck app, which provides live fuel prices and much more in real-time for all NSW service stations
- The app includes all of the popular website functions with multiple exciting new features to make finding the best value for money even easier including a Favourite Stations function and a Trends
PLAN FOR NEW HOMES AND TOWN CENTRE AT TELOPEA
- The NSW Government has released a rezoning proposal that will transform Telopea with new homes and a vibrant town centre.
- The proposal includes plans for improved open spaces, a new community centre and a potential new town centre alongside the light-rail stop, providing more retail and services.
- A Precinct Support Scheme will provide $5 million in funding for council to spend on new or upgraded infrastructure in Telopea, including parks and streetscape improvements.
‘SAFETY FIRST’ JUSTICE REFORMS ENTER PARLIAMENT
- The NSW Government has introduced legislation for a tougher and smarter justice system that puts community safety first.
- These tough and smart reforms will deliver safer communities by:
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- Giving the State Parole Authority new powers to decide ‘no body, no parole’ and to revoke parole if there is a serious and immediate risk to community safety (even if there has been no breach).
- Introducing a presumption that domestic violence offenders will receive a supervised sentence in the community or jail time. Safeguards will apply during sentencing to protect victims of domestic violence.
- Giving courts better options to hold criminals to account and to reduce reoffending. Suspended sentences will be abolished, Intensive Correction Orders will be strengthened and new more effective community-based sentences will be introduced.
- Encouraging early guilty pleas to provide faster, more certain justice for victims and the community, reducing court delays, allowing victims to get on with their lives and returning police to the front line.
- Bringing more offenders under the supervision of Community Corrections Officers.
- Ensuring high-risk sex and violent offenders who still pose a danger can be subject to further detention or supervision.
HISTORIC TREASURES ON SHOW IN NEW GALLERY
- Some of the most treasured objects in the Australian Museum’s extensive collection will be on permanent display with the official opening of the Westpac Long Gallery.
- This gallery and exhibition gives visitors excellent access to some of the best items in the collection, some of which have not been on display for many years.
- The items on display in 200 Treasures include:
- The remains of a 120 million-year-old Australian pliosaur
- The body of a preserved Thylacine pup from 1886
- A wooden sledge from Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition to Antarctica
- The 10kg Maitland bar gold nugget
- Dilly bags made by Bundjalung women.