NSW GOVERNMENT FORTNIGHTLY UPDATE – 9 APRIL 2018

9 April 2018
          INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO BE HELD INTO THE BEGA VALLEY BUSHFIRE
  • The NSW Government announced that ex-Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty AO APM will undertake an independent review into the Bega Valley Fire.
  • The investigation will particularly focus on the call taking and dispatch arrangements of both Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Rural Fire Service across the state.
  • An official Coronial Inquest will also be conducted into the emergency response to the Bega Valley Fire.
 
WESTERN SYDNEY YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES TWO DECADE LOW
  • Youth unemployment in Western Sydney has dropped to the lowest level (9.9%) since ABS data started being collected in 1999, with more than 30,000 jobs added for 15-24 year olds since 2011.
  • By comparison, ABS data shows that in the seven years prior to 2011, a total of just 1,200 jobs were added for Western Sydney youth.
  • The NSW Government’s commitment to deliver the future Western Sydney Parkland City will deliver jobs and lifestyles for young people Labor could only dream of achieving.
  • The general NSW unemployment rate is 5.1% - the lowest of all the States.
 
NSW STILL TOP SPOT FOR JOBS
  • New ABS Labour Force data has confirmed that NSW remains well ahead of every other state as the jobs capital of Australia, being the only state to have unemployment fall below 5% at just 4.8%.
  • NSW has now added more than 479,000 jobs since 2011.
  • These jobs are supporting millions of families and communities across the state.
 
NATIONAL CALL FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY IDEAS TO SUPPORT ACTION ON NSW WATER REFORMS
  • The NSW Government is inviting industry, researchers and academics to apply for a share of $500,000 in funding for new technology solutions to support best practice management and monitoring of water in NSW.
  • The Water Pilot Technology Program is now open for grant applications. Applications close Monday, 23 April 2018 at 9am AEST.
 
WEST METRO STATIONS REVEALED: FASTER TRAVEL BETWEEN SYDNEY AND PARRAMATTA
  • The Sydney Metro West mega railway project will include an underground station at Westmead, delivering more travel benefits to greater Western Sydney.
  • The NSW Government has identified further locations for Sydney Metro West.
  • The first Sydney Metro line opens next year in Sydney’s North West – 13 metro stations and a train every four minutes in the peak between Rouse Hill and Chatswood.
  • The NSW Government is also currently delivering the City and South West metro line, with new underground CBD metro stations at Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street, and Central, which will all open in 2024 when Sydney Metro is extended into the city from the North West.
 
NSW ATHLETES GOING FOR GOLD
  • 118 NSW athletes have been chosen to represent Australia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
  • The number of athletes from NSW not only demonstrates the talent in NSW but also the world-class facilities and support offered to enable them to complete against the world’s best.
  • The NSWIS (New South Wales Institute of Sport) contingent of Team Australia includes twenty athletes from athletics, ten swimmers, nine hockey players, and eight shooters.
  • The 2018 Commonwealth Games begins on Wednesday, 4th April and runs through to Sunday, 15th April.
 
DISGRACED LABOR POWERBROKER TO BE FORCED TO REPAY NSW TAXPAYERS
  • The NSW Government will take action to recover taxpayer funded legal assistance provided to Eddie Obeid, following the High Court decision to dismiss the Labor powerbroker’s appeal.
  • He would be forced to pay back more than $280,000 of taxpayer-funded legal assistance provided in relation to this matter.
  • New laws introduced by the NSW Government in 2017 mean that Mr Obeid is also required to repay his taxpayer-funded entitlements which could amount to as much as $660,000.
  • The High Court ruling came amid allegations of sexual harassment and branch stacking against Western Sydney against Western Sydney MP Hugh McDermott and Shadow Minister Guy Zangari, respectively.
 
NEPEAN STAGE 2 BRINGS WESTERN SYDNEY HOSPTALS SPEND TO $4.9 BILLION
  • The NSW Government has committed at least $450 million towards Stage 2 of the Nepean Hospital redevelopment, marking a $4.9 billion milestone committed to Western Sydney’s renewal of hospitals.
  • While Stage 1 at Nepean proceeds full steam ahead, the Government has instructed health Infrastructure to give priority to planning for Stage 2 this year and to continue to deliver across the network of Western Sydney hospitals being renewed.
  • Construction on Nepean’s new $26 million multi-storey hospital car-park is already underway and the new clinical services building is scheduled for completion in 2021.
  • Stage 1 will provide 200 more beds and a new emergency department, it is also responding to the young families of the area with expanded maternity and neonatal services.
 
TATHRA CLEAN UP FUND TO ASSIST RESIDENTS
  • The NSW Government will step in to facilitate the clean-up of Tathra homes destroyed by the bushfires, in partnership with insurers.
  • NSW Public Works will coordinate the clean-up operation, in partnership with insurers and Bega Valley Council, and will engage expert contractors regularly utilised in the aftermath of natural disasters.
  • The Government is also providing financial assistance for the clean-up of properties which are uninsured.
  • The NSW Government has also agreed to fund the expansion of Bega Council’s tip to ensure hazardous waste from the fire can be disposed of safely.
  • Inquiries about the disaster relief grants and the eligibility criteria may be made by visiting the Tathra recovery centre or www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.
 
NEW TAFE DIGITAL HQ TO INCREASE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE
  • The NSW Government has today launched TAFE NSW’s new $6 million Digital Headquarters in Armidale.
  • TAFE Digital is the country’s largest online vocational education and training provider and this futuristic new facility will propel TAFE’s offering of ground breaking courses such as cyber-security, 3D computer aided design and web-based technologies.
  • TAFE Digital is TAFE NSW’s online brand, offering students more than 250 courses. The Headquarters in Armidale will be responsible for developing and refining course content for TAFE Digital courses, using the latest in virtual reality, augmented reality and simulation.
  • TAFE Digital comes on top of the range of measures the NSW Government has implemented to strengthen TAFE’s traditional classroom learning, including the rollout of 14 state-of-the-art Connected Learning Centres (CLCs) and the $131 million in capital works expenditure in the 2017-18 Budget.
 
REVIEW OF DIGITAL ASSETS AFTER DEATH LAWS
  • The NSW Law Reform Commission will examine laws that affect access to a person’s social media accounts and other digital assets after they die or become incapacitated.
  • The review will consider relevant NSW, Commonwealth, and international laws, including those relating to intellectual property, privacy, contract, crime, estate administration, wills, succession and assisted decision-making.
  • To make a submission, visit www.lawreform.justice.nsw.gov.au.
 
LIFE SAVING DEFIBRILLATORS ROLLED OUT ACROSS NSW
  • More than 430 defibrillators are set to be rolled out at community sportsgrounds and grassroots clubs across the state.
  • The NSW Government announced the first round of the Local Sport Defibrillation Program at the Bowral Rugby Union Club in the Southern Highlands, one of the many organisation that will receive a lifesaving portable device.
  • The NSW Government is funding up to 50% of the defibrillator cost, along with training and maintenance support. For more information visit sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/defibrillator.
 
TOURISM RECORDS TUMBLE AS NSW REACHES 100 MILLION VISITOR NIGHTS
  • A record 31.6 million Aussie tourists travelled across the State in 2017, staying over 100 million nights in total, making NSW the first in Australia to reach these incredible results.
  • The record domestic visitor data follows NSW’s record results in the latest International Visitor Survey, making NSW the number one destination of choice for national and international visitors last year.
  • While 2017 was a record year for visitors to NSW, 2018 promises to be just as big with visitors expected to flock to the State for events such as the 10th Anniversary of Vivid Sydney, the Australian premiere of Evita the Musical, Parkes Elvis Festival, Deni Ute Muster, the NRL Grand Final and the Newcastle 500.
 
TELEMATICS TRIAL TO IMPROVE YOUNG DRIVER BEHAVIOUR
  • Up to 1,000 drivers under the age of 25 will be given the chance to participate in an innovative NSW Government trial with in-car technology aimed at reducing road casualties across the state.
  • The telematics trial would run for six months, with participants receiving $100 via the NSW Green Slip scheme.
  • The trial will commence in the second half of the year, and an expression of interest process will be held to identify the type of technology to be used. A partial payment will be made at the beginning of the trial, with the remainder paid on successful completion of the trial.
  • Young drivers who hold P1, P2 or unrestricted licenses will be able to participate in the trial. Eligible drivers can pre-register at www.sira.nsw.gov.au.
 
PLANNING CHANGES TO PROVIDE MORE PARKING SPACES FOR BOARDING HOUSES
  • The NSW Government will mandate the provision of more parking spaces for people living in boarding houses, with proposed changes to planning rules to reduce the demand and impact on street parking.
  • The proposed changes are in response to community concerns, as well as being part of an ongoing review of the State housing policies, including for affordable rental housing.
  • The community is invited to comment on the proposed changes until 16th April, 2018. To view the amendment or to make a submission, please visit http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/boardinghouseparking.
 
ANZ REFURBISHMENT TO SAVE TAXPAYERS $500 MILLION
  • Following receipt of business cases from Infrastructure NSW, the NSW Government announced it will not proceed with knocking down ANZ Stadium.
  • The NSW Government will undertake a refurbishment of the existing facility into a rectangular stadium, which will bring 46,000 fans closer to the action while saving taxpayers half a billion dollars and ensuring Sydney remains the major events capital of Australia.
  • Detailed work undertaken by Infrastructure NSW has shown a 75,000 seat ANZ Stadium ‘knock down rebuild’ would cost $1.33 billion, which was more than the previous estimates.
  • The NSW Government will now proceed to a final business case to be prepared by Infrastructure NSW with construction expected to start in late 2019 and be completed by mid-2021.
  • The NSW Government has also announced it will proceed with the full redevelopment of a 40,000 to 45,000 seat Allianz Stadium, with an allocation of $729 million, after receiving a final business case from Infrastructure NSW which concluded this was the best option for taxpayers and for fans.
  • Work on Allianz Stadium is expected to commence in late 2018, and be completed by March 2022.
  • It is expected the new Allianz Stadium will have a lifespan of 50 years.
  • Summaries of both business cases are available at www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/expert-advice.
  • New animation and artist’s impressions available at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lnh53vxs389j6h7/AAAbYbiAJQxXl3CXichEn36ba?dl=0
 
THE GIFT CARD THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
  • Consumers can now enjoy extended expiry dates on gift cards thanks to NSW Government reforms set to kick in.
  • Under new laws, businesses will also be banned from applying post-purchase administration fees to gift cards, which reduce the balance left on the card.
  • Most gift cards previously came with a 12-month expiry date; however, up to eight per cent of recipients did not use the full balance in time.
  • The reforms would put up to $60 million a year back in the hands of NSW shoppers.
  • Gift cards purchased before 31 March 2018 will have the same expiry date and terms and conditions that applied at the time of purchase.
  • For more information about the reforms, visit http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
 
HOLDING CHILD SEX ABUSERS TO ACCOUNT
  • Offenders convicted of persistent child sex abuse will face a maximum penalty of life in jail under extensive reforms implementing the criminal justice recommendations of the Royal Commission in to Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.
  • The NSW Government has accepted the overwhelming majority of the Royal Commission’s criminal justice recommendations.
  • Legislation implementing the changes will be introduced to the NSW Parliament in the coming months.  These reforms represent a major improvement in the way the legal system responds to child sexual abuse.
  • The NSW Government will establish a monitoring group to review the legislative changes to ensure they operate effectively after they are introduced.
  • Support for survivors is available through Lifeline 13 11 14, 1800Respect on 1800 737 732, Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380, or MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978.
 
NSW SUPPORTS MINING JOBS FOR THE FUTURE
  • The NSW Government has thrown $16 million behind a national push to unlock new areas for mineral exploration that will help secure jobs in the mining industry.
  • The funding will go towards operating the $215 million MinEx Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) project, which has received backing from the Federal Government, 34 companies, most Australian geological surveys, the CSIRO, and leading universities.
  • Through the Geological Survey of NSW, the NSW Government has committed $4.4 million, $6.5 million in data and sufficient funding for two full time staff to work the duration of the 10-year programme that is set to commence in July 2018.
 
UP TO $26 MILLION FOR ADVOCACY GROUPS
  • The NSW Government announced up to $26 million will be available for advocacy services until 2020.
  • The funding will support people with disability to access these services during the transition to the national Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and in the early stages of full Scheme.
  • A key focus of the NSW funding will be on activities that support inclusion of people with disability in their communities.
  • More than 84,000 people with disability in NSW are currently accessing the NDIS in NSW.
 
 

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