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Parents in NSW will not have to pay preschool fees for up to six months thanks to a $51 million funding package announced by the NSW Government.
The NSW Government has also committed up to $82 million to support 260 council childcare centres who are not eligible for the JobKeeper payments.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said preschools and early childhood educators are vital to the community, and it is important parents continue to have access to childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Parents are under a lot of pressure at the moment and it’s crucial for them to continue to have access to childcare, particularly those working on the frontline during this crisis,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This will also provide funding certainty during an unpredictable time, ensuring preschool teachers and educators can be confident they will remain employed.
“This will provide financial relief to families during the pandemic and ensure childcare centres remain viable into the future.”
The funding will be available to 700 State-funded community preschools and 38 mobile services that provide care to 45,000 three to five year olds.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the recently announced Working for NSW Fund would contribute towards the state’s community preschools.
“This fund was set up to keep people in jobs and by supporting the sector, we’re ensuring the future of these early childhood services beyond this health crisis.
“It will also ease cost-of-living pressures on families in these tough times.”
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the funding means community preschools and council childcare centres would be required to remain open, unless they are closed on health advice.
“Preschools and council childcare centres will now have the peace of mind that they will be financially viable, and parents will benefit from the relief of not having to pay any fees,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Families and children can now also be assured that their preschool service will continue to operate, providing some familiarity for them during these trying times.”
Today’s funding is on top of the NSW Government’s commitment to maintain Start Strong funding for preschools based on service enrolments before COVID-19.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed 263 new recruits to the NSW Police Force today after they were sworn in as probationary constables in Goulburn during a private attestation ceremony.
Mr Elliott said the State would be a safer place with the recruits assigned to local Police Commands across NSW where they will commence duties over the coming weeks.
“I want to welcome each and every attesting recruit to the police family. This is not an easy time to be a first responder. Our Class 340 recruits have come at an important time for the state of NSW,” Mr Elliott said.
“Due to the current restrictions, these recruits have not had the send-off into their new careers that they deserve. I am working with Commissioner Fuller to ensure that all recruits attesting this year will be celebrated bigger than ever when it is safe to do so.
“These officers can be assured they have the full support of this Government. The NSW Government has invested $583 million to introduce 1,500 extra police over the next four years, the biggest investment in police for more than 30 years.”
NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller said the latest intake of probationary constables will provide a valuable boost to police resources as the state faces the threat of COVID-19.
“I welcome our newest police officers from Class 340 who attest at a very significant time. They will hit the ground running, and I want them to know that I have their back,” he said.
Class 340 includes 177 men and 86 women. Some recruits entered the NSW Police Academy straight from school or university, while others left established professional careers and trades.
The recruits have completed eight months of foundational training and those allocated to metropolitan commands will report to their stations on Tuesday 14 April 2020.
Thirty-one recruits were born overseas in countries including Italy, Afghanistan, USA, Thailand and Lebanon. Five recruits are Indigenous with two coming through the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program.
 

A man has been issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) by police conducting inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his recent travels to a holiday home on the Central Coast.
Police were alerted yesterday (Wednesday 8 April 2020), that a 55-year-old Elizabeth Bay man had relocated to a holiday home at Pearl Beach, in contravention of current Ministerial Direction under the Public Health Act.
After reports he had breached the order, the man returned to Sydney today (Thursday 9 April 2020).
As part of inquiries, investigators from Central Metropolitan Region attended the Elizabeth Bay home unit and spoke with the man.
Following further inquiries, the man was issued a $1000 PIN via email just before 9pm, for failing to comply with noticed direction (Section 5 – COVID-19).
NSW Police Commissioner Fuller said the directions are in place to protect the lives of people in NSW.
“Police have been given these powers to ensure the community spread of COVID-19– which we know is devastating communities across the globe – is minimised,” the Commissioner said.
“You only need to look at the statistics to see that people are dying where appropriate measures have either not been established or are ignored.
“No one individual or corporation is above these laws – anyone suspected of breaching the orders will be investigated and if a breach is detected, they will be dealt with in accordance with the Act.
“On behalf of the community, I strongly urge those with information about breaches to contact police.”
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has been charged after allegedly cracking a whip and making threats outside the Chinese Consulate in Sydney’s Inner West.
Just after 10.30am on Tuesday 31 March 2020, a man, armed with a large stock whip, stood outside the Chinese Consulate in Camperdown.
Police will allege in court that the man threatened several members of the public while cracking the whip.
Officers from Inner West Police Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators arrested a 55-year-old man at a home in Dee Why about 9am yesterday (Thursday 9 April 2020).
He was taken to Manly Police Station, where he was charged with attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm and armed with intent commit indictable offence.
The man was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday 1 July 2020.

Three men have been charged – and drugs and weapons have been seized from a vehicle – after a driver was stopped in Sydney’s south-west.
About 8.15am yesterday (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command were conducting patrols of the Miller area, when they stopped a Hyundai i30 sedan travelling on Gabo Crescent allegedly driving in a dangerous manner.
After speaking with the 43-year-old driver, police allege he and his two male passengers, aged 28 and 29, did not have a reasonable excuse for travelling.
The driver underwent a roadside drug test and allegedly returned a positive result. His licence has been suspended.
When the vehicle was searched, police seized heroin, MDMA, methylamphetamine, an electronic stun device, a knife, $16,460 in cash and drug paraphernalia. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
All three men were arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station.
The 29-year-old man has been charged with 21 offences, including:
• Custody of knife in public place
• Supply prohibited drug (three counts)
• Possess prohibited drug (10 counts)
• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (four counts)
• Possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit
• Deal with property proceeds of crime, and
• Fail to comply requirement public health order.
The 28-year-old man and 43-year-old man were both charged with fail to comply requirement public health order, and breach of bail.
All three men were refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Friday 10 April 2020).

A man has been charged after allegedly spitting on a woman at a Kellyville Ridge fast food restaurant yesterday.
About 11.40am (Thursday 9 April 2020), a man attended the business on Windsor Road and ordered food.
When the man sat in the outdoor section of the restaurant, staff told him that he was not able to dine in the restaurant due to current COVID-19-related ministerial directions.
The 42-year-old man refused to leave and a woman, also in the store, began filming him on her mobile.
The man approached the 34-year-old woman and allegedly spat on her face before leaving.
Officers attached to Quakers Hill Police Area Command attended and arrested the man.
He has been charged with common assault and has been issued a Field Court Attendance Notice.
The man, from Chester Hill, is due to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Monday 6 July 2020.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Police have charged two men with drug supply offences following proactive patrols in Sydney’s CBD.
About 3.30pm (Thursday 9 April 2020), officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling Haymarket when they spoke with a man on Thomas Lane.
Police searched the man and found a plastic bag allegedly containing methylamphetamine, a fake soft drink can with a concealed compartment also containing methylamphetamine, two mobile phones, more than $350 cash and jewellery.
The 39-year-old man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug
As the man could not provide police with a reasonable excuse for being away from his Burwood home, he was also charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
He was refused bail to appear Parramatta Local Court via audio visual link on Friday 10 April 2020.
In a separate incident about 7.45pm, police saw a man on his mobile phone while driving along Harris Street in Ultimo.
Officers spoke to the driver and sole occupant of the Toyota Corolla, a man aged 23.
Police located nine small bags of cocaine on the ground, that had allegedly been concealed in the man’s shorts. Upon searching the Toyota, police also located a wallet and $250 cash allegedly hidden in two locations inside the car.
The man was also taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable), deal with proceeds of crime, and use mobile phone whilst driving. He was also given a warning for breach of the Health Minister’s Direction.
The Belmore man was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 1 July 2020.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has been charged with drug supply offences during proactive police patrols in Ultimo yesterday.
About 5pm (Wednesday 8 April 2020), officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command spoke to a man on Macarthur Street.
The man was not able to give a reasonable excuse for being there, and upon searching the man, police allegedly located 65.2 grams of Methamphetamine, 12.9 grams of Ketamine and 8.4 grams of MDMA allegedly found inside his backpack.
The drugs have a potential estimated street value of more than $50,000.
Police also allege the man was in possession of drug manufacturing equipment, drug paraphernalia and over $4,000 cash.
The 40-year-old man was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station.
He was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), deal with the proceeds of crime, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, possess house breaking implements, and fail to comply with a public health order.
The Camperdown man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Thursday 9 April 2020).