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The NSW Government will provide stamp duty relief for people who lost their homes during the bushfires and who choose to purchase a replacement home elsewhere rather than rebuild.
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro, and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, said the latest NSW Government assistancewould enable people to get back on their feet and back into a new home faster.
“This is about ensuring people have the ability to buy a home to replace the one destroyed by fire and not have to worry about the substantial cost of stamp duty which can be tens of thousands of dollars,” Mr Barilaro said.
“While many people will want to rebuild their homes, there will be others who choose to buy in another location, and we want to ensure that can happen as quickly as possible – this is a big bottom line boost for people during a challenging time.”
Mr Barilaro said 2448 homes were destroyed during the bushfires, with the Government-funded clean-up now well underway across the State.
“We have boots on the ground, bulldozers on building blocks and now more bucks staying in your bank account,” Mr Barilaro said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the stamp duty relief package would allow people much more flexibility and financial freedom as they made one of their most important decisions in the recovery process.
“Losing your home is one of the worst things anybody has to face, and deciding whether to rebuild or relocate is no doubt on a lot of minds,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This will allow people to weigh-up their options, and if they do decide to purchase a replacement home, they can do so without the added financial burden and stress of paying stamp duty.”
People purchasing replacement homes will only begin paying stamp duty once the amount payable exceeds $55,000.
Information on how to apply for a refund and eligibility requirements will be available from Service NSW and Revenue NSW websites from March 10. Eligible people who have already paid duty will be able to apply for a refund.
The NSW Government has made available funding for tourism, school repairs, mental health, small businesses and on the ground assistance including:

• $1 billion to help re-build critical NSW State-owned infrastructure damaged in the bushfires including roads, bridges and schools.
• The NSW Government is jointly funding 50:50 with the Commonwealth the clean-up of residential and commercial properties destroyed by the recent bushfires in NSW with costs estimated in the “hundreds of millions”.
• $10 million tourism package through Destination NSW.
• $30 million for on the ground services and assistance measures to support Primary Producers impacted by fires.
• $15 million for additional mental health services for individuals, community groups and emergency services personnel.
• More than $315 million of additional funds have been committed to fight fires on top of the record 2019/20 RFS Budget.
• $35 million for Economic Recovery and Community Resilience Grants Program, with payments of up to $250,000 for small scale local activities that will kick-start the social and economic recovery of their communities.

To celebrate World Wildlife Day, the NSW Government has announced six new koala habitat restoration projects, which include planting 50,000 koala feed tree seedlings, in the Northern Rivers and Far South Coast regions.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said he was pleased to provide up to $150,000 in funding to a wide range of organisations, including Lismore City Council, Friends of the Koala, Far South Coast Landcare Association, Border Ranges-Richmond Valley Landcare Network and Bangalow Koalas to restore koala habitat.
“While we’re still determining the full impact of this season’s bushfires on koalas and other wildlife, we know that more than 25 per cent of koala habitat in eastern NSW was affected by fires,” Mr Kean said.
“By planting more trees and restoring habitats, we can help our koalas and other native animals recover from these devastating bushfires.
“These projects also acknowledge the passion of our regional communities and local organisations, who spend their time and money caring for their local koala populations and getting involved in tree planting, weed control and site preparation activities.
“These grants are part of the $1 million investment to deliver local actions in partnership with the community under the NSW Koala Strategy.”
The NSW Koala Strategy, which provides $44.7 million in funding, is the biggest commitment by any State government to secure koalas in the wild. It sets out the NSW Government’s long-term goal to stabilise then increase koala populations across NSW.
The NSW Koala Strategy is supported by the Saving our Species program, which is working to secure the future of NSW threatened plants and animals, including the koala.
Further information on how the NSW Government is supporting conservation through community actions is available on NSW Koala Country, a website that celebrates some of the inspiring people and organisations who dedicate their time to helping protect our koalas.
Find out more about the NSW Koala Country website at www.koala.nsw.gov.au

Families will have more access to influenza vaccinations with the NSW Government lowering the age pharmacists can administer flu jabs to children from 16 years to 10 years.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said giving families more options to protect their children against flu is sensible, with the likely convergence of a COVID-19 pandemic with winter flu.
“Last year was the longest flu season on record and in 2017 more than 650 people in NSW died from flu-related conditions, and now we have COVID-19,” Mr Hazzard said.
“While the flu vaccine won’t combat COVID-19, it will help reduce the severity and spread of flu, which can lower a person’s immunity and make them susceptible to other illnesses.
“By allowing pharmacists to administer privately purchased flu vaccines to people aged 10 years and over, families now have more choice when booking-in for a flu jab”.
The NSW Government has invested approximately $130 million in the 2019-20 Immunisation Program budget, including Commonwealth and state vaccines.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said this year’s flu vaccine is expected to be available from mid-April and she urges everyone who can be vaccinated to do so.
“Each year in NSW, we have hundreds of flu-related deaths and many of those who die were infected by the people they know and love who weren’t vaccinated,” Dr Chant said.
“Not only do you risk your own life by not getting vaccinated against flu but you can potentially spread the infection to others more vulnerable, like children and the elderly.
“This year’s flu vaccine will be specifically tailored to the strains we expect will pose the greatest risk but as always, call ahead to ensure your GP or pharmacist has your dose.”
Last year, around 2.5 million doses of Government-funded flu vaccines were distributed across NSW. This year, it is expected more than 2.6 million doses will be made available.
People aged 65 and over, pregnant women, Aboriginal people and those with high-risk medical conditions can be vaccinated for free by GPs under the National Immunisation Program. The free NSW-funded vaccine is available to all children aged six months to five years.
Amendments to the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 to lower the age that pharmacists can supply and administer a private market influenza vaccine to include people aged 10 years and over, are expected to come into effect by mid-March.

Water restrictions in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra revert to Level 1 from today, March 1, with Sydney dam levels over 80 per cent.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said easing back to Level 1 water restrictions would provide some relief to residents and businesses.
“People have been very patient and we appreciate that. The rain event that swept across the east coast of New South Wales earlier this month increased dam levels by 40 per cent, with total dam storages currently at 82 per cent,” Mrs Pavey said.
Mrs Pavey said while the rain was welcomed it was too early to ascertain if the weather was returning to some normality.
“The last time Sydney’s Dam levels were over 80 per cent was in April 2018. Since then they have been declining at the fastest rate on record at 0.5 per cent a week,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Until we are confident the weather patterns are normalizing, Level 1 restrictions will remain in place, so Sydney residents have some stability in their water habits.
“This drought is a reminder that water is our most precious resource and that saving water needs to be a way of life for us.”
Level 1 water restrictions include using a hose with a trigger nozzle only before 10am and after 4pm. Residents and businesses cannot leave hoses running unattended, or use standard sprinklers and watering systems at any time.
Mrs Pavey acknowledged people have been patient and applauded their efforts to reduce the amount of water being used annually – from 200L per person per day in 2017, to 180L today.
“Despite a 26 per cent increase in population, the total demand for drinking water remains lower than it did before mandatory restrictions were introduced in late 2003.”
Fines still apply for breaches of water restrictions – $220 for residential breaches and $550 for businesses. Exemptions will be available for non-residential customers. For a full list of requirements for Level 1 water restrictions visit: lovewater.sydney.

Drivers caught on camera illegally using their mobile phone will be issued fines and demerit points from today.
The NSW Government’s world-first mobile phone detection cameras have been operating in warning mode since 1 December 2019, but drivers caught doing the wrong thing will now cop a $344 fine and five demerit points.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said 9 million vehicles had been checked by the cameras during the three-month warning period, with more than 30,000 warning letters issued to offending drivers.
“We’re seeing more than 99 per cent of drivers doing the right thing, so when we compare this with the findings from the pilot last year, it is clear drivers are starting to get the message.
“As fines and demerits start to be issued from today we expect the number of offences could fall even further, making NSW roads safer for everyone.
“It’s important that drivers who continue to put the safety of themselves, passengers and the local community at risk realise that no matter where you are you could be caught and you will be fined,” Mr Constance said.
Minister for Regional Roads Paul Toole said taking your eyes off the road for longer than two seconds doubled the risk of a crash.
“The decision to pick up your phone can have fatal consequences. Whether you’re driving on a major highway or an isolated road in the bush, there’s no excuse for using your phone illegally,” Mr Toole said.
“The cameras are both fixed and transportable, with the trailer-mounted cameras to be frequently moved around the state, targeting illegal mobile phone use anywhere, anytime.”
NSW Police continue to enforce illegal mobile phone use and issue infringements as part of regular operations.