Category: NSW News

New South Wales remains the jobs capital of Australia with ABS figures released today showing we have the lowest unemployment rate of any state at just 4.4 per cent.
NSW added 12,963 jobs in July with the participation rate in NSW at 65.9 per cent, while the NSW unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points.
NSW remains well below the national unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent and is lower than our neighbour states of Victoria 4.8 per cent, Queensland 6.4 per cent, and South Australia 6.9 per cent.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the figures reflected the Government’s commitment to boosting employment and opportunity.
“The Government’s record $93 billion infrastructure program is doing the heavy lifting, with total public investment expected to contribute around ½ a percentage point to the State’s growth and support around 100,000 jobs in 2019-20 and 2020-21,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW has a strong economy and the latest jobs figures continue to reflect the benefits to our willingness to recycle assets and build the schools, hospitals, roads and new rail lines the state needs.”
Mr Perrottet said Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe had recently commented on the benefits to the economy of increased spending on infrastructure.
“NSW is the clear leader in Australia on building infrastructure, we are billions of dollars ahead of other states, and the benefits are clear when you look at how we are performing even in a time when there are economic challenges right across the world,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW has a reputation for being a world leader in asset recycling – we are ensuring the State’s balance sheet is working for the people of NSW in the most productive and beneficial ways possible.
“In contrast as we saw during both the NSW and Federal election campaigns earlier this year Labor’s only plan was to cancel projects and raise taxes.”

Western Sydney will be the centre of 3D printing in Australia thanks to a new joint initiative between the NSW Government and industry leader GE Additive.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian was in Munich today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with GE Additive to develop industrial-scale 3D printing at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
“3D printing is on the cutting edge of manufacturing globally and this deal will help make Western Sydney the nation’s leader,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our partnership with GE Additive will create many hi-tech jobs across the aerospace, medical and automotive sectors.”
GE Additive is at the forefront of metal additive manufacturing, which is disrupting manufacturing industries and accelerating the way products are designed and made.
Ms Berejiklian visited the GE Additive Customer Experience Centre in Munich, which provides access to 3D printing experts and specialised training for companies of all sizes.
“We are extremely honoured to welcome Premier Berejiklian and the NSW delegation to Munich and equally so to be part of this wider vision for Western Sydney and especially the Aerotropolis precinct,” Jason Oliver, President and CEO of GE Additive, said.
“Adopting an ecosystem approach to additive manufacturing will drive the adoption of this new technology and the development of new businesses and skilled jobs,” Mr Oliver said.
“Given NSW’s rich seam of talent and ambition for the future, we are particularly excited at the impact our work together could have, not just in NSW, but nation-wide and more broadly across the APAC region.”
Ms Berejiklian said enhanced 3D printing capabilities will be a key component of a new space industry hub at the Aerotropolis.
“We are aiming to triple the size of Australia’s space sector to $12 billion by 2030, creating up to 20,000 new jobs in this industry alone,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to look globally to bring the best opportunities to NSW.”
Today’s announcement follows an agreement signed in December between the NSW Government and 18 NSW space companies, research and education institutions, as well as the CSIRO, to establish a new Space Industry Hub at the Aerotropolis.
Ms Berejiklian and Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres are on a trade mission to the UK and Germany from August 11 to 16.

A new social housing app will save time, drastically reduce paperwork and improve customer service for thousands of tenants in NSW.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the new mobile phone app would revolutionise customer service in the housing space.
“Having to queue up in an office or wait on the phone is frustrating and time consuming,” Mr Ward said.
“Thanks to this new technology, our customers will be able to easily access services at the touch of a button.
“This means time savings for them and more time for our staff to focus on helping people with the greatest needs.”
The MyHousing app provides tenants with a simple way to manage and view accounts including rent and water, as well as to make payments, lodge maintenance requests and connect to a range of support services.
The Department of Communities and Justice manages 100,000 tenancies and 60,000 applications for social housing assistance. A survey of 14,000 clients, conducted last year, revealed 98 per cent of them owned a smart phone.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the app is an example of how the NSW Government is putting the customer at the centre of its service delivery.
“Customer service is about putting more time in your day and this one-stop shop app will make life easier for customers by giving them access to necessary services at their fingertips,” Mr Dominello said.
“It is important that face-to-face services still exist, but having a smart phone app will allow tenants to engage with services anywhere, anytime.”
The app has been trialed extensively with a customer satisfaction rating of 94 per cent. You can download the free app from the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).

Shovels are in the ground for the sixth and final stage of The Northern Road Upgrade at Luddenham, Eaton Road and Littlefields Road.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the new and improved road would support integrated transport in the region and improve access, safety and travel times for road freight in Sydney’s west and southwest.
“The Australian Government has committed $1.2 billion towards The Northern Road Upgrade and we are getting on with the job of delivering new and improved transport for the residents and motorists of Western Sydney,” Mr Tudge said.
New South Wales Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the works at Luddenham were Stage 6 of the broader upgrade of The Northern Road.
“Once complete, the entire 35-kilometre upgrade of The Northern Road between Narellan and South Penrith will provide a high-quality connection with the M7 and M12 motorways and support Western Sydney’s growing population,” Mr Constance said.
Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said all the upgrades were part of the Australian and NSW governments’ $3.6 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan to improve safety, reduce travel times and bust congestion.
“This is just another piece of the massive Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan, which will support future growth and benefit local communities in southwest Sydney for years to come,” Mr Taylor said.
Federal Member for Lindsay Melissa McIntosh said once Stage 6 was complete, motorists would be able to travel on a four-lane divided road, improving their journeys to and from the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport at Badgerys Creek.
“More than 15,000 vehicles use these sections of The Northern Road each day and this number is expected to significantly increase once the new airport opens in 2026, so it is important to get on with the job now,” Mrs McIntosh said.
Work will also be carried out to install new traffic lights and build a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.
The 35-kilometre upgrade of The Northern Road between The Old Northern Road and Jamison Road is expected to be completed in 2022, weather permitting.
The Australian Government has committed $1.2 billion towards the $1.6 billion The Northern Road Upgrade project, with the NSW Government committing the remainder.

The NSW Government has commenced further work to secure water for Greater Sydney with preliminary planning for the expansion of the Sydney Desalination Plant (SDP) commencing as Greater Sydney dam levels continue to drop at record pace.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said all of NSW is experiencing the worst drought on record and Sydney’s Desalination Plant is playing a significant role in maintaining Sydney’s water supply.
“We are experiencing one of the worst droughts in living memory. Our State is under pressure, city and country,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Sydney storages have dropped from around 90 per cent to 50 per cent capacity in approximately two years, with Sydney’s dam levels currently at 50.3 per cent.
“The SDP reached full production at the end of July – two months ahead of schedule.
“The Plant is now producing an average of 250 million litres a day – approximately 15 per cent of Sydney’s supply.”
Mrs Pavey said since the Plant was turned on, the current dam depletion rates have improved by around 0.2 per cent per week.
“By undertaking this Planning work, should the drought worsen and water levels continue to drop, we will be ready to act immediately to increasing water supply,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This is on top of the work already underway to preserve Sydney’s water supply, including the Sydney Water ‘Love Water’ campaign, leakage reduction and increasing the beneficial uses of treated wastewater.
“This government has worked hard to ensure that Sydney residents pay the lowest rates in the country, however as Sydney grows, it is critical that we continue to ensure that our water security continues to grow as well.”

The NSW Government has commenced further work to secure water for Greater Sydney with preliminary planning for the expansion of the Sydney Desalination Plant (SDP) commencing as Greater Sydney dam levels continue to drop at record pace.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said all of NSW is experiencing the worst drought on record and Sydney’s Desalination Plant is playing a significant role in maintaining Sydney’s water supply.
“We are experiencing one of the worst droughts in living memory. Our State is under pressure, city and country,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Sydney storages have dropped from around 90 per cent to 50 per cent capacity in approximately two years, with Sydney’s dam levels currently at 50.3 per cent.
“The SDP reached full production at the end of July – two months ahead of schedule.
“The Plant is now producing an average of 250 million litres a day – approximately 15 per cent of Sydney’s supply.”
Mrs Pavey said since the Plant was turned on, the current dam depletion rates have improved by around 0.2 per cent per week.
“By undertaking this Planning work, should the drought worsen and water levels continue to drop, we will be ready to act immediately to increasing water supply,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This is on top of the work already underway to preserve Sydney’s water supply, including the Sydney Water ‘Love Water’ campaign, leakage reduction and increasing the beneficial uses of treated wastewater.
“This government has worked hard to ensure that Sydney residents pay the lowest rates in the country, however as Sydney grows, it is critical that we continue to ensure that our water security continues to grow as well.”

The new Redfern Police Station is the third police station opened in 11 days by the NSW Government.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott unveiled the refurbished station at Tower 1B, Lawson Square after moving from Tower 1A. This follows Mount Druitt opening on Monday and Bay and Basin last week.
Mr Elliott said the NSW Government had refurbished the bottom three floors with state of the art infrastructure.
“The new Redfern Police Station will help our police better serve the local community and continue to drive down crime. It provides the space and resources to accommodate the growing number of sworn and unsworn officers,” Mr Elliott said.
The station has been fully operational since 28 July this year and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Commissioner Fuller said this opening follows the recent formation of the South Sydney Police Area Command, which incorporated the former Redfern and Botany Bay Police Area Commands.
“The realignment of South Sydney Police Area Command better distributes resources to address crime trends, local development, population growth and the needs of the South Sydney community,” he said.
The station includes a customer service area, interview rooms with family break out areas and facilities, operational and specialist policing areas, CCTV, an audio-visual link room and modern meeting facilities.
South Sydney Police Area Commander Superintendent Andrew Holland acknowledged the local community’s help in setting up this new station including local children who designed the artwork featured inside.

A range of new intelligent transport systems will be put to the test along the M4 Motorway from next week.
Drivers will see new technologies in action from Wednesday ahead of the M4 Smart Motorway project’s completion in 2020.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the systems will help to control the flow of traffic between Mays Hill and Penrith.
“These new signals have been installed on a number of on-ramps, including at Reservoir Road. They will help to regulate traffic entering the motorway, as well as vehicles trying to merge at the same time.
“This technology will ensure less stop-start traffic and sudden braking at some of the most congested points along the motorway.”
Mr Constance said crews are also hard at work installing electronic message signs, traffic sensors and lane use signs along a 35 kilometre stretch of the motorway.
“When the project is complete, these systems will talk to each other and automatically adjust to incidents and congestion without a manual operator intervening,” Mr Constance said.
“This testing will measure driver behaviour and reaction to the technology ahead of the project opening to traffic.”
Mr Constance said planning is continuing for technology upgrades to other major motorways, including the M1 Motorway between Gosford and Sydney.
“By introducing these cutting-edge improvements we ensure drivers are spending less time in their vehicles and more time doing what they enjoy most.”

Empowering students to speak up and be their best will be the focus of Education Week 2019, launched today by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.
Ms Berejiklian attended the St Marys North Public School Education Week launch in Penrith and Mrs Mitchell attended the Dubbo College launch with proceedings streamed to both schools via a webcast.
“The focus of the 2019 Education Week, ‘Every Student, Every Voice,’ is about ensuring children across the State feel informed, empowered and supported in their ambitions,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We are unashamedly for lifting standards in our schools and unlocking the massive potential of our young people.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is investing a record amount into education to provide students with state of the art learning facilities, lifting academic standards, as well as ensuring every student is valued and cared for at school.”
The NSW Government is rolling out a number of unprecedented initiatives, including:

• Delivering 190 new and upgraded schools through a $6.7 billion investment
• An expanded Bump it Up program, which is providing all schools in NSW with expanded targets in attendance, wellbeing, equity, numeracy and literacy
• A $120 million program to ensure parent in NSW has access to Before and After School Care for their child

Mrs Mitchell reiterated the Government’s support of regional schools at the event in Dubbo.
“Times are so tough in our regional areas at the moment, so it’s more important than ever to ensure children are still getting the best education possible. Normality and consistency is key even though our communities are struggling,” Mrs Mitchell said.
“This Government is investing an unprecedented amount in Education at the moment, and I am thrilled we are providing more pathways and opportunities for families and students in areas like Dubbo and across the State.”
Education Week, now in its 65^th year, is an annual event to celebrate NSW public education and communicate the achievements of schools, their students, staff and families.
Today’s launch will kick off a week of celebration of the achievements of public schools, their students, staff and communities. Among the events planned are open days, special assemblies, performances and principals swapping schools.
For more information, visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/education-week/about-education-wee

Home owners will be better protected following the appointment of building and construction expert David Chandler OAM as NSW Building Commissioner.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the appointment of Mr Chandler was part of the NSW Government’s commitment to implementing the biggest overhaul to building laws in the State’s history.
“David has more than 40 years’ industry experience, which will be invaluable as we move to restore confidence in the building and construction industry,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We know there are national challenges affecting the industry, but this new appointment will play a key role in protecting NSW homeowners and driving critical reforms.”
The Building Commissioner will be responsible for the investigation and disciplinary action for misconduct in the building industry while overseeing the end to end licensing and auditing across the building industry.
The Commissioner will also drive legislative reforms of the building industry, including consultation with industry.
This will include legislation to be introduced later this year requiring building practitioners to be registered, a new duty of care to make it easier for home owners to seek compensation against negligent building practitioners, and ensuring all buildings are designed and constructed to plans that comply with the Building Code of Australia.
Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the Building Commissioner’s priority will be to continue the extensive work that has already been started by the NSW Government to reform the building and construction industry.
“David will lead the implementation of this reform and will advise the Government on additional reforms that may be needed to ensure better protections for homeowners and purchasers, and lift building standards across NSW,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Chandler has welcomed the opportunity to work with the Government to strengthen the building and construction industry.
“Recent events have reduced community confidence in how buildings are designed and constructed and how they perform, but I welcome the leadership and commitment being shown by the Government to implement change that will strengthen the construction industry foundations in NSW,” Mr Chandler said.
Mr Chandler will start in the position on 14 August 2019