Category: NSW News

NSW small businesses will save thousands of dollars under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government, with the introduction of a raft of cost saving measures including cheaper insurance premiums, payroll tax cuts and access to the Energy Switch program.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet today announced the Liberals & Nationals business booster package, which will ensure NSW remains the leading economic and employment powerhouse of Australia.
“Small business is the backbone of NSW, employing more than a million people, and helping to shape the future of the state we all love,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The Liberals & Nationals know how important it is to ensure businesses can thrive and grow, so that they can employ more people.
“That’s why we are reducing costs, cutting tax, and slashing red tape – unlike Labor, who see NSW businesses as a cash cow.”
Key measures to assist businesses under the Liberals & Nationals include:

• $300 million in workers compensation insurance premium discounts over three years for 280,000 employers, delivering an average discount of 8 per cent, and maximum of 12.5 per cent, for employers with the safest workplaces.

• Ensuring 760,000 small business can utilise the NSW Government’s popular Energy Switch program and potentially save thousands off their bill.
• Continuing to slash payroll tax brackets progressively up to $1 million in 2021/22, with up to 38,000 businesses saving up to $8175 off their tax bill.
• Giving small businesses and tradies a head start in procurement by requiring NSW Government agencies to consider small business suppliers for everything they buy.
• Continuing to cut red tape and enhance the “Easy to do Business” program through work being undertaken by the NSW Productivity Commissioner.

Minister for Small Business John Barilaro said the latest small business numbers from the ABS show NSW is once again leading the nation with the highest number of small businesses added in the last year; a rise of almost 30,000.
“The Liberals and Nationals have a proven track record in supporting business growth across NSW, and small business is helping drive jobs growth and new opportunities in our state”, Mr Barilaro said.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the package of measures was a real win-win for both business and employees and would create thousands of jobs for NSW.
“The Liberals & Nationals understand that a vibrant business community means more jobs, increased opportunity and the chance for people to build a better future for themselves and their family,” Mr Perrottet said.
“These measures have very real consequences which could be the difference between a business hiring another employee or not.
“Our payroll tax cuts will benefit up to 38,000 businesses, while Labor are not only refusing to cut tax but planning to stop major infrastructure projects like the F6 extension and South-West Metro, costing thousands of jobs and stalling the NSW economy.”
The workers compensation premium discount rewards employers for making their workplace safer. Savings will vary from employer to employer depending on size, industry and safety record.
As an example, a medium sized employer in the childcare industry with a fair safety record and an Average Performance Premium (APP) of $50,000 would receive a discount of $1250 each year for the next three years.

A Daley Labor Government will introduce nurse-to-patient ratios in mental health units in the State’s hospital system – as part of its Mental Health policy.
A Daley Labor Government will introduce nurse-to-patient ratios in mental health units in the State’s hospital system – as part of its Mental Health policy.
This will dramatically improve patient care, reassure family members and support hard working nurses and other hospital staff.
This was announced by NSW Labor leader Michael Daley and NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord. Mr Daley will make the announcement at the NSW ALP campaign launch today.
Broadly mental health nurse-to-patient ratios will translate to:

• One nurse to every four patients in mental health units during the day;
• One nurse to seven patients overnight; and
• One-to-one and one-to-two care for acute mental health patients needing level one and level two nursing observations – respectively; and
• Supervisory nurses in charge on every shift.

Nurse-to-patient ratios in mental health wards will start in 37 acute adult inpatient units – in the first term of a Daley Labor Government.
The nurse-to-patient ratios for mental health units is part of Labor’s overall plan to provide more than 5,500 nurses and midwives to deliver mandated nurse-to-patient ratios in emergency, maternity, medical and surgical and paediatric wards.
NSW Labor also unveiled a number of other measures to improve mental health services in NSW – including more clinical psychologists and mental health workers in rural and regional NSW.
NSW Labor will continue to support existing health and hospital mental health programs – and it will:

• Open more mental health beds in NSW hospitals by investing an extra $40 million;
• Deliver 450 additional counsellors, psychologists and student support officers to all high schools;
• Hire an extra 30 clinical psychologists across NSW;
• Train and employ 50 mental health outreach workers in regional NSW, to support communities affected by the drought;
• Allocate an extra $20 million to partner with not for profit mental health groups in regional areas to complement existing services;
• Provide an extra $3 million for improved technology to support rural tele-health initiatives for local health districts to assist mental health workers and patients;
• Provide mental health first aid training to public school principals and senior staff to better assist students and colleagues;
• Provide $7 million to trial health screening and outreach in four Women’s Health Centres
• Provide an extra $1 million to fund eating disorder treatment services in the Illawarra;
• Establish a public sector mental health charter to support the wellbeing and safety within the NSW public sector;
• Set up a NSW Legislative Council parliamentary inquiry into the NSW mental health system as there has not been a full and proper inquiry since 2001;
• Work with the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission and the Attorney General’s Department to ban the practice of gay conversion therapy in NSW – if there is not a national approach; and
• Double the funding for the NSW Police Workforce Improvement Program with an additional $12 million to provide frontline police officers with the support they need to respond to the stressful and challenging nature of the work they undertake. (Up to 250 police officers will suffer physical injuries a month and up to 50 officers will suffer a psychological injury a month.)

Forty-five per cent of Australians will experience a common mental disorder in their lifetime.
NSW Labor also recognises that half of all mental illnesses manifest before the age of 14 and three-quarters by the age of 25. Fourteen per cent of children between four and 17 years of age will experience a mental illness.
The NSW Mental Health Co-ordinating Council reports that more than 1.3 million people – equal to 16 per cent of the NSW population are living with a mental health condition, and 3.1 million residents of NSW million residents of NSW living with or at risk to a mental health condition. Each year, there are about 600 deaths as a result of suicide in NSW.
Doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health staff across the health system have all witnessed an increase in patients presenting to emergency departments over the last eight years.
In 2016-17, there were more than 94,000 mental health presentations to NSW hospital emergency departments.
Mr Daley said: “Under the Berejiklian Government, mental health patients have been turned away or have languished in emergency departments due to a lack of a mental health beds – that is why Labor will deliver more mental health nurses and more mental health beds.
“There is also the added challenge of responding to families in rural and regional areas facing the mental health challenges of the drought. We need to provide access to services and if those services are unavailable, access to tele-health so that health workers can get the advice immediately.”
Mr Secord said: “Each year, thousands of Australians will experience some form of mental illness and health workers in the health and hospital system are on the frontline.  That is why we need to continue to invest in health and hospital services.
“Sadly, the Liberals and the Nationals have the wrong priorities – preferring to splurge on stadiums rather than invest in mental health nurses.
“Nurse to patient ratios will improve patient care – especially in mental health. It will also help nurses and re-assure families that their loved ones are getting the best possible care.”

NSW Labor Leader, Michael Daley, has announced today that a Daley Labor Government, if elected this month, will hire an additional 5,000 teachers across NSW.
Mr Daley made the announcement in Lapstone today with Shadow Minister for Education Jihad Dib, Member for the Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle and Labor candidate for Penrith, Karen McKeown.
By 2036, it is estimated there will be one million students enrolled in NSW public schools. Only Labor will hire the additional teachers needed to keep up with demand and provide the best opportunities for our children.
Labor’s plan for an additional 5,065 teachers includes literary and numeracy teachers as well as specialised education teachers.
Mr Daley said: “This announcement is about more one-on-one time for students, to provide them their best chance. The current Liberal-National Government is denying them this fair chance.
“If State Government is not about good quality education for our children then what is it about?”
It follows yesterday’s announcement that a Daley Labor Government will inject $2.7 billion over the life of the current State and Federal Gonski funding agreement to become the first state in Australia to deliver 100 per cent of the standard level of funding for every student.
Once implemented it will mean more than $1,500 extra every year for every student in NSW public high schools and more than $1,200 for every public primary school student.
Currently, the NSW Liberals and Nationals are providing just 70.8 per cent of the standard level of funding each student needs, short-changing every NSW public school student.
Mr Dib, said: “Labor has a strong history of supporting teachers in NSW. Labor increased the number of school teachers by 23 per cent during its time in office.
“The Liberals and Nationals have only increased teacher numbers by just 11 per cent over the last eight years.”
This further builds on Labor’s previous education commitments, including to:

• Replace 1,000 ageing demountables across the state
• Make TAFE free for courses in skill shortage areas
• Ensure every child can learn a second language
• Allocate $5,000 to P&Cs
• Give free glasses to disadvantaged school kids
• Air condition every school in NSW

Ms McKeown, said: “Only Labor is putting schools and hospitals before knocking down and rebuilding stadiums.”
Background

• There are approximately 66,000 public school teachers in NSW.
• The Department of Education (DoE) has found that 33 per cent of NSW public school teachers are due to retire within five years.
• The DoE also predicts 164,000 additional students are expected to enter public schools by 2031 (and 200,000 by 2036). This is the first major increase in the school-age population since the Baby Boom of the 1950s.

Michael Daley and Labor today released a $95 million ‘Community Sports First’ package to invest into local teams, local facilities, communities and programs.

Mr Daley said while the Berejiklian Government’s top priority was to spend $2.2 billion on stadiums, Labor’s ‘Community Sports First’ package would fund initiatives that benefit local communities.
This includes $40 million to install and improve lighting at sporting fields across Sydney. This will open up ovals, fields and courts that currently lie empty at night and during winter – while others often just around the corner are at full capacity.
An audit by Football NSW has already identified a large number of fields where capacity could be increased with improved lighting.
Labor’s package also includes $20 million to upgrade access to facilities for those with a disability and the elderly. This is much needed funding for many places in regional NSW, where often a simple ramp or pool hoist can make a life changing difference.
Michael Daley and Labor will commit $10 million for a Basketball Centre of Excellence in Western Sydney.  While basketball is one of NSW’s fastest growing sports with 55,000 registered players, all basketball courts in the Sydney Metropolitan basin are at capacity.
Australian players are now regulars in national and overseas basketball Leagues, such as the NBA, and we want more NSW youngsters to follow in their footsteps.
This follows Labor’s commitment to cover all six courts for Merimbula Basketball.
A Daley Labor government will allocate $15 million to improve netball facilities in Sydney and Country NSW. This includes $5 million to Southern Districts Netball to build an indoor netball facility, $5 million to deliver a multi court facility in Ryde and $5 million to create the only regional 32-courts competition field in Maitland.
Michael Daley and Labor will also provide $1million to Surf Life Saving NSW for a groundbreaking Adult Swim Safe program. This comes in response to the tragic drowning of nearly 30 people in NSW since July 2018.
This unique program will take surf lifesavers to communities that are over-represented in drowning statistics. Surf safety and survival skills will be taught in local aquatic facilities to adults who are not experienced in the surf or with swimming.
“While the Berejiklian Government gives major stadiums a golden hand out, Labor will give local sports a helpful hand up,” Michael Daley said.
“At the moment we have kids and sporting teams who can’t find fields to train on because of shocking overcrowding. Parents are often stuck in traffic taking their kids across the city because their local oval is full.
“You have Netball and Basketball teams playing on courts that are outdated – some have been crumbling for years.”
“And our unsung heroes – NSW surf life savers – who want to do even more to make our beaches safer, aren’t getting that little bit of extra help to do so.
“Our 77,000 Surf Life Savers do a magnificent job. What this program does is bring them into communities that need the extra help,” Mr Daley said.
“We are about Footballers, Netballers, Basketballers and more. This government is obsessed by wrecking balls,” NSW Shadow Minister for Sport Lynda Voltz said.
As part of the Community Sport First package Michael Daley and Labor have also recommitted to:

• $2 million to a Neuromuscular Training Program aimed at reducing the incidences of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries in 12-25 year olds.
• $1 million to establish a ‘Gymnastics First’ Fund to provide assistance to Gymnastics Clubs across NSW.

Michael Daley and Labor will extend funding for early childhood education to benefit every three and four-year-old as part of the single largest investment in early childhood education in NSW history.
Mr Daley and Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Kate Washington, made the announcement today as part of a $500 million package for early childhood education in NSW.
Mr Daley said that under the Liberals and Nationals fewer than 20 per cent of three-year-olds receive state government funding for early childhood education.
Mr Daley said: “The experts tell us that early childhood is one of the most crucial periods for a child’s learning and development. It is the time when teachers can assess a child’s learning difficulty or other issues.   Labor will ensure that young kids in these vital years are given the best chance of success.”

Ms Washington said: “Participation in a preschool program, whether in a community preschool or long day care centre, is the strong foundation needed for success in school and in later life. We’ve consulted with the sector and with experts to develop these policies. We are focused on improving quality early learning outcomes, increasing access, driving greater participation and reducing fees for families.”
Labor’s package will be jointly funded with Federal Labor and will make early education and preschooling a priority by:

• Immediately increasing three-year-old funding in community preschools – doubling the Berejiklian Government’s proposed funding for three-year-olds in 2019-20. This will reduce fees and support services. Currently, three-year-olds are only due to receive one quarter of the funding that four-year-olds receive in community preschools.
  
• Funding three-year-olds in Long Day Care centres for the first time, and then doubling the current funding per three and four-year-olds in Long Day Care centres – allowing providers to reduce fees, increase wages, and improve quality learning outcomes.
• Investing $292 million into a ‘Little Kids Big Futures’ fund – driving a massive increase in early childhood education access and participation across NSW. This fund will support communities with critical service gaps, improve access for disadvantaged students, boost mobile preschool services in rural and remote areas, and invest in Playgroups NSW services as a pathway to preschooling.
• Launching an $18 million ‘Specialist Early Intervention’ trial program – ensuring young children receive the support they need. Increasingly, early education services are crucial to the identification of learning difficulties, disabilities and other health-related issues. This trial program will boost access to allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and psychologists for three and four-year-olds in early education.
• Starting a $10 million ‘Early Childhood Education Professional Development’ program – providing support and training for early childhood education teachers and educators.

• Establishing an additional $15 million capital grants fund to address critical service gaps throughout NSW – increasing access and participation through additional and expanded services.

• Boosting funding for assessment and rating experts by $4 million – slashing the Liberal Government’s dangerous assessment and rating backlog. The Government’s failures have led to early childhood education providers waiting more than five years between assessment and rating. Labor will rebuild confidence in the assessment and rating scheme, and support centres to deliver high quality education for students.

Labor has already committed to saving parents from the “double drop off” by ensuring all new public primary schools have preschool, long day care or out-of-school-hours services on site.

“Labor will always prioritise education, from preschool to school to TAFE. We won’t splurge billions on Sydney stadiums,” Mr Daley said.

The current Liberal-National Government has a long list of failures in the early education sector, with NSW having the highest fees and lowest participation rates in the country.
Labor will also:

• Establish a Ministerial Advisory Panel with broad sector representation to meet at least quarterly;
• Review and improving Before-and After-School Care and mobile preschool tender processes; and
• Develop a long-term early childhood education sector road-map in consultation with the sector.

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley has announced that Labor will invest $395 million to upgrade St George Hospital and give it the capacity to perform state-of-the-art robotic precision surgery.

Mr Daley made the commitment today alongside Shadow Minister for Health, Walt Secord, Kogarah MP, Chris Minns, Rockdale MP, Steve Kamper and Labor candidate for Oatley, Lucy Mannering.
As part of the hospital upgrade, the major trauma centre at Kogarah will receive a new ambulatory care unit, outpatient and day surgery services, a new day rehabilitation unit and additional subacute inpatient beds Mr Daley said:
“If Labor is elected in March, St George Hospital will get a full hospital upgrade with robotic surgery. Unlike the Liberals, we’re putting hospitals and patients before stadiums.”
In addition to the $385 million announcement, Labor will allocate an additional $10 million for robotic precision surgery at St George Hospital. The robotic surgery will focus on urology, general surgery, gynaecology, thoracic and ear, nose and throat surgery.

• Benefits of robotic precision surgery include:
• The required length of stay for patients is reduced;
•  Studies have identified better overall health improvements;
• Patients suffer less bleeding during surgery; and
• Reductions in complications and infection rates.

The robotic surgery facilities would establish St George Hospital as the referral hospital for specific surgeries within the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
Mr Minns said: “Labor can invest more money into St George Hospital because we aren’t proceeding with the Liberals $2.2 billion stadium splurge.”
Mr Kamper said: “St George Hospital is under enormous pressure and that’s why we need innovative solutions like robotic surgery to help improve healthcare for local patients.”
Ms Mannering said: “Bringing robotic surgery to St George Hospital will improve patient outcomes, save money in the long term and help bring our hospital into the 21st century.”
St George Hospital facts St George Hospital has one of the State’s busiest emergency departments seeing more than 81,000 patients a year, with 37 per cent of patients waiting longer than four hours. As of September 31, there are 1,459 patients on the official elective surgery waiting list.
In the last reported quarter, St George Hospital is performing 12.7 per cent more surgery than at the same time the year before (1,317 surgeries in the third quarter 2018 compared to 1,168 in the same period in 2017). In the last year, there were 1,117 urology elective surgery procedures completed at St George Hospital and it is expected a portion of these would be completed through robotic surgery in an attempt to improve outcomes, reduce complications and reduce the length of hospital stays.
Currently, the median wait for elective surgery is 188 days with 10 per cent of patients waiting longer than a year. Emergency department patients at St George Hospital also face long waits, with 37 per cent of patients still in the emergency after waiting four hours or more.