March 2019 – Page 10

Greens announce LGBTIQ+ election policies to achieve equality for all LGBTIQ+ people

The Australian Greens have announced their first suite of policies aimed at achieving full equality for all LGBTIQ+ people.
“The Greens policies will mean LGBTIQ+ people have the right to be free from discrimination, have autonomy over their bodies, and have access to holistic and comprehensive health services and secure housing.”
“LGBTIQ+ people continue to face many challenges in our society, such as students and teachers being expelled and fired from religious schools, higher rates of mental health issues and homelessness, and enduring sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson.
“We can and must do better. The Greens plan removes religious exemptions in federal anti-discrimination laws, creates an LGBTIQ+ health strategy, replaces religious chaplains in public schools with trained, secular counsellors, and appoints an LGBTIQ+ Human Rights Commissioner and Minister for Equality, and more.”
“We especially want to stamp out dangerous sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts. We know from survivors that the ex-gay and ex-trans conversion movement extends beyond formalised ‘therapies’ in subtle and insidious ways. These change efforts pervade some religious communities, faith-based organisations, schools and the counselling industry.”
“The Greens plan will support survivors of sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts and their allies to stamp out these practices and fund $1 million for LGBTIQ+ faith organisations to build capacity for self-advocacy and $500,000 into a public health and awareness campaign.”
“The Greens have always stood with LGBTIQ+ people, and we will continue fighting for the rights of every member of our community,” said Adam Pulford, Australian Greens candidate for Wills.
“As a gay man, I am proud to be part of announcing our first set of policies to help end discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people and provide the support we need when we need it.”
The Greens plan will:

Protect LGBTIQ+ rights in law, through a Charter of Rights and removing religious exemptions in federal anti-discrim laws
Create a national LGBTIQ+ health strategy
Ensure secular student support is provided in all schools
Address the crisis in housing and homelessness for LGBTIQ+ people
Establish a ministerial advisory group on LGBTIQ+ issues
Stamp out sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts
Appoint an LGBTIQ+ Human Rights Commissioner
Appoint a Minister for Equality

Policy document available here.

EXPANDING METRO NETWORK TO CONNECT SYDNEY LIKE NEVER BEFORE

The world class Sydney Metro rail network will be expanded to connect even more of Sydney and free up capacity on the existing network under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management has made it possible for planning to begin on four additional Metro routes.
The new Metro routes will be:

Metro West extension – Westmead to Western Sydney Airport
North South Rail Line extension –
- St Marys to Rouse Hill via Schofields.
- Western Sydney Aerotropolis to Macarthur.
Metro South West extension – Bankstown to Liverpool

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is delivering Australia’s first Metro network. It will provide turn-up-and-go trains services up to every two minutes and complement the existing Sydney Train network,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The four additional Sydney Metro projects announced today are on top of the five Metro projects the Government already has underway.”
Work will start over the next four-years on the early planning for these projects, as part of the Government’s long-term transport vision.
“Metro North West from Rouse Hill to Chatswood is almost complete, under budget and will open in May,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The second and third stages, Sydney Metro City and South West, are under construction and we are accelerating Sydney Metro West, and the North South Rail Line to the new Western Sydney Airport.”
Construction on Sydney Metro West will start next year. Construction on the North South Rail Line to the Western Sydney Airport will start in 2021 and will be complete for the Airport’s opening in 2026.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said only the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will be able to deliver the Metro rail network across Sydney.
“When Labor were last in office they announced 12 rail projects and only delivered half of one,” Mr Constance said.
“It is clear Labor has not learnt. They have already committed to cancel the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro upgrade.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are committed to develop a Metro Rail network across Sydney. Labor’s only plan is to cancel projects.”
Tunnelling is well underway on the first section of the new City Metro tunnels, where more than five kilometres of tunnelling is already finished.
Tunnel Boring Machine Nancy has built nearly 2.5 kilometres of tunnel while TBM Mum Shirl has excavated just under 2 kilometres. Both machines will pass underneath the Sydney CBD as they dig 8.1 kilometres via new metro stations at Waterloo, Central, Pitt Street and Martin Place, on their way to Barangaroo.
TBMs Wendy and Mabel have dug about 732 and 101 metres respectively from Chatswood towards Sydney Harbour.

Progress on City admin buildings

City of Newcastle has completed the sale of its Roundhouse building to Crystalbrook Collection for 22 per cent above valuation and will offer the Fred Ash Building (FAB) for sale or lease later this year to capitalise on its location next to the city’s first five-star hotel.
A portion of the funds from the Roundhouse sale will go to fitting out the City’s new administration building on the corner of Stewart Avenue and Hunter Street. The tender for this contract will close on Tuesday 19 March.
Once awarded, the contract will allow for the entire southern tower and the top floor of the northern tower to be prepared for staff occupation before the end of the year. The second floor of the northern tower will be offered for lease.
The fit out has been estimated at $8.5 million with the actual price to be determined by the competitive tender process.
It includes the installation of a mobile Council Chamber on the ground floor, allowing the space to be used for a variety of community purposes when not being used for formal Council meetings, which occur twice a month.
The new City Administration Building will see the relocation of 425 staff spread across the 41-year-old Roundhouse, the 114-year-old FAB and the 90-year-old City Hall. The actual cost of relocating from the three buildings to the new single office location will be around $145,000.
The fit out will for the first time provide staff with kitchen and dining facilities. A rooftop terrace on the sixth floor, accessible to all staff, will create an outdoor work space as well as a dedicated lunch area. Part of the rooftop will be fitted for civic functions.
The rear of the sixth floor will house the office of the Lord Mayor and CEO and staff. The floor will also include a function/meeting room capable of hosting civic events, a kitchen for catering events, and meeting rooms accessible to all staff.
The new building will incorporate meeting rooms on each floor to encourage better communication and collaborative decision-making. Due to overcrowding in the City’s current staff buildings, entire floors have no dedicated meeting rooms.
The Stewart Avenue building is located across from the former Store site where construction is set to start later this year on a $200 million residential and commercial site as well as bus interchange. In addition to access to nearby public transport including train and light rail, several large spaces have been allocated within the building to encourage staff to ride to work.
The two buildings are the foundation of the City’s new CBD which has attracted more than half a billion dollars in development during the past two years. The NSW Government recently confirmed it had entered a 10-year agreement to be the anchor tenant at the new office development to be built on the site of the former Store building.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the full fit out contract would be brought to Council in April for consideration.
“The estimated cost is $8.5 million, which is more than the $7 million we predicted 18 months ago. That’s an estimate which hopefully will come in lower due to the competitive tender process,” Mr Bath said.
“It’s worth also noting the Council made the decision late last year to relocate the Chamber to the new building, freeing up the existing one to be used by school and community groups. The Chamber in its current location at City Hall is closed to the public because of the need to protect the audio-visual equipment used to record and webcast Council meetings.
“The move to the Stewart Avenue building also provides City of Newcastle the opportunity to re-invent the way our staff work. We will be using an activity-based work model, which has been successfully introduced in many corporate offices in Sydney including Macquarie Bank, Blacktown Hospital, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Staff workshops are currently underway to finalise the layout of each floor with more than 100 staff volunteering to be part of the process.
“The advice of the Commonwealth Bank and many others is that activity-based working improves staff communication, collaboration and interaction, which in turn delivers better decision making.
“The building will largely be free of traditional IT infrastructure, with the City last year commencing the process of relocating its servers to the Cloud. By relocating data and software applications to the Cloud, security is significantly enhanced.
“Critically, it also allows staff to access information anywhere and at any time. Under the IT model employed until recently, staff had to be seated at their allocated desk to access information and undertake their job.”
Mr Bath said the FAB was pulled from sale last year when it became apparent that the likely buyer of the Roundhouse was going to convert it to a five-star hotel.
“The decision was made to pull the sale of the second building late last year to ensure we captured the increase in property value that comes from being located next to a five-star hotel,” he said.
“The community’s response to the imminent arrival of a five-star hotel and the initial concept designs has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s wonderful to know our exit from the Roundhouse has created arguably the most significant opportunity in our city’s tourism industry since the closure of BHP more than 20 years ago.”

City invites public to museum Valuation Day

Novocastrians with family heirlooms or trinkets dating back generations can find out if they’re sitting on a million-dollar fortune at Newcastle Museum this Saturday.
The museum is hosting its annual Valuation Day from 10am-4pm, offering members of the community 15-minute, one-on-one consultations with expert auctioneers and valuators, who will also bring along some priceless Kelly Gang memorabilia.
Akin to the popular British TV show Antiques Roadshow, auctioneers Alex Renwick and Tom Thompson will delve into the history and heritage of individual heirlooms and collector items, before estimating their value.
Museum Director Julie Baird said the day offers the community a cheap and accessible opportunity to turn that tangible treasure into cash.
“You never know what that collector’s item or heirloom which has been stored away in safe keeping might be worth to you or a loved one,” Ms Baird said.
“Alex and Tom have more than 50 years auctioneering and valuation experience between them, so they’ll certainly be useful in either making or breaking someone’s day.
“Either way, you’ve really got nothing to lose so book in for a 15-minute discussion about your most cherished treasures and discover the history and potential value of them for just $15.”
The auctioneers will bring an original gun used by the Kelly gang and a photo of the infamous bushranger and his family taken at Euroa in Victoria.
The photo features Ned, his brother and his cousin, all unmasked and wearing the clothes they had just stolen when they took over the town in 1878.
Ms Baird said the photo was extremely rare.
“It’s estimated to be one of only two original images world-wide featuring an image of the Kelly gang unmasked,” she said.
“I’d be very surprised to know what it would be worth, but I really don’t think you could put a price on such an iconic and rare piece of Australian history. It truly is priceless.”
Bookings are essential and can be made at http://newcastlemuseum.com.au/Whats-On/Events/Valuation-Day
^{A rare image of the Kelly Gang will be on display Saturday}

Labor's unprecedented school building program: 204 schools to be built and upgraded

A Daley Labor Government, if elected this month, will embark on an unprecedented $7.4 billion school building program.
Labor is committed to building and upgrading 204 schools right across NSW as part of the largest investment in public schools in NSW history.
NSW Labor Leader, Michael Daley, said it is part of Labor’s investment into our schools that will put our children’s future before Sydney stadiums.
Mr Daley made the announcement at Dalmeny Public School in Prestons today, which is burdened with more than 20 demountables. Mr Daley was accompanied by Shadow Minister for Education, Jihad Dib and Labor candidate for Holsworthy, Charishma Kaliyanda.
“Labor can afford this record investment into our public schools because we will not proceed with the Liberals and Nationals’ $2.2 billion Sydney stadium splurge.
“Labor will make sure school infrastructure keeps up with the booming school-aged population,” Mr Daley said.
By 2036, it is estimated there will be one million students enrolled in NSW public schools, an increase of 200,000 students compared to today. Already, 636 NSW schools are at or above 100 per cent capacity.
It comes on top of Labor’s commitment to replace 1,000 ageing demountables and to ensure that every new school built has childcare or before-and-after school care facilities.
Mr Dib, said: “The Liberals and Nationals failed in their promise to build 12 new schools a year.
“Instead they’ve squandered $14 billion on budget blowouts and are spending $2.2 billion on stadiums that could be better spent on schools.”
Currently, there are 4,640 demountable classrooms in NSW schools and the Liberals and Nationals have recently purchased 520 more rather than investing in bricks and mortar classrooms.
Yesterday, Mr Daley announced Labor’s plan to hire an additional 5,065 teachers to keep up with demand and provide the best opportunities for our children.
Ms Kaliyanda, said: “Labor has fought for and will deliver excellent public services like schools and hospitals.”
This further builds on Labor’s previous education commitments, including to:

Inject $2.7 billion to deliver 100 per cent of the standard level of funding for every student
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

Sneaky stadium demolition shows Premier's contempt for NSW voters

The commencement of the demolition of the Allianz Stadium just ten days before the NSW election shows complete contempt for the courts, the NSW public and for the democratic process.
Mr Daley said it was appalling that there was no notice given to the public – particularly local residents – of the actual demolition despite repeated calls on the Premier to provide details of the demolition timetable.
Mr Daley also said that under the terms of the demolition consent, Infrastructure NSW is required to give 48 hours notice of any hard demolition of the stadium and that this had not been done.

Opposition Leader Michael Daley said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with the CEO of Lendlease, Mr Steve McCann, for details of the extent of the demolition to the stadium before election day.
The Premier must “Order the cessation of any further hard demolition, pending the legal challenge to the demolition in the NSW court of appeal which is due to be heard on Friday”, Mr Daley said.
“To do otherwise shows just how arrogant and out of touch this Premier really is.
“There is absolutely no reason why this demolition should take place so close to election day.
“This sort of underhanded demolition is more reminiscent of the Bjelke-Petersen era than the modern standards of any government expected by the people of NSW.
“The public must have the right on election day to determine whether the stadium should remain or be demolished. Furthermore, the Premier must respect the democratic process no matter how disturbing this may be for her supporters from the big end of town.

Labor's funding package to address homelessness and child protection

Labor Leader, Michael Daley, has announced a $260 million funding package to address homelessness and child protection in NSW.
Mr Daley said: “Only Labor will bolster the services for the most vulnerable in society.
“They need that help now more than ever, after suffering through years of cuts under the Liberals and Nationals.”
Homelessness
A Daley Labor Government will increase the availability of social housing in NSW with an additional $200 million funding boost.
Currently, there are more than 60,000 households on the waiting list for social housing, leaving a minimum 5-10 year wait for new applicants.
Labor will tackle this head on by investing $200 million to deliver hundreds of new social housing properties.
Mr Daley said: “The cash injection will not only be a significant boost to social housing but will provide for jobs in the building and construction industry.”
Shadow Minister for Housing, Tania Mihailuk said: “The Liberals and Nationals made a hollow pledge to halve homelessness but didn’t provide any new money to do so.
“They’ve allowed homelessness to continue to rise because they are more focused on rampant property sell-offs and stadium splurges.”
A Daley Labor Government will also increase funding for homelessness services by $40 million and commit to develop a longer-term NSW strategy for homelessness.
Mr Daley said: “We need real action, backed by funding, to improve homelessness services.”
Under the Liberals and Nationals the number of homeless people in NSW increased by 37 per cent between 2011 and 2016 (according to the most recent ABS data).
Child Protection
A Daley Labor Government will fund 100 additional FACS caseworkers to ease the workload that caseworkers are facing right across the state.
The number of children reported at risk of significant harm has ballooned to a record high of 95,869 but the number of children being assessed face-to-face has dropped to only 28 per cent, the lowest in three years.
Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, Tania Mihailuk, said: “This Government has failed to provide face-to-face assessments for a staggering 69,000 children.
“Only Labor will provide more frontline workers to increase face-to-face assessments for children at risk of significant harm and ensure children do not fall through the cracks.”
Last year, Liberal MP Matthew Mason-Cox slammed his government’s decision to spend more than $2 billion on sporting stadiums while labelling their performance in child protection as a “disgrace”.
Today’s homelessness announcement builds on Labor’s previous commitments to combat key causes of homelessness such as domestic violence and rental stress, including:

$80 million over four years for up to 200 additional DV places;
Rental reforms including ending no-fault evictions; and
Introducing affordable housing targets.

Berejiklian must halt stadium demolition

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley today wrote to Premier Berejiklian calling on her to halt the hard demolition of Allianz Stadium which commenced as the sun went down last night.
Mr Daley made it clear in his letter to the Premier that the proposed demolition of Allianz is a matter of serious public concern across NSW, Mr Daley said that going ahead with the hard demolition of the stadium nine days away from election day was an affront to democratic principles.
Mr Daley called on the Premier to call a halt to the demolition and allow the people of NSW to have their say in nine days time.
Mr Daley also told the Premier that allowing the hard demolition of Allianz Stadium to begin before the NSW Court of Appeal is able to hear the appeal from the Land and Environment Court on whether the project itself is legal is an affront to the judicial system of NSW.
Mr Daley has urgently requested a full briefing from the Premier on all aspects of the demolition timetable between now and March 23 given that the NSW Government is now in caretaker mode.

Labor will build Tweed Valley Hospital at Kings Forest

NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley today returned to the North Coast to re-affirm NSW Labor’s plan to build the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Kings Forest rather than on sensitive agricultural farmland at Cudgen.
In a major statement on the new Tweed Valley Hospital, NSW Labor leader Michael Daley:
· Rejected claims by NSW Health bureaucrats and the National Party that the project will be delayed by moving to the Kings Forest site, saying an incoming Labor Government would “haul in the bureaucrats to begin work immediately” with a guarantee that it would be completed on-time and on budget;
· Pledged to retain the old Tweed Hospital site and the Cudgen site in public hands – never selling either site to property developers; and
· Committed that there would be no privatisation of health and hospital services in the Northern NSW Local Health District – after the Liberals-Nationals failed attempt to privatise five regional hospitals.
Mr Daley was joined today by Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot to recommit to Labor’s plans for the new Tweed Hospital.
https://twitter.com/michaeldaleyMP/status/1106014110930472960
NSW Labor reiterated the State election will be a referendum on the location of the Tweed Hospital.
Mr Daley said that people across regional NSW were up in arms about the Berejiklian Government’s $2.2 billion to Sydney stadiums instead of properly funding schools and hospitals across NSW.
Mr Elliot reaffirmed NSW Labor’s opposition to the National’s plans to build the Tweed Hospital on Cudgen farmland and condemned the National Party’s botched site selection process.
Mr Daley expressed concern that the National Party had chosen the Cudgen farmland site as a “Trojan horse” to overturn height limits in Kingscliff and to open the door for over-development – destroying the unique quality of life.
Reports earlier this month revealed that a Queensland property developer which had made donations to the Liberal-National Party recently purchased farm land next to the Nationals proposed hospital site.
Retaining the sites in public hands will require additional funds but NSW Labor is committed to protecting Cudgen farmland and not selling off Government land to developers for a quick buck like the Nationals will.
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley said that Labor will always prioritise protecting farmland and the community ahead of developers.
“My commitment is ironclad – Labor will build the hospital in Kings Forest and protect the current hospital from being handed over to developers,” he said.
“NSW Labor will build the hospital on time and on budget – but the Nationals and NSW Health will continue to pedal their mis-information”
Country Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot expressed concern that the Nationals were using the hospital location as a Trojan horse for developers to take-over state significant farmland.
“Whether it be high rise in Kingscliff or a nine-storey hospital on Cudgen farmland – Geoff Provest and the Nationals are failing to protect the Tweed from inappropriate developments,” Mr Elliot said.
“The March 2019 election will be a referendum on the location of a new Tweed Hospital. My commitment is to build the Tweed Hospital at Kings Forest but that should not be at the expense of residents living north of the river.
“Labor’s commitment is to keep the current Tweed hospital site in public hands and in doing so continue to deliver future health outcomes from that location.”

Greens announce $5.8b dental policy

$5.8 billion would be invested in providing Medicare-funded dental care in a policy announced today by Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale and Greens candidate for Macnamara Steph Hodgins-May.
“Your health shouldn’t be determined by your postcode or bank balance,” said Dr Di Natale, a former GP and public health specialist.
“Untreated dental disease can dramatically impact on a person’s health and quality of life, and it is the most vulnerable people in our community who are impacted the most. The Greens will invest $5.8 billion to provide Medicare-funded dental care to all young people, aged pensioners, full benefit recipients and concession card holders.
“Millions of Australians have delayed visiting the dentist because of high out of pocket costs, which is why the Greens have long been champions of Medicare-funded dental care. In 2012 the Greens secured Medicare-funded dental care for 3.4 million children and now we commit to build on that foundation.
“The Coalition has never supported Medicare but if the Labor party really support affordable universal healthcare Bill Shorten should commit to working with the Greens to bring dental into Medicare,” Di Natale said.
Hodgins-May said the out of pocket costs of dental treatment undermined Australia’s health system.
“I’m proud to live in a country with universal healthcare but the cost of seeing a dentist is a huge gap,” said Hodgins-May.
“There is no reason why your mouth should be treated differently to the rest of your body. Going to the dentist should be just like going to the GP and that’s exactly what the Greens will deliver.”
The policy initiative document can be found here.