Month: April 2020

Thousands of small businesses across NSW struggling to cope with the COVID-19 shutdown will receive grants of up to $10,000 under a new assistance scheme announced today by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope.
The NSW Government will put $750 million into the Small Business Support Fund as the centrepiece of a third wave of support measures to keep small businesses afloat.
Ms Berejiklian said the new fund was based on the hugely successful scheme rolled-out during the recent NSW bushfires, which provided $42 million to 4,200 businesses within the first ten days of launching.
“This is about getting cash into small businesses when they are struggling right now in the face of an unprecedented situation,” Ms Berejiklian said.
These grants will provide a big boost, and we will make the application process easy to ensure small businesses can receive some cash-flow as soon as possible to meet pressing needs.”
Mr Perrottet said the fund was designed to provide help fast and would benefit tens of thousands of businesses across NSW.
“Many local cafés, restaurants, corner shops, gyms and small accommodation providers will be eligible to apply,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We have the structures in place after the bushfires and expect to see this money rolling out the door shortly.”
“This is real, rapid relief for tens of thousands of businesses and it will help ensure many businesses that are not eligible for payroll tax waivers and deferrals can live to trade another day.”
Mr Tudehope said the fund would offer a vital lifeline for businesses across NSW.
“This is the largest support package for small businesses in the history of NSW, it will make a huge difference to many lives,” Mr Tudehope said.
To be eligible, businesses will need to:

• Have between 1-19 employees and a turnover of more than $75,000;
• A payroll below the NSW Government 2019-20 payroll tax threshold of $900,000;
• Have an Australian Business Number as at 1 March 2020, be based in NSW and employ staff as at 1 March 2020;
• Be highly impacted by the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 issued on 30 March 2020;
• Use the funding for unavoidable business costs such as utilities, overheads, legal costs and financial advice;
• Provide appropriate documentation upon application.

Applications for a small business grant of up to $10,000 will be available through Service NSW within a fortnight and remain open until 1 June 2020.
This latest move follows two assistance packages from NSW in the past fortnight, whose combined value far exceeds the support offered by any other state, including:

• More than $5 billion in payroll tax waivers, deferrals and other tax deferrals;
• A $1 billion Working for NSW fund to create jobs;
• $700 million in additional funding for the health system;
• $250 million to bring forward capital works and maintenance on public assets;
• $500 million to bring forward capital works, maintenance and shovel ready infrastructure projects;
• $80 million to waive a range of fees and charges;
• $80 million to help the vulnerable through a range of measures.

Passengers can now ride the new L3 light rail from Circular Quay to Kingsford.
In a first for the NSW Government, Minister for Transport Andrew Constance welcomed the start of services remotely.
“The L3 Kingsford Line completes the 12-kilometre CBD and South East Light Rail and gives people in the South East a sustainable public transport system connecting people to and from the city,” Mr Constance said.
“In the current environment our focus is ensuring essential travel options are available. South East bus services will continue unchanged in the short term.
As with all travel at the moment, you must stay at home, except for:

• work and education, where you can’t work remotely
• shopping for food and essentials
• for medical needs or the care of others
• for exercise.

“I would like to thank the tram drivers and workers who will ensure this light rail service runs, providing a direct link to the city from Kingsford as well as connections to the L2 Randwick Line which services the Randwick health precinct.
“There will be a period of bedding in services as we fine tune our operations to integrate the new L3 Kingsford Line with the L2 Randwick Line,” Mr Constance said.
Road users are reminded the L3 Kingsford Line runs in the middle of Anzac Parade through Kensington and Kingsford. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists need to follow traffic signals, and pedestrians in particular need to be aware there are two-stage crossings to connect to the light rail stops.
The first passenger tram departed Juniors Kingsford at 5am and will run until 1am tomorrow.
From then on, trams on both the L2 Randwick Line and L3 Kingsford Line will operate between 5am and 1am, with services every 4-8 minutes in the CBD and every 8-12 minutes in the South East.

A man will appear in court today after allegedly coughing at police in Sydney’s north west.
Just before 1pm yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command attended a home on Budigieg Avenue, Plumpton, following reports of a domestic-related incident involving a man and a teenage boy.
Upon arrival, police spoke to the pair before the 22-year-old man allegedly ran at the officers and coughed towards their faces.
He was arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station and charged with intimidation of officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty, damage or destroy property (DV), and common assault (DV).
Police will allege in court that the man assaulted a 13-year-old boy who was known to him and destroyed property inside the Plumpton home.
The Plumpton man was refused bail to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court today (Friday 3 April 2020).
In a separate incident, a man has been charged after allegedly coughing at supermarket employees and shoppers on the Central Coast.
About 4.40pm yesterday, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District were called to a shopping centre at on Lake Haven Drive, Lake Haven, following reports a man was coughing on people.
A 48-year-old man was arrested at the centre, before being taken to Wyong Hospital.
The Blue Haven man was later issued a Court Attendance Notice for stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm and breach of bail.
He is due to appear at Wyong Local Court on Wednesday 20 May 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 faced court after breaching ministerial directions for the second time in a week.
About 2.20pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command approached a group consuming alcohol within Bankstown City Plaza. They were warned about their obligations under the Public Health Act before they were directed to move on.
Following further inquiries, it was identified that a member of the group had already been served with Penalty Infringement Notice for not comply with noticed direction (section 7/8/9 of the Public Health Act 2010) on Tuesday (31 March 2020).
Police attended a home at Brancourt Avenue, Yagoona and arrested a 68-year-old man. He was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction (section 7/8/9 of the Public Health Act 2010).
He was refused bail and appeared at Bankstown Local Court today (Friday 3 April 2020) where he was fined $1500.
Additionally, a total of 12 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued yesterday in relation to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act:

• About 6.40pm on Wednesday (1 April 2020), a man entered Dee Why Police Station, and told officers he was “meeting a mate” and did not require the services of police. He was advised that he was breaching ministerial direction and should return home immediately. The 50-year-old returned to the station at 3.40am (Thursday 2 April 2020), drinking a bottle of beer and smoking a cigarette. He was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home and was handed a $1000 fine.

• Officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command spoke to a 21-year-old man at Macquarie Street, Liverpool, about his obligations to ministerial directions under the Public Health Act. He was issued a warning and given a move-on direction. Despite this, the man refused to leave the location and was issued with a PIN.

• About midday yesterday (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a vehicle on Rabaul Road, Georges Hall. The driver, a 20-year-old man from Currans Hill, allegedly claimed he was visiting a friend and was informed by officers this was not permitted under current regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was given a warning and directed to return home. Shortly after he was stopped again by police travelling away from his registered address and was fined for a breach of ministerial directions.

• A vehicle containing five people was stopped by officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District on Yarran Street, Coonamble, about 1am, Thursday 2 April 2020. None of the occupants were able to provide a valid reason for not being home. One occupant, an 18-year-old man had been subject to multiple warnings the prior day and was fined. The remaining occupants were given a warning, before being directed to return to their respective homes. Shortly after the driver and one of the passengers, both 21-year-old men, were stopped by police walking along Yarran Street and were issued with PINs.

• About 5.45pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), two men were seen sitting in a parked car by officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command conducting patrols on Wilson Road, Green Valley. Police spoke with the men and searched their vehicle, locating drug paraphernalia. The men, aged 18 and 19 respectively, could not provide a reason for not being home and were fined $1000 each.

• About 7.40pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), police responded to reports of a man allegedly dealing drugs at a hotel on Hurley Street, Cootamundra. Officers attached to Riverina Police Area Command attended, and located a clear bag containing methylamphetamine which was seized. Following inquiries, police stopped a Ford Falcon on Hurley Street and arrested a 36-year-old man and seized cash alleged to be the proceeds of crime. He was taken to Cootamundra Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug and deal with the proceeds of crime. The man, who resides 150km away in Tumbarumba, was unable to provide reasonable excuse for being away from his registered address and – in addition to his charges – was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN). He was granted conditional bail to appear at Cootamundra Local Court on Monday 4 May 2020.

• Yesterday about 11.45pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command approached a vehicle parked on Cooper Road, Yagoona with two occupants. Police spoke with two men, aged 24 and 27, who were unable to provide a reasonable excuse for not being home. Following inquiries, police conducted a search of the vehicle and located multiple prohibited substances. Both men were issued with PINs for their breach of ministerial orders and the younger man was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and possess prescribed drug. He was given a Field Court Attendance Notice to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 25 June 2020.

• Officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command were conducting a patrol of Meredith Street, Bankstown, when they spoke to a 50-year-old man about 11pm (Thursday 2 April 2020). When questioned regarding his reason for not being at home, he provided varying accounts to police before admitting he was only out to see a friend. For his failure to comply with Ministerial directions under the Public Health Act he was fined $1000.

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.