The NSW Government is paving the way for more women and mature workers to take up trades, with a $57.4 million commitment over four years for a new Trades Skills Pathways Centre in the 2020-21 NSW Budget.
The Centre will work with registered training organisations to help experienced but unqualified trade workers to attain certification. It will also look into delivering trades training in a flexible way, which would be attractive for many women and mature workers who are often balancing work and family responsibilities.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said this is a critical step towards addressing a skills shortage in NSW and boosting the number of mature workers and women in trades.
“We’re determined to ease skills shortages across the State to power our economy, and women and mature workers play a vital role in that,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The traditional apprenticeship model is not for everyone. Many workers acquire these same skills on the job, without formal training. This Centre will assist these workers to fill knowledge gaps and earn a nationally recognised qualification.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said we are moving in the right direction to attract mature workers and women to trades, but there is more to be done.
“This will be a ground breaking NSW innovation that will go beyond traditional apprenticeships and traineeships to capture workers who may have missed the opportunity to obtain formal skills,” he said.
“There is a wealth of experience and potential on construction sites right across NSW that is currently going unnoticed. We want all those workers to reach their potential.”
Minister for Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor said the program would boost the prospects of young workers and women in rural areas.
“The Centre will ensure that young people in our regions with invaluable hands-on experience will be guided through which transferable qualifications they need to open the door to even greater career opportunities,” said Mrs Taylor.
Month: November 2020
$700 MILLION TO DRIVE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN NSW
The NSW Government is investing more than $700 million in this year’s Budget to expand the digital capabilities of the State and build new and flexible ways of delivering services everywhere from classrooms and living-rooms to courtrooms.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the funding formed part of the Government’s $1.6 billion Digital Restart Fund and will be used to boost regional and remote education improve cyber security, enhance NSW Courts and enhance ePlanning.
“COVID-19 has shown us just how important it is to have the digital infrastructure and the skills to match for a modern flexible society,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Streamlining and enhancing our digital capabilities improves efficiencies, makes our lives simpler and ultimately saves everyone time and money.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding was a down-payment on the future economic growth of NSW.
“The future belongs to the innovative and bold, and this investment will create jobs make doing business with Government easier and enhance reform,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said today’s announcement kept NSW at the front of the line when it came to digital government.
“NSW is the most digitally advanced jurisdiction in Australia and this funding will empower us to enter a new frontier,” Mr Dominello said.
“Whether it’s transforming the way we teach children in regional and remote schools, or bolstering our cyber security systems, this investment sends the community a strong message that we are putting the customer at the centre of everything we do.”
A key component of the $700 million funding contained in the upcoming Budget is $366 million to close the digital gap in schools in rural and remote areas.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the funding is supporting the Government’s commitment to regional education.
“I want every student to have the best access to education, and this investment in the digital capacity of regional schools makes that possible,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The uplift will provide regional teachers with the tools, training and support they need to integrate digital resources into the classroom.
“Through upskilling the workforce and upgrading school technology, we will lift the educational opportunities for the 210,000 students who call regional NSW home.”
Attorney General Mark Speakman said thousands of people who come into contact with the NSW Justice system each year will benefit from an investment of more than $54 million to bring the best of 21st century innovation into our courts.
“This investment will revolutionise court processes in NSW, providing a single digital point of contact for court users, bringing more proceedings online and digitising court files to help the move towards a paperless environment,” Mr Speakman said.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said funding for ePlanning would reduce assessment timeframes, reduce red tape and enhance productivity.
“Technology can help take a lot of frustration and time out of tiresome processes, and our challenge is to ensure we continue to improve all our systems,” Mr Stokes said.
The NSW Government’s digital investment initiatives include:
- $240 million over three years for cyber security maturity uplift, including an initial $20 million ($60 million over three years) investment in Cyber Security NSW, to help boost cyber security across agencies and departments;
- $366 million over two years to retool regional schools, upgrade learning spaces, upskill teachers and give students cutting edge distance education platforms and digital education resources;
- $54.5 million for the Digital Courts Reform project which will help to digitise courts and tribunals, enhance efficiency, improve customer experience, reduce technology risk and improve business continuity and build data capability;
- $45.8 million for ePlanning Phase 4 to be delivered over the next three years.
Phase 4 will continue to enhance the quality and reliability of planning data, working to reduce assessment timeframes, cut red tape and costs for business; - $17.5 over two years (including $13.6 million in 2020-2) for the Assured Revenue program to make the lodgement and collection of revenue simpler.
DIGITAL REGISTRATION TO BE MANDATED FROM 23 NOVEMBER
The NSW Government is urging venues to put the safety of customers and staff first and have a system for digital registration such as a QR code that records patrons’ names and contact details in place by 23 November, or risk facing penalties.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said digital registration, including QR codes, is fast, accurate and will give customers more confidence during a pandemic.
“Any business that is serious about safety should be using digital registration, such as a QR code or other method of capturing contact details electronically. There are no excuses,” Mr Dominello said.
“We can’t respond to a pandemic with paper. We must be fast and precise and digital is the best way forward.
“We have to move away from the walk-in culture to the check-in culture. This is about building resilience as we continue to open up as safely as possible heading into summer.
“The overwhelming majority of businesses do the right thing but inspectors have told us that some just don’t get it and have inadequate check-in systems.
“Complacency is our greatest threat and any business that thinks they are above the law will face serious penalties.
“I strongly encourage businesses to download a free NSW Government QR code and for customers to use the COVID Safe Check In through the Service NSW app.
“So far more than 16,000 businesses have used a NSW Government QR code and 94 per cent of customers have given the COVID Safe Check In the thumbs up.”
Scanning a NSW Government QR code captures the business name, address and the customer’s contact details. The information is securely stored for 28 days for the sole purpose of contact tracing and can be instantly accessed by NSW Health in the event of an outbreak. After this time, it will be destroyed.
For customers who do not have access to a smartphone, venues are encouraged to record their contact details and time of entry using a digital device.
If there is an internet outage, venues can manually acquire details digitally, for example in Excel.
MEDIA: William Sparling │ 0408 576 636
Digital registration will be mandatory for the following venues from 23 November:
- Amusement Centres
- Aquariums
- Business premises that are used for auction houses, other than clearing houses
- Business premises that are used for nail salons, beauty salons, hairdressing salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
- Crematoria
- Drive-in cinemas
- Entertainment facilities
- Hospitality venues:
- Casinos (all persons entering the premises)
- Food and drink premises (all persons consuming food or drink on the premises, plus staff and contractors)
- Micro-breweries, small distilleries holding a drink on-premises authorisation under the Liquor Act 2007 or cellar door premises (all persons consuming food or drink on the premises, plus staff and contractors)
- Pubs, small bars and registered clubs (all persons entering the premises, but not if they are entering the premises solely for the purpose of collecting food or drink to consume off the premises)
- Function centres
- Funeral homes
- Information and education facilities (other than libraries)
- Party buses
- Properties operated by the National Trust or the Historic Houses Trust
- Public swimming pools
- Recreation facilities (indoor)
- Recreation facilities (major)
- Sex on premises venues
- Sex services premises
- Strip clubs
- Vessels used for hosting functions or for commercial tours
- Zoological parks and reptile parks
Events
- Corporate events
- Funerals and memorial services and gathering after funerals and memorial services
- Wedding services and gatherings after wedding services
Woman charged over alleged bushfire assistance fraud – Lake Macquarie
A woman will face court next month after being charged with alleged bushfire-related fraud offences in Lake Macquarie.
Strike Force Roche was established by several police districts within the Northern Region to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies.
Following extensive inquiries, police attended a home in Killingworth about 8.30am today (Wednesday 11 November 2020), where they arrested a 28-year-old woman.
She was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with one count of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception.
Police will allege in court the woman fraudulently obtained a $10,000 grant through a bushfire small business support scheme.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 1 December 2020.
To date, Lake Macquarie detectives have charged five people under Strike Force Roche.
Investigations under the strike force are ongoing across multiple police districts in the Northern Region.
CCTV released as robbery investigation continues – Gateshead
Police are appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate a robbery in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.
About 3am on Thursday 9 July 2020, a 61-year-old woman was returning home on Plane Street, Gateshead, when she was approached by an man.
The man demanded the woman’s handbag before he pushed her to the ground, grabbed the bag and fled the scene in a northerly direction to a waiting vehicle.
The woman sustained a minor injury but did not require medical assistance.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were called a short time later and commenced an investigation.
As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage of a man and a woman who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, wearing a white cap, dark coloured jumper and dark coloured pants.
The woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with blonde hair, wearing a grey hooded jumper and blue tracksuit pants.
The pair were seen leaving in a silver Nissan Navara utility displaying red P-plates, with a bull bar and aerials.
Anyone who may have information which could assist investigators is urged to contact Belmont Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SAS soldiers responsible for war crimes must lose more than their medals
Australian Greens Peace and Disarmament spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said any Australian SAS soldiers found guilty of war crimes as part of the IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry must be prosecuted to the full extent of domestic and international law.
Senator Steele-John also reiterated calls for the full report to be made public by Chief of the Defence General Angus Campbell.
“It is not good enough for the ADF to simply strip medals from SAS soldiers who are found guilty of committing heinous crimes; that is the very least the Chief of the Defence can do in response to these incredibly serious allegations,” Steele-John said.
“General Campbell must make public the IGADF report – which he now has on his desk – so that the public can assess its findings in full.
“It is alleged on the public record that innocent people lost their lives; the individuals responsible must lose more than just their medals and the Australian people must know to what extent those allegations are true.
“Australians deserve to know what our defence force personnel are doing in overseas conflict zones in our name.”
Senate Says Horses Should Not Die At Racetracks
Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Senate’s agreement to her motion acknowledging all Melbourne Cup horse deaths since 2013 and stating that no horse should die at a racetrack.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The Senate has sent a blunt message to the racing industry today: you have failed to protect the animals under your care. Enough is enough.
“Horse racing is inherently dangerous for these animals. No horse is safe at an Australian racetrack.
“With NSW trainers now urging Racing Australia to strip power from Victorian racing authorities over the carnage of the Cup, it’s clear the industry knows they’ve lost their social license and are panicking.
“Horses should not die at racetracks and they should not die at slaughterhouses when they are no longer profitable.
“We need to implement a proper national tracing system for all horses and an end to commercial horse racing,” she said.
COVID-19 support line extended and expanded
The Australian Government is ensuring senior Australians get the services and assistance they need with a $2.5 million investment to extend and expand the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said the support line will be extended until 30 June 2021.
“The Government will invest up to $2.5 million so senior Australians can continue to access information about the COVID-19 pandemic and get the support they need,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Many vulnerable senior Australians may not have easy access to the internet or be able to readily access information about COVID-19.
“The support line has proved to be a very beneficial service for senior Australians who continue to face particular risks because of COVID-19, including social isolation and loneliness.
“Being able to pick up the phone and call someone, or receive calls from expert service providers, is proving to be very effective.”
Between 22 April and 23 October 2020, the support line received more than 5000 inbound calls and provided more than 29,000 outbound calls.
The top five reasons for calls included:
- wellbeing checks
- information about COVID-19
- advice to vulnerable people
- travel restrictions
- access to new, or queries about existing, home care services.
The support service is a joint initiative of COTA Australia, Dementia Australia, National Seniors Australia and the Older Persons Advocacy Network. The expansion of the service will also include support from the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Alliance.
“We identified the need early on in the COVID-19 pandemic to provide targeted support for vulnerable senior Australians who are at greater risk of isolation, carer stress and elder abuse,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The extension of this valuable service will now include outbound calls to carers of people living with dementia, as well as more specific community supports for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors.
“The Government’s investment in the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line means people have multiple ways to communicate their questions and concerns with trusted community organisations working with senior Australians.”
“The additional services will be established as quickly as possible to ensure all senior Australians, no matter what their circumstances, can access the support they need, when they need it, in a way they prefer.”
Senior Australians who would like information and support are encouraged to contact the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line on 1800 171 866, Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 6pm (except public holidays).
South Australia’s Biggest Ever Job-Creating Infrastructure Project
The Morrison and Marshall Governments are delivering the biggest ever job-creating infrastructure project in South Australia’s history – the long-awaited final section of the North-South Corridor.
The River Torrens to Darlington stretch will be transformed over the next decade with a combination of tunnelling and at-surface infrastructure to unlock Adelaide’s traffic network and create up to 4,000 jobs.
The final 10.5km section is the most complex part of the North-South Corridor to deliver and has required extensive analysis of a number of design options including one long tunnel, an at-surface motorway and a hybrid combination of both.
Comprehensive analysis of traffic, ground conditions, local environment, heritage assets and also community and stakeholder feedback has confirmed the hybrid+ option will deliver the greatest social and economic benefits for South Australia.
The project will be delivered in two stages. Stage One – approximately 6km of motorway including more than 4km of tunnel between Anzac Highway and Darlington and Stage Two – an at-surface motorway and a second northern tunnel, connecting the River Torrens to Anzac Highway.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the North-South Corridor would deliver thousands of jobs to support hard-working South Australian families and motorists would benefit for generations to come.
“The North-South Corridor is a game-changing piece of infrastructure that will change the way people move across Adelaide,” Mr Morrison said.
“This is the most significant and eagerly anticipated road infrastructure project ever delivered in South Australia.”
Premier Steven Marshall has predicted the North-South Corridor will be one of the most important infrastructure projects ever delivered for our state and will revolutionise the way we travel.
“This project is a generational game changer for South Australian motorists – and the largest delivered in more than a century,” said Premier Steven Marshall.
“The benefits of our decision will be felt for generations, with the project alone estimated to create up to 4,000 jobs, slash travel time by 24 minutes and connect the north and the south of our state with a 78km non-stop motorway.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, Alan Tudge, said tunnelling will remove thousands of vehicles a day from South Road.
“This will slash up to 24 minutes in travel time from River Torrens to Darlington, that equates to more than eight days across a year that motorists will save,” Mr Tudge said.
“When the entire corridor is complete it will deliver a 78km non-stop, free-flowing motorway from Gawler to Old Noarlunga.”
South Australian Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Corey Wingard, said progressing the hybrid+ solution means we can maximise the project’s benefits, including a free-flowing north-south motorway.
“After the previous Labor government put this project and tunnels in the too-hard basket, we’ve rolled up our sleeves and done the work to get it back on track,” Minister Wingard said.
“The tunnelling solution we’ve come up with will minimise community impact, improve east-west travel, increase overall network capacity to reduce congestion, and deliver greater safety benefits.
“The other design options we assessed failed to meet the state’s transport needs while getting the balance right between easing congestion across the network and enhancing the liveability of local communities – key objectives for the project.
“With the hybrid+ solution we can protect iconic community and heritage assets including the Thebarton Theatre, Hindmarsh Cemetery, Hoffman Brick Kiln and Queen of Angels Church, to name a few.
“This solution requires far less property acquisition, will have reduced impact to business during construction and saves a number of heritage buildings from demolition.”
The motorway will be built in two stages, with Stage One focused on improving the most congested area of the network and delivering free-flowing travel between Anzac Highway and Darlington.
Most of this first stage will involve tunnel construction, meaning work can occur while minimising disruption to South Road traffic, businesses and the local community.
This stage will be built within the existing joint state and federal funding commitment of $5.4 billion, delivering a faster return on investment and early benefits to road users.
Current estimates put the total 10.5km project at $8.9 billion. The final cost estimate will be determined later next year after a detailed business case and consideration by Infrastructure SA and Infrastructure Australia.
The current estimate is around $1 billion less than the initial estimate for this tunnelling option following further project design and refinement, which has also resulted in 480 fewer property acquisitions than Labor’s open motorway option.
The project will now progress to the next stage of development including ongoing ground investigations, detailed design work and a comprehensive stakeholder engagement program to inform a reference design which is expected to be released late-2021.
Early works including ground investigations are already underway, with utility relocation works scheduled to start in 2021 and major construction expected to commence in late 2023. Construction is to be completed by 2030.
Jobseeker Supplement extended to March
The Morrison Government will extend temporary support through the social security system, for those Australians seeking work, for a further three months as economic confidence and momentum builds.
Both existing and new JobSeekers will be paid the Coronavirus Supplement at a rate of $150 per fortnight from 1 January 2021 through to 31 March 2021 on top of their base rate of payment and other supplements they are eligible to receive.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said JobSeekers would continue to be able to earn up to $300 per fortnight without their social security payments being reduced.
“My number one priority is to get more Australians into work,” the Prime Minister said.
“As the country is safely reopening and businesses starting to return to full steam, we need to connect those seeking work with available jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“When the global COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia, we acted decisively by boosting our health response and putting in place more than $257 billion of direct economic support measures to cushion the blow, and today that support continues for those Australians that need it.”
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Government was committed to supporting all Australians as the economy reopens and they return to work.
“We have temporarily put arrangements in place so that our social security safety net is not just for people who have lost their jobs but it is also supporting people who have had their hours or income reduced,” Minister Ruston said.
“As the jobs market improves we want to encourage people to re-engage with the workforce because we know that even a few hours of work a week while on payment can have a dramatic impact on the pathway off income support.”
Expanded criteria will continue to provide payment access for permanent employees who are stood down, sole traders and the self-employed until 31 March 2021. The relaxed partner income test will also continue meaning that a JobSeeker can still access payments where their partner earns about $80,000 annually.
The Ordinary Waiting Period, Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period and the Seasonal Work Preclusion Period will continue to be waived until 31 March 2021.
The extension of temporary measures is estimated to cost an additional $3.2 billion.