Month: February 2021

1990 CABINET PAPERS REVEAL GREINER GOVERNMENT’S WIDE-RANGING REFORMS

The NSW Cabinet Papers of 1990 have today been published online by NSW State Archives giving the public an insight into the detailed workings of the Greiner Government in its third year in power.
In the same year as Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and Dame Joan Sutherland’s final performance at the Sydney Opera House, the NSW Government showed no signs of slowing down on delivering wide-ranging reforms for a more efficient government.
Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin said, “the 1990 Cabinet Papers reveal the Liberal-National Party Coalition Government’s determination to deliver a more effective and transformative management of the public sector and the economy.
“The then Premier’s focus on a more accountable Cabinet and public service remains the basis of good Government practice today and these archived papers bear witness to all that was achieved in that year.”
State Archives’ Executive Director, Adam Lindsay said that the Cabinet Papers again this year, reveal how the issues of 30 years ago resonate with us today. “At a time when we are now encouraging people to work longer, the Cabinet Papers reveal that this is nothing new and that the ground was laid for such initiatives three decades ago,” Mr Lindsay said.
Significant Cabinet decisions made in 1990 included:

  • Education
  •  introduction of the Education Reform Act
  • Industrial Relations

–    reforms to reflect a market-oriented approach to industrial relations

  • Parliamentary and Electoral Reform

–    a return of the size of the Legislative Assembly to 99 and the
–    subsequent redistribution of electoral boundaries

  • Environment and Planning
  • establishment of a new Coastal Protection Policy,
  • establishment of the Environment Protection Authority
  • Social issues:
  • approval of access to adoption information for adult adopted persons
  • and the abolition of compulsory retirement

Click here to access the digitised 1990 Cabinet Papers.

Shot fired at home – Wallsend

An investigation has commenced following a public place shooting at Wallsend overnight.
Just before 2am (Tuesday 2 February 2021), officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to a home on Platt Street, Wallsend, after a shot was fired through the front window.
Police attended and established a crime scene, which will be examined by specialist forensic officers.
Three adults and three children were home at the time; however, no injuries have been reported.
As part of ongoing inquiries, police are urging anyone who may have information about the incident to contact police at Newcastle Police Station.
 

Loaded firearm seized; man charged – Heatherbrae

A man has been charged after a firearm, drugs and cash were located during a vehicle stop in the Hunter overnight.
About 11.15pm (Sunday 31 January 2021), police received information from a member of the public about a grey Ford Ranger with Queensland registration plates allegedly driving erratically on the Pacific Highway south of Taree.
The Ford – allegedly stolen from an address in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, last week – later stopped at a service station on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae, where officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and arrested the 44-year-old male driver.
Police conducted a search of the vehicle where they located a loaded shortened rifle underneath the driver’s seat, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cash.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with nine offences, including take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, possess shortened firearm without authority, possess loaded firearm in public place, not keep prohibited firearm safely, possess ammunition without licence, possess prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods in custody.
He was refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Monday 1 February 2021).

2020 national organ donation outcomes released

Data released today reveals the true impact the Coronavirus pandemic had on life-saving organ donation and transplantation rates in 2020, prompting calls for more people to register as a donor.
National organ donation and transplant data for 2020, released by federal Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority, Mark Coulton, shows while Australia’s donation rate has doubled over the past decade, the national program took a hit in 2020 due to COVID-19.
“Australians from all walks of life faced great challenges and adversity in 2020 and those waiting for life-changing organ transplants were no different,” Minister Coulton said.
“Last year saw a 12 per cent reduction in the number of people receiving a transplant and a 16 per cent decrease in organ donors, compared to 2019.
“Most significantly, 18 per cent fewer kidney transplants were performed, resulting in 153 fewer renal patients receiving the kidney transplant they need.”
Minister Coulton said the 2020 data exceeds earlier predictions, which serves as a testament to the highly-skilled DonateLife teams, as well as dedicated donation and transplantation staff across the country.
Organ and Tissue Authority CEO, Lucinda Barry, said at the start of the pandemic, the transplant sector took precautionary steps and suspended kidney transplant programs from late-March through to mid-May.
This was due to the concern about hospitals being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients and also to prevent transplant patients at high risk being exposed to the virus. Urgent heart, lung, liver and paediatric transplants continued during this time for critically ill patients.
“It’s not surprising to see that the 2020 outcomes have been impacted, but minimising the risks to transplant and waiting list patients has been the priority for everyone involved,” Ms Barry said.
“To minimise the impacts, our DonateLife teams worked hard with transplant teams to navigate the challenges facing hospitals and with logistics — including with COVID-19 restrictions, flight reductions and border closures — so that patients received the best possible outcomes.”
Minister Coulton said despite the obvious impacts, 1,270 Australian lives were saved in 2020 through an organ transplant thanks to the generosity of 463 deceased organ donors and their families.
“Families have continued to show their strength and generosity in agreeing to donation, even with the added COVID-19 complexities in intensive care units,” Minister Coulton said.
“Around 1,650 Australians are waitlisted for a transplant and more than 12,000 others are on dialysis — many of whom may need a kidney transplant.
“The best chance we have to address the challenge of a longer waitlist is to have more Australians say ‘yes’ to donation.”
Minister Coulton said data shows that registering to become a donor and talking to your family about your decision has a direct influence on consent rates, so encouraged people to have the chat and register today.
To register to become a donor or to double-check your registration, visit: donatelife.gov.au .
Living organ donation and eye and tissue donation outcomes will soon be released in the Organ and Tissue Authority’s 2020 Activity Report.

Update on COVID-19 and travel arrangements from New Zealand

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and the Commonwealth continue to closely monitor the situation in New Zealand. The Commonwealth and AHPPC are receiving daily briefings on the matter.
Based on updated information from New Zealand today, Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd has recommended the Commonwealth not extend the pause in safe travel zone flights from New Zealand beyond 2pm, 31 January 2021. The Commonwealth has accepted this advice, meaning green zone flights will commence this afternoon.
In making this recommendation, the Acting CMO noted there have been no further confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community in New Zealand since the initial three cases originated from transmission within hotel quarantine. The Acting CMO also noted all close contacts of the three New Zealand cases have returned negative test results, and there have been no further cases found to date in the casual contacts, previous residents of the hotel or hotel staff.
The Acting CMO notes flights from New Zealand are sufficiently low risk given New Zealand’s strong public health response to COVID-19. Given there is still a small risk of further associated cases being detected in New Zealand, with an abundance of caution, the Acting CMO has recommended pre and post flight screening be implemented for the safe travel zone flights for the next ten days. The screening will check that travellers have not been identified as close contacts, or have not visited any of the contact tracing areas of interest in New Zealand, and if they have, that they have been tested and have received the negative test results required by the New Zealand authorities.
Currently, to be eligible to fly on a safe travel zone flight, passengers must have been in New Zealand for the previous 14 days. The Acting CMO recommends that time spent in hotel quarantine does not form part of the required 14 days in New Zealand.
The AHPPC will continue to monitor the situation in New Zealand very closely, and will receive daily reports from the New Zealand health authorities on the results of the continuing contact tracing related to this outbreak.

‘MISSING LINK’ BREAKTHROUGH ON WESTCONNEX TUNNELS

Roadheaders have carved their way from the M4-M5 Link Tunnels into the M8 Motorway, connecting the two stages of the WestConnex project for the first time.
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher said the major milestone was reached 41 metres underground at the St Peters Interchange.
“The Commonwealth and NSW have worked closely together on WestConnex and our joint financial commitments are delivering major benefits to Sydney motorists in reduced travel times, less congestion, and greater safety,” Mr Fletcher said.
New South Wales Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said this breakthrough is the first of six planned on the $3.2 billion project this year.
“The M4-M5 Link Tunnels are the missing link in Sydney’s motorway network. Once connected the twin 7.5 kilometre tunnels will create an underground western bypass of the CBD,” Mr Constance said.
“These tunnels will change the way people move around Sydney, providing a link between the M4, M8 and through to the M5 corridor as well as connections to future motorway projects including Sydney Gateway,  M6 Stage 1 and the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link via the Rozelle Interchange.
“Significant progress has been made underground with 17km excavated and tunnelling on track to be completed this year. These tunnels are so important because they will allow drivers to experience the full benefits of the 33 kilometre WestConnex network.”
Transport for NSW Acting Deputy Secretary Howard Collins said the project had provided a significant boost to the NSW economy and jobs during a challenging year marked by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Of the more than 7,000 workers and sub-contractors involved in the project to date, more than a third are from Western Sydney, highlighting the jobs and opportunities this project is creating for local workers and businesses,” Mr Collins said.
“The project continues to be a major jobs driver with around 1,100 people currently working on the M4-M5 Link Tunnels and more than 400 contracts signed with NSW-based suppliers and companies.”
WestConnex CEO Andrew Head said the M4-M5 Link Tunnels currently have 28 roadheaders in operation.
“The M4-M5 Link is utilising the largest number of roadheaders on a single project anywhere in Australia, each progressing at around 25 metres per week,” Mr Head said.
“Around 25 per cent of the road pavement has now been laid and the mechanical and electrical fitout of the tunnels is also under way.”
When the M4-M5 Link Tunnels open in 2023, drivers using the New M4 Tunnels will have the option to stay underground at Haberfield and travel on up to four lanes through to the St Peters Interchange.
The M4-M5 Link Tunnels will further enhance the current travel time savings for drivers using WestConnex, allowing them to save up to 40 minutes on a trip between Parramatta and the Sydney airport.