Month: May 2021

$135 MILLION TO HELP SAVE LIVES ON OUR ROADS

Road users across the state are set to benefit from a $135 million investment in road safety projects under the latest round of the $822 million Safer Roads Program.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said 78 lifesaving projects will be financed this year through the Community Road Safety Fund.
“The Safer Roads program is estimated to prevent the loss of more than 1500 lives and serious injuries on our roads over 15 years. That’s 1500 people making it home safely to their families because of these projects,” Mr Constance said.
“We want to ensure everyone who travels on our roads makes it home safely at the end of the day. That’s why all money generated from the mobile speed camera program goes directly into the Community Road Safety Fund to deliver lifesaving projects like these.
“This year we will see $43 million go towards projects across metropolitan NSW, with the other $92 million dedicated to the regions.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said this latest round of the program built on the Federal and NSW Government’s $408 million commitment in March to deliver hundreds of projects designed to reduce road trauma and save lives.
“Both governments have a shared goal of no deaths or serious injuries on our roads, because no one should have to hear the devastating news that a loved one has lost their life in a crash,” Mr Toole said.
“More than $92 million of this funding will be invested in making our regional roads safer through improvements like safety barriers, rumble strips and wide centrelines.
“We know how important good roads are in the bush – projects like these are ensuring every trip is a safer one and building on our vision for a safer, stronger regional NSW.”
This latest investment in the Safer Roads Program will deliver:

  • 28 kilometres of safety barrier, which absorb impact forces and protect vehicle occupants, reducing the severity of head-on and run-off-road crashes by up to 95 per cent.
  • 167 kilometres of rumble strips to alert motorists they are departing from their lane, reducing the likelihood of this crash type by up to 25 per cent.
  • More than 30 kilometres of wide centreline providing a greater distance for drivers to recover from lane departure, reducing the likelihood of head-on crashes by up to 50 per cent and run-off-road crashes by up to 25 per cent.
  • 313 high-risk rural curve improvements including shoulder sealing, safety barriers, rumble strips, signage upgrades and line-marking upgrades.
  • 47 urban intersection improvement projects including roundabouts and traffic signal upgrades.

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR PET OWNERS

Dog and cat owners across NSW are set to benefit from a revamped NSW Pet Registry with a $2 million rebuild of the online platform to enhance functionality and improve the user experience.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock and Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the Government is building a new Pet Registry to improve registration and microchipping features based upon feedback from pet owners, animal welfare organisations, councils, and other key stakeholders.
“The Registry www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au allows pet owners to register cats and dogs, update their contact details, report missing pets, transfer ownership and pay lifetime registration fees all from a computer or mobile device,” Mrs Hancock said.
“It is a requirement in NSW for cats and dogs to be registered by the time they are six months old. They must first be microchipped and preferably desexed.
“Microchipping, registering and desexing your cat or dog is a crucial part of being a responsible pet owner and helps to reduce straying, aggression, fighting and antisocial behavior as well as added health benefits for your animal.
“Registering your cat or dog for a one-off lifetime fee and creating an online pet profile on the NSW Pet Registry gives you the best possible chance of having your beloved animal returned if it goes missing.
“Pet registration fees go directly to the Companion Animals Fund which pays for companion animal management by local councils including pounds/shelters, ranger services, dog recreation areas, and education and awareness programs.
“The fund is also used by the State Government to operate the NSW Pet Registry and carry out responsible pet ownership initiatives.”
Mr Dominello said the funding comes from the Digital Restart Fund, which invests in key digital transformation projects across the State.
“With the digital landscape evolving faster than ever, the time is right to take stock of how the Registry is serving the State’s pet owners and see how we can improve such an important component of responsible pet ownership,” Mr Dominello said.
“Pets bring joy to so many people’s lives but the current customer experience is poor and this funding will put pet owners at the centre of the process.
“From there the project will be geared towards streamlining microchipping and registration on the site, based upon stakeholder feedback on how the process can be made more pet owner friendly.”
The development of a new Pet Registry aligns with the Premier’s Priority of “Government Made Easy”, enhancing the way government interacts with customers, saving people time and improving the customer experience.
For more information on the NSW Pet Registry, visit www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au.

NSW LOOKS TO LEAD THE WAY WITH mRNA VACCINES

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has brought together the State’s leading experts in mRNA technology as NSW looks to create a new medical manufacturing and research industry.
Ms Berejiklian, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant yesterday met with experts including NSW Chief Scientist Hugh Durrant-Whyte to discuss the capacity of NSW to manufacture mRNA vaccines.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA technology. However, Australia currently has no long-form RNA manufacturing capacity.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the pandemic has shown us how the private sector, universities and the NSW Government can work together to produce world-leading technology, new-generation therapies and life-changing research.
“NSW is well placed to provide the advanced manufacturing workforce training, the scientific expertise and the physical location of a future RNA-based manufacturing hub.”
“The state has an established advanced manufacturing capability and is well placed to be the home of mRNA manufacturing in Australia.”
Unlike traditional vaccines which use an inactivated virus, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines teach cells how to make protein that triggers an immune response which provides protection from the real virus.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said RNA technology is projected to be a crucial tool in next generation vaccines, therapies and diagnostics.
“The success of RNA technology in rapidly developing a COVID-19 vaccine is just one early indicator of the potential of this technology to advance medicine,” Mr Hazzard said.
Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer said NSW has significant research expertise in RNA technologies that would benefit from stronger partnerships between academia and industry.
“NSW has world-leading research expertise in RNA, vaccine development and genetic therapies. Our objective is to translate this expertise into commercial medical manufacturing outcomes for the benefit of all,” Professor Durrant-Whyte said.
NSW is home to nationally and globally significant programs of genomic medicine development, particularly in the fields of gene therapy, gene-modified cell therapy and RNA therapy. These therapies treat a wide range of conditions including genetic diseases, cancers, infectious diseases and cardiac conditions.
NSW already has capabilities in the advanced manufacture of viral vectors, plasmids and short-form RNA, which are key technologies used for these therapies. The addition of mRNA capacity to this manufacturing network would significantly strengthen local research and development programs.

Fatal crash – Stroud

A woman has died following a single-vehicle crash in the Hunter region.
About 10.50am today (Wednesday 5 May 2021), emergency services were called to The Bucketts Way – about 5km north of the Stroud Hill Road intersection – following reports a Ford Ranger had left the road.
Upon arrival, NSW Ambulance paramedics located the driver – a female aged in her 30s – trapped in the front cabin of the vehicle; she died at the scene.
An 11-year-old girl was able to free herself from the vehicle, she was treated by paramedics for minor injuries and transferred to the John Hunter Hospital.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have established a crime scene as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The Bucketts Way has been closed in both directions, with diversions in place for both north and southbound traffic via Johnsons Creek Road. Delays are expected, police are urging motorists to avoid The Bucketts Way as the road will be closed for some time.
Anyone motorists who were driving along The Bucketts Way around the time of the incident and may have dashcam footage is urged to contact police.

Greens Budget push to force billionaires & big corporations to return Job Keeper

Greens leader Adam Bandt will announce the next steps in the Greens campaign to make the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share today, with a Budget push for the Morrison government to force the billionaires and big corporations who profited from JobKeeper to pay it back.
Launching the campaign in his electorate outside a Harvey Norman store in Richmond, Mr Bandt said the Greens would seek to amend the Budget to effectively force the repayment of JobKeeper by billionaires and big corporations, like billionaire Gerry Harvey’s corporation, who received JobKeeper yet paid dividends, executive bonuses or were otherwise profitable.
Mr Bandt will also outline the details of a campaign by Greens supporters to name and shame the billionaires and big corporations who have profited during the pandemic. Flanked by supporters and holding a giant debt collection notice outside the Harvey Norman store, Mr Bandt will say Greens supporters would be serving debt notices online and outside stores and offices of the billionaires and big corporations.
Mr Bandt will write next week to Crossbench Senators and MPs and Labor to ask for their support for the amendments to the Budget.
A Parliamentary Budget Office costing, commissioned by the Greens, shows that 65 of the big corporations that have made excessive profits or paid out executive bonuses during pandemic would return $1.1 billion to the public if effectively forced to return JobKeeper. This is a low estimate of what could be returned, as the government has not disclosed any comprehensive list of excessively profitable companies who received JobKeeper for inclusion in the PBO costing.
Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said:
“The Greens will make the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share.”
“While everyone else was suffering during the pandemic, billionaires and big corporations took government handouts and got even richer.
“If you’re making enough money to buy a private jet or pay executive bonuses, then you can pay back JobKeeper.
“Billionaire Gerry Harvey doesn’t need public handouts. Australians have shoveled money through the front door of Harvey Norman and the government has shoveled public money through the back door. Big corporations like Harvey Norman should be made to pay JobKeeper back.”
“The PBO estimates over $1 billion dollars has gone to just 65 big corporations who then made big profits, paid dividends or gave out executive bonuses, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
“It’s not enough to just ask them to pay back JobKeeper, Parliament has to make them do it. Simply appealing to these billionaires’ better nature won’t work, because they don’t have one.”
“The Greens call on every member of Parliament to back our push to force these billionaires and big corporations to pay back JobKeeper.”
“We will be naming and shaming these corporations with debt collection notices in the coming weeks.”
“JobKeeper was a lifeline for many, but for some billionaires it was another ivory back scratcher.
“Liberals and Labor take donations from billionaires and big corporations, but this is their chance to make them pay back the JobKeeper payments they didn’t need.”

Morrison Leaves Hundreds of Thousands of Families Behind

Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have been reluctantly dragged to announce a child care policy, after leaving Australian women behind since they were elected.
Disappointingly, the Treasurer has yet again missed an opportunity to fundamentally and permanently reform child care, provide a significant boost to women’s workforce participation and a boost to the economy.
Under Scott Morrison’s proposal, hundreds of thousands of families will miss out on relief compared to Labor’s Cheaper Child Care Plan.
The Government’s child care proposal will only lift the child care subsidy rate for families who have a second or subsequent child under five years old in the system.
By only providing increased subsidies for a second or subsequent child in the system, the announcement will make an already complicated system more complicated, and will cause confusion for families as to whether this reform will leave them any better off.
In comparison, Labor’s Cheaper Child Care Plan lifts the subsidy and smooths the taper rate across the board, regardless of how many children the family has or how old they are – leaving  97 per cent of families – or more than one million families – better off. By assisting 1 million families instead of 250,000, Labor’s child care plan would provide a bigger boost to the economy.
Three quarters of the families benefiting from Labor’s Cheaper Child Care Plan will miss out on any increase in their child care subsidy under the Liberals’ plan.
In addition, the many Australian families struggling under the cost of out of school hours and vacation care will not benefit at all  from the Morrison Government’s lift in subsidy.
Families desperately need immediate relief from soaring child care costs, yet these changes are not even set to come in for over a year.
This is a Government that has been dragged kicking and screaming to any child care reform, after years of calls from Labor, Australian women and families, business leaders, economists and the early learning sector.
Less than a year ago Scott Morrison denied that child care costs were a barrier to workforce participation and boosting the economy.
The Government has failed to recognise families are struggling with the cost of child care now under the system that Scott Morrison designed has completely failed families in less than three years.
ABS data released last week showed out of pocket child care costs are at record highs and are now higher than they were under the previous system
In addition, the Treasurer’s announcement today does nothing to guarantee costs will remain low for families into the future.
The proposal misses an integral part of Labor’s plan, which is for the ACCC to investigate price regulation to ensure all benefit goes into the pockets of families.
Today’s announcement also neglects Labor’s clear ambition to move to a universal 90 percent subsidy, which would deliver long-term, meaningful reform.
Labor’s Cheaper Child Care Plan is a carefully considered, researched and widely endorsed policy that will benefit almost 100 per cent of Australian families in the system.
Even the Business Council of Australia proposed a policy almost identical to Labor’s last week due to the anticipated benefit for our economy.
The Morrison Government should have set their pride aside and adopted Labor’s policy, rather than this rushed and half-hearted attempt at child care reform.

AUSTRALIA’S LONGEST ROAD TUNNEL PROPOSED FOR GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY UPGRADE

Investigations are now underway to make an 11-kilometre tunnel the central component of an upgraded Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow, forming the longest road tunnel in Australia.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the proposed tunnel would transform the state by better connecting the Central West to the East Coast.
“We have already committed to tunnels at Blackheath and Mount Victoria – this proposal would see those tunnels joined together, creating the longest road tunnel in the country,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This is an immensely complex and ambitious plan, but we’re working hard to make it happen because we know what a difference it will make to the lives of commuters, to regional businesses who need access to Sydney and vice versa, to freight companies, to families visiting relatives and to holiday makers.
“The NSW Government is committed to building a safer and stronger regional NSW and this corridor will enhance the state, significantly cutting travel times between the city and the bush.
“Completing the Katoomba to Lithgow section would deliver the final stage of a 130 kilometre upgrade, delivering dual carriageway on the Great Western Highway, a multi-decade program of works, making a safer, more resilient corridor.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the solution would link the two tunnels already determined for Blackheath and Mount Victoria to deliver a safer, more reliable connection through the Blue Mountains.
“The NSW Government knows how important this upgrade is to the people who use the Great Western Highway every day and in improving connections between Sydney and the Central West, which is why we committed $2.5 billion to deliver a once-in-a-generation upgrade to this key corridor,” Mr Toole said.
“As part of this upgrade, we’ve already committed to a 4.5-kilometre tunnel to bypass Blackheath and a 4-kilometre tunnel underneath Victoria Pass, one of the steepest roads in NSW.
“We’re now investigating connecting those two proposed tunnels into one longer tunnel. This would be a history-making project, delivering Australia’s longest road tunnel and
allow motorists to avoid all the current pinch points from Blackheath in the east to Little Hartley on the western side of Victoria Pass.
“It will also mean less disruption for local residents and businesses during construction and a smoother, safer journey for those travelling underneath Blackheath and Mount Victoria as well as those travelling above.”
Mr Toole said the eastern entry for the proposed tunnel will be on the outskirts of Blackheath to minimise impacts on local homes and be built in a section of National Park land to the south of Evans Lookout Road.
“At the Western end, the portal location in Little Hartley has been modified to improve safety and reduce property impacts in the valley.”
Transport for NSW is engaging with National Parks about the upgrade’s impacts on land adjacent to the proposed portals. Neither portal would impact the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Mr Toole said heavy traffic over the Easter weekend had reiterated the importance of the Great Western Highway Upgrade and safe, reliable connections over the mountains for locals and travellers alike.
“This is an immensely challenging project but, once complete, it will deliver dual carriageway in both directions for over 100 kilometres,” Mr Toole said.
“Should our investigations into a long tunnel determine that it isn’t viable, the community can be assured that we would proceed with a tunnel at Blackheath and a tunnel at Mount Victoria.”
Construction on the Great Western Highway Upgrade is expected to start at Medlow Bath in 2022, with the full upgrade expected to be completed within 8 to 10 years.
Mr Toole said the community would continue to shape the design of the upgrade as it moves towards construction.
“Later this year, Transport for NSW will consult with the community on the entire upgrade, including the proposed Blackheath to Little Hartley Tunnel.
“Between now and then, residents will see plenty of investigation work going on to make sure we have all the information we need to reduce the environmental impacts of the project.”
For more information on the Great Western Highway upgrade between Katoomba and Lithgow, visit nswroads.work/greatwesternhighway

FEMALE CHANGEROOMS ARE TOP PRIORITY IN $100 MILLION FUND FOR REGIONAL NSW

Female sporting teams across regional NSW will benefit from new and improved facilities and regional towns will soon see even more investment in community infrastructure and programs that will make a big difference to everyday life in the bush, thanks to the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said applications are now open for Round Four and communities are encouraged to apply.
“Up to $50 million is dedicated to the delivery of female sports facilities and programs, to encourage greater female participation in all levels and codes across regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This NSW Government funding will make a big difference in the bush by delivering new and improved facilities as well as programs for female sports teams and is another step towards levelling the playing field for girls and women in remote, rural and regional communities.”
Ms Mitchell visited the Upper Hunter today to officially open the newly refurbished Scone netball courts at Bill Rose Sporting Complex and announced that applications for Round Four of the Stronger Country Communities fund are now open.
“A lack of adequate amenities, especially for females, can often be a barrier to participation. By improving and building purpose-fit facilities and developing programs, girls and women will feel more welcome, safe and encouraged to regularly participate in sports and active recreation,” Ms Mitchell said.
Mrs Taylor said getting facilities up to date, particularly women’s change rooms, will ensure all female athletes are supported to take part in a wide range of sports, including once male dominated codes.
“Facilities designed exclusively for women should be standard and this funding will help women all over rural and regional NSW overcome a major hurdle and feel empowered to play the sports they love with comfort and confidence,” Mrs Taylor said.
“We’re supporting female athletes of all ages and backgrounds to participate in sport, from grassroots to elite level and the Stronger Country Communities Fund is all about building a safer, stronger NSW for everyone.”
The Stronger Country Communities fund is part of the NSW Government’s $2 billion Regional Growth Fund. Applications for Round Four open 1 May 2021 and close on 25 June 2021. For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/SCCF

Appeal following robberies – Kotara

Police are appealing for public assistance following two robberies in Newcastle at the weekend.
About 2.15pm on Saturday (1 May 2021), a 23-year-old man was seated in a park on Lexington Parade, Kotara, when he was approached by three unknown men.
The group demanded the man’s phone, wallet and backpack before he was punched in the face.
The group then left the scene before one of the men approached a 15-year-old boy on Park Avenue and threatened him with a knife.
He demanded his phone before fleeing with the remainder of the group.
Both incidents were reported to police a short time later and officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced an investigation.

Australian childhood immunisation rates continue to break records

Australian parents continue to show their confidence in vaccinations, with record rates of childhood immunisations in the first quarter of 2021.
For the fourth consecutive quarter, the coverage rate for five year olds has increased to a historic 95.22 per cent.
This surpasses our national aspiration of 95 per cent, and gives Australia the herd immunity needed to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
It is also well above the estimated World Health Organization international average immunisation coverage rate of 86 per cent for five year olds, making Australia a world leading vaccination nation.
Each year, the Australian Government invests more than $400 million in the National Immunisation Program.
The Childhood Immunisation Education Campaign contributed to the growth in immunisation rates across the country, including in areas where there has been some vaccination hesitancy.
Across Australia, the coverage rate for one year olds has increased to 94.91 per cent for the 12 months to March 2021. Two year old children have a coverage rate of 92.53 per cent.
The highest coverage rate continues to be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at five years of age – an impressive 97.26 per cent.
The vaccination rate for two year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children increased to 91.73 per cent, while for one year olds it was 93.70 per cent.
These high childhood coverage rates also reflect the trend of the 2020 influenza season, where more than 17.6 million flu vaccines were made available on the Australian market, including through the National Immunisation Program.
It’s particularly pleasing to see immunisation rates climbing as Australia and the world continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parents continue to show their confidence in the expert medical advice and in Australia’s independent medical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, to protect their children.

Australian childhood immunisation rates – December 2020 to March 2021
State Percentage
New South Wales 95.04
Victoria 96.18
Queensland 94.72
South Australia 95.60
Western Australia 94.18
Tasmania 94.99
Northern Territory 94.66
Australian Capital Territory 95.60