Month: June 2021

Budget to bolster NSW's global footprint

The NSW Government is delivering a record investment in trade and industry to support NSW businesses through the economic recovery and to expand the state’s international export opportunities.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry and Trade John Barilaro said the 2021-22 NSW Budget of $261.4 million over four years will double the footprint of NSW’s international network and support our businesses here and overseas.
“With the upcoming appointments of an Agent General in London and five NSW Senior Trade and Investment Commissioners in Tokyo, New York, Mumbai, Singapore and China, NSW exporters have never been so well represented,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We have already opened offices in new markets, including in Vietnam and Singapore, with a plan to expand to 21 global offices including Indonesia and the EU in the coming months.
“We kicked off our Going Global export program last year and are investing a further $6.4 million over four years to keep it rolling to help more businesses from across the state engage in new international markets.
“This supports our exporters with access to further markets and is fostering post-pandemic resilience, crucial to long term economic recovery.”
This year the Going Global export program has supported more than 150 businesses with free export coaching, tailored workshops, business matching and introductions to new international customers, helping local companies make the step up to the global stage.
“This assistance is being delivered through our team of export specialists here in NSW and on-the-ground across nine countries through our dedicated international network,” Mr Barilaro said.
“It has meant that NSW companies have been able to participate in trade shows overseas and have one-on-one business meetings with new international buyers and distributers, despite COVID-19 restrictions.
“Our focus is to position NSW at the very centre of the global stage to support industry growth and create export opportunities for regional, small and medium sized businesses.”
Mr Barilaro said that international students and the revitalisation of the international education sector will be a key part of the state’s post-pandemic economy.
“We are investing $19.1 million over four years to support our largest services export sector to ensure that NSW remains a premier destination for international students, improving student experiences and linking our international students to our agriculture industry, internship and sports programs,” Mr Barilaro said.
Highlights from the 2021-22 Trade and Industry Budget to be delivered over the next four years, include:

  • $128.9 million to expand NSW’s international network
  • $45 million overall to support NSW exporters through trade programs, including:
    • $19.1 million to support international students
    • $6.4 million for the Going Global Export Program
    • $4.8 million to support skilled migration
  • $87.5 million for targeted industry development programs, including:
    • advanced manufacturing in target industries such as space and medical technologies and the food and beverage sectors
    • advanced technologies and their applications across industries such as the cyber, fintech, regtech and agtech sectors
    • the defence industry

$2.8 billion to future proof regional NSW

Thousands of new jobs and significant infrastructure builds in regional NSW will be delivered through the 2021-22 NSW Budget, supporting the recovery and future prosperity of regional communities following drought, bushfires, floods, the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently the mice plague.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said more than $2.8 billion has been secured in this year’s budget for the Department of Regional NSW to help regional communities continue to grow, move through recovery and build on the benefits of regional living.
“Since 2017 the NSW Government has committed more than $2 billion to 2,100 regional infrastructure projects, and today I can announce 800 more projects will be added to that tally, putting more cash into local economies, creating new jobs and helping businesses thrive,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Almost $64 million announced last week for the NSW Government’s Future Ready Regions package will help regional communities prepare for future droughts by investing in the latest technologies, data and tools to boost business productivity, while helping communities to plan ahead.
“This package includes $48 million for the Farms of the Future program, which will boost on-farm connectivity so producers can adopt agtech and compete with the best. We will also survey western NSW for new water sources to reduce pressure on other supplies during drought.
“We are also investing $50 million to fund a new Mobile Coverage Project, to improve infrastructure and boost emerging technologies.”
Mr Barilaro said a raft of programs and Budget measures will directly and indirectly support or create new regional jobs now and into the future, such as the $100 million committed to the Regional Job Creation Fund, which aims to generate at least 5,000 new jobs alone.
“The Stronger Country Communities Fund Round Four will roll out a total of $100 million for new projects across all 93 regional Local Government Areas (LGAs), with half of the funding dedicated to improving female sporting participation, including facilities and amenities,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Round Eight of the Resources for Regions program will close for applications on 12 July 2021 and will allocate $75 million across 24 eligible LGAs for projects that support the ongoing prosperity of mining communities in regional NSW by providing vital infrastructure, economic opportunities, and positive social outcomes.
“A $30 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund will deliver high impact tourism and events infrastructure that helps to boost local economies and put towns on the map while the $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund is bringing visitor dollars to regional towns.
“$462 million has also been invested into the Special Activation Precinct and Regional Job Precinct programs, to create jobs and build an investment roadmap across the state.”
Highlighted programs supported by the 2021-22 Budget for regional NSW include:

  • $878 million for Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund priorities including:
    • $48 million for an expanded Farms of the Future program to help farmers adopt on-farm technology to boost productivity and resource management;
    • $50 million for the Mobile Coverage Project, part of the Regional Digital Connectivity program;
    • $462 million into Special Activation Precincts, including the implementation of Parkes and Wagga Wagga, development of the Narrabri precinct and continued planning for Moree, Williamtown and the Snowy Mountains precincts;
  • $150 million Mouse Control Package to help farmers, small businesses and households fight the mice plague currently impacting parts of regional NSW;
  • $100 million Regional Job Creation Fund to generate at least 5,000 new jobs;
  • $100 million for Round Four of the Stronger Country Communities Fund to build new projects across all 93 regional Local Government Areas;
  • $75 million for Round Eight of the Resources for Regions program to support the ongoing prosperity of mining communities across 24 Local Government Areas;
  • $64 million for the Future Ready Regions strategy to improve drought data so farmers can plan ahead, survey new water sources to reduce pressure on other supplies and deliver business skills training;
  • $30 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund to deliver high impact tourism and events infrastructure;
  • $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund to bring major events and visitor dollars to regional towns.

NSW Budget to keep economy firing and boost jobs as recovery gathers pace

Keeping people safe, boosting the economic recovery and creating a prosperous future through innovation, continued investment and reform is at the heart of today’s 2021-22 NSW State Budget.
After the sharpest fall in nearly 80 years the NSW economy is rebounding rapidly with 300,000 jobs added since the height of the pandemic in mid-2020.
The Budget forecasts above trend economic growth of 3¼ per cent for 2021-22 and unemployment, currently at 5 per cent, falling to 4½ per cent by 2024-25.
Improved economic conditions have contributed to the State’s strengthened operating position, with a return to surplus of $0.5 billion now forecast in 2024-25.
Job creation remains a key focus with a record $108.5 billion infrastructure investment helping supercharge the recovery.
Hundreds of thousands of hard-working public sector workers will receive a significant wage increase of up to 2.5 per cent, which is forecast to cost approximately $2.7 billion over four years.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 2021-22 Budget included important cost savings measures for families, including $43.9 million for a new $100 Learn to Swim voucher for children aged between three and six, and $150 million for the Free Preschool program to continue until the end of 2022.
“This is a Budget which supports and protects our families and communities through record investments in health, education and transport,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The biggest infrastructure pipeline in Australia now tops $108.5 billion and continues to be the backbone of our recovery, with NSW now adding more jobs than were lost during the height of the pandemic.
“The Government’s comprehensive response to the pandemic was only possible because of the state’s economic and fiscal strength going into the crisis built up over the past decade.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the 2021-22 Budget would continue to ensure NSW was COVID-safe and at the same time lock-in the recovery and drive economic reform.
“The NSW Government is maintaining its commitment to support job creation and economic recovery, with billions in stimulus and support measures continuing into 2021-22” Mr Perrottet said.
“The Budget also includes more than $6 billion in rebates, concessions and cost of living measures which benefit households across NSW.
“Our support has been targeted to keep people safe and businesses in business, and that continues with programs such as $40 million to combat domestic violence and the $50 million CBD Friday voucher scheme.
“We are also investing millions into tourism, infrastructure and events right across NSW.”
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government had released the 2021 Intergenerational Report and the NSW Productivity Commissioner’s Productivity White Paper immediately prior to the Budget as they helped chart direction for the state over the longer-term.
“This Budget takes NSW from recovery towards reform, with a focus on your family and your future,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The NSW Government’s nation-leading Electric Vehicle Strategy will see almost half a billion dollars invested in tax cuts and incentives for this future-focussed industry.
“Reforms we have already undertaken such as the establishment of the NSW Generations Fund in late 2018 will also support future generations – the NGF has achieved particularly strong returns over the past 12 months and has grown to $14.7 billion, providing more capacity to reduce debt in the future.
“This Budget continues to support our broad reform agenda for the planning and education systems as well as investing in our world leading digital technologies and providing tax relief.
“The challenge for NSW is to continue to strive to improve, this is a Budget which invests in our people, it aims to keep NSW safe, accelerate our recovery and helps transform our state as we embark on another decade of delivery.”

Correctional officer charged following investigation into sexual offence

A Corrective Services NSW officer has been charged following an investigation into an alleged sexual offence and common assault of a female employee in the state’s Hunter region.
In May this year, detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad’s Corrective Services Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by a male correctional officer, following a referral from a correctional facility in the state’s Hunter region.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 59-year-old man at a home near Lake Macquarie about 8.40am on Friday 4 June 2021.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with two counts of common assault and incite other to do sexual act with them without consent.
Police will allege in court that the man attempted to instigate sexual activity with a female employee at a correctional facility in the state’s Hunter region in April this year.
It will be further alleged the man inappropriately touched the women on a number of occasions.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court today (Wednesday 23 June 2021).
The man has been suspended by Corrective Services NSW.

Cruel bill taking hundreds of dollars from JobSeekers must not be rushed through before winter break

The Greens will oppose the Streamlined Participation Requirements and Other Measures Bill 2021 that will rip $457 from people receiving Jobseeker and $346 from people receiving Youth Allowance.
“This Bill makes significant changes to employment services, mutual obligations and compliance for income support recipients and the Government is seeking to rush this complex bill through Parliament with next to no scrutiny”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
The most insidious components of this Bill will delay payment for an estimated 144,000 people using digital employment services. It will mean people engaging with online servicing will only receive income support payments after signing their job plan online. The Department estimates that this change will save them an average of $457 per Jobseeker and $346 per Youth Allowance recipient.
While out of touch Government MP’s might not believe these sums to be significant, for people who have lost work, it means the difference between secure housing, having food on the table, and being able to pay your bills.
This will also place pressure on jobseekers to accept a job plan that is not suitable for them, putting them at risk of being subject to harsh penalties such as a payment suspension.
In contrast, those undertaking face-to-face servicing will receive their first income support payment from the date they attend an initial appointment with their provider.
One of the consequences of the “streamlining” undertaken in this bill is that Parenting Payment is being further entrenched as a participation payment when it comes to job plans, compliance, and employment services.
Parents should not be subjected to compliance measures and this represents the continuation of a significant policy shift that first started under the introduction of the punitive ParentsNext program and which significantly undermines the caring work undertaken by parents.
I have serious concerns about a provision allowing the health and education of a child to be included in a Parenting Payment recipient’s job plan.
There is no reason why the health and education of a child is relevant to a Parenting Payment recipient’s job plan or income support payment.
The changes in this Bill only implement some of the recommendations from the Employment Services Expert Advisory Panel report, I Want to Work.
This Bill continues the Government’s cruel and punitive mutual obligations and JobActive scheme which entrenches poverty rather than supporting people to find work.
The Government has failed to adequately explain why this Bill needs to be rushed. The rushed nature of this process rings alarm bells and suggests the Government is seeking to avoid proper scrutiny of this legislation.
We call on the Opposition and crossbench to support people on income support and oppose this Bill if it comes to the Parliament next week.
 
The Greens dissenting report can be found here.

Greens to focus on coal in inner-city Liberal seats

With the elevation of coal-hugging Barnaby Joyce to the Deputy Prime Ministership, the Greens will renew focus on coal and 2030 climate targets in winnable inner-city seats held by Liberals, as part of the party’s push to secure balance of power in a minority Parliament at the next election.
The Greens have already released a shortlist of lower house electorates from which they will pick their campaign priority seats at the next election, including the Liberal-held Ryan, Brisbane, Higgins and Kooyong, as well as two inner-city seats where the Liberals finish first on primary votes, Macnamara and Griffith.
“This is a coal-fired coup in the Coalition,” said Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.
“Inner-city voters don’t want a coal-hugging government, and this move from the Nationals makes a minority Parliament more likely at the next election.”
“Scott Morrison is now tied to Barnaby Joyce, and instead of getting out of coal and gas, they’ll deliver more of it, sadly with the Labor Party’s support.”
“Inner-city voters can send a climate message to the government by voting Greens.”
“Net-zero by 2050 is too late, but it’s also clearly too much for the Nationals, who get 4% of the vote but 100% control of climate policy.”
“The Nationals are climate terrorists and they are holding the whole country hostage.”
“This whole government has to go.”

Gov backs One Nation’s far-right hate — again

Australian Greens Anti-Racism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the Liberals and Nationals have yet again supported and passed a hateful One Nation Senate stunt, joining the far-right party in agreeing that critical race theory should be ‘rejected’ in the national curriculum.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The government has a damning track record of indulging far-right politics and One Nation stunt motions in the Senate.
“Fear-mongering about critical race theory is nothing more than a culture war beat-up by Fox News and their local outpost of cranks, Sky News.
“It turns out the pandemic didn’t kill the so-called culture wars that are being manufactured again by the far-right in the parliament. The government is in competition with One Nation in an effort to appeal to the Sky News crowd.
“Critical race theory is basically a study of systemic racism. But it has become a bogeyman for the far-right—first in the US, now here—in their fear-mongering about anti-racism and racial justice.
“The government cannot viably claim to be taking far-right hatred seriously when they fall in line behind crap like this.”

NDIS AGE CAP BOTH ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY

Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has backed calls for the NDIS to scrap its age cap and allow disabled people over the age of 65 to access the supports they need to live a good life.
Senator Steele-John said it was both arbitrary and discriminatory to block disabled people over the age of 65 from accessing the NDIS.
“Older Australians with a disability deserve to be able to access the supports and services that they need to live a good life, just like everyone else,” Steele-John said.
“Disabled Australians who were over the age of 65 when the NDIS was first introduced back in 2013 have lived the last 8 years – a time in their life when they should be afforded care and dignity above all else – without the extra support they need to be able to fully enjoy their retirement.
“Anyone could be involved in an accident that results in disability – it could be a parent or a friend – and, if they’re over the age of 65, they would be excluded from accessing supports through the NDIS. It’s discrimination.
“When they legislated the NDIS back in 2013, the Liberals deliberately amended the Age Discrimination act to enable people over the age of 65 to be excluded from receiving support through the scheme.
“To discriminate against disabled people based on their age goes against the fundamental values upon which our NDIS was built, and the Morrison government should urgently scrap the age cap to ensure everyone has access to the supports and services they need to live a good life.”

Vaile backflip a huge win for uni staff, students and climate

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed news that Mark Vaile will not be made Chancellor of the University of Newcastle.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is a huge win for the university staff and students who fought this terrible appointment, and for the Hunter community.
“Coal bosses have no place in university leadership. The university community spoke out, organised, and knocked this appointment on its head.
“The next chancellor should be appointed in consultation with the university community and reflect their demands for a university that leads on the big problems we face.
“We are in the middle of a climate emergency and communities are demanding leadership that will tackle this crisis with the urgency it demands.
“We need to build and nurture universities that are democratic, equitable and sustainable. There is no time to delay,” she said.

$74 million investment in Australian-led clinical trials

A study involving 15,000 Australians which aims to develop a next-generation, standardised diagnosis for melanoma is one of 30 clinical trials and cohort studies to be funded through the Morrison Government’s $74 million investment to find better ways to prevent, detect and treat disease.
The $3.2 million melanoma cohort study, led by Associate Professor Victoria Mar from Monash University and Alfred Health, will be the first in the world to document on such a large scale the whole skin surface of participants with histopathology images and other patient details.
The Morrison Government’s investment will support 20 clinical trials and 10 cohort studies for up to five years and will fill important gaps in knowledge about the causes of disease and test the effectiveness of new approaches to disease prevention, detection and treatment.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the trial would help to discover more effective diagnosis options thousands of Australians who are tested for skin cancer each year.
“Skin cancer costs the Australian healthcare system more than $1 billion annually. Australia has the highest rate of melanoma, the deadliest form, for which there is currently no standardised diagnosis,” Minister Hunt said.
“This study will use cutting-edge, total-body 3D imaging machines across metropolitan and regional Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, with the research team working to develop next-generation diagnostic and prognostic algorithms for early detection of melanoma and skin cancer.”
“Clinical trials and cohort studies are crucial sources of evidence for the improvement of health and healthcare. Each of these projects has the potential to improve health outcomes here in Australia and across the globe.”
Awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and commencing in 2021, the funded projects will investigate a range of health issues.
This includes:

  • A trial led by University of Melbourne/Orygen’s Associate Professor Simon Rice will determine the effectiveness of the online social media-based intervention Affinity to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviours in young people seeking care for major depressive disorder.
  • A clinical trial in Papua New Guinea led by Dr Holger Unger of the Menzies School of Health Research to assess the advantages of combining the anti-malarial treatments sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine to clear malaria among pregnant women while reducing the adverse outcomes such as miscarriage and stillbirth (fetal loss), low birth weight, and neonatal death.
  • A clinical trial led by Associate Professor Leanne Sakzewski from the University of Queensland will include 150 children with cerebral palsy (CP) to compare a new intervention, ACTIVE STRIDES -CP, with usual care.

By testing new healthcare interventions in volunteers under controlled conditions, clinical trials underpin decisions on whether to use a new diagnostic, drug, vaccine or procedure. Cohort studies uncover risk factors and causes of disease by following groups of people over time, sometimes many years.
A full list of grant recipients is below and available on NHMRC’s website: www.nhmrc.gov.au.