The NSW Government’s booster program continues to ramp up with NSW Health already delivering more than 120,000 vaccine booster doses to help keep people safe and increase levels of immunity to COVID-19.
On Friday, NSW Health clinics delivered the highest daily total since the rollout of the program, up from 2000 doses two weeks ago, in support of the Federal Government’s vaccine program.
People are eligible for a booster 5 months after a second dose and NSW Health can accommodate people about to travel who might need a slightly earlier appointment.
The number of people eligible to receive a booster will increase steadily in 2022, with around 40 per cent of the NSW population to be eligible at the end of January, 64 per cent in February, 87 per cent in March, and 91 per cent by April 2022.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet thanked people for coming forward to get their booster shots and urged every eligible person to book in as soon as possible.
“As we navigate our way out of the pandemic, we remain focused on saving lives and protecting livelihoods and getting your booster shot will offer you protection against COVID,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our frontline health workers have been incredible over the past two years and their dedication is greatly appreciated. It’s time for us to step up again and get a booster to protect ourselves, the community and those who have done so much to keep us safe.”
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said NSW Health will also be keeping its COVID testing centres open during the holiday months, so people can get a test when they need it.
“The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get vaccinated and get a booster if you are eligible,” Mr Hazzard said.
“We need everyone to continue to do their bit and follow the rules, so if you have even the slightest of symptoms get tested and stay at home.”
Those eligible for a booster dose can book in at a NSW Health vaccination clinic through the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder. You can also book in to receive a booster dose at a participating pharmacy and your local GP.
Month: December 2021
AFL support for the Devonport community acknowledged
As part of its 2022 pre-season fixture to be released on Monday, December 20, Hawthorn will host Richmond in a tribute match to support the families who lost loved ones and the wider community.
North Melbourne Football Club will also show its support as part of the event.
Minister Colbeck, a Devonport resident, said the tribute match would mean a lot to the community as it deals with the unbelievably loss.
“It is an extraordinary acknowledgement from the AFL community as the people of Devonport and Tasmania draw together at this sad time,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It is a profound loss that will affect our community for a long time – but the outpouring of support across Australia brings some level of comfort.
“We are there for the people of Devonport, now and for the months and years ahead.
“I want to thank AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett, Richmond CEO Brendon Gale, North Melbourne CEO Ben Amarfio and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein for taking the initiative to host an event that offers an opportunity for people to draw closer together.”
Further details for the match to be held on Saturday March 5 will be confirmed.
Fatal motorcycle crash near Cessnock
A motorcyclist has died following a crash in the state’s Hunter region.
About 4.20am today (Saturday 18 December 2021), emergency services were called to Old Maitland Rd, Sawyers Gully, about 20km north east of Cessnock, after reports a motorcycle had crashed.
The rider – a 48-year-old man – died at the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and an investigation commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
NSW welcomes 214 new firefighters
The NSW Government has welcomed 214 new firefighters to its ranks at a graduation ceremony this morning at the Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills.
The recruits completed their training in all facets of the job, including fire, rescue, emergency first aid, hazardous material treatment and natural disaster response.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott joined FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter to congratulate the new permanent and on-call firefighters. They observed a live demonstration by the recruits of the types of incidents they could face as firefighters, including a mock service station fire, a structural blaze and a hazardous material emergency,
“These fresh-faced recruits join the ranks at a time when we face the likelihood of more natural disasters over summer as well as the ongoing pandemic, yet nonetheless are committed to work to protect our property and loved ones,” Mr Elliott said.
“They have joined FRNSW because they want to make a difference and now they’re learning the skills to make that positive impact.
Their recruitment represents the ongoing, record investment this Government has made to safeguard our communities from fire and disaster right across this State.”
Commissioner Baxter praised the recruits who come from diverse backgrounds but share one common goal – to protect the irreplaceable.
“These new firefighters appropriately represent the communities they protect,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“They come to us from cities and towns all over New South Wales and beyond with fortitude and determination and we equip them with the knowledge and skills to be prepared for anything, to protect the irreplaceable.”
The recruits have successfully completed almost 15 weeks of training in the Academy’s state-of-the-art learning environments which include a special urban search and rescue scene, an underground train tunnel, a mock service station, a five-storey training tower and a live fire facility.
The new recruits come from a range of backgrounds, including a former teacher, a former restaurant manager and an accomplished landscape architect.
More beds more services for $260 million Eurobodalla regional hospital
The masterplan for the new $260 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital at Moruya has been revealed at a site visit by the Premier Dominic Perrottet today.
“We’ve listened to the community, experts in health planning and our clinical and allied health staff. They want this new hospital to grow with the residents of the Eurobodalla and that’s what my government is delivering,” Mr Perrottet said.
“There’ll be MRI services, greater ED capacity, an ICU/Close Observation Unit and space for staff education and training in one of the largest greenfield hospital developments underway in NSW.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be built to accommodate a Level 4 health facility.
“We will be delivering so much more than is currently in the district including a new MRI, an 8 bed intensive care unit and enhanced oncology services. It will be up to the Local Health District to recruit all of the specialist clinicians necessary to operate a Level 4 hospital and that’s what will be delivered,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you live in Narooma, Moruya or Bateman’s Bay you will have outstanding medical care as close to where you live as possible. Our nurses, doctors, allied health staff will be able to deliver care from a state-of-the-art hospital.
“Once completed, the new hospital will provide more beds than are currently available in both Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.”
The NSW Government recently announced a $500 million boost to its investment in rural health services and infrastructure.
The new South Coast facility will feature the latest technology and models of care and improved Emergency Department capacity, specialist consultation rooms, an expansion of medical imaging including a second x-ray machine and MRI, as well as other amenities including space for staff education and training.
The formal State Significant Development Application (SSDA) planning process for the new hospital has commenced and consultation will continue to develop the application, including a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Local member for Bega Andrew Constance said the project would dramatically boost work opportunities in the region.
“This project will support hundreds of direct and indirect jobs here in the region during construction and many locals will be able to develop industry skills providing a boost to the local economy. Once it is built there’ll be additional jobs working at the hospital,” Mr Constance said.
Southern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Margaret Bennett said the new hospital will strengthen the region’s network of healthcare services with future proofing plans for additional education, training and research facilities included in the masterplan.
“As we progress designs and plans for the project, we will continue to engage with staff and the community,” Ms Bennett said.
The master plan and early designs have been prepared in collaboration with clinicians, operational staff, local Aboriginal community representatives and community members.
The site acquisition process is proceeding, and early and enabling works are expected to start in 2022.
Construction of a facility of this size generally takes between two to three years to complete and is expected to open to patients in 2025.
The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will include:
“We’ve listened to the community, experts in health planning and our clinical and allied health staff. They want this new hospital to grow with the residents of the Eurobodalla and that’s what my government is delivering,” Mr Perrottet said.
“There’ll be MRI services, greater ED capacity, an ICU/Close Observation Unit and space for staff education and training in one of the largest greenfield hospital developments underway in NSW.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be built to accommodate a Level 4 health facility.
“We will be delivering so much more than is currently in the district including a new MRI, an 8 bed intensive care unit and enhanced oncology services. It will be up to the Local Health District to recruit all of the specialist clinicians necessary to operate a Level 4 hospital and that’s what will be delivered,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It doesn’t matter whether you live in Narooma, Moruya or Bateman’s Bay you will have outstanding medical care as close to where you live as possible. Our nurses, doctors, allied health staff will be able to deliver care from a state-of-the-art hospital.
“Once completed, the new hospital will provide more beds than are currently available in both Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined.”
The NSW Government recently announced a $500 million boost to its investment in rural health services and infrastructure.
The new South Coast facility will feature the latest technology and models of care and improved Emergency Department capacity, specialist consultation rooms, an expansion of medical imaging including a second x-ray machine and MRI, as well as other amenities including space for staff education and training.
The formal State Significant Development Application (SSDA) planning process for the new hospital has commenced and consultation will continue to develop the application, including a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Local member for Bega Andrew Constance said the project would dramatically boost work opportunities in the region.
“This project will support hundreds of direct and indirect jobs here in the region during construction and many locals will be able to develop industry skills providing a boost to the local economy. Once it is built there’ll be additional jobs working at the hospital,” Mr Constance said.
Southern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Margaret Bennett said the new hospital will strengthen the region’s network of healthcare services with future proofing plans for additional education, training and research facilities included in the masterplan.
“As we progress designs and plans for the project, we will continue to engage with staff and the community,” Ms Bennett said.
The master plan and early designs have been prepared in collaboration with clinicians, operational staff, local Aboriginal community representatives and community members.
The site acquisition process is proceeding, and early and enabling works are expected to start in 2022.
Construction of a facility of this size generally takes between two to three years to complete and is expected to open to patients in 2025.
The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will include:
- An emergency department
- an eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) /Close Observation Unit (COU)
- increased capacity for chemotherapy treatments
- surgical and operating theatres
- expanded medical imaging, including MRI and additional X-ray
- Ambulatory care for community outpatient services
- Paediatric and maternity services – including inpatient beds
- Flexible mental health beds associated with the medical inpatient unit and
- enhanced education and training facilities.
More information about how stakeholders and community members can get involved in the project is available at www.eurobodallahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Driver blows more than six times the legal limit – Hunter
A man has been charged after allegedly blowing more than six times the legal limit after a crash in the Hunter overnight.
Just after 11pm (Friday 17 December 2021), emergency services were called to the intersection of Anderson Drive and Western Avenue, Tarro, and found a silver Toyota 4WD had crashed into three parked vehicles.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and located the driver of the 4WD, a 48-year-old man. He was subjected to a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive result.
The driver was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station where he underwent a secondary breath analysis, which allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.317.
His driver’s licence was immediately suspended and confiscated, and he was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with high-range prescribed concentration of alcohol.
The Tomago man was given conditional bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 2 February 2022.
Increased funding for Australia’s young athletes
Young Australian athletes and their families will benefit following the Morrison Government’s expansion of the popular Local Sporting Champions program with the number of annual grants to increase from 9000 to 12,000.
In addition, a new Local Para Champions program will provide extra financial support of up to $1,000 for more than 900 aspiring Paralympians to participate in competitions, recognising the added costs for equipment and travel.
This new funding of $5.5 million for the program comes through the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) announced today by the Treasurer.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said with the removal of most state borders and COVID restrictions, young Australian athletes were looking forward to being able to once again compete at championship level around Australia and overseas.
“This expansion in Local Sporting Champions grants for young athletes, officials and coaches will bring them one step closer to making their sporting dreams a reality,” Minister Colbeck said.
The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance to coaches, officials, and competitors aged 12 to 18 who are required to travel to participate in state, national or international championships. Age eligibility for the new Local Para Champions program will be those aged 12 to 24.
Applicants receive between $500 and $750 towards the cost of attending championship events which help ease the financial burden on individuals and their families.
With the announcement of Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Local Sporting Champions program over the next decade will be pivotal in supporting both able bodied and para athletes attending state, national and international competitions.
At Tokyo 2020, more than 150 of the athletes competing for Australia received a Local Sporting Champions grant on their journey to the Olympics.
This included champion swimmer Ariarne Titmus who received a grant as a 13-year-old to attend her first Australian Age Championships in Sydney from her then home in Launceston.
“Everyone around Australia is eager to see the start of the green and gold decade, where Australia hosts many of the biggest and best international sporting competitions in the world, reaching its crescendo with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Minister Colbeck said.
The Morrison Government will also invest $5 million over two years to support the UCI Road World Championships 2022 being hosted by Wollongong – the first of a string of major sporting events.
“This Government support for the UCI Road World Championships will also help establish legacy programs which will work with young people in regional, rural and remote communities, and people with a disability to engage in the sport of cycling.”
MYEFO also details additional support for our Olympians and Paralympians.
“Of course, for many Australians our Olympians and Paralympians represent the pinnacle of achievement in world sport and the Morrison Government is ensuring the efforts of our Paralympians to bring victory and glory to Australia at the coming Beijing Winter Paralympics are rewarded,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Australia’s Tokyo Paralympians shared in $1 million in one-off medal bonuses from the Australian Government in recognition of the 13 gold, 23 silver and 24 bronze medal haul from the delayed event held earlier this year.”
“We will also extend this one-off bonus to each Paralympic athlete who wins a medal at the upcoming Beijing Winter Paralympics recognising the extraordinary efforts these athletes go to particularly with the impact of the global pandemic.”
The Australian Government has also provided $2.1 million to support the Australian Olympic Team which competed at the Tokyo Games earlier this year. This funding is being provided to the Australian Olympic Committee to help cover unprecedented COVID-19 return quarantine costs for the hundreds of athletes and support staff who made up the Australian team.
More than $100 million invested to improve aged care service delivery
The Morrison Government today announces an additional $22 million to ensure senior Australians can access sustainable, high-quality residential care, under a new round of funding through the Business Improvement Fund (BIF).
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said latest investment underlined the Government’s commitment to strengthen the business framework for providers across the country.
The Morrison Government invested in nearly 200 residential aged care providers through the first round of the BIF to improve service delivery and viability and ensure the needs of senior Australians are met.
It brings the total investment to more than $100 million since March 2020.
This includes $26.8 million as part of an extended first round of the Business Improvement Fund to support an additional 54 providers, a majority of which are in regional and rural areas.
“The BIF provides grants to providers who may be facing financial challenges, particularly those located in regional, rural and remote areas,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Improving the financial stability of residential aged care enables providers to focus on what really matters, high quality care for their residents.”
Masonic Care Tasmania CEO, Jackie Howard, said the organisation’s residential aged care services, several located in regional Tasmania, has benefited significantly from support it received through the fund.
“This funding has brought us forward, at least a couple of years faster than if we had to do the improvements ourselves. It’s certainly taking this organisation to where it’s never been before,” Ms Howard said.
“It will allow us to have some robust core IT infrastructure across our residential aged care facilities. This will help us future proof the business,” Ms Howard said.
Minister Colbeck said the Morrison Government is improving the sustainability of aged care to meet the demands of a competitive market aligned to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety final report recommendations.
“Our investment and commitment to continue to support the sustainability of the aged care sector is about putting the needs of senior Australians front and centre.
“This investment will enable our diverse senior Australian community to access quality residential aged care no matter where they live,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Aged care providers are also encouraged to use the Government’s Business Advisory Service to gain free, independent and confidential business advice for improving operations, which will ultimately result in better services being delivered to consumers.”
Eligible providers can apply for the Business Improvement Fund to implement improved business strategies, as identified by the Business Advisory Service, such as restructuring business operations and upgrading of financial management or IT systems.
Business Improvement Fund applications are now open through GrantConnect.
Today’s funding announcement is part of the Australian Government’s Structural Adjustment Program, to improve operations and viability to meet the demands of a strengthened aged care market.
Government Succumbs to Community and Labor Campaign to Stop Offshore Drilling
Labor welcomes the Morrison-Joyce Government’s belated intension to reject the proposed extension of Advent Energy’s Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP-11).
This is a decision that is more than 300 days overdue and could have been made quickly in February with a stroke of a pen by Scott Morrison’s Minister for Resources, Keith Pitt who had the final decision on the future of the licence.
Extending PEP-11 has never made sense from an economic, environmental, or energy perspective.
It would have put at risk thousands of local jobs in tourism, hospitality, and recreational and commercial fishing.
Let’s be clear: the Morrison-Joyce Government has left our community in limbo and ignored our wishes for nearly 12 months despite the overwhelming opposition to PEP-11.
Scott Morrison doesn’t care about our community, otherwise he would not have inflicted this uncertainty on us for so long.
This is a Prime Minister whose priorities are his Liberal mates and making announcements that suit his short-term political prospects.
He has surrendered to the massive campaign ran by the community and Labor to stop this awful project.
Actions speak louder than words.
Mr Morrison has been saying he doesn’t approve the PEP-11 extension since March, so Labor looks forward to the official confirmation that it has been rejected once and for all.
This is a huge win for our community, and they deserve to be congratulated and recognised for their advocacy.
Skills and Industry will build a stronger future
It’s often said that the future is what you make of it.
That is especially true when it comes to Australia’s economic future.
Our nation is blessed by the privilege of proximity. We sit in the region experiencing the fastest economic growth in human history.
We have an opportunity to lock ourselves into this strong economic growth, much of which will be driven by the global shift to renewable energy.
But to seize this opportunity, we need a government with a plan.
Federal Labor’s plan for government is to use Australia’s comparative strengths as a foundation for our next great wave of economic prosperity.
First, we must utilise our abundant reserves of solar and wind energy to provide the cheap power needed to revitalise our traditional and emerging industries.
Cheap energy will be critical to the development of new renewable industries, using our resources like lithium and copper and iron ore, the key materials used to make batteries, wind turbines, electric vehicles and other low-emission products.
Australia can become a renewable energy superpower for the world. We can establish lucrative new sources of export income and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
But achieving this aim requires government action.
A Labor government will create the National Reconstruction Fund to provide loans, loan guarantees and other assistance to support the expansion of Australian industry.
The fund will support the expansion of existing sectors such as manufacturing of military hardware, vaccines and medicines, agricultural produce as well as transportation vehicles and equipment.
It will also support emerging industries in manufacturing that add value to our existing resources exports.
It makes no sense to ship bulk resources overseas for others to process and then buy them back at a higher cost. We should add value here, creating new jobs, particularly in regional Australia.
But on its own, supporting business investment will not be enough.
We must also invest in the skills of our greatest asset – our people.
It is unacceptable that there are 85,000 fewer Australians engaged in apprenticeships or traineeships today than on the day the Coalition government took office.
For Australia to prosper in the 21st century, our training system must produce the skills demanded by employers.
Otherwise, skill shortages will continue to act as a handbrake on economic growth.
Labor will create 465,000 free TAFE places and up to 20,000 new university places in areas of skills shortage.
Our Made in Australia Skills Plan will skill up a new generation of mechanics, construction workers and engineers.
It will also train people in resources, digital and cyber security and advanced manufacturing.
And, critically, we will train a new wave of early childhood educators, registered nurses, teachers and aged care and disability care professionals.
The work of care is often done by women, operating in full sight but without due recognition. We should be treating care workers as the national assets they are and investing in their education and Training.
Labor’s new TAFE and university places will provide new opportunities to hundreds of thousands of young people about to embark on their adult careers.
But they will also be available to older Australians who need to retrain because their jobs have been eliminated by mechanisation or other changes, as well as unpaid carers – predominantly women – who want to re-enter the workforce.
A Labor government will further support Australian industry and jobs with the power of purchasing. We’ll develop industry plans in defence and rail manufacturing to boost the capacity of local businesses to supply our nation’s needs.
Too many state governments have bought trains, trams and ferries from overseas suppliers, only to find them unfit for purpose when they are delivered.
Then we get Australian workers to fix them. It doesn’t make sense. We should build ferries, trains, trams and buses here.
Skills and industry will build a stronger future. One of the biggest lessons from the Covid pandemic has been that our nation has lost some important industries that are critical in times of trouble.
Our inability to make mRNA vaccines, for example, left us badly exposed when the Morrison-Joyce government failed to secure enough vaccines from overseas to meet our national needs.
We should make our own medical supplies and news that mRNA vaccines will be made in Melbourne from 2024 is welcome, but late. We can’t allow ourselves to be hostage to unpredictable global supply chains that collapse in a crisis.
Labor will make Australia more resilient by supporting critical industries. In addition, our 10-point Buy Australia Plan will ensure every government department prioritises buying from local industries wherever possible, rather from overseas.
Increasing our resilience and expanding Australia’s export footprint will be challenging, but also provide opportunities.
Labor has the plan to turn these opportunities into jobs.