Month: May 2022

All of Perrottet’s New Roads Lead to Higher Tolls

The NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet’s secret new toll has been exposed after confidential documents reveal that his new Western Harbour Tunnel is only viable with new tolls.

The NSW Opposition is calling on the NSW Government to come clean about whether they will put yet another brand new toll on existing the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, along with the Western Harbour Tunnel.
 
Current tolls on the existing harbour crossings are due to expire this year, but revelations today show the NSW government’s planned Western Harbour Tunnel is not financially viable without slapping new tolls with huge yearly increases into both the new road and the existing Harbour Bridge and Tunnel.
 
Documents reveal the assessment that the planned Western Harbour Tunnel “is not financially viable on its own, the additional value from the harbour crossings is not adequate to fund the project unless there is a material increase in toll prices with future escalation.”
 
Road users in NSW have consistently been slugged with 4 per cent annual toll increases – more than double the long term inflation rate – under the NSW Liberals.
 
In almost all the cases, toll revenue goes straight into the hands of private toll road owners, while drivers are forced to pay some of the highest tolls in the world.
 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:
 
“With Dominic Perrottet all roads seem to lead to higher tolls.”
 
“The government needs to come clean on whether they plan to put yet another toll road, this time on the new harbour crossing.”
 
“Sydney is already the highest tolled city on the face of the earth.” 
 
“Cost of living pressures are already at record highs and getting worse every day. The NSW Government has to stop signing up Sydney motorists to 4 per cent toll increases.”
 
Shadow Minister for Roads John Graham said:
 
“Questions are mounting on the government’s approach to tolling.”
 
“Harbour tunnel toll arrangements expire in August this year, but the public has no idea what is proposed. It seems the Government has no idea either.”
 
“The one thing we can guarantee with Dominic Perrottet, is it will lead to higher tolls.”

Western Sydney missed out on Public Transport

A new report to be released by the McKell Institute has highlighted the need to close the gap on infrastructure inequality that disproportionately affects Western Sydney.

The report titled “Funding the infrastructure of tomorrow” shows how lack of access to infrastructure exacerbates social inequalities and disadvantage.
 
Western Sydney is the fastest growing population centre in New South Wales – it’s the third largest economy in Australia behind the Sydney CBD and Melbourne.
 
But it has serious challenges – it’s lagging in infrastructure, jobs and there are major pockets of disadvantage.

For too long the NSW Government has ignored Western Sydney’s infrastructure challenges.
 
Alarmingly, the report notes that “Of the 33 Sydney Local Government Areas (LGAs), the third with the best access to public transport are all in the East or North districts as determined by the Greater Sydney Commission. Meanwhile all eight Western Sydney LGAs are located in the bottom third.”
 
What this report shows is the Government cannot continue to ignore the west when it comes to building the infrastructure to keep pace with areas of growth.
 
Parramatta’s population is set to increase by 140,000, Camden by 180,000, Liverpool by 190,000 and Blacktown by 201,000, over the next two decades.
Combined, there will be more growth – over 1.1 million people – in the suburbs of Blacktown, Liverpool, Camden, Parramatta, Penrith, Canterbury Bankstown, Cumberland, and Campbelltown – than across the rest of New South Wales combined.

Meanwhile over the same period, Northern Beaches will grow by just 27,000 and Mosman by just 999 people over the same period – and yet the NSW Government is still committed to building the Northern Beaches link – a $10 billion project, with a business case that barely stacks up.
 
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:
 
“The NSW Government’s priorities are all wrong.
 
“Economic growth is being generated in the west, but this Government is spending it in the east.
 
“This isn’t rocket science – where there is growth we need the infrastructure to keep up, and what we know for sure is the growth over the next few decades will be in Western Sydney – not in the east.
 
“And it’s not just infrastructure in the traditional sense – we need schools, hospitals, libraries, parks, roads and public transport links to open up economic, job and social opportunities.
 
“It’s why Labor will scrap the Northern Beaches Link – a $10 billion project with limited wider economic benefits.
 
“Instead, a Minns Labor Government will direct infrastructure spending to where it is more needed – out west.
 
“This Government just wants to push hundreds of thousands of people into Western Sydney without any infrastructure to match – it’s time the west gets its fair share”.

Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“The people of Western Sydney have it the hardest when it comes to access to public transport services, and when they finally get to their bus stop or train station there are fewer trains and buses available to them and their families.”
 
“Families in the west deserve a real and reliable alternative to paying tolls that go up by 4 per cent every year in what is now the most tolled city in the world.”
 
“The Liberals have been in Government for eleven years, but in that time they’ve only delivered one genuinely new public transport service for the people of Greater Western Sydney.”
 
“Instead of building another toll road that Sydney doesn’t need, Labor will focus on delivering public transport services in the rapidly growing suburbs of Western Sydney where they are needed the most.”

Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Greg Warren said:

“The priorities of the NSW Government are all wrong when it comes to transport and western Sydney.”
 
“The Government is projecting major population growth for western Sydney without the infrastructure or public transport investment to match.”
 
“That is why NSW Labor will prioritise new infrastructure in Western Sydney over building the Northern Beaches link.”

NSW Labor calls for Memorial for those who Fought and Served in the Middle East

NSW Labor is today calling for the establishment of a significant memorial in Sydney to honour all those who served in the Middle East campaigns of Iraq and Afghanistan.

We know the challenges that Australian veterans from these recent conflicts face.
 
Each conflict has its unique set of circumstances and controversy, but that in no way lessens the strength of feeling and support that Australians have for those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
NSW Labor is also calling for bipartisan support for a national war cemetery in Sydney or New South Wales. This was first proposed by the NSW Government last year. Both Federal and NSW Labor support the proposal in principle.
 
Successive Federal Governments have done tremendous work in honouring the sacrifice of Australian service men and women where they fell in foreign theatres of war.
 
It is time for that same focus to be concentrated in Australia with the scoping, funding and construction of a national war cemetery in New South Wales.
 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:
 
“Anything we can do to support our veterans and respect their service is a good thing.”
 
“Across Australia memorials have been erected dedicated to remembering the sacrifice of Australian soldiers, nurses, personnel and those who have died in war, as well as the men and women who have served for our country.
 
“It is time that NSW has a significant memorial for the recent Middle East conflicts too.”
 
‘We support the work of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and the Shadow Minister for Veterans, Greg Warren has made a submission to this inquiry on behalf of the NSW Opposition.”
 
Greg Warren MP, Shadow Minister for Veterans said:
 
‘Whilst Australia has withdrawn from Afghanistan, some soldiers will not return, and many who did will carry the scars of that war for the remainder of their lives.
 
‘We call on the Liberal National Government to stand with us in a bipartisan way to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought and served in Australia’s most recent war.
 

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn;
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.

Appeal after car crashes into house – Maitland 

Two men have been hospitalised after a car crash into a home in the Hunter region today.

About 3pm (Sunday 1 May 2022), a Toyota Landcruiser was travelling north on High Street, in the Maitland suburb of Largs, when it left the roadway and hit the front of a home at the intersection of Morpeth Street.

The home sustained structural damage and the occupant, an 84-year-old man, who had been asleep in a front bedroom was injured.

Officers from Port-Stephens Hunter Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics.

The driver, a 69-year-old man was revived and both he and the 84-year-old man were taken to John Hunter Hospital where they remain in a critical condition. 

A crime scene was established, and the Toyota has been seized for forensic examination.

Initial inquiries suggest the driver have suffered a medical episode prior to the collision.

Quarter of a billion a year stripped from Hunter communities by wage-cutting: new analysis 

Analysis of coal mining electorates has found that over a quarter of a billion dollars a year is lost from local economic activity in the Hunter region due to aggressive wage cutting-strategies by mining companies.

A new McKell Institute report released today analyses the impact on local economic activity of mining companies’ widespread replacement of permanent mining jobs with lower-paid labour hire workers. 

It found that in the electorates of Hunter and Paterson, which have the highest proportion of coal employment in NSW, up $235.85 million per year is taken out of the local economy. 

The report contains a detailed analysis of how the labour hire employment model has systemically been used to reduce wages that would otherwise have circulated through local mining regions. Across the five electorates with the highest proportion of coal mining activity nationally, there is nearly a billion dollars a year in lost economic activity. 

“Outsourcing jobs to labour hire companies is a way for mining companies to get around Enterprise Agreements that have been negotiated by workers over decades,” said Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams.  


“By using this wage-cutting strategy, some of our wealthiest corporations have been able to strip up to 40 per cent from the wages of Hunter Valley coal miners and remove conditions like redundancy entitlements. 


“In our local towns like Singleton, Cessnock and Muswellbrook, well-paid mining jobs have traditionally formed the backbone of local economic activity. 

“Secure jobs have been an important part of the social compact between mining companies and host communities. But this report shows how mining companies have washed their hands of this responsibility and communities are being ripped off.” 

One Hunter Valley labour hire coal miner said she joined the industry over five years ago hoping to learn new skills and progress her career.  

“Due to the industry employment practices in the Hunter Valley, this is no longer something that I consider a possibility going forward. I do not see the prospect of moving into a permanent role in the near future, and I now have to consider my options for the security of my family,” said the mineworker, who did not want to use her name for fear of losing her job.

“You can spend years at a site working the same job, on the same roster only to earn up to $60,000 less annually than a permanent mineworker. 

“It is degrading and demoralising to have no choice but to be put in this position just to get a start in the industry with a very minimal chance of gaining a permanent shirt for years to come.” 

Mr Williams said the Mining and Energy Union would continue to campaign for ‘Same Job Same Pay’ laws in the upcoming federal election, so labour hire could be used to address genuine temporary or specialist labour needs but not to undercut wages and conditions in existing Enterprise Agreements. 

Read the report.  

ENOUGH REVIEWS, NSW URGENTLY NEEDS 1000 EXTRA CHILD PROTECTION WORKERS 

A scathing government review into NSW’s child protection services has found that Aboriginal children remain over represented in care, workers are under resourced and overstressed, and urgent reforms remain unimplemented.

In 2019 the Davis Review found the NSW child protection system is overly complex and difficult to navigate for Aboriginal children and families. It called for signifiant reform, in particular the introduction of Aboriginal Case Management Policy (ACMP) which aims to support Aboriginal people and communities to make decisions about the safety, welfare and wellbeing of their children, families, and communities.

The recent Office of the Children’s Guardian’s special report found that the Davis Review-driven reform, particularly ACMP, requires urgent action and an injection of funding and resources to support a more effective implementation approach.

“A generation of Aboriginal children are currently being lost in a system that needs proper investment and reform – but the latest report says that’s not happening,” said Troy Wright, assistant secretary of the Public Service Association.

“The Office of the Children’s Guardian’s special report is utterly disheartening reading and confirms exactly what our members are constantly telling us – there aren’t the people to meet the needs of the community.”

On 30 June 2021, 43% (6,829) of the children and young people in out-of-home care in NSW were Aboriginal, an increase from 41.4% (6,688) from the year earlier. (NSW Budget Estimates 2020-21).

“Nationally, NSW accounts for a third of all Aboriginal children in care. They are over represented in our child protection system and it is a crisis.

“Yet despite this we know caseworkers are only seeing a third (29%) of kids at risk of serious harm. We need 1,000 more case workers to meet demand.”

The union is calling for the urgent hiring of 1000 further case workers to deliver relief to the existing workforce already suffering extreme burnout, and to assist with better delivering the overdue reforms.

“The only responsible way to improve the child protection and out-of-home care system is resourced recruitment, training, and retention of and properly supported foster carers and case workers through a publicly-funded system.

“Of course it’s not just child protection that has been cut to shreds. Services we know help people rebuild their lives – like drug rehabilitation facilities and domestic violence shelters – have also been stripped of funding.

“Many child protection services have effectively been privatised – with out-of-home care foster placements undertaken through external providers. The total reliance on this sector for service delivery has led to price gouging, cherry picking of clients, and a lack of accountability.

“We want social workers and case workers working with families who need help, not negotiating contracts with unaccountable, untransparent private providers.”

Vinnies welcomes housing and homelessness commitments 

St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia welcomes the commitment by the Australian Labor Party to develop a National Housing and Homelessness Plan and establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.

National President Ms Claire Victory said housing is a fundamental human right, vital to human dignity.

‘For too long, federal governments have failed to provide national leadership to address the growing housing crisis and support access to affordable and safe housing,’ Ms Victory said.

‘The Australian dream has become a nightmare, with a whole generation unable to afford a home and a growing number of Australians at risk of becoming homeless as wages and income supports fail to keep up with surging costs of living,’ Ms Victory said.

‘For years, Vinnies has been calling on the Federal Government to deliver a national housing strategy and to work with all governments and stakeholders to address the housing crisis. 

‘Labor’s commitment to develop a National Housing and Homelessness Plan and establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council in consultation with key stakeholders is a welcome and important step forward. This will give some hope to many Australians locked out of home ownership or at risk of homelessness,’ Ms Victory said.

The St Vincent de Paul Society has long advocated for a well-designed and targeted shared equity housing program to help low-and-middle income earners into a home, while avoiding upward pressure on prices.

‘The Help to Buy shared equity program will also provide modest assistance and is welcome as part of a broader approach promising structural reform,’ Ms Victory said.

St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia calls on all parties and candidates at this month’s federal election to do more to address Australia’s housing and homelessness crisis.

‘Australia desperately needs further reforms to address the housing and homelessness crisis,’ Ms Victory said.

‘We call on all parties to commit to increasing JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance, reinstating the National Rental Affordability Scheme, funding the National Low Income Energy Productivity Program, and establishing national minimum standards for renters and landlords to manage tenancy issues,’ Ms Victory said.

These demands are set out in Vinnies federal election statement, A Fairer Australia.

Labor EV commitment would help pave the way to an electric future 

The Electric Vehicle Council has welcomed Labor’s commitment to investing in the nation’s EV changing network, which would help every Australian embrace the benefits of electric vehicles.

At its election launch today, Labor committed to encouraging cheaper, cleaner transport by establishing a new Driving the Nation Fund, and by building a National Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network.

Labor’s investment in the EV Charging Network, with charging stations at an average interval of 150km on major roads, would be matched by the NRMA, and involve partnerships with State, Territory and local Governments.

EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said the proposed investment would send a potent signal to consumers and the EV industry.

“Under Labor’s commitment you could be certain that no matter where you live or where you’re going you could get there in an EV,” Mr Jafari said.

“We know range anxiety remains a major impediment to Australians purchasing EVs. Although much of this anxiety is misplaced, building a modern network of charging infrastructure would send a strong signal that there’s nothing to fear.

“City drivers are flocking to EVs because the benefits are so clear and obvious. For regional drivers hesitancy is stronger, but that’s why it’s excellent to see the NRMA committing to partnering with the federal government to roll out regional charging infrastructure and make EVs an option for all Australians.

“Despite some very unfortunate fear mongering and a general lack of ambition at the federal level in recent years, Australians are now wide awake to the myriad benefits of EVs.

“If they can see the Australian Government is in behind this shift we will see a rapid acceleration of progress.

“The EVC congratulates the alternate government on this important commitment to Australia’s transport future.”

Greens to preference Labor to kick Morrison out

Greens Leader Adam Bandt announced today that the Greens would preference Labor ahead of the Liberals across the country. Greens Local and State branches finalised preference recommendations for how-to-vote cards this week ahead of early voting polling booths opening on May 9.

Greens how-to-vote cards, distributed at polling booths, will recommend a preference for Labor above the Coalition and place other right wing parties last. The Greens will also recommend a preference for climate independents in key Liberal held seats.

In the Senate the Greens will also recommend preferences to progressive candidates and Labor. 

Door knocking with volunteers in his electorate of Melbourne today, Mr Bandt also reminded voters that they decide where to put their preferences, not political parties.

The Greens are running in 151 seats across the country and Greens preferences will be critical in many key marginal seats.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:

“At this election everyone should Vote 1 Greens to kick the Liberals out and put the Greens in the balance of power to push the next government to act on the climate crisis, get dental and mental health into Medicare and build affordable housing.

“People can safely vote Greens knowing they’ll kick Scott Morrison out and their preferences will go to Labor. If you follow the Greens’ how-to-vote card, your preferences will go to Labor.

“Across the country Greens how-to-vote cards will recommend preferencing Labor ahead of Scott Morrison and the Coalition.

“The Greens have put the Coalition, Palmer’s United Australia Party, One Nation and other extreme right wing parties last across every seat in Australia.” 

“In a number of Liberal seats, we’re recommending people vote 1 Greens then preference an independent.

“Voters get to decide where their preferences go, not political parties, but if you vote Greens and follow our how-to-vote card you will be helping kick Scott Morrison out.”

Labor Help to Buy Homes

An Albanese Labor Government will cut the cost of buying a home by up to 40 per cent for 10,000 Australians per year. 
 
Help to Buy will help Australians buy a home with a smaller deposit, a smaller mortgage and smaller mortgage repayments. 
 
In some parts of Australia this will cut the cost of a mortgage by up to $380,000. 
 
We have a housing crisis in Australia.  It’s harder to buy a home today than ever before. 
 
It’s hard in our big cities. It’s also hard in the regions.   
 
It’s hard for first home buyers. It’s also hard for many older Australians. 
 
The biggest drop in home ownership is amongst Australians on low and modest incomes who have been forced to give up on the great Australian dream. 
 
Forty years ago, almost 60 per cent of young Australians on low and modest incomes owned their own home. Now, it is only 28 per cent. 
 
An Albanese Labor Government will provide eligible homebuyers with an equity contribution of up to 40 per cent of the purchase price of a new home and up to 30 per cent of the purchase price for an existing home.  
 
The homebuyer will need to have a deposit of 2 per cent and qualify for a standard home loan with a participating lender to finance the remainder of the purchase.   
 
The following table shows how much people will save on their mortgage under Labor’s Help to Buy in different cities and regions.

Note – Regional centres include Newcastle & Lake  Macquarie, Illawarra, Central Coast, North Coast of NSW, Geelong, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. 
 

Homebuyers will also avoid the need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), representing an additional saving, depending on purchase location, of potentially more than $30,000.

This will help many Australians on low and modest incomes to buy a home with a much smaller mortgage that they can afford to pay rather than renting for the rest of their life. 

During the loan period the homebuyer can buy an additional stake in the home when they are able to do so.  

The homebuyer will not be required to pay rent on the stake of the home owned by the Federal Government.  

This scheme is not just for first homebuyers, it’s for other Australians who need a helping hand as well. 
 
Help to Buy will be available to Australians with a taxable income of up to $90,000 for individuals and up to $120,000 for couples. Homebuyers must be Australian citizens and not currently own or have an interest in a residential dwelling.  
 
Help to Buy will make money for the Government as the Federal Government will recover its equity and its share of the capital gain when the house is sold. 

Help to Buy will cost around $329 million over the forward estimates.  

National Housing Supply and Affordability Council

An Albanese Labor Government will also establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, to ensure the Commonwealth plays a leadership role in increasing housing supply and improving affordability.

The Council will be advised by experts including from the finance, economics, urban development, residential construction, urban planning and social housing sectors. 
 
More land supply and better land use planning will improve housing affordability and provide a boost to national productivity and economic growth – but the only way to achieve this is by partnering with the States and Territories.

The Council will set targets for land supply, in consultation with States and Territories. It will also collect and make public nationally consistent data on housing supply, demand and affordability.

The Council will also have a key role in developing Labor’s National Housing and Homelessness Plan – something the Morrison Government has refused to do.

Doubling foreign investment fees and penalties

To pay for our housing affordability polices, Labor will double foreign investment screening fees and financial penalties. 

These changes will commence from July 2022 and raise around $445 million over the forward estimates. 

Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Australian Labor Party said: 

“After nine long years in Government, housing affordability has only got worse under the Liberal-National Government. 

“Help to Buy is part of Labor’s plan to tackle the housing crisis.” 

Jim Chalmers, Shadow Treasurer said:

“There is a housing crisis in Australia – it’s harder to buy a home than ever before. It’s harder in the big cities and harder in the regions. 

“It’s harder for first home buyers and harder for many older Australians. Many people on modest incomes have been forced to give up the Australian dream. Help to Buy will address this.”

Jason Clare, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness said: 

“It’s harder to buy, harder to rent and there are more homeless Australians than ever before.

“Help to Buy will help Australians buy a home with a smaller deposit, a smaller mortgage and smaller mortgage repayments.

“This will help a lot of Australians buy a home with a smaller mortgage that they can afford to repay, instead of renting for the rest of their lives.”