June 2022 – Page 7

NSW Budget to boost women in small business

Women in small business will have access to free TAFE courses and professional advice thanks to $15 million over the next four years in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.

Treasurer Matt Kean said more than 95 per cent of businesses in NSW were small businesses, however only a third of these businesses are run by women.

“Many people dream of owning their own business, however we know that cultural and structural barriers like access to professional networks and capital can hold women back from taking the leap,” Mr Kean said.

“The NSW Budget is focused on giving women more opportunities for their future. That’s why we’re investing $15 million to help women translate their business ideas into reality.”

The 2022-23 NSW Budget will invest in the following programs over four years:

$3.5 million to provide fee-free TAFE NSW Women in Business courses
$2.0 million in grants to industry associations and chambers of commerce to run professional networking programs for women in small business
$5.0 million to expand the Business Connect program to provide dedicated services to women-led small business
$4.5 million for the Service NSW for Business program to provide targeted support for women-led small businesses.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said this investment is another fantastic example of the NSW Government supporting women-led small businesses.

“From Ballina to Braidwood and everywhere in between, this package empowers women to start and grow their businesses, because we know when women succeed, NSW succeeds,” Mrs Taylor said.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the fee-free TAFE courses will give women in small business access to a wide range of online learning topics and webinars, which can be studied anywhere, any time.

“The Women in Business TAFE program will provide women in every corner of NSW with access to fee-free online training on how to start or build a business,” Mr Henskens said.

“More than 15,000 women have already benefited from the program, and this investment will help support a pipeline of female-led start-ups to boost their budget and grow the economy.”

Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos said the Business Connect program will be expanded to provide dedicated services to women-led small businesses.

“Since 2017, Business Connect has already helped more than 44,000 small businesses by providing them with personalised and tailored support to help them to start, adapt and grow their operations,” Ms Petinos said.

“We’re expanding this program by providing a further $5 million over the next four years to women-led small businesses to upskill these leaders with the tools they want, whether it be marketing, social media, business planning, and digital literacy.”

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the Service NSW for Business program will provide targeted support for women-led small businesses.

“The Budget is expanding the Service for Business program to provide further funding to female-run small businesses to make their business journey easier. This includes access to our Business Concierges, Online Information Hub and Business Profile Digital Platform,” Mr Dominello said.

Securing before and after school care

Balancing work and life for families will become easier thanks to a $37.9 million investment in before and after school care services announced in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.

The NSW Government is investing $16.2 million in transport grants to connect students to a service if one is not available nearby. The government will also ensure there are viable before and after school care options for families in areas with no current services through a $20.2 million package.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said accessing before and after school care services in regional NSW was crucial for parents juggling work and family commitments.

“Gone are the days of the 9 to 5, so this funding will be crucial to ensure parents in regional communities have access to more flexible childcare services,” Mr Toole said.

Treasurer Matt Kean said this funding will support both parents balance work and family.

“We know that working families are impacted by a lack of before and after school care services, and that this often has a flow-on impact to parents participating in the workplace,” Mr Kean said.

“That’s why investments like these are so important to give parents more flexibility in their day.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said this investment will support the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure that all parents with public primary school students have access to before and after school care if they need it.

“Great before and after school care services deliver an essential service to communities and young children, providing a safe place to play and socialize,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This funding is in addition to the existing $235 million commitment to help support and grow the before and after school care sector to improve access and affordability for NSW families.”

The BASC package includes:

More than $20 million to expand BASC provision in regional schools
More than $16 million for grants to improve transport services to BASC services

Greens: Free Julian Assange

Statement from Australian Greens Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, Senator Jordon Steele-John.

“Following The UK’s decision that Julian Assange can be extradited to the US, the Australian Greens are once again calling for the immediate release of Australian journalist, Julian Assange.

“Extradition to the United States, the country whose war crimes Julian Assange exposed, sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.

“Julian Assange has been in Belmarsh Prison for three years, and has spent seven years in detention in the Ecuadorian Embassy. In those 10 years, his health has deteriorated and these ongoing proceedings are unjust, torturous, and must end.

“Julian Assange’s prosecution has always been political. It needs political intervention of the highest order from our government to get justice for him.

“The Australian Greens are calling on Prime Minister Albanese to pick up the phone to the UK and US governments immediately to secure Assange’s freedom.”

Fraudulent pharmacist sentenced to six years’ prison

A former NSW pharmacist has been sentenced to more than six years’ imprisonment for his role in conspiring to defraud taxpayers more than $19 million through falsely claiming benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The former pharmacist was sentenced before the Sydney Downing Centre District Court (17 June 2022) to six years and four months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years. In April 2021 a jury found the man guilty of conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth. He had been remanded in custody since that time.

The sentencing outcome shows the serious consequences of attempts by trusted health providers to defraud taxpayers.

This is the culmination of the strong collaboration between the Department of Health, the Australian Federal Police and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, using information received via the Department’s tip-off hotline.

The Department of Health takes allegations of fraud and non-compliance by health providers very seriously.

We recognise that the overwhelming majority of health providers are aware of and comply with their obligations to claim benefits honestly and correctly.

The Department has a strong health provider compliance program that protects the integrity of Australia’s health payments system through the prevention, identification and treatment of incorrect claiming and fraud.

Anyone with information about suspected non-compliance or fraud of Government health payments by health providers can make a report via the “Reporting Fraud” page on the Department of Health’s website at www.health.gov.au/fraud-tip-offs or by calling the Provider Benefits Integrity Hotline on 1800 314 808.

UK decision to extradite Julian Assange

The Australian Government notes the decision of the United Kingdom Home Secretary to extradite Julian Assange to the United States.

We also note that Mr Assange has several avenues through which he can appeal this decision.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to offer consular assistance to Mr Assange, noting that Australia is not a party to Mr Assange’s case, nor can the Australian government intervene in the legal matters of another country.

We will continue to convey our expectations that Mr Assange is entitled to due process, humane and fair treatment, access to proper medical care, and access to his legal team.

The Australian Government has been clear in our view that Mr Assange’s case has dragged on for too long and that it should be brought to a close.

We will continue to express this view to the governments of the United Kingdom and United States.

Labor signs Reef’s death warrant as National Cabinet ducks energy privatisation

After the first National Cabinet meeting under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today, Greens Leader Adam Bandt said National Cabinet failed to address the dual crises of climate and cost of living by setting a more ambitious climate target, getting the country off coal and gas and unwinding the privatisation of Australia’s energy system.

Labor’s climate target is not consistent with limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees, and instead is based on heating of at least 2 degrees, which means the destruction of reef systems like the Great Barrier Reef. The Climate Targets Panel has said that to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Australia’s target should be 74% by 2030, and for a 2 degree trajectory the target should be 50%.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:

“Labor has given up on saving the Great Barrier Reef.

“To have any chance of saving the Reef we must limit global heating to 1.5 degrees, but Labor’s target bakes in the Reef’s destruction.

“It’s better than the climate-denying Coalition, but 43% is not much more than business as usual.

“Labor’s low target signs the death warrant for the Great Barrier Reef and consigns regional Australia to worse droughts.

“What’s worse is that the emissions from proposed new coal and gas projects, like the up to 13% increase to Australia’s pollution from proceeding with Beetaloo, aren’t even included in Labor’s modelling.

“You don’t end the climate wars by opening more coal and gas mines, but that’s what Labor plans to do.

“We call on the new government to end the climate wars by listening to the scientists and stop opening up new coal and gas mines.

“Electricity is an essential service, but big coal and gas corporations are holding the country to ransom. National Cabinet needs to recognise that privatisation of electricity has been a complete failure and go back to the drawing board.”

Inaugural Meg Purser Communications Scholarship awarded

A passion to make a positive impact in the community has seen second year Communications student Courtney Yeandle named as the inaugural recipient of the Meg Purser Scholarship.

The $5,000 scholarship was initiated by City of Newcastle in memory of one of Newcastle’s most prominent and community-focused communications businesswomen, Meg Purser, following her passing in January 2021.

Image: The late Meg Purser’s partner Scott Mills, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle Professor John Fischetti, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Meg Purser Communications Scholarship recipient Courtney Yeandle, Bob Purser and Head of the School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences Professor Catharine Coleborne.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is pleased to see the scholarship awarded to a recipient who embodies the community spirit that was shown by the late Meg Purser.

“This scholarship will go a long way to supporting the talent and drive shown in Courtney, who is studying communications with the aim of supporting the media’s power to impact audiences and inspire action and improvement towards positive change,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Courtney’s aspirations are reminiscent of the positive influence Meg had on the local community by using her communication skills to support local initiatives and causes.

“I’d like to congratulate Courtney on being the first University of Newcastle student to be awarded the Meg Purser Scholarship and look forward to watching her communications career progress, as well as witness her positive contribution to her community.”

Courtney Yeandle relocated from Sydney to undertake a Bachelor of Communication in the School of Humanities, Creative Industries, and Social Sciences at the University of Newcastle and said the scholarship will ease the financial burden of living away from home, allowing her to concentrate her efforts on pursuing her dream to become a journalist.

“Studying communication at the University of Newcastle offers me many opportunities for professional and personal success and I am so appreciative to City of Newcastle for this scholarship,” Miss Yeandle said.

“Meg’s story really inspired me and I would love to be able to use my degree to make an equally positive impact on my community.

“I aspire to become a journalist working in news media where I can inform and educate the public on important issues, igniting conversation and hopefully inspiring change.

“I hope that during my study and in my professional life I can act as a positive ambassador and give back to the City of Newcastle and the University of Newcastle.”

Pro-Vice Chancellor of the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle Professor John Fischetti welcomed the contribution from the City of Newcastle and said the scholarship will make a huge difference in the lives of students over the coming years.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the City of Newcastle in helping our students to pursue their potential and achieve their dreams,” Professor Fischetti said.

Meg Purser was a successful communications professional who is remembered for her charitable and behind-the-scenes work for organisations such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Hunter Breast Screen and Got Your Back Sista. She invested considerable time in mentoring young people and worked tirelessly to make a positive contribution to the city until her passing in January 2021 following an 18-month battle with breast cancer.

City of Newcastle established the scholarship with the blessing of Meg’s father Bob Purser, a former journalist and communicator, to honour the significant contribution Meg made to the corporate communications community and recognise her passion for the many local community organisations and charities she supported.

“Meg took great pleasure and pride in helping young people develop into talented communicators. This link between one of her most valued clients and the university from which she graduated would have made her very proud as it does her family,” said Mr. Purser.

The Meg Purser Communications Scholarship was supported by Councillors in 2021 to provide $5,000 to an undergraduate student completing the second year of their Communications degree at the University of Newcastle. A new recipient will be named in 2023 and 2024, under the initial funding arrangement.

Newcastle Art Gallery scores a clean sweep of national awards with celebration of Indigenous art

A landmark exhibition of Torres Strait Islander art has scooped the pool at the 2022 Museums and Galleries National Awards (MAGNA), securing a trifecta of titles for Newcastle Art Gallery.

Announced in Perth this morning, ‘WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait’, won all three of its shortlisted categories, picking up awards for the best Learning or Interpretation Initiative, Indigenous Project, and Temporary or Travelling Exhibition.

Installation view WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait, Newcastle Art Gallery 29 May 22 August 2021

Developed by Newcastle Art Gallery in collaboration with Torres Strait Islander artist and curator Brian Robinson and local artist and traditional performer Toby Cedar, the exhibition featured more than 130 works of art including several pieces that had not previously been seen outside of the Torres Strait.

It was presented in English, Kala Lagaw Ya (Western Torres Strait Islander), and Meriam Mir (Eastern Torres Strait Islander) languages and timed to coincide with significant dates in 2021 including Mabo Day, National Reconciliation Week, Coming of the Light and NAIDOC Week.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the award acknowledges the importance of connecting with local communities and raising cultural awareness through art.

“As the most significant First Nations exhibition project in Newcastle Art Gallery’s 65-year history, WARWAR provided an important opportunity for City of Newcastle to engage with our large Torres Strait Islander community and celebrate their culture in a meaningful way,” Cr Nelmes said.

“By raising the Torres Strait Island flag on City Hall for the first time to celebrate the opening of the exhibition, and leaving it in place permanently to fly alongside the Aboriginal flag, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to and support of our First Nations communities.”

The three MAGNA awards follow on from previous recognition for the exhibition, which last year also won the Promoting Indigenous Recognition Award at the National Local Government Awards, as well as the Museums and Galleries NSW IMAGinE Award for best exhibition project.

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM was thrilled to accept the MAGNA awards at the ceremony in Perth today.

“To be recognised nationally as the winner in every nominated category is incredible. Having conceived this exhibition over four years ago, it has been an absolute honour to collaborate with Brian, Toby and our TSI community on this very special project,” Ms Morton said.

“WARWAR is an Eastern Island word in the dialect of Meri am Mir, and it translates into English as ‘marked with a pattern’. It was always my hope that this exhibition, our events, and programming, would leave an indelible ‘mark’ on all that experienced the art and culture of the Torres Strait Islands for the first time at Newcastle Art Gallery.

“I share this success with Brian Robinson, Toby Cedar, Genus Passi Jnr, Gabriel Bani, Benjamin Bua Mabo, the Sailor and Whaleboat families, the University of Newcastle Design students, exhibiting artists, lenders and my wonderful team.

“The exhibition showcased the evolution and strength of Torres Strait Islander tradition and society through arts practitioners from the 19th century and the emergence of the contemporary art traditions of today.

“With over 130 works of art, many from major Australian institutions and the Torres Strait Islands that have never been publicly displayed before, the exhibition provided an incredible opportunity for our local Torres Strait Islander community and visitors to experience and gain a new appreciation and understanding of TSI culture in Newcastle.”

Newcastle Museum was also recognised for its high-quality programming, with its tribute to iconic Newcastle ensemble The Castanet Club being highly commended in the Temporary or Travelling Exhibition category at this year’s MAGNAs.

The quirky and colourful Castanet Club: an exhibition you can dance to was curated by Museum staff to celebrate the city’s role as an incubator for the arts, theatre, music and comedy.

The Museums Australasia Multimedia and Publication Design Awards (MAPDA) were also announced in Perth today, with Newcastle Art Gallery being highly commended in the best exhibition Film category, while also being shortlisted in the Exhibition Branding Package, and Virtual Tour or Exhibition awards for WARWAR. The MAPDAs celebrate excellence and quality in design of publications and multimedia produced for the museums sector.

STATEMENT FROM THE MEETING OF NATIONAL CABINET

Today the Prime Minister, along with state and territory First Ministers, met in Canberra to discuss their shared priorities.

They discussed how the National Cabinet can support strong collaborative relationships and drive progress on priorities for the nation.

National Cabinet will build on recent collaborative efforts to support the COVID-19 health response and support the delivery of additional areas of focus.

In recognition of the pressures in the health and hospital system exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth Government will extend the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response for a further three months to 31 December 2022, at a cost of approximately $760 million.

To deliver a more cooperative streamlined approach to Federation, First Ministers agreed to identify practical improvements to the health system and specifically the connections between GPs and hospitals. This includes working together to identify practical ways to get aged care residents and NDIS participants out of hospital and into a more appropriate setting.

Following the Commonwealth Government’s commitments to increased investment in primary care, the Commonwealth will also work with states and territories, drawing on local knowledge, to determine the final locations for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

The First Secretaries Group, chaired by Professor Glyn Davis, has been tasked with developing these improvements to the way the health system operates and reporting back to the National Cabinet.

National Cabinet affirmed its shared commitment to urgently addressing skills shortages. As part of the Commonwealth’s commitment, it will urgently work to address a backlog in processing visa applications in areas of skills shortages, reduce visa processing times and prioritise training and migration.

The Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR), chaired by Dr Jim Chalmers, will also provide advice within three months to National Cabinet on pressures on Commonwealth and State and Territory budgets, including anticipated fiscal pressures with a focus on areas of joint funding responsibility.

National Cabinet will next meet before the Commonwealth Budget in October 2022 to discuss these reforms and how the Commonwealth and states will work better together in the future. To advance microeconomic and productivity reforms, First Secretaries were also tasked with providing advice on the role of Ministerial Councils in progressing national priorities, with a sharpened focus on productivity improvements.

States and Territories expressed their support for the Commonwealth’s commitment to progress a referendum to constitutionally enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution as a matter of priority.

At the meeting, Treasury Secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy, provided an update on the economic and fiscal outlook for 2022.

Senior national security officials also provided First Ministers an update on national security issues and the current national threat environment, to further information sharing and intergovernmental engagement on national security matters.

National Cabinet noted several further challenges facing the nation and committed to continue to work together on solutions that will produce the best outcomes for all Australians.

Energy markets across eastern Australia and the ongoing discussions between energy Ministers. They further agreed to continue working together to protect and improve outcomes for Australian consumers.
Disaster recovery funding arrangements and the need to ensure they were consistent, streamlined and equitable.
Measures to boost productivity across all sectors.

The National Cabinet affirmed a shared commitment to the Commonwealth’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution to a reduction in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, which has been submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

National Cabinet will invite a representative of Local Government to future meetings of National Cabinet and CFFR once a year to ensure all levels of Government are represented. The National Cabinet has agreed to meet a minimum of four times a year or as necessary and will next meet prior to the Federal Budget in October 2022.

Additional charges laid following investigation into alleged sexual offences – Hunter region

Detectives have laid 12 additional charges as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual offences in the Hunter region.

In May 2022, detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force REDFA to investigate a number of sexual offences that occurred between Friday 22 April and Monday 16 May 2022 in the Singleton Heights area.

Following inquiries, a 21-year-old man was charged by Hunter Valley Detectives on Thursday 9 June 2022. He remains before the courts.

Following further investigations and analysis of forensic evidence, a search warrant was executed at a home in Singleton Heights yesterday (Thursday 16 June 2022), where clothing was seized and an additional 12 charges were laid at court today (Friday 17 June 2022). The charges include

Carry out sexual act with another without consent (x2)
Wilful and obscene exposure in/near public place/school (x3)
Enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse (x3)
Peep or pry (x2)
Take person intend commit serious indictable offence
Sexually touch another person without consent
Enter building/land with intent to commit indictable offence (x2)

The man remains on remand and is due to appear at Singleton Local Court.