The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has today raised interest rates for the fourth consecutive month in a row.
Australians with a $610,000 mortgage are now paying over $500 more per month on their repayments since May.
The Government still does not have a plan to deal with this.
Nothing outlined in the Treasurer’s economic statement last week will help Australians with these rising cost of living pressures. The Treasurer continues to sound more like a commentator than a Treasurer. Australians need a real plan, not just hollow words.
All the Government has done so far is walk away from promises abandoning its commitment to cut power bills by $275 and real wage increases.
Australians are already paying the price for Labor’s lack of a plan.
If the Treasurer fails to act, it will mean more pressure on inflation, more pressure on interest rates and higher cost of living for Australian families and small businesses.
In the absence of a plan from the Albanese Government to deal with rising inflation and interest rates, Australians will get a plan from the Reserve Bank.
That plan will be to raise interest rates even further and Australians with a mortgage will pay the price.
The 25th anniversary of an historic declaration signed in Newcastle to pursue sustainable development was marked before representatives from Hunter businesses, not-for-profit, local and state government today.
The Newcastle Declaration was endorsed at the Pathways to Sustainability International Conference hosted by City of Newcastle in June 1997, and signed by former Newcastle Lord Mayor Greg Heys, as well as representatives from the International Union of Local Authorities, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI,) Australian Local Government Association.
The Declaration made its way around the world, being presented to the United Nations at the 1997: Rio +5 Conference in New York.
The acknowledgement of its 25-year milestone came during today’s meeting of the Hunter Region Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Collaboration Group, which works together on ways to achieve the United Nations’ goals across the region.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle remained committed to the objectives laid out in the original Newcastle Declaration.
“It is important to recognise this significant milestone and the actions of our former leaders who were forward thinking for their time in responding to the challenge of establishing sustainable management practices with the Newcastle Declaration,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As a result, City of Newcastle is now a leader in this space and over the past 25 years has successfully achieved economic, social, cultural and ecological goals by integrating sustainability into the design and implementation of our policies, programs and projects.
“City of Newcastle was the first local government in NSW to switch to 100 per cent renewable electricity supply, with our 5-megawatt solar farm and a power purchase agreement with the Sapphire Wind Farm.
“By meeting together with local businesses, government representatives, and not-for-profit organisations that are also committed to sustainable development initiatives, we will collaborate on ways we can bring the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to life in Greater Newcastle for an environmentally sustainable future.”
Lincoln Hawkins reflected on the Pathways to Sustainability International Conference in 1997 as the Conference Chair and acknowledged the collective work of all those involved in the Newcastle Declaration.
“The Pathways Conference was held during a crossroads in the 1990s – a very significant time in Newcastle with the 1997 Bicentenary,” Mr Hawkins said.
“The Newcastle Declaration was agreed on behalf of towns and cities around the world, who took a major step toward embracing the global challenge of sustainability at a local level.
“The challenges and opportunities faced then are clearly no less important today. Their legacy continues to play a critical leadership role in showing us how to successfully transition to sustainability.”
CN is a proud long-standing member of ICLEI and is committed to the requirements of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, has taken the Cities Race to Zero Pledge, and recently endorsed The Malmo Commitment.
In an Australian-first initiative, NSW teachers will have access to a full suite of high-quality, sequenced curriculum resources to assist with lesson planning – the number one concern reported by teachers in a national study.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new resources will have a revolutionary impact on teacher workload.
“Teachers have told us how much they love their profession but the number one tax on their time is finding or producing high quality teaching resources,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We want to ease that workload by providing online access to universally available learning curriculum materials they can draw from to free up lesson planning time each week.
“This will be further supported by more than 200 new administration and support staff in schools from Term 4, to allow our teachers to focus on what they love – teaching.”
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new resources will transform education in NSW.
“This is a game-changer for teachers in NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Teachers have told us that finding or making high quality resources that align with the curriculum is the number one tax on their time.
“We’ve listened closely to our teaching staff, developing online, high-quality, centralised, universally available learning materials they can draw on.”
Ms Mitchell also said the new universally-available resources will lift student outcomes across the board.
“This is not about taking the creativity out of teaching – that’s what our teachers do best. It’s about providing teachers with a basic recipe for student success, while allowing them to contextualise how they use the ingredients to get the best outcomes for their students,” Ms Mitchell said.
Feedback from more than 4,000 submissions to a review of teacher workload identified the need for universal curriculum resources.
These findings are supported by a recent national study by the Grattan Institute. Its research found that centralised resources could save teachers an average of three hours per week – with 86 per cent of teachers across Australia reporting they ‘always’ or ‘frequently’ do not have enough time for high-quality lesson planning.
A competitive tender process is currently underway for qualified organisations to partner with the NSW Department of Education in developing the new quality-assured online curriculum content, which will begin rolling out from Term 4 2022.
The NSW Department of Education’s Quality Time mid-year update found that despite COVID-related disruptions, the NSW Government has exceeded its target to reduce the time principals and school based non-teaching staff spend on low-value administrative tasks by 20 per cent, and is on track to meet this target for teachers by the end of 2022.
The NSW Government’s record $1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and provide safe accommodation to those in need by supporting proven initiatives ensures a continued commitment to break the cycle of disadvantage.
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said assertive outreach, early intervention and stable accommodation are key to combatting homelessness.
“As we mark Homelessness Week, we shine a light on the NSW Government’s commitment to provide supports and services across our state to reduce the number of people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
“Early intervention is at the heart of our dedication to achieve the Premier’s Priority to halve street homelessness by 2025.
“The Together Home program is one of many exceptional programs across our state reducing rough sleeping. “Together Home not only provides a stable place to live, but also ensures there are wrap-around supports to help people rebuild their lives and reduce a return to rough sleeping.”
Since Together Home commenced in 2020, the NSW Government has invested $177.8 million, including a $37 million injection in the 2022-23 NSW Budget, with more than 990 people supported under the program.
In 2022-23 $394.8 million is being invested to continue a range of specialist homelessness services across NSW, referral services such as Link2home, enhancements for youth refuges and after hours domestic and family violence services and NSW Homelessness Strategy initiatives.
There has been also been an increase in outreach street patrols to engage with more people sleeping rough and offer support through wrap-around services and temporary accommodation.
Through the NSW Homelessness Strategy, the NSW Government has invested over $20 million to support people to maintain their social housing tenancies and prevent a return to homelessness.
Anybody who is homeless or at risk of homelessness can contact Link2home on 1800 152 152. Support is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
A multi-million dollar investment will revamp the 88-year-old Wentworthville Fire Station and expand its response to fires and other emergencies in Western Sydney.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the $6 million investment would replace the existing facility built in 1934.
“The current building at the intersection of Garfield and Pritchard Streets will be demolished to make way for its state-of-the-art replacement featuring an additional engine bay, separate amenities for male and female firefighters and larger administration and training spaces,” Ms Cooke said.
Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor said the NSW Government is investing in infrastructure and services to match the significant growth and development across Western Sydney.
“This redevelopment project will ensure our firefighters have the best possible facilities to tackle their growing workload, with tens of thousands of residents in Wentworthville and surrounding suburbs,” Mr Taylor said.
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter said the station responds to around 1,250 incidents each year from Wentworthville and the neighbouring suburbs of Greystanes, Pendle Hill and Westmead.
“Many of the areas it services have recently been identified as having a heightened fire risk because of its socio-economic make-up, higher-density living arrangements and large industrial presence. A bigger and better fire station will ultimately make these communities safer,” Commissioner Baxter said.
FRNSW will undertake planning and detailed design work in 2022-23, ahead of the demolition and construction work beginning next financial year.
The redevelopment of Wentworthville Fire Station forms part of a $862 million 2022-23 NSW Budget investment in FRNSW which includes new and upgraded fire stations, construction of female amenities at fire stations, health and safety improvements for firefighters and 16 new bush fire water tankers.
The NSW Government today announced it is directing the Consumer Trustee to run a new tender under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap to ensure the State has the firming infrastructure it needs to provide cheap, clean and reliable energy well into the future.
Minister for Energy Matt Kean said that the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has projected increased electricity demand over the coming years, driven by more electric vehicles, electrification of homes and businesses and updates to other inputs and assumptions in their Energy Security Target Monitor Report, meaning more firming infrastructure is required to keep the grid reliable.
“NSW has the most ambitious renewable energy policy anywhere in the country, helping to replace ageing coal fired power stations and reach net zero emissions,” Mr Kean said.
“Firming infrastructure is needed alongside renewable energy infrastructure to balance the grid, helping to keep the lights on when it isn’t sunny or windy, or when there is high demand.”
“The firming tender will be open to all technology types, but projects will be required to have an emissions intensity lower than the most recent NSW grid average and achieve net zero scope 1 emissions by 2035.”
The Consumer Trustee, AEMO Services, will now prepare an Infrastructure Investment Objectives Report to determine the size and timing of tenders, to ensure reliable energy while minimising costs to consumers.
Following the finalisation of AEMO’s 2022 Integrated System Plan and the Energy Security Target Monitor Report, the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change anticipates that at least 350MW of firming infrastructure will be required within the Sydney-Newcastle-Wollongong sub-region, however the final size of the tender will be determined by the independent Consumer Trustee.
History has been made with the Albanese Labor Government passing its first bill through the 47th Parliament, delivering on commitments to reform aged care. Today, the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022 was passed, enabling major improvements to aged care in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Albanese Labor Government made a promise to restore dignity to our most vulnerable citizens and this bill is a critical first step in improving aged care service.
This legislation will replace the outdated Aged Care Funding Instrument with a new aged care subsidy funding model – the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) model, for full implementation from 1 October 2022.
AN-ACC will offer a more equitable approach, with funding that better matches the provider’s costs of meeting the care needs of residents.
The legislation will also enable the Department of Health and Aged Care to publish star ratings for all residential aged care services by the end of 2022.
The Star Ratings system will put a spotlight on the sector, allowing older Australians and their families to compare quality and safety performance of different services and providers.
The legislation also includes measures to extend the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) to all in‑home care providers, commencing from 1 December 2022.
The legislation also introduces a new Code of Conduct for approved providers, aged care workers and governing persons from 1 December 2022.
the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:
“The final report of the aged care Royal Commission was titled ‘Care, Dignity and Respect’. Those three little words are the least we can provide our older Australians who built this country.
“With today’s passage of the Royal Commission Response Bill the Government has taken a significant step to ensure older Australians receive the care, dignity and respect they deserve.
“Having an aged care bill in response to that Royal Commission become the first to pass through Parliament shows how seriously we take reform in the sector.
“I made promises to the Australian people to improved aged care and inside our first ten weeks we have begun delivering on those promises.
“The Labor Government is committed to improving the care and support of our older Australians. This bill will usher in a new standard
Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells said:
“We made a promise to Australians that we would take better care of their loved ones and the fact the first bill being passed through the 47th Parliament helps reform aged care shows how determined we are to improve the sector.
“After nine years of neglect, reform in aged care has finally begun and will continue to be driven so our most vulnerable people are treated with the dignity they deserve.
“The task to reform aged care will take years but this bill passing is a critical first step.”
A key flood clean-up program has been expanded to assist private landowners in affected areas remove debris from their land following this year’s destructive floods.
The Land-based Clean-up Program is being run by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and now includes the clean-up of large, man-made and hazardous debris that has remained on properties after flood waters have receded.
NSW EPA flood recovery manager Martin Puddey said the Program would reduce the cost and burden for those recovering from the flood events and benefit the local environment.
“This is an excellent addition to the program. The Land Based Flood Debris Clean-Up Program has removed more than 420m3 of flood debris since February,” Mr Puddey said.
The Land-based Program had previously focused primarily on the removal of flood debris from public flood plains and low-lying public land.
“Community members in flood impacted areas can apply to have debris that washed up on their land removed such as metal objects, farm equipment, destroyed sheds or parts of caravans and agricultural chemical containers” Mr Puddey said.
Private land holders can apply for flood debris to be removed under the Program using an application form on the Service NSWwebsite.
“Once assessed and salvaged by qualified experts, these large items will be sorted and an effort is made to recover and recycle components such as aluminium and steel where possible,” Mr Puddey said.
“The communities in flood impacted areas have been through very tough times in the last couple of years and it’s encouraging to see local businesses and contractors assisting in the recovery” Mr Puddey said.
Mr Puddey said the EPA had also worked well with other government agencies such as National Parks and Wildlife Service, Crown Lands and Aboriginal Ranger groups throughout the Program to protect sensitive environments and culturally significant sites.
The Land-based Program is funded under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Members of the community can assist the clean-up of their local area by reporting flood debris to the Environment Line on 131 555 or info@epa.nsw.gov.au
Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, has responded to the news of steep falls in house prices ahead of tomorrow’s RBA meeting.
“The RBA needs to hit pause.”
“Inflation is being driven by supply side shocks and corporate profiteering.
“Jacking up interest rates will not fix these problems.
“The RBA needs to be honest about this with the Australian public.
“Monetary policy cannot curb inflation without punishing workers, renters and new homeowners, none of whom are the cause of the problem.
“They should not increase rates tomorrow.
“And the Treasurer needs to step in and use the levers that the Australian public have given him.
“We need a super profits tax to reign in corporate profiteering and to fund cost-of-living relief, such as free childcare, and putting dental care and mental health into Medicare.
“We can’t wait for the government’s review to get fiscal and monetary policy working together.
“A failure to use fiscal policy will only increase the likelihood of the RBA overreaching.
“The government also needs to step in to help new-owners and renters.
“Having lured new home-owners into taking on record levels of debt, the RBA is now punishing them doubly.
“Interest rate rises reduce the value of their asset and increase their monthly mortgage repayments.
“Getting rid of negative gearing and capital gains tax would reduce demand in the housing market without affecting mortgage repayments for homeowners.
“And the additional revenue could help fund 1 million new social houses that will provide renters with an affordable and secure alternative to the Hunger Games that is Australia’s private rental market.”
With an exciting new program and the blockbuster Van Gogh Alive exhibition at Foreshore Park, City of Newcastle’s flagship arts festival will return this September with a vibrant showcase of art, culture and creativity.
City of Newcastle has announced the program for its New Annual 2022, which will kick off with the opening of Van Gogh Alive on 22 September followed by an immersive festival of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and Indigenous workshops, with installations in the city’s cultural precinct until 2 October. As a major installation, Van Gogh Alive will extend beyond the New Annual festival, running to 23 October 2022.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this year’s New Annual program is eclectic and ambitious and will be a drawcard to the city.
“We are thrilled to once again deliver this amazing arts and cultural event in September, which will allow locals and visitors to discover a new side of Newcastle as they witness the spirit and energy of our city and its creative community during the festival,” Cr Nelmes said.
The New Annual 2022 program features local and nationally renowned artists delivering a mix of free, ticketed and family-friendly events. The breadth of the program is highlighted by its 14 headline acts including ‘COLOSSUS’, a contemporary dance performance created by internationally renowned Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake, ‘This Land’, a musical showcase of award-winning and acclaimed First Nations performers, and ‘Radial’, a fusion of film-making and improvised community performance presented by Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation.
City of Newcastle recently announced that the New Annual festival is bringing the immersive, multi-sensory experience of Van Gogh Alive to Newcastle’s premier major events space, Foreshore Park. It will be presented in association with Andrew Kay Management in a specially designed 2,300-square-metre gallery known as The Grand Pavilion and run from the start of New Annual to 23 October.
Other areas of the city will also be transformed with installations as part of New Annual such as a purpose-built stage in Civic Park and the architecturally-designed ‘Pavilion of Sand’ in Wheeler Place.
Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is proud of the success of the inaugural festival in February 2021 and the second event will be a major drawcard for the city
“The inaugural New Annual held in early 2021, was embraced by the Newcastle community. Our flagship cultural event provided an important economic boost across the arts, hospitality, and tourism sectors, while also celebrating and showcasing our creative city,” Cr Nelmes said.
The 2021 New Annual attracted over 30,000 people, supporting more than 500 artists and 250 event staff, crew, and volunteers, as well as a strong increase in occupancy rates and revenue among local accommodation providers.
The full New Annual program and ticket sales are available online now at www.newannual.com
https://youtube.com/watch?v=JhRdbdcRt2k%3Frel%3D0
New Annual Program Preview
VAN GOGH ALIVE
The immersive, multi-sensory experience of Van Gogh Alive will held at Newcastle’s premier major events space, Foreshore Park. It will be presented in a specially designed 2,300-square-metre gallery known as The Grand Pavilion. Van Gogh will remain in Newcastle for six weeks, extending beyond the New Annual Festival to 23 October 2022. General public tickets for Van Gogh Alive will go on sale from 4 August.
THIS LAND
Unite with friends and family to celebrate the return of ‘This Land’, a First Nations celebration of the sound, soul, and spirit of the many nations in this country. The musical showcase will highlight a handful of award-winning and acclaimed First Nations music artists who are shaping the voices of the next generation.
RADIAL
A fusion of film-making and improvised community performance, ‘Radial’ is a collaborative process designed to capture a portrait of a community in motion. A partnership between City of Newcastle, Tantrum Youth Arts and Back to Back Theatre, ‘Radial’ will be filmed at several Newcastle locations during New Annual using a special circular camera track, culminating in a public screening on the final day of the festival at the Civic Theatre.
CREATION
‘CREATION’ is a major exhibition of artist Deborah Kelly’s work at The Lock Up accompanied by a series of free public workshops in costume-making, song, and dance. Working with local artists, choirs, and dancers, the workshops lead to a spectacular procession and concert at the City Hall showcasing the songs of CREATION.
COLOSSUS
A contemporary dance performance created by internationally renowned Australian choreographer Stephanie Lake. The exhilarating performance features riveting, and hypnotic dance work performed by Sydney Dance Company’s pre-professional and local dance artists, which explores relationships between the individual and the collective, with a cast of 50 performing as one on the Civic Theatre stage
PAVILION OF SAND
‘Pavilion of Sand’ will return with an architecturally designed, modern art installation reflecting Newcastle’s historic sand dune topography. The Pavilion of Sand will transform Wheeler Place into a visually spectacular space that will connect the city to the Awabakal and Worimi cultures with a range of First Nations-led programming including live music, weaving, workshops, conversation, dance, and reflection.
TITAN ARUM
Justin Shoulder’s TITAN ARUM ignites your imagination with this exotic performance in a landscape both familiar and alien. A sensory ceremony of dance, light and sound in a communal garden with hanging fruits and carnivorous plants, the immersive installation work will be activated with live performances throughout the festival at 164 Hunter St.
EX MACHINA
Hailed as one of Australia’s most exciting and forward-thinking ensembles, Omega Ensemble performs a thrilling program of complex and driving music from important contemporary voices including Bryce Dessner, Missy Mazzoli, Alex Turley, and with two exciting world premieres from Nico Muhly and Christopher Cerrone. This special presentation departs from the traditional concert hall and arrives at Newcastle Museum for a stellar performance in front of the prized 150-year-old steam locomotive.
MENAGERIE
‘Menagerie’ is a new, interactive community performance from Curious Legends. Across four workshops, festival-goers of all ages will help create a large-scale giant illuminated puppet, culminating in a community celebration on the last day of the festival. Participants of ‘Well’, a separate event on the program aimed at children aged 6-11, will also work on a cumulative artwork that will form part of Menagerie’s Gentle Giant.
