Month: February 2023

A nation-leading program that reduces the trauma of court processes for children who are victims of sexual abuse will be expanded across the state, providing greater support to more young people.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Attorney General Mark Speakman today announced the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $64.3 million over four years to expand the Child Sexual Offences Evidence Program (CSOEP) to every District Court and Police District in NSW.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this important program reduced the difficulties and stress endured by our most vulnerable victims as they navigate the justice system.

“Child sexual abuse is one of the most heinous crimes and those children who have already endured the unimaginable should not have to suffer further at the hands of a justice system designed for adults,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Under this program, young people are able to pre-record their evidence and are provided with intermediaries to assist them during police interviews and hearings, as well as supports to spare them the trauma of facing their alleged attacker in court.

“Our Government led the nation when we piloted this program and now we want to make sure that every child – no matter where they live in our state – can access this support.”

Attorney General Mark Speakman said the program will further strengthen the state’s criminal justice response to child sexual abuse.

“Re-traumatising a complainant does not advance justice,” Mr Speakman said.

“We need to do all we can to ensure that children and young people who have been sexually abused are supported through the court experience, so they can begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

“The NSW Government was nation-leading in piloting the CSOEP, nation-leading in making it a permanent program and is now nation-leading in extending it state-wide.”

The CSOEP commenced in 2016 as a pilot in two court locations – the Sydney (Downing Centre) District Court and Newcastle District Court – as well as in the corresponding South-West Metropolitan, Central Metropolitan, and parts of the Northern Police Districts.

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government invested more than $28 million in 2018 to make the program permanent in these locations.

This followed an independent assessment by the University of NSW that found that the CSEOP received very strong support from participants, reduced stress for children and resulted in a better quality of evidence from child witnesses.

It also followed the release of the landmark final report by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in 2017, which made seven recommendations about the importance of pre-recording witness evidence and using intermediaries in child sexual offence prosecutions. The CSOEP is consistent with those recommendations.

The expanded program will be rolled out across NSW from 1 July 2023 to every District Court. A list of these locations is at: https://www.districtcourt.nsw.gov.au/district-court/court-lists-and-sitting-dates/district-court-sittings—criminal-jurisdiction.html

The final tracks have been laid connecting the new Sydney Metro City and Southwest line with the existing North West line at Chatswood, completing a major component of the project.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new City and Southwest metro line would revolutionise the city’s public transport network.

“This marks a major milestone in the delivery of Australia’s biggest public transport project with the final tracks now laid to connect these two metro lines,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Once complete, the new City and Southwest metro line will revolutionise how Sydneysiders travel by providing fast, reliable services at seven new stations under the Sydney CBD and in the city’s north.

“Our long term economic plan is delivering major rail projects for the future and will support communities as they grow.”

Transport Minister David Elliott said the Northern Connection now links the Sydney Metro City and Southwest line to the existing Metro North West line marking another significant construction breakthrough in this State.

“The NSW Government is delivering Australia’s biggest public transport project right before our eyes. This milestone is another promise delivered by the Liberal and Nationals,” Mr Elliott said.

“Across the Sydney Metro City and Southwest, more than 5,000 people are currently employed; and 50,000 people will have worked on the project by the time it is complete.”  

“From 2024, passengers can travel from Tallawong in Sydney’s north, into the city in under 50 minutes, Castle Hill to Barangaroo in 33 minutes and Chatswood to Martin Place in 11 minutes on a fast and reliable metro service.”

Member for Willoughby Tim James said the Northern Connection is a 200-metre section of rail corridor connecting the northern suburbs to the Southwest.

“This major connection was constructed over two years with workers installing tracks and operational services in the 15.5-kilometre twin tunnels between Chatswood and Sydenham,” Mr James said.

“Six teams and more than 200 workers worked around the clock over one weekend to make the final connection. It was a mammoth effort.”

A rigorous testing and commissioning program along the new alignment will commence later this year, ahead of passenger services starting through the Sydney CBD in 2024.

New stations at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo, along with new underground platforms at Central Station will open next year. 

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will slash red tape across NSW, cutting the cost of doing business while committing to a target of 1 million small businesses by 2030.

A new red tape tsar will be appointed as the NSW Red Tape Commissioner, with the strict task of delivering $1 billion of reductions of red tape. 

For an initial two-year blitz across government, Ministers will be required to identify regulation to remove if they are proposing a new regulation.

All government departments, through their secretary bosses, would be required to present regulations for the chopping block, with the goal of making it easier to do business. 

The Liberal and Nationals will also boost business opportunities for small and medium sized businesses by increasing the procurement contracts by more than $2 billion by the end of the next term, to a total of $10 billion.  

And $1000 for micro and small businesses to engage an expert to provide professional advice to help grow and expand their business.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said NSW needed to take action now to protect jobs and businesses as the whole world faced difficult and strong economic headwinds.

“Our long-term economic plan will protect the NSW economy and recession proof millions of businesses and jobs across our State,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Australia faces strong economic headwinds ahead with the dual challenge of inflation and interest rates hitting families and small businesses and NSW needs a government with an economic plan”

“We can’t allow NSW to stall and unfortunately that’s what will happen under Labor who have no plan to support small business and the 1.8 million NSW people that work for them.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said the Liberal and Nationals would establish a series of industry taskforces to cut red tape and speed up application and approval times, with the first one focused on small business and local government.

“We’ve always stood shoulder to shoulder with small business, boosting the skills and capability of almost 50,000 small businesses via the Business Connect program or providing vital financial assistance during the pandemic and natural disasters,” Mr Kean said.

“Whether you’re a café owner, a tradie or a retailer, we want to work with you to reach new heights and achieve your goals.”

Minister for Small Business Victor Dominello said the Liberal and Nationals were focused on making it easier to do businesses.  

“We want to eliminate the paperwork, speed up processes and unlock valuable time from mundane admin tasks by looking at over 200 reforms across 70 pieces of legislation allowing processes to be digitised and streamlined for individuals, businesses and community groups” Mr Dominello said.

“We have established Service NSW for Business as a one-stop shop for business advice, assistance and compliance, helping to reduce the amount of time businesses spend dealing with Government processes.”

“We have also implemented a nation leading $166.5 million digital licensing program which significantly reduces the compliance burden on businesses through a tell us once approach to regulation.” 

Summary of measures:

· Committing to a target of 1 million small businesses by 2030.

· Appointment of NSW Red Tape Commissioner, delivering $1 billion of reductions of red tape.

· An initial two-year blitz across government, Ministers will be required to identify regulation to remove if they are proposing a new regulation.

· Government departments required to present regulations for the chopping block, with the goal of making it easier to do business. 

· Increasing procurement contracts by more than $2 billion by the end of the next term, to a total of $10 billion

· $1000 for 10,000 micro and small businesses to engage an expert to provide professional advice to help grow and expand their business.