Month: June 2023

The NSW Government has declared the Northern Rivers a formal reconstruction area to help support the building of homes after last year’s devastating floods.

---

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the declaration allows the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) to make prompt decisions to influence reconstruction and aligns with the election commitment to accelerate the approval of new housing, raising homes and approving residential development and subdivisions on low-risk land in the Northern Rivers.

“We know this has been an uphill battle since the floods last year and we want to do the best we can to re-build the Northern Rivers community in the way which works for you. This reconstruction order allows the Authority to use its powers to subdivide land, demolish buildings, repair or renovate buildings,” Mr Scully said.

“It will also allow the Authority to set out and construct roads as well as use its powers to consider new homes and supporting infrastructure outside of traditional residential areas helping address housing shortages and affordability in the region.”

The order means the Authority can use its powers including:

• give a ‘notice to decide’ to a decision maker to expedite the making of a significant reconstruction decision
• give a ‘progression notice’ to a decision maker to expedite the completion of a reconstruction process
• give a ‘step-in notice’, with the approval of the Minister, allowing the Authority to make an assessment and decision about a particular decision or process
• exercise discretionary powers in relation to land.

“In addition to this order, we’ve listened to Lismore Council and the community and decided to dissolve the Lismore Planning Panel which was installed by the former government, following a number of visits to the Northern Rivers. I have been on the ground speaking directly to the community, council and Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin MP, who have made it clear the panel wasn’t required,” he said.

“While planning panels are very effective in other parts of the state, providing transparent advice and technical expertise, it was the wrong decision to establish one at Lismore. Therefore, I’ve decided to dissolve the panel and return decision making of development applications to Council.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the dissolution of the panel and the declaration order were the step in the right direction but more needed to be done to help the Northern Rivers rebuild.

“Council and the NSWRA will get on with the job of rebuilding the Northern Rivers which continues to be challenging. We have watched in despair as thousands of properties were damaged or destroyed last year and we are still in the middle of a tough recovery, and we know we will face floods again,” Ms Saffin said.

“However, I welcome the announcement because it will help the Northern Rivers to rebuild and help reduce the loss of life and property in the future.”

Other planning initiatives that were introduced as part of the Lismore Flood Recovery Planning Package to fast-track recovery efforts will remain in place, as we continue to help the region get back on its feet.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority Act was passed by Parliament in November 2022 and there is an expectation that similar declarations will be made following future major disasters.

Visit the Department of Planning and Environment for more information on the Lismore Flood Recovery Planning Packagelaunch or to find out more on the Reconstruction Area (Northern Rivers) Order 2023launch.

Riverina residents are benefitting from identity experts as ID Support NSW rolls into town for the final leg of its regional roadshow.

---

Following sessions in Griffith earlier this week, today marks the second day of events in Wagga Wagga with sessions also being run in Albury across 27 and 28 June.

Locals will learn about the risks of identity theft and how to replace documents such as a driver licence, photo card or birth certificate if they are stolen or fraudulently obtained.

Identity theft is a growing problem around the world and NSW is committed to protecting and supporting victims and lifting the burden as they reclaim their identity.

On average, a victim of identity crime will spend 34 non-consecutive hours calling different organisations to restore their identity.

The highly popular roadshows are helping young families and retirees across the state to protect themselves from identity crime by learning how to create stronger passwords, spot a scam and how to replace identity documents.

ID Support NSW provides people with a single front-door if their identity has been compromised and will work with them to help restore their documents and security of their identity.

The ID Support team has already helped more than 1550 people during the first part of the roadshow, which stopped at Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Wilcannia and Griffith.
The full list of dates and locations of the roadshow are available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/community-events

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“From Broken Hill to Bankstown and Wagga Wagga to Wilcannia, every person in NSW should have the resources and skills to keep themselves protected from identity crime.” 

“Identity theft can be distressing, but recovering from it shouldn’t be. ID Support NSW offers victimsa clear way to recover and stay secure.”

“The success of the roadshow is shown by the more than 1550 people who have attended the events so far to learn about how they can stay safe from identity theft and remedy their credentials.”

“ID Support NSW believes in a no wrong doors policy which means if someone calls with an identity problem they’ll get help to find a solution.”

The NSW Government has today confirmed funding for vital domestic violence services being provided by Relationships Australia NSW.

---

Relationships Australia NSW will receive $711,619 for the next 12 months to support two community-based projects and specialist workers to support children and young people in priority refuges.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, said: “The NSW Government takes domestic violence seriously and sees the services provided by Relationships Australia NSW as critical in tackling the heart of the problem.

“Funding for these services was due to end this Friday 30 June, a legacy of the previous government, who had no plan to continue what we see as important programs.

“We are preparing for a September Budget, and future funding processes for these types of critical services will be considered carefully.”

Services saved from the funding ‘cliff’ are Relationship Australia NSW’s culturally adapted Men’s Behaviour Change Program in Blacktown, and an elder abuse early intervention program.

The NSW Government have also committed to introducing longer-term 5-year funding arrangements for key community service providers, including domestic violence support services. This will help ensure these essential organisations are not placed in precarious situations which threaten the support they offer to those in need.

“These programs focus on early intervention, hopefully preventing women, children, and the elderly from experiencing abuse in the first place,” Minister Harrison said.

“The NSW Government looks forward to working in collaboration with Relationships Australia NSW, as we combat the scourge that is domestic and family violence and elder abuse.”

Other crucial services that the NSW Government has continued to provide funding for are the 20 specialist workers who support children and young people presenting to specialist domestic and family violence services.

The NSW Government today took another firm step towards a stronger, more efficient and more streamlined NSW planning system focused on the delivery of more housing, jobs, and infrastructure.

---

Almost 350 staff from the Greater Cities Commission (GCC) and Western Parklands City Authority (WPCA) will be redeployed into the Department of Planning and Environment.

The transfer will reduce the overlap and duplication between agencies and redirect valuable but limited resources to bolster planning delivery against the Government’s priorities.

The move puts the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in a much better position to focus on the job of overhauling the planning process and cutting red tape.

The previous Government left us with a planning system that included too many agencies reporting to too many ministers. It was a system that, put simply, wasn’t delivering enough housing for people in NSW.

NSW will require approximately 900,000 additional dwellings by 2041. Yet we have a projected housing construction shortfall of 134,000 dwellings over the five years of the National Housing Accord.

Planning processing times had blown out from 69 days on average in July 2021 to 116 days in March 2023.

The NSW Productivity Commission has noted NSW builds fewer homes compared to other states, and this is a direct cause for why housing in NSW costs more than it does anywhere else in Australia.

We need more supply in places people want to live and work, located near to the services people need if we have any chance of meeting our State’s, and particularly Sydney’s, housing demands. 

The GCC Commissioners will continue to assist with metropolitan planning for the Six Cities Region and provision of advice to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.

DPE Acting Secretary Kiersten Fishburn will now work with the Commissioners and they will finalise draft housing targets and the six City Plans.

This work will embed the new Government’s rebalancing of population and housing growth for all 43 local councils and deliver on our commitments required under the National Housing Accord.

The WPCA Board will continue to set the direction for the building of Bradfield City and for economic development and investment attraction to the Western Parklands City.

Both GCC and WPCA Chief Executive Officers will now report to the DPE Secretary.

The NSW Government has an ambitious agenda to reform planning and boost housing supply. We have already announced the following changes:

• reforming infrastructure contributions so that roads, schools, health services and open spaces are delivered in a more timely manner to areas of housing growth to address– one of the most frequent criticisms I hear about housing growth
• providing additional support for the development and assessment of social and affordable housing
• creating changes for market development to increase the amount of housing delivered on private land as well as public land
• auditing surplus government land that could be used for housing
• expanding the role of Landcom
• improving building quality by establishing the NSW Building Commission
• making renting fairer while providing surety to property owners.

This is the start of focusing government and its agencies on project delivery – we want to get projects moving.

More information can be found on the Department of Planning and Environment’s websitelaunch.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We made a firm commitment prior to the election to streamline planning accountabilities and within 100 days of taking office we’re making a clear and positive step in that direction.

“There’s no point having housing targets if you can’t deliver the housing.  This is about ensuring we have the right team in place to deliver the housing and infrastructure we so critically need in this state.

“We’ve been upfront about the challenges we face.  And overall this will mean more affordable housing, and more supply overall.

Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces:

“There were too many agencies operating in the NSW planning system with similar responsibilities, meaning that accountability for delivery was blurred and confusing.

“The system created resourcing gaps in critical areas, while duplicating effort in others, and with the housing challenges we face, it wasn’t fit for purpose.”

“We need to pool all our resources to deliver on the new government’s priorities including housing and jobs, and the infrastructure to support them. 

The seventh NSW Small Business Month will be held in October 2023 and will feature hundreds of events to support small businesses.

---

Local business chambers, industry associations, not-for-profits and local councils are invited to apply now for a grant to host an event, or they can apply to be a Small Business Month collaboration partner.

This comes as the NSW Government continues to support small business across NSW, having committed to:

• developing the NSW Business Bureau, to provide businesses with a direct line to the NSW Government to address key issues affecting the sector.
• creating the NSW Small Business Charter, to enshrine our commitments to small business in legislation.
• increasing local investment, raising the local small business procurement targets for government from 12% to 30%.

The theme of this Small Business Month is “My Small Business”, with events tailored to help small business owners and operators learn new skills and strategies to improve their business across seven key areas:

• My Small Business Brand 
• My Small Business Cyber Security
• My Small Business Health 
• My Small Business Online 
• My Small Business Resilience
• My Small Business Team
• My Small Business Trade.

Small Business Month events are held across the cities, regions and online, featuring business experts from the private and government sectors, industry leaders and successful small business owners. Many events are also an opportunity for small-business people to come together, connect and collaborate.

Grants to fund the hosting of events are decided through a merit-based, competitive selection process. The collaboration partner program is open to all organisations provided they deliver a suitable event or Small Business Month promotion.

Grant applications close on 1 August 2023 and collaboration partnership applications close on 6 October 2023.

To start an application and for more information visit smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.aulaunch

Minister for Small Business Steve Kamper said:

“Today, 27 June, is International Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day, an appropriate day to launch grants for NSW Small Business Month.”

“NSW small businesses employ 1.7 million people and generate $465 billion a year in sales and services income. Small Business Month is a unique opportunity for them to hear from a range of experts and leaders on how to make their business better.”

“As someone who has run a small business and represented small businesses throughout my commercial career, I know the importance of good information and advice.”

“I encourage organisations large and small to support our small business sector by participating in Small Business Month 2023.”

The Opposition has called on the Premier and the Police Minister to provide a full explanation of the many inconsistencies and gaps that have emerged since the community first learned about the tasering of a 95-year-old grandmother.

The Opposition have given notice in Parliament today calling on the Government to release communications between the Premier, Minister for Police, NSW Police and public officials that were being exchanged at the time.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said “today in Question Time the Police Minister deflected, dissembled and refused to answer direct questions about her actions as the Minister”.

“The Police Minister has repeatedly failed to provide any transparency and give the public any confidence that she is on top of this situation or her portfolio,” said Mr Speakman.

“Her Excellency the Governor told police graduates last week that ’public trust in the police serves as the bedrock of its legitimacy’. However, the Police Minister is currently undermining that trust by failing to exercise her responsibilities as Minister as she continues to avoid questions and any scrutiny into her actions,” said Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole.

The Government must immediately answer the following questions:

1. If the Police Minister’s explanation for why it took so long to inform the public is that the family needed to be told, why did it take a further 19 hours after the family met the Critical Incident Team before a release about the use of a taser was issued?

2. Why did the Minister mislead the public and Parliament by failing to share this information?

3. Had the aged care facility or the police already informed the family of the incident before the meeting with the Critical Incident Team? If so, when did the Minister and police know this and why was the use of a taser not then disclosed to the public?

4. As the Minister has admitted to being briefed about the incident on 17 May, why did she ignore her duty to correct the public record when the police media release stated that no further information was available?

5. What efforts did the Minister make to keep herself up to date with developments after the original briefing on 17 May?

6. When did the Minister know the family had been informed? What steps did she take or what enquiries did she make after that, to ensure the public were told as soon as possible?

7. What knowledge did the Premier and his office have, and what role did they play, in communications to the public about the incident?

The Opposition has called out today’s ferry announcement as another broken promise, saying it falls short of the Labor Government’s commitment to build public transport vehicles in NSW.

Earlier this year, Transport Minister Jo Haylen said Labor’s ‘Made in NSW’ domestic manufacturing policy meant that “We need to build our trains, trams, buses and ferries right here.”

The announcement that the ferries will now be built in Tasmania is clearly yet another embarrassing broken promise by the Labor Government.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward said “Firstly, this investment in providing world-class public transport services was secured under the former Liberal and Nationals Government.”

Shadow Minister Ward continued, “This is a great deal for Tasmanian workers, but workers in NSW are getting shafted by a Premier who is now sending jobs he promised them to another state.”

“Manufacturing elements of the Sydney Ferry fleet in Tasmania is not a revolutionary step in domestic manufacturing, the previous Government utilised the capability during our time in office.” Mrs Ward said.

In 2015 the Liberals and Nationals Government awarded Incat Tasmania a contract to build six new ferries in its Hobart Shipyard.

In addition, in 2020 the Liberals and Nationals Government announced three new Emerald class ferries were to be completed in Port Macquarie with 70% Australian content for the ferries including all the design, procurement, engineering, and project management for the project.

“This announcement is a smokescreen by the Government to cover up for the facts that they haven’t delivered on their election commitments and can’t guarantee when the jobs they promised will be available.” Mrs Ward said.