Month: July 2023

First look at Australia’s first purpose-built biocontainment centre

Australia’s first purpose-built biocontainment centre at Sydney’s Westmead Health Precinct has been unveiled.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the NSW Biocontainment Centre is highly specialised and was built to treat and safely isolate patients with rare highly infectious diseases, known as high consequence infectious diseases.

High consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) are a range of acute infectious diseases with high case-fatality rates or special significance such as Ebola or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

While other prevalent infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza are important, they are not included in the range of diseases managed at this unit.

Minister Park said the purpose-built biocontainment centre at the Westmead Health Precinct clearly demonstrates how important it is for NSW to be capable of keeping people safe and providing the best care possible.

“The centre is equipped with 6 specialised quarantine class and negative pressure beds and helps us effectively respond to future pandemics and provide high level care to both adult and paediatric patients,” Mr Park said.

“The community can be assured that, with this facility, NSW is ready to act and keep the community safe.

“I am really pleased to see clinicians from both Westmead Hospital and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network embracing this model of care, which is the first of its kind in Australia.”

The state-of-the-art facility includes a critical lift to transport contagious patients directly from the Westmead Hospital helipad or an ambulance straight to the biocontainment centre.

It will also use 3 steam steriliser autoclaves to process contaminated waste and has its own sewage treatment plant to treat contaminated patient waste.

The floor of the centre has also been purpose-designed in different colours to identify which areas are clean or contaminated for additional safety.

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said the Westmead Health Precinct is home to some of the state’s most talented clinicians.

“We have some of the best and brightest working here in the Westmead Health Precinct,” Ms Davis said.

“It makes sense this facility is based here, where our highly trained clinicians stand ready to manage any cases of these highly contagious diseases.”

Specialist medical, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory and allied health staff trained to manage patients through strict infection prevention and control practices are available to the unit when required.

Western Sydney Local Health District’s Acting Chief Executive Rebecca Nogajski said the centre plays many roles, operating as the statewide referral and outreach facility for patients with suspected or confirmed HCID, as well as the education and training hub for preparedness and safe practice in managing these diseases.

“This centre is self-contained, able to provide high-level emergency care, as well as access to specialist therapies such as phage therapy,” Dr Nogajski said.

“The centre stocks rarely used antibiotics, antivirals, antitoxins, vaccines and other key therapeutics.

“It also offers expert infectious diseases advice, including referral to relevant diagnostic testing and locations of testing, links with NSW Health Pathology and management able to be utilised as a 24/7 service in the early phases of the response.”

Chief Executive of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Cathryn Cox PSM said the centre’s specialist staff are highly trained in managing patients.

“We look forward to collaborating with all our colleagues across the Precinct, and NSW, to deliver a coordinated, specialised response through this centre of expertise, with a focus on containment and high-quality care of patients and their families,” Ms Cox said.

The centre is a shared facility of Westmead Hospital, part of Western Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network supporting the whole state in this specialised service.

The Westmead Health Precinct is one of the largest health, education, research and innovation precincts in Australia and is a key provider of jobs for the greater Parramatta and Western Sydney region.

More than $3 billion has been committed by government and our precinct partners to upgrade and expand the precinct’s health services, education, research and innovation facilities over the coming years.

100 days of broken promises and wrong priorities

After 100 days in office the Labor Government is continuing to shift blame for its broken promises and wrong priorities.

The Labor Government’s first 100 days have been characterised by dozens of reviews and taskforces, the slashing of vital cost of living programs, and lies about a Budget black hole.

Deputy Liberal Leader Natalie Ward said Chris Minns must take responsibility for the fact NSW households and families are paying more.

“After 100 days, the Labor Government still can’t explain how they’re addressing the cost of living pressures faced by families, households and businesses,” Mrs Ward said.

“Instead Labor is backflipping, showing blatant disregard for the promises they made before the election, and repealing the former Liberal and Nationals Government’s nation-leading reforms like the First Home Buyer Choice scheme.

“The Coalition will continue to hold the Government to account and ensure that the people of NSW are put first.”

“That’s why today we’ve launched a new website, allowing the people of NSW to find out more about Labor’s broken promises, wrong priorities, cancelled projects and deals with Union bosses.

Broken promises in Labor’s first 100 days:

  • Cutting the Active Kids, Creative Kids and First Lap vouchers.
  • Backflipping on a ban of secret rent bidding.
  • No Budget impact to deliver public servant pay rises.
  • No privatisation of government-owned land.
  • No disruptions to train services.
  • Ending industrial action and Union strikes.
  • Enshrining our State’s water assets in the Constitution, but leaving out critical infrastructure like Warragamba Dam.
  • Implementing a cashless gaming trial by July 1.
  • Preventing mining and exploration off the NSW coastline.
  • Building ferries in NSW, only to award the contract to Tasmania.

To find out more about Labor’s broken promises and wrong priorities you can visit www.laborsbrokenpromises.com.au

National NAIDOC Week 2023 For Our Elders

NAIDOC Week commencing today is an opportunity for us to learn and celebrate the oldest continuing culture on the planet.

It is also a time to celebrate and acknowledge the culture, excellence and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the 2023 NAIDOC Week theme For Our Elders encourages people to celebrate and pay homage to the Elders in communities.

“We can learn from our Elders who are the cultural knowledge holders and who are key to guiding us on the path to reconciliation and a better future for all,” Mr Speakman said.

“Their stories reflect the past struggles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through many generations, but we also learn from them that there is much to celebrate about their culture.”

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Leslie Williams said the future path we take and the decisions we make must focus on truth telling and reflect the knowledge and experience of Elders.

“There’s a 65,000 year legacy from which we can learn and guide us on a future with better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mrs Williams said.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals have demonstrated a commitment to listening to our First Nations people and respecting their knowledge and insights through OCHRE, the community-focused plan for Aboriginal Affairs NSW.”

Central to OCHRE is working with and supporting Aboriginal communities by building strong partnerships that have at their heart respect for Aboriginal culture, leadership and decision making.

We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging and this NAIDOC Week celebrate For Our Elders.

Labor’s Energy Bill Relief Falls Short As Energy Prices Surge

Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change James Griffin has called on the NSW Labor Government to reconsider energy bill relief for households as energy price rises increase pressures on household budgets.

“From today energy prices in New South Wales will increase by around 20%, adding pressure to household budgets already feeling the squeeze under Federal Labor’s cost of living crisis,” Mr Griffin said.

“Half of all NSW households will receive no energy bill relief for seven years under this Labor Government, who dumped the Liberal and Nationals Government’s $250 rebate.”

“A re-elected Coalition government would have provided every household in NSW with $250 off their energy bills from today by simply looking for a better deal that. Instead, under this Labor Government around 1.5 million households get nothing.”

“Labor have chosen union bosses over hard-working families, having to cut essential cost of living pressures to fund their $2.5 billion public sector wage increase. They should reconsider their priorities and provide energy bill relief for all NSW families and households.”

“We’re yet to see any detail from Chris Minns and his Government on their proposed government-owned energy bureaucracy, which by his own admission won’t deliver households any savings for up to seven years.”

“Labor’s broken promises and wrong priorities mean families right across NSW are paying more.”

“Only the Liberals and Nationals can be trusted to put families ahead of unions and deliver meaningful cost of living relief,” Mr Griffin concluded.

SENATE HEARINGS SHOW ‘GREEN WALL STREET’ WON’T PROTECT NATURE & SHOULD BE BINNED

Responding to evidence presented at the hearing into the Government’s Nature Repair Market Bill held today in Canberra, Greens spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Today the Senate heard that the ‘Nature Repair Market’ bill will not repair nature, but allow for its continued destruction. 

“Minister Plibersek’s ‘Green Wall Street’ bill is greenwashing and it should be binned so we can pass stronger environment laws which protect nature and the climate.

“A range of experts as well as State and Territory officials have shown Minister Plibersek’s nature offset market is undercooked and as it stands would be worse than nothing. It won’t stop logging or pollution but instead greenwash their expansion.

“Evidence in the hearing showed Minister Plibersek’s scheme will allow developers and mining companies to simply pay for the right to destroy nature and wildlife habitat.

“Alarmingly the PwC report that the Minister uses to justify this scheme argues that a market for nature should be an “absolute last resort” when it comes to protecting nature. The economic case for the scheme has also been severely undermined.

“Experts have warned that Green Wall Street will allow “double dipping” on carbon credits and nature credits for the same project, greenwashing the expansion of both. Green Wall Street would be an environmental ponzi scheme.

“Allowing corporations to pay to destroy nature is not nature positive, and will not save our wildlife.”

POLLING SHOWS HIGHEST EVER SUPPORT FOR FREE UNI AND TAFE

Independent polling commissioned by the office of Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi shows that most young people are concerned about paying back their student debt, a majority agree indexation should be scrapped & there is significant support for free uni and TAFE.

Key findings:

  • A clear majority of Australians think that University and TAFE should be free and fully funded by the Government (59%).
  • Most Australians think student debts are currently too high (68%).
  • There is resounding support for the proposition that student debts should not rise with inflation (72%).
  • Overall, three quarters (77%) of Australians with student debt are concerned about their student debt, with half of them being very concerned.
  • The younger the Australian the more concerned they are (Gen Z 79%, Millennials 70%, Gen X 60%, Baby Boomers 55%).
  • A majority  (64%) of Australians are concerned about student debt in general.
  • Seven out of ten (71%) Australians believe it is unfair the government is set to make more from rising student debt than they are from changes to their gas tax. 
  • Just under 60% (59%) of Australians believe that the minimum repayment income should be raised to the median wage.
  • Over half (52%) of Australians eligible to vote are more likely to vote for an election candidate with strong policies on tackling student debt. 
  • Younger people  are much more likely to vote for a candidate with strong policies on tackling student debt (Gen Z 69%, Millennials 64%, Gen X 49%, Baby Boomers 38%) – This increases to almost 80% (78%) of all Australians with student debt.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“Young people are clearly worried about owing an ever expanding student debt. At a time when the cost of living is biting, this polling is a clear message to Labor to act on the student debt crisis.

“These figures prove beyond all doubt that we desperately need to overhaul our cooked student debt system. The community agrees with the Greens that student debts are too high, growing too fast and taking too long to pay off. 

“The verdict on student debt indexation is in and it’s damning. The Government should be wiping all student debt but at the very least, it should get its head out of the sand and abolish indexation now.

“This polling shows Labor is completely out of touch when they sat back and allowed an enormous hike to student debt during a cost of living crisis. People are angry that Labor is more focused on penalising students than making the corporations fueling  inflation pay their fair share. 

“People want a bold, progressive transformation. Labor should listen to the majority of Australians who back the Greens’ vision of free university and TAFE, which is fully funded by the Government.

“Education should open doors and lift people up, not shackle them with a debt sentence that only makes life harder.”

Note- The polling was conducted by Lonergan Research in accordance with the ISO 20252 standard, and in compliance with the Australian Polling Council Quality Mark standards (www.australianpollingcouncil.com). Lonergan Research surveyed 1,005 Australians 18+ between May 31 and June 5 2023. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Joint statement by Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom following recent events in Israel and the West Bank

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada and the UK are deeply concerned by recent events in Israel and the West Bank which further reduce the prospects for peace.

We are gravely concerned by the Government of Israel’s approval on June 26 of over 5,700 new settlement units in the West Bank. We are also concerned by the changes to the settlement approval process instituted by the Government of Israel on June 18, which facilitate swifter approval of construction in settlements.

The continued expansion of settlements is an obstacle to peace and negatively impacts efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution. We call on the Government of Israel to reverse these decisions.

We are also deeply troubled by the continued violence and loss of life in Israel and in the West Bank. We unequivocally condemn all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians, including the terrorist attack on June 20 in Eli targeting Israeli civilians. We also condemn the reprehensible and ongoing settler violence targeting Palestinians. We welcome the joint statement from the heads of the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency and the Israel Police as well as statements by other Israeli leaders condemning these acts. We call on authorities to ensure accountability for all perpetrators of violence.

The cycle of violence in Israel and the West Bank must be broken.

Australia, Canada and the UK stand firmly with the Israeli and Palestinian people in their right to live in peace and security, with dignity, without fear and with their human rights fully respected. We continue to support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel. This vision can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties.

Sharing stories of First Nations culture to celebrate NAIDOC Week

City of Newcastle has kicked off its NAIDOC Week celebrations with the launch of a new monthly storytime session designed to share First Nations culture with the next generation.

Uncle Amos Simon from Muurrung Marai facilitated the first Sharing Culture Storytime event at Wallsend Library today, connecting his captivated young audience with the Awabakal and Gathung language and culture through songs, dance, yadaki (didgeridoo) and puppets.

Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk, Uncle Amos Simon and Cr Deahnna Richardson with some of the participants of the first monthly Sharing Culture Storytime session held at Wallsend Library today in celebration of NAIDOC Week.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle is proud to support city-wide NAIDOC Week celebrations, reinforcing our strong support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament through the upcoming constitutional referendum.

“Newcastle has a long and rich history of standing side-by-side with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to enact positive change, having established the Guaraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee more than two decades ago, while also being the first city to raise the Aboriginal Flag over a civic building under the leadership of former Lord Mayor Joy Cummings,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Today, we are proud to be the first local council in Greater Newcastle to formally endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the ‘Yes’ campaign for constitutional recognition, reflecting the views of our progressive and inclusive community by supporting annual NAIDOC Week celebrations throughout the city.”

Councillor Deahnna Richardson, a proud Wiradjuri woman, said the Sharing Culture Storytime session is among a number of events being held in Newcastle as part of national NAIDOC Week celebrations, which will run from 2 – 9 July.

“This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘For Our Elders’, recognises the key role Elders have played, and continue to play, as the cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors and leaders of our mob,” Cr Richardson said.

“NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for our community to acknowledge that the story of Australia began far before European settlement, while recognising that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for our land for over 65,000 years.”

City of Newcastle will support Awabakal Corporation in its peak NAIDOC Week event on Monday 3 July, which will begin with a flag raising in Civic Park at 9am followed by a march to Foreshore Park. Family friendly celebrations featuring stalls, rides, dancing and song will run from 10am to 2pm, giving the community a chance to come together to celebrate First Nations culture, while City of Newcastle will proudly host the Elders Tent.

Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee Member Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said City of Newcastle facilities will celebrate our Indigenous culture through a range of exhibitions and activities.

“NAIDOC Week provides an important opportunity for our community to celebrate the stories and rich history of the oldest continuous living culture on Earth,” Cr Winney-Baartz said.

“I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free events on offer throughout the city to celebrate our Indigenous culture this NAIDOC Week.”

Newcastle Libraries will continue their activities with special NAIDOC Week Storytime sessions at the Wallsend and City library branches on 6 and 7 July respectively. Storytime will be facilitated by Indigenous health practitioner Sarah Corrigan from Rainbow Crow Cultural Collective, who will also introduce families to the Wayapa program, which is based on ancient Indigenous knowledge about living in harmony with the environment and connection with the world’s oldest living continuous culture.

The Lovett Gallery at Newcastle City Library will host the free Koori Knockout: 50 Years travelling exhibition from the State Library of NSW, which will be open to the public from 6 July to 21 October.

The photographic exhibition celebrates the first 50 years of the rugby league carnival, which began in Sydney with just seven men’s teams and has gone on to become the biggest rugby league knockout carnival in the world. The exhibition includes images of Newcastle All Blacks teams, who were crowned winners of the Koori Knockout in 1987, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

Newcastle Museum is celebrating the talent and creativity of Newcastle’s diverse First Nations people through its exhibition entitled FIRST, which showcases the work of 16 Indigenous creatives who have a link to Newcastle and the Hunter.

Whilst at the Museum, visitors can also check out Cultural Resurgence, an exhibition featuring works developed by more than 600 school students, community groups and organisations participating in cultural enrichment programs delivered by Speaking in Colour.

Newcastle Art Gallery will also celebrate NAIDOC Week at Hamilton’s James Street Plaza with an outdoor projection of the video work Dead Tongue (2015) by leading First Nations artist Dr Christian Thompson AO.

The work, which comprises a moving portrait of the artist along with a stirring soundtrack of the artist singing in Bidjara language, will be on display from 3 July until the end of August. The project will culminate on Saturday 26 August in an evening of First Nations performance and music in collaboration with local artist Wanjun Carpenter. The project is presented by Newcastle Art Gallery with the support of Art Thinking, Hamilton Business Association, and the NSW Government through Create NSW.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia annually in the first week of July to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

56 new sheriffs to support courts and keep law and order

Three classes of new probationary sheriff’s officers have successfully completed the Sheriff Office Recruitment Training Course and are ready to embark on a fulfilling career serving their community.

Today’s attestation at Old Government House in Parramatta celebrates 56 new probationary sheriff’s officers in the largest ceremony ever held in NSW.

The work of sheriff’s officers is central to the efficient functioning of the courts and justice system. They provide security at court complexes; serve warrants, summonses and other orders issued by the courts; enforce writs, warrants and property seizure orders; administer the jury system; and they prepare courtrooms and call and swear in witnesses.

Training consists of a 10-week intensive course that includes tactical training and perimeter security. Officers learn how to anticipate and respond to risks and de-escalate tense situations.

Today’s graduates bring the number of sheriff’s officers in NSW to more than 300. They will be attached to 170 locations, including the metropolitan centres of Parramatta and Newcastle as well as regional NSW, including Lismore, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.

To find out more about becoming a sheriff’s officerlaunch, visit the Department of Communities and Justice website.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley:

“Sheriff’s officers play an important role in the justice system, ensuring the security and safety of all court users and the community.

“It is a dynamic job offering career progression and the satisfaction of serving the community.

“I congratulate the probationary sheriff’s officers graduating today and wish them well as they embark on this exciting new career.”

Sheriff of NSW Tracey Hall said:

“Sheriff’s officers are highly skilled, through intensive training that emphasises excellent communication skills and relationship building with people and their community.

“Sheriff’s officers come from all walks of life and backgrounds as diverse as the communities they serve.”

Northern Rivers locals urged to have their say on future housing and land developments

Communities across the Northern Rivers are being encouraged to have their say on the future of the region with the consultation period for the Draft Resilient Lands Strategy being extended to Friday, 14 July 2023.

The Draft Strategy, released on 2 June 2023, outlines the work undertaken to date and next steps to identify a sustainable pipeline of land and housing to support the relocation of residents impacted by the 2022 floods.

It identifies 22 sites across the seven Northern Rivers Local Government Areas, 15 of which are identified for immediate investigation under the $100m Resilient Land Program.

The 15 sites in the Draft Strategy have the potential to support up to an estimated 7,800 dwellings, to be confirmed on a site-by-site basis as technical and due diligence investigations progress.

40 submissions have already been made for Draft Resilient Lands Strategy with the consultation period now extended to Friday, 14 July 2023.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) developed the Draft Strategy as part of the $100 million Resilient Land Program.

To review the NRRC’s Draft Resilient Lands Strategy and make a submission and visit Resilient lands strategy.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“We recognise the devastation the community has faced and want the Resilient Land Program to support the rebuild of the Northern Rivers community. That’s why it’s important to allow more time for the community to share their feedback on the Draft Strategy.

“As consultation continues, the NRRC is already investigating 15 sites to see how they can support housing in the Northern Rivers for people impacted by the 2022 floods.”

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said:

“This program can help our community over the long term. I encourage people to have their say, and share ideas or solutions, about how to relieve housing problems being faced in the Northern Rivers.”

Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith said:

“I want to thank everyone who has already provided feedback to the Draft Strategy and encourage others in the community to have their say during the extended the consultation period.”