Month: July 2023

Government moves to get Region 10 bus services back on the road

The Minns Labor Government has taken action to deliver better bus services in Region 10 after U-Go Mobility, the private operator and holder of the Region 10 contract, has failed to deliver the expected level of service for the community.

The contract for Region 10 was signed weeks before the election by the former Liberal government.  

The winning bid for the contract was determined by the operator that could deliver the contract for the lowest price, instead of whether they could deliver an improved level of service for passengers. 

Transport Minister Jo Haylen has directed Transport for NSW to step in to manage day to day operations in Region 10 alongside U-Go Mobility. 

Since Transport for NSW’s intervention, service cancellations have declined from 28% to 13%, but this number is still too high and there is still more to do to get bus services in Region 10 back on the road. 

Transport for NSW has also taken responsibility for other bus service operations including; 

  • Scheduling and implementing a more reliable timetable for customers from Monday 31 July. 
  • Re-working current turn-around times for routes to ensure an adequate pre-trip brief is given to drivers. This will help to eliminate stops being missed or drivers taking the wrong route. 
  • Meeting with U-Go Mobility management and executives several times a week to ensure resourcing is adequate and the operator is making progress in improving performance.  

Minister Haylen has also directed Transport for NSW to give some school service routes to another operator to run in the short term to ensure that these key community services are prioritised. 

Under this arrangement the U-Go Mobility Managing Director will no longer be working for the operator.

Minister Haylen and Transport for NSW also reserves the right to further exercise the step in rights and fully take over the contract if further improvements are not made.  

U-Go Mobility has also adopted a range of measures to address the driver shortage, to retain staff and to attract drivers, including $5000 retention and sign on bonuses.  

Transport for NSW has already put in place a number of other day-to-day measures to support bus operations in Region 10 including:  

  • Dedicated Transport staff monitoring region 10 bus services in real time to identify and report issues directly to the operator and Transport Management Centre. 
  • Dedicated Transport staff are responding to customer enquiries and liaising with key stakeholders including schools, local councils and local members.  
  • Transport commanders deployed to key interchanges to help customers on the ground 
  • A Dedicated timetable team to ensure the adjusted timetable is prioritising dedicated schools services and regular route services that carry a large cohort of school students. 

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“Everything we are doing is about making sure bus services are more reliable for the community and that we are supporting our bus drivers.” 

“I’ve directed Transport for NSW to step in to improve bus services in Region 10 to fix up the former governments failures. There have been some improvements to services but there is still more to do to improve performance.” 

“I want to make this arrangement work but services in Region 10 must improve. All options remain on the table if we don’t see further improvements to services from the operator.” 

McClellan to lead Astill inquiry

In light of troubling new allegations, the NSW Government has appointed the Hon Peter McClellan AM KC to lead a special ministerial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the offences committed by former NSW correctional officer Wayne Astill.

Mr Astill was charged in 2016 and convicted in 2023 for serious offences against inmates in his care.

Since his conviction, new allegations have been made against Mr Astill and the institutional response to his offending.

The inquiry has been established under section 82 of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013, which will give Mr McClellan’s inquiry the coercive powers of a Royal Commission to compel witnesses and seek evidence.

The inquiry’s terms of reference will include:

  • whether any other employee of Corrective Services NSW had knowledge or suspicion of the offending, and what steps they took;
  • the systems of supervision and oversight that applied in relation to Wayne Astill at Dillwynia Women’s Correctional Centre, their adequacy and how they should be improved;
  • whether any matters arising from the inquiry should be referred to law enforcement or other agencies, and
  • whether the circumstances related to Astill’s offending and the review’s findings require further consideration of broader site or case specific or Corrective Services NSW wide investigations.

The inquiry will report to government by 15 December 2023, or earlier if possible, and a report must be tabled in each House of Parliament within 30 sitting days of that House.

See the Terms of Reference herelaunch

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Learning of Mr Astill’s crimes and the allegations made in the wake of his conviction has been deeply disturbing.

“I want to pay tribute to the bravery of Mr Astill’s victims in coming forward.

“Mr McClellan is the right person to lead this inquiry and I’m confident he has the powers he needs.

“We can’t afford to let anything risk other ongoing investigations, so we’ve been careful in designing the scope and format of this inquiry.

“We owe it to the overwhelming majority of Corrective Services officers doing the right thing to ask ourselves the hard questions, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Century of an icon: 100 years since construction began on Sydney Harbour Bridge

Today marks the 100-year anniversary of work starting on building the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a city-defining landmark that remains essential to the road and transport system.

On 28 July, 1923, thousands of people gathered at the site of what is now North Sydney train station to witness Richard Thomas Ball, NSW Minister for Public Works and Railways, sink a shovel into the dirt to signify the start of work on the northern approach to the Bridge.

The project became known as the “iron lung” for providing essential jobs during the Depression; it also created Granite Town near the south coast town of Moruya. the quarry that supplied all the granite to build the Bridge pylons.

It was anticipated the building of the Bridge would take ten years, but it was built and opened in less than nine on 19 March, 1932.

A century on, the critical work continues, and a dedicated team spends more than 19,000 labour hours each month carrying out maintenance work on the Bridge and in the Domain tunnel.

The team of about 120 people, including engineers, electricians, painters, carpenters and riggers work days, nights and weekends.

Some of the elements involved in maintaining the Bridge include:

  • Painting a total steel surface of 485,000m²
  • Maintaining over six million hand driven rivets
  • Paint replacement which requires four coats of paint. The final coat is Heritage-listed “Sydney Harbour Bridge grey”


Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an iconic landmark.

“Its construction created jobs at a time when work was scarce.

“It also forged a vital connection across the harbour that has made Sydney the great city that it is today.

“The sod-turning ceremony made global news in 1923.

“This event showed our state’s commitment to build what became the world’s largest steel arch bridge.

“The Bridge build project brought employment through the Depression, not only to Sydney but across NSW.

“It boosted the steelmaking industry of Newcastle, while Moruya played a pivotal role in the construction through the supply of granite for the pylons.”

NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“The sod turn event for the Harbour Bridge was a pivotal moment for Sydney and the nation. What would Sydney be without our Bridge?

“Like all major projects, construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge came at a cost. It cost 14 lives of workers on site and two at Granite Town in Moruya, and it came at the cost of many homes that made way for the build.

“One hundred years on from this event, we appreciate the Bridge as a Sydney icon, a place at the heart of many celebrations – but also a vitally important piece of road and transport infrastructure that the system cannot do without.

“This anniversary is a chance to pay tribute to those workers who are ensuring the Bridge will be getting Sydney across the Harbour for another 100 years.”  

Blow to Labor’s green credentials with Metro West betrayal

Scrapping Sydney’s Metro West would not only be a betrayal of the people of western Sydney, but a betrayal of the environment, according to Shadow Minister for Environment Kellie Sloane.

“We know from experience with previous Labor Governments in NSW that when they ‘delay’ a project, it never happens,” says Ms Sloane.”

“This is more of the same from a party whose modus operandi is to let NSW grind to a halt.”

Metro West is expected to move 40,000 people an hour – doubling the capacity of the current rail network and reducing commute time from the CBD to Parramatta to just 20 minutes.

Not only would this project support new housing, boost business and improve quality of life for people in Western Sydney, but it will create significant environmental benefits.

Expanding access to high quality public transport is a proven way to reduce car use and its associated emissions. People who live in communities with accessible public transport tend to own fewer vehicles, drive less, and rely more on public transport than other areas. (Litman 2010)

“The former Coalition Government was committed to addressing this, hence our record spend on public transport. By cancelling major public transport infrastructure, NSW Labor is committing to a future of greater congestion and poorer air quality.”

“Once again, NSW Labor shows it can’t be trusted.”

  • Cars are one the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas. Australia’s per capita transport emissions are 45% higher than the OECD average (IEA 2016).
  • Heavy rail based transport – such as Metro West – has the greatest impact on reducing car dependence (McIntosh et al 2014).
  • Rail based transport is known to have the greatest impact on reducing car use (McIntosh et al 2014).
  • An international scorecard comparing 23 of the largest energy-using countries, ranked Australia second worst for transport energy efficiency due to: High emitting cars, low use of public transport (12% of trips), and low ratio of spending on public transport compared to roads (ACEEE 2016).

Unmasking the Scandal: Malcolm Roberts Exposes Hidden Foreign Ownership of Australian Property

Introduction:

A startling revelation has surfaced, shaking the foundations of Australia’s property market. Senator Malcolm Roberts of One Nation has unearthed evidence pointing to a significant disparity between official government statistics and the number of Australian homes foreigners purchase. This revelation has sparked urgent calls for an official investigation into the issue, raising concerns about housing affordability and national interests.

The Discrepancy in Numbers:

Official records from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) indicate that only 0.74 per cent of residential dwelling transactions in 2021-22 involved foreign buyers. However, a well-respected NAB survey of real estate agents suggests a different reality. The survey reveals that foreign purchases accounted for over two per cent of established homes and four to eight per cent of new dwellings during the same financial year.

Senator Roberts’ Call to Action:

Senator Malcolm Roberts insists that the FIRB fails to capture the full extent of foreign purchases in Australia. His urgent call for Treasurer Jim Chalmers to launch an official investigation aims to address the glaring discrepancy in statistics and shed light on the true state of the property market.

Implications for the Australian Property Market:

The emerging scandal has significant implications for the domestic property market:

  1. Housing Affordability Concerns: If foreign ownership is more widespread than believed, it could exacerbate the already challenging housing affordability situation for Australian citizens. Increased competition from foreign buyers might drive up prices and limit locals’ access to the property market.
  2. National Interest and Security: Foreign ownership of many residential properties raises national interest and security concerns. The influence of foreign entities on local communities and decision-making processes is a crucial consideration.
  3. Policy Review: The government may need to reevaluate foreign investment policies and tighten regulations to ensure transparency and accountability in property transactions involving foreign buyers. Stricter controls can help protect the interests of Australian citizens and maintain market stability.

Conclusion:

Senator Malcolm Roberts’ exposure to the potential foreign ownership scandal demands immediate attention. The glaring disparity between official government statistics and real estate agents’ data requires a thorough investigation to grasp the true extent of foreign purchases in the Australian property market. Policymakers must strike a careful balance between encouraging foreign investment, safeguarding national interests, and housing affordability for Australian citizens. The nation can only address this pressing issue and ensure a robust and fair property market for all through comprehensive action.

DUTTON ALLEGATIONS REINFORCE NEED FOR ROYAL COMMISSION

Further revelations in the Nine papers today about corruption allegations and Pacific offshore detention reinforce the need for a Royal Commission into the operations of Home Affairs, Acting Greens Leader Mehreen Faruqi said today.

According to the reports, then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was warned by the AFP about bribery risks associated with a businessman who was nonetheless awarded a multi-million dollar contract just weeks later. The allegations also show that money continued to flow to entities long after AUSTRAC warned about potential corruption and money laundering.

According to the reports, the company embroiled in the allegations continued to be contracted under the current Labor government.

acting Greens Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“The Prime Minister must establish a Royal Commission which examines the entire cruel history of our immigration detention system as well as this latest Home Affairs scandal.

“These allegations are deeply troubling. Peter Dutton must explain what he knew and Labor must explain why these contracts continued on their watch.

“At the same time as it was ruining the lives of refugees, the whole offshore detention system was clearly embroiled in questionable contracts and dodgy deals. There needs to be a full and open inquiry.”

“This is the true cost of Australia’s shameful obsession with offshore processing at all costs: money that could be spent establishing safe pathways for people seeking asylum  and refugees ends up lost in the rivers of gold flowing to questionable contractors all with the Australian government’s blessing.”
 

GREENS BACK CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT BODY TO HOLD UNIVERSITIES TO ACCOUNT ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Despite the tireless efforts of advocates like End Rape on Campus and Fair Agenda to hold universities accountable, far too many students, particularly female students, still feel unsafe at uni.

The Greens support calls on the Albanese government to establish an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence.

Greens spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“The 2021 National Student Safety Survey found that 275 students are reporting assaults on campuses across the country every week. Without major changes, thousands of students are at risk. 

“Universities have a clear responsibility to provide a safe environment for students, with 275 sexual assaults in a university setting each week, it’s clear they are failing. 

“Universities can play a key role in ensuring students understand consent. If Universities Australia don’t want to provide sexual consent education to the adults on its campuses, it should hand back the $1.5 million it was provided to do so.

“A recent report showed universities have chosen not to provide the educational resources young adults need, because of the archaic mindset of a few old dinosaurs in charge of our tertiary institutions.

“Allowing the prudish nonsense of a minority of vice-chancellors to shelve a government-funded campaign is embarrassing enough, but Universities Australia attempting to hide the decision is outrageous.”

“An independent authority would be able to monitor what universities are doing to deal with sexual violence, whether those responses are working and have the power to impose consequences for those unis who don’t make the grade.”

Acting Greens Leader & Greens spokesperson on Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“Universities have been hotbeds for sexual violence for far too long, especially for women, non-binary students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and those with a disability. 

“The current system of self-regulation is completely failing students and causing lasting harm to so many people. Universities are failing in both preventing sexual violence and in responding to it.

“Universities must actively build and promote a culture that does not tolerate sexual assault, violence or harassment of any form.

“We need an independent authority with powers to not only monitor and evaluate universities on their work to end sexual violence on campus, but to also impose consequences for universities who are failing to protect students.” 

BULLY-BOY WOODSIDE USING ITS MASSIVE RESOURCES TO INTIMIDATE AND BANKRUPT PEACEFUL PROTESTORS

Australia’s biggest gas polluter, Woodside Energy is deploying its war fuelled profits to hound and intimidate peaceful Disrupt Burrup Hub protestors and force them into bankruptcy.

The use of SLAPP suits (strategic lawsuits against public participation) is a legal tactic to financially and emotionally wear down effective public protestors and intimidate and silence anyone else who might join the movement to stop new coal and gas projects. They were famously used in 2004 by Tasmanian forest logging company Gunns.

Protestors have targeted Woodside’s gas expansion plans in the Burrup Hub, which contains the oldest collection of rock art in the world and is a deeply sacred place for traditional custodians. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will have to accept or reject the plans over coming months.

Acting Greens Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“Woodside is a corporate villain, pure and simple. They are destroying the planet, reaping billions in profits, they have the Labor and Liberal parties wrapped around their fingers and now they are trying to bankrupt two women who dared challenge their dangerous expansion plans.

“These SLAPP suits are straight out of the playbook that Tasmanian native forest logging company Gunns used against Bob Brown and 19 other environmental campaigners. Thankfully the only one out of them that is bankrupt now is Gunns.  

“Woodside might have huge resources and the Labor and Liberal parties on their side, but the climate movement has a growing number of people desperately committed to stopping new coal and gas and preventing climate collapse.

“The Greens support disruptive peaceful protest that draws public attention to the reality that  coal, oil and gas companies are causing the climate crisis.

“We will be watching the conduct of the WA police closely. WA police have a chance to come to the right side of history, sever their cosy relationship as Woodside’s private law enforcers and not assist the fossil fuel giant in intimidating climate activists.”

Global leaders unite for Gender Equality

Today, we are hosting a landmark Gender Equality Symposium on the sidelines of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brisbane.

The Symposium will bring together leaders from across our region and the world, emerging women’s leaders, human rights advocates, athletes and academics to advance Australia’s interests in gender equality and human rights.

Speakers will include the former Afghan women’s football team captain Khalida Poppal, Australian Olympic basketballer Patty Mills, Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario OAM and US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken.

The Albanese Government is determined to ensure the FIFA Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, drives progress, not just for women’s sport, but for women everywhere.

Clear and consistent dialogue, including at events like the Gender Equality Symposium, is key to the Albanese Government’s approach in shaping the world for the better.

The aspirations we champion in our region – peace, stability and prosperity – can only be achieved if we continue to see progress on gender equality.

When women and girls are empowered, and barriers to participation are removed, economies grow faster.

Pursuing gender equality isn’t just right, it’s a vital national interest.

Albanese Government fails indigenous youth on Alice Springs community safety package

The Albanese Government has grossly misled Alice Springs residents over a community safety emergency response package which has denied equitable funding to high-risk indigenous students in local schools.

In May, Education Minister Jason Clare announced that 46 Central Australian schools would share in $40.4 million for ‘On-Country Learning’ to improve school attendance and engagement as part of a package of measures to combat youth crime in Alice Springs.

The schools were asked to ‘develop tailored solutions to better engage children and young people in school and provide them with the wrap-around support they need to succeed.’

Indigenous independent school, Yipirinya School in Alice Springs, where 300 students are enrolled many of whom are vulnerable and suffering acute disadvantage, has been advised by Mr Clare it will receive only $329,000, not the nearly $1 million it was expecting.

It is understood that 10 independent and catholic schools, including Yipirinya School, will receive only $2 million while the lion’s share of the $40.5 million will go to government schools, funding calculated under the ‘Gonski’ School Resource Standard and not for the purpose of combating the Alice Springs crime wave.

“This funding was meant to keep young people in Alice Springs at school, off the streets and out of jail. The Albanese Government has disgracefully plugged a territory government funding hole rather than use this money to combat youth crime,” Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson said.

“In propping up the Northern Territory government which is providing only 59 per cent of the 75 per cent funding required under the School Resource Standard, Jason Clare has profoundly misled local schools.”

“Yipirinya School’s plan to build a satellite school at Burt Creek, 60 kilometres north of Alice Springs, is now in ruins. An ‘on country’ satellite school would have supported many aboriginal students who currently have to travel up to 300 kilometres a day to attend school. The money Yipirinya will receive will barely cover the running costs of school buses for one semester,” Senator Henderson said.

“The Albanese Government is all about selective voices. They have no interest in listening to local voices when they don’t like what they have to say,” said Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

“The Albanese Government has turned its back on Yipirinya School which is desperately seeking funding to build boarding facilities to keep children safe at school. Once again, some of the most high-risk students in Alice Springs have been betrayed by a government that is all talk, and no action.”

“The Alice Springs emergency response package was meant to combat the Alice Springs crime wave which has brought my home town to its knees. Yet, almost eight months on, Labor has barely rolled out a cent and communities are still in need,” Senator Nampijinpa Price said.

“The government parades the schools funding as for On-Country Learning but they cannot tell us how this will get children back into schools. They still can’t even explain what On-Country Learning means or how it will get children back into schools and keep them safe,” said Senator Nampijinpa Price.

“Where is the fairness in slashing funding from schools which are most in need?”

“Communities in Central Australia can expect $2 million to be spent on CCTV cameras and lighting. Yet $7 million will go towards ‘strong governance.’ Which of these will help members of the community sleep safely at night?” Senator Nampijinpa Price concluded.