Month: October 2023

Today we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution and enshrine a Voice to advise Government.

Recognising Australia’s First Peoples and the thousands of years of continuous culture and history they hold in our nation’s founding document is a chance we cannot miss.

Establishing a Voice will enshrine this recognition giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a seat at the table to better inform and improve policies affecting the life of Aboriginal people.

This body will give independent advice to decision-makers, on the issues affecting Indigenous communities.

This referendum is an opportunity to enshrine recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our Constitution and create a body merging Indigenous wisdom with our democratic traditions.

First Nations people are dying younger, getting sicker more often and are more likely to enter the criminal justice system.

By any objective measure, what we are doing is not working. So we must give this change a chance.

New South Wales has an important responsibility, as the most populous state in the country with the largest Aboriginal population. More of our citizens stand to benefit from better policy outcomes than anywhere else in Australia.

It is important to emphasise that Constitutional change will make no difference to our successful representative parliamentary democracy. It will not infringe on the House of Representatives or the Senate. The democratic institutions that have been built up over generations will remain in place. These are cherished institutions, and we need them in this country.

Adding the Voice to Parliament will mean that for the first time there will be a direct opportunity for the Australian Parliament to engage with the people whose lives, in many respects, depend on government support, government policy and changes in directions.

For the vast majority of Australians this will not be a big change, but for First Nations Australians it is a massive change.

In the last sitting of the NSW Parliament before the referendum date, the NSW Government held a vote to reiterate its strong support for a Yes vote. This vote garnered support from Members across the aisle showing the unity of Parliament’s message to NSW today.

To those who have not made up their mind, the NSW Government says this is a positive vote for change that will make a meaningful difference to the First Nations people of this country.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Today we’re asking people to take a once-in-a-generation chance to recognise and hear the Voice of Australia’s First Peoples.

“For many Australians this will not be a big change, but it will be a massive change for indigenous communities.

“But to those who have not made up their mind, I say this is a positive vote for change that will make a meaningful difference to the First Nations people of this country.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said:

“We know that when Aboriginal people have a direct say on issues that affect them, we get better outcomes.

“This is a chance for all of us to help achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal people in NSW.

“Aboriginal people have advocated for constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament for some time.

“It is time to say Yes to recognition and a Voice to Parliament.”

More than 850,000. unpaid carers around the state are being recognised this week as the NSW Government, service providers and the community celebrates National Carers Week.

Minister with responsibility for Carers Jodie Harrison said this year’s theme – ‘Millions of Reasons to Care’ – acknowledges the important role carers play helping others.

“Caring for a loved one takes enormous dedication and strength, and this is a week to highlight the vital work carers do,” Minister Harrison said.

“There is no job description for a carer. They do whatever needs to be done. This can include helping people perform their daily routines, cooking, cleaning or driving them to medical appointments.

“These selfless individuals in our community don’t look for public thanks and praise but their incredible efforts need to be recognised and celebrated.”

In NSW, carers support people for a range of reasons, including disability, mental health conditions, chronic illness, age, dementia or drug and alcohol dependency. Caring is nearly twice as prevalent in Aboriginal communities and almost 80,000 carers are young people 25 years or younger.

Carers NSW CEO Elena Katrakis said it is important carers look after their own health and wellbeing and for people to know there is support available if they need it.

“Many people don’t think of themselves as ‘carers’. They simply see themselves as a husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter or friend looking after someone they love,” Ms Katrakis said.

“It can be incredibly rewarding work, but tough. So, taking time to look after yourself is the best way to be able to take care of others.”

As part of the 2023-24 Budget, the NSW Government is investing $5.1 million in targeted programs and supports for carers, including funding for programs under the NSW Carers Strategy 2020-2030 and funding for initiatives operated by Carers NSW, such as the Young Carers Program.

If you are a carer, there is a range of resources and supports available for you. Find out more at www.carergateway.gov.au or call 1800 422 737.

National Carers Week runs from Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 October 2023 and there are plenty of activities across NSW to celebrate carerslaunch.

Sydney has today become the first-ever host city of an annual South by Southwest (SXSW) event outside of Austin, Texas with the inaugural Asia Pacific edition of the iconic creative industries festival kicking off today.

From Sunday 15 October until Sunday 22 October, SXSW Sydney will feature more than 1,200 events and sessions, including a line-up of luminary speakers including Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman, Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper, creator of Black Mirror Charlie Brooker, filmmaker and director Baz Luhrmann, Australian actress Naomi Watts and many.

Secured by the NSW Government through Destination NSW in partnership with TEG, SXSW has a remarkable track record of being the launchpad of what is next, famously providing a pitch platform for Uber and X (formerly known as Twitter), and the first global stage to a young Billie Eilish.

Now the event will take centre stage in our state, showcasing Sydney as a hub for the creative industries in the Asia Pacific, bringing together creatives, tech pioneers, musicians and culture enthusiasts from across the region and beyond.

SXSW Sydney is a city-wide music festival, futurist think tank, a showcase of the latest games, alongside film and TV world premieres and next-gen technology expo. This one-of-a-kind event will take place at various locations in Sydney’s CBD, including Chippendale, Ultimo, Darling Quarter, Darling Harbour and Haymarket, activating a large number of venues throughout the city and supporting the entire ecosystem of Sydney’s visitor and night-time economy.

This event couldn’t have come at a better time. SXSW combines the best of games, screen, music and ideas just as the NSW Government develops the state’s first arts, cultural and creative industries policy, underpinned by the belief that our definition of the arts sector needs to broaden – that we think about creativity in NSW the exact way it will manifest at SXSW.

More information about SXSW Sydneylaunch and plan your Sydney visitlaunch.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“Straight from Austin, Texas to Sydney, our city will be the centre of the music, screen, gaming and tech world this week as we welcome locals and visitors to enjoy the inaugural SXSW Sydney. I’m very pleased that people attending SXSW will have the chance to see Sydney at its best after dark, soaking up music, ideas, and culture.  It’s the first time this event is being held outside of its Texas origins.

“SXSW Sydney will be a game-changing event for NSW. It is just the beginning of an unrivalled cultural events calendar over the coming months showcasing Sydney’s local talent, creativity, culture and natural beauty that draws people in from across the country and around the world.”

Managing Director of SXSW Sydney Colin Daniels said:

“SXSW coming to Sydney is not just a remarkable milestone for the event, it’s monumental for the global creative community. Leaving Austin for the first time in its history, the launch of SXSW Sydney is a testament to the city’s vibrant ecosystem and its prominence on the global stage. SXSW Sydney promises to be a unique and unforgettable event for all participants, and we can’t wait to see you here.”

Waterways and estuaries including creeks, rivers and wetlands impacted by last year’s floods will be regenerated and protected from future disasters through a Riparian Stabilisation Package.

The $64 million package from the Albanese and Minns governments targets riparian land that pose a significant threat to public safety, assets and the environment due to damage caused by flooding in early 2022 (AGRN 1012).

The package will be delivered at critical sites in the Clarence, Hastings, Hawkesbury Richmond, Macleay, Manning, Nambucca, Tweed and Wilson River systems.

The package will also help landholders and others who manage and use the areas to understand how to more effectively reduce the impacts of future disasters and dedicate resources to monitor water quality in the long-term.

Jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), works will be delivered by the Department of Regional NSW, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Local Land Services and the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the recovery works were critical to preserve the unique and diverse nature of the waterways.

“Riparian areas and estuaries are often some of the most fertile parts of the landscape, playing a crucial role in habitat viability for plants and animals,” Minister Watt said.

“This joint investment will allow local farmers to water their stock, tourism operators to show travellers the strong cultural heritage and environmental value of these areas, and the local anglers to get back to fishing.”

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said healthy riparian areas are critical to maintaining bank stability, supporting clean waterways and reducing the risk of pest and disease movement.

“The flood events in early 2022 caused significant river and estuarine erosion, which has put farmland, cultural sites, estuarine habitats and access roads at risk,” Ms Moriarty said.

“This package will support the restoration of priority riparian and estuarine areas through activities such as improving fish habitats, bank stabilisation works and regeneration activities.”

The package will be delivered through the jointly funded $29 million Estuarine Asset Protection Program, the $30 million Riverbank Rehabilitation Program and the $5 million Water Quality Monitoring Program.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the initiative is reflective of a cross-government commitment to disaster recovery.

“The NSW Government works to make sure assistance through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements complements and incentivises resilience, so communities are better placed to mitigate future disaster and recover more quickly,” Mr Scully said.

Get more information on riparian support.

NSW Ambulance has today launched a major recruitment drive to boost capacity within the state’s Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC).

Health Minister Ryan Park said the VCCC helps NSW Ambulance respond to Triple Zero (000) calls more effectively, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and providing expert clinical and medical secondary triage capability.

“A significant number of calls made to Triple Zero (000) do not require a paramedic response, and that’s where our expert clinical staff in the VCCC step in,” Mr Park said.

“The VCCC was created during the pandemic at a time of unprecedented Triple Zero (000) call volumes and showed it was more than capable to manage this extreme demand and keep patients safe.

“During the devastating 2022 floods where some people requiring medical attention were isolated by flood waters, VCCC clinicians were able to provide ongoing clinical care to these patients virtually while they were waiting to be rescued.

“Expanding the VCCC ensures patients right across NSW will continue to receive the care they need regardless of where they live while also reducing demand on our ambulances and hospital emergency departments.

“The VCCC saved more than 12,000 patients from attending the emergency department last year, reducing demand on the hospital system.

“VCCC clinicians had contact with more than 100,000 Triple Zero (000) callers during this period to triage or provide support for 46,000 patients, who didn’t require urgent care by offering secondary health services available within the community.”

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan said the VCCC has assisted with tens of thousands of Triple Zero (000) calls since it was launched 2 years ago.

“The VCCC started with a small number of specialist clinicians on duty 16 hours a day. Two years on, it’s a 24/7 operation, which will have more than 100 staff over the next 3 years,” Dr Morgan said.

“As part of the VCCC expansion NSW Ambulance is seeking experienced registered nurse and/or registered paramedic triage clinicians, clinical nurse consultants and specialist physicians to join the fast-growing multidisciplinary team.”

In the 2 years since being established the VCCC has been successfully diverting very low acuity cases away from hospital emergency departments to more appropriate care pathways. VCCC staff also provide call backs to some patients who call Triple Zero (000) to assess them clinically and determine if the response needs to be upgraded.