Month: November 2023

The annual National Shelter-SGS Economics & Planning Rental Affordability Index reveals regional NSW housing is less affordable now than at any point in the last decade, challenging the perception that regional NSW is a safe haven for low- and middle-income households.

Rental Affordability Index, Regional NSW

John Engeler, CEO Shelter NSW, said: “For too long, the regions have been viewed with misty eyes as an affordable option for Sydneysiders to retreat to when rents got too high in the city. This is not the case, not for newcomers and certainly not for locals living on local industry wages. Since the pandemic, a growing proportion of renters are forced to dedicate more than 30% of their income to rent in the regions. This is not a sustainable situation, it’s a social emergency.”

Unaffordability is hurting the economy too. “Unaffordability has spread from employment centres. Households have to live further away from where the jobs are to access affordable rents, and businesses are struggling to find workers”, according to Ellen Witte, Principal at SGS Economics & Planning.

The Report notes that the average rental household in regional NSW has a gross annual income of $84,651 per annum. If renting at the median rate, that household faces paying 29 percent of its total income to rent. This means regional NSW has a Rental Affordability Index score of 102, putting it right on the verge of being deemed ‘unaffordable’. 

This represents a 7 percent decline in affordability in the past three years, disproportionately hurting those on the lowest incomes pushed into housing stress to afford a roof over their heads. For a single person relying on JobSeeker, the average regional NSW rental is now ‘extremely unaffordable’, comprising 71% of income. 

TRENDS – REGIONAL NSW (JUNE 2022)

While parts of the State still offer acceptable to very affordable rents these areas tend to be far-flung, with limited access to services and relatively lower rental stock. Regional centres like Bathurst, Maitland, Wagga Wagga, and effectively the entire coastline including the entirety of Illawarra-Shoalhaven, all offer at best, moderately unaffordable rents at the median level. 

“This downward spiral has now reached the point where very few affordable long-term rentals are on offer.” according to Ellen Witte, Principal at SGS Economics & Planning. “We need to attack this problem from multiple angles. This means rapidly expanding social and affordable housing, rethinking how we use tax subsidies, and strengthening renters’ rights.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Rental Affordability Index scores areas based on median rental prices and average income of rental households within the capital city or rest of state area’. A score of 100 indicates households spend 30 percent of income on rent, the critical threshold level for housing stress. A lower score is worse. 

A score of 50 or less indicates extremely unaffordable rents, 51-80 indicates severely unaffordable rents, 81-100 indicates unaffordable rents, 101-120 indicates moderately unaffordable rents, 121-150 indicates acceptable rents, 150 or more indicates affordable rents.

Delivery of almost 200 new vehicles and vessels for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has commenced as part of a $25 million upgrade to its flood rescue fleet.

The investment comes following record flooding last year, which impacted several communities across the state and resulted in more than 80,000 calls for help to the NSW SES.

More than $14.7 million will go towards 142 additional boats, rafts, trucks, cars, trailers in response to recommendations from the independent flood inquiry.

These new assets include 40 inflatable rescue vessels, 50 ark angel inflatable rescue rafts, 10 high clearance trucks that can drive through floodwaters, eight light flood rescue vehicles, 30 command vehicles, two heavy rescue vehicles and two car trailers.

All new vehicles are being equipped with ‘vehicle as a node’ technology, allowing crews to communicate using 4G and satellite networks while deployed, in addition to regular radio networks. This helps ensure crews can stay connected during emergencies and overcome any dangerous communications blackspots.

A further $10.9 million under the NSW Government’s Fleet Replacement Program will fund more than 50 new vessels, storm and rescue vehicles, command vehicles and trailers to replace existing assets for SES units across NSW.

Parts of the state most at risk of flooding are being prioritised during these rollouts, with delivery of the assets well underway and set to be completed by the end of this financial year.

SES units in the Northern Rivers, Central West and Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley have already received equipment, delivering on recommendations from the Independent Flood Inquiry to improve disaster response capabilities.

Work is underway at Britton Marine in Kurnell on the inflatable rescue boats and ark angel rafts, while other vessels are being built at Yamba Welding and Engineering.

Findings from the inquiry highlighted the need for SES volunteers to have upgraded equipment and resources to meet the growing challenges posed by extreme weather events.

In 2022, the NSW SES had its busiest year on record, with volunteers conducting more than 3,800 flood rescues, 30 vertical rescues, more than 67,000 animal rescues, 575 road crash rescues, 2,800 resupply missions and 628 medical resupply missions. Volunteers logged more than 1 million volunteer hours.

Nearly 3,000 volunteers joined over the past year, and the SES is encouraging more people to join their local unit to further strengthen the state’s defences to severe storms and floods.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“The SES plays a vital role in safeguarding our communities in times of crisis.

“This investment will further equip our volunteers to respond to flooding and other emergencies.

“These new boats and vehicles will help save lives and minimise the impact of disasters on communities.

“The bravery and selflessness of SES volunteers over recent years has been remarkable.

“The NSW Government is proud to be helping the SES to help people across our state.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“This funding recognises the valuable contribution SES volunteers make to the state, particularly when they are on the frontline during floods and storms.

“These resources will enhance our response capabilities across the state and will particularly benefit flood-impacted communities in the Central West and the Northern Rivers.

“This investment also supports the boat building sector in our state, demonstrating the capability of local industry to deliver high quality vessels for emergency service use.”

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York APM said:

“These new assets ensure we can provide swift and effective assistance to those who need it most during times of crisis.

“The additional vessels and equipment will help volunteers save lives and respond to floods as well as many other incidents such as road crashes and land rescues, searches and other emergencies.”

A new law that prohibits vilification on the grounds of religious belief, affiliation or activity comes into effect today.

The Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Vilification) Act 2023 amends the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 to make it unlawful to, by a public act, incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, a person or group of persons, because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity.

A ‘public act’ includes any form of public communication or conduct, verbal and non-verbal.

The amendments in the Act are modelled on existing provisions that make vilification unlawful on the grounds of race, homosexuality, transgender status and HIV/AIDS status.

The new law will also protect people who do not hold a religious belief or affiliation, or who do not engage in religious activity.

A complaint of religious vilification may be made to Anti-Discrimination NSW, which will seek to resolve it by conciliation.

In certain circumstances, a complaint may also be referred to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for determination. This would allow the President of the Anti-Discrimination Board to accept, investigate and attempt to conciliate complaints, as well as refer the complaint to NCAT for determination. If a complaint is substantiated, NCAT may make a range of orders, including for an apology or for damages of up to $100,000.

The Government consulted closely on the proposed amendments with a broad range of stakeholder groups, including religious faith and religious advocacy organisations and community advocacy organisations, legal stakeholders and NSW Government agencies.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“The NSW Government supports a peaceful, multicultural society in NSW.

“There cannot be room for hatred which sows the seeds of mistrust and intolerance. We cannot tolerate religious vilification. This would threaten the thriving, tolerant, multi-religious and multi-ethnic heart of NSW.

“We must all champion community harmony and togetherness, and choose peace and solidarity over hatred and division.

“The commencement of these amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act fulfils an important election promise.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“No one, and no group of people, should have to encounter hatred, serious contempt or severe ridicule because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity.

“The make-up of our society has changed since the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 became law and we have enacted legislation that reflects and protects our modern society.

“We welcome people to NSW from all over the world. The harmony we enjoy and for which we have worked so hard is worth protecting. These amendments support our deep commitment to a strong and cohesive NSW.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“The message is simple. Those who would vilify others because of their religion should know that it is unacceptable.

“This much-needed legislation will provide our faith communities with similar protections provided to members of diverse and multicultural communities.

“NSW is the most successful multicultural and multifaith state in the world. We are united by our respect for each other and our commitment to tolerance and understanding.”

Sydney motorists are on the hook to pay a minimum $123 billion in tolls by 2060, new modelling by NSW Treasury and Transport for NSW has established.

Sydney motorists are on the hook to pay a minimum $123 billion in tolls by 2060, new modelling by NSW Treasury and Transport for NSW has established.

Fulfilling a Labor election commitment, the Minns Labor Government is telling drivers for the first time what the total toll burden will be over the coming four decades before existing contracts expire.

The toll bill includes revenues to privatised toll road concessions, including the entire WestConnex system, NorthConnex, the Eastern Distributor, M2 and M7 but also the NSW Government-owned Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, as well as the future M6 Stage 1.

The toll bill from WestConnex alone, is $64 billion out to 2060.

The disclosure will inform the public conversation about the privatised Sydney toll road network and the long tail of costs to motorists structured to rise quarterly or annually.

The government has introduced a $60 weekly toll cap to begin on 1 January to ease the cost of living impacts of tolls on an estimated 720,000 drivers who pay the most.

The Allan Fels-led independent Tolling Review is also tasked with advising the NSW Government how to bring more equity to the system, particularly for people in Western Sydney who have fewer public transport options and cannot avoid higher weekly toll bills.

Treasury has used a most conservative set of assumptions, including a long-term inflation rate of 2.5% and projected population growth in NSW, to create the baseline minimum toll burden.

The figures are the total potential tolls paid by motorists and do not reflect the running costs, maintenance and financing charges borne by operators.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“I said before we came to government that toll costs should not be kept hidden. As of today, they are no longer a state secret.

“You can’t even get a mobile phone contract without being told the minimum payment and yet NSW motorists have been signed up to more than $100 billion in toll costs without any disclosure under the former coalition government.

“A 30-year-old driver today will reach retirement age before some existing toll contracts expire, which is why it is critical we let the light shine in here and debate the merits and the long-term costs of how our tolling system is structured.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“The people of NSW deserve to know what they have been signed up to under privatised contracts and especially so when we are talking about multi-decade bills for everyone who drives a vehicle in Sydney.

“By providing this Treasury toll modelling publicly we are making good on our transparency agenda just as we are seeking to let people know what is contained in privatised contracts over ports and electricity networks and generators.”

World-renowned pathologist and researcher, Professor Anthony Gill AM, was awarded NSW’s highest accolade for cancer research at this morning’s NSW Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research.

A global in the field of cancer diagnosis and pathology research, Professor Gill helped put Australia on the map in pancreatic research and is known for discovering new types of cancer tumours which are helping improve early diagnosis and survival rates for people with a range of rare hereditary cancers.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park, and Minister for Medical Research, David Harris, helped present the following 7 prestigious awards at today’s annual event, which celebrate the research achievements of individuals and teams working to improve cancer outcomes in NSW.

• Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year – awarded to Professor Anthony Gill, Professor of Surgical Pathology at the University of Sydney and senior staff specialist in Anatomical Pathology at Royal North Shore Hospital, for making a significant and long-lasting contribution to cancer research in NSW and beyond.
• Outstanding Mid-Career Researcher – awarded to Associate Professor Alexander Menzies, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology at Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, and Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, for demonstrating exceptional research progress and accomplishment in melanoma, immunotherapy and neoadjuvant therapy.   
• Outstanding Early Career Researcher – awarded to Dr Anna Singleton, Senior Research Fellow, the University of Sydney, for demonstrating exceptional research progress and accomplishment in the development of digital health interventions to improve the health of cancer survivors. 
• Rising Star PhD Candidate – awarded to Rebecca Simpson, PhD candidate, Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and the University of Sydney, for making significant progress and showing the potential to make an impact in melanoma research. 
• Outstanding Cancer Clinical Trials Unit – awarded to Wollongong Hospital, for its cancer research unit’s performance and work in supporting local communities living with cancer, including a world-first clinical trial for adults with multiple myeloma. 
• Improving Equitable Outcomes through Cancer Research – awarded to CanEngage Project Team, Macquarie University, for making an impact in improving cancer outcomes in communities that continue to have poorer cancer outcomes.
• Consumer Engagement in Cancer Research – awarded to Cancer Voices NSW, for making a significant and sustained contribution to cancer research in NSW, supporting people living with or impacted by cancer.  

The Rising Star PhD Candidate, Consumer Engagement in Cancer Research and Improving Equitable Outcomes through Cancer Research are new awards in 2023. These recognise the invaluable contribution students and community members play in improving cancer outcomes. 

Each winner received funding boosts as part of their prize, with Professor Gill receiving $50,000 to further his cancer research.

The NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, has awarded more than $324 million in cancer research over the last decade.

Find out more details about the award recipientslaunch.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“NSW is a global leader in cancer research, and we’re committed to supporting the life-saving efforts of our state’s cancer researchers.

“On behalf of the people of NSW, I’d like to thank our incredible cancer researchers and congratulate today’s winners for helping better understand and treat this devastating disease.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Cancer touches all of us, with 1 person in NSW diagnosed with cancer every 10 minutes.

“Helping more people survive cancer is impossible without the passion, dedication and commitment of people like Professor Gill and I’d like to thank every person working behind the scenes to reduce the impact of cancer.”

Minister for Medical Research, David Harris said:

“For people with cancer, research and clinical trials provide options and hope, where often there are none.

“Helping develop safer and more effective cancer treatments is a true team effort, with countless researchers, clinicians and consumers working together to make a difference to the lives of the thousands of people diagnosed with cancer in NSW each year.” 

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien said:

“NSW has some of the best cancer survival rates in the world and our excellence in cancer research is a key reason for these outstanding outcomes.

“Unfortunately cancer still takes the lives of more children and adults in NSW, than any other disease. Thanks to research and innovation, we know NSW will be on the forefront of discoveries that will save lives and keep families and communities safe and supported.”

The doors have opened at Central Station’s landmark new Chalmers Street entrance today, 6 months after it was damaged when a fire took hold of a neighbouring building on Randle Street in Surry Hills.

The new entrance – with 2 new lifts and 6 escalators – was 4 days from opening when the fire emergency began. 

The intense inferno was just 6 metres away from Australia’s busiest railway station, with a small laneway, Randle Lane, separating Central Station from the 7-storey abandoned warehouse engulfed in flames.

Six members of the Rail Fire and Emergency team were part of the emergency response. They were on-site within 3 minutes and based themselves in the Chalmers Street entry to help extinguish the flames and protect the station.

The bricks and debris, along with the amount of water needed to battle the blaze caused extensive structural and water damage to the entrance.

After the damage was assessed, a long list of rectification works were required to fix the building, including installing a brand-new roof, re-tiling stairs and replacing windows.

The new lifts and escalators – which were yet to carry commuters in and out of Central Walk – were flooded with water, resulting in mechanical and electrical services needing to be replaced.

Opening the new entrance for passengers required a mammoth effort from firefighters, clean-up crews, Sydney Metro and contractors Laing O’Rourke. It marks the completion of all major Sydney Metro upgrade works at the station.

Central Station’s upgrades include:

• A new entrance at Chalmers Street, providing direct access from the east and allowing easy interchange from CBD and south-east light rail services. 
• Central Walk, a new underground pedestrian concourse connecting all areas of the station. 
• Significant accessibility upgrades via 14 new lifts and 42 escalators.
• A revitalised Northern Concourse, with transformed pedestrian thoroughfares and a stunning new roof canopy.
• A brand-new North-South Concourse where, in 2024, commuters will have access to metro platforms and metro services every 4 minutes in the peak.

When metro services start through the city in 2024, new metro platforms below Central Station will welcome 21,350 commuters in the morning peak, alleviating pressure on other transport modes. Metro will also provide fast journey times from Central to Chatswood in 15 minutes, North Sydney in 9 minutes, and Sydenham in 7 minutes. 

For more information, visit the Sydney Metrolaunch website. 

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“More than 130 firefighters and 20 fire trucks responded to the intense Randle Street fire as it burned metres away from Australia’s busiest station.

“Not only were they able to protect the station, we were able to keep rail services up and running through the afternoon to ensure people were able to get home.

“The Chalmers Street entry was a bit battered and bruised, but it was carefully rebuilt and is now open to the public.

“The new Chalmers Street entrance welcomes commuters to a transformed Central Station that is more accessible than ever before.

“Central’s significant Metro makeover will help more than 67,500 people flow through this station and change between metro, rail, bus, light rail and intercity services.

“Commuters are now benefiting from the significant Sydney Metro upgrades to Central Station and the countdown is on as we look forward to the icing on the cake, metro services starting below our feet in 2024.”

Manager Fire and Emergency Operations at Rail Fire and Emergency Brett Richardson said:

“In a demonstration of dedication and expertise, the teams of the Rail Fire and Emergency unit swiftly responded to the Randle Street fire, underscoring their commitment to protecting our critical infrastructure, notably Sydney Metro’s newly constructed Chalmers Street entrance at Central Station.”

Acting Fire and Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner – Field Operations Paul McGuiggan said:

“The Surry Hills fire required a large and immediate response from emergency services but our people were up to the challenge.

“The unstable nature of the site after the blaze led to a protracted operation over several days that affected many neighbouring businesses and projects, such as the Sydney Metro.”