Month: February 2024

A record amount of slope remediation and stabilisation work will take place this year to improve resilience along major roads through the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury, starting this month with work on the Bells Line of Road.

Funding for the works is being provided by the Albanese and Minns governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This major effort to improve road safety will begin with remediation work at Mount Tomah from Monday 26 February, and it will be followed by remediation of 2 slope failures at Kurrajong Heights in March.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the works were focused on improving safety at multiple locations and enhancing the overall resilience of major road corridors.

“As most motorists would be aware, some slopes along the corridor were damaged by torrential rainfall between 2021 and 2022 that wrought havoc on the road network,” Minister Watt said.

“These works are about helping to improve the public road network and other critical assets so communities aren’t impacted as severely when more frequent weather events strike

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the primary area of focus will be Bells Line of Road, which is an important transport link for communities in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Central West.

“We have completed emergency work at 3 locations around the Botanic Gardens at Mt Tomah, while work to remediate a fourth site just west of the gardens should take place later this year,” Minister Aitchison said.

“Stabilisation work is also well under way to the slope failure on the Great Western Highway near Fairy Bower Road in Mount Victoria.

“This latest work kicking off will further remediate separate slopes at Mt Tomah and Kurrajong Heights – and with work beginning to address another slope failure at Victoria Pass in mid-2024, we are really improving safety at multiple locations and enhancing the overall resilience of the corridors.

“Other areas we will work on this year include Putty Road, which is another vital transport link for Blue Mountains and Lower Hunter communities, the Great Western Highway and Hawkesbury Road.

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said local residents recognised the need for this work to ensure they have a reliable and resilient road.

“We have seen through bushfires, storms and floods just how vital the Bells Line of Road is for locals, including the businesses who rely on customers being able to reach them. And it’s also vital as one of 2 direct links between Sydney and the central west.

“I note that this disaster recovery funding is on top of the $100 million that we have provided to NSW for additional upgrades to Bells Line of Road.

“We need this road to be safe and reliable, and that’s what the Albanese government will continue to work with the NSW Minns government to achieve.”

State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle welcomed the works.

“Road stabilisation and safety improvements to address damage caused by natural disasters in and around the Blue Mountains is essential and welcomed.

“In acknowledging the disruptions this may cause my community at times, I’m pleased to see the NSW and Commonwealth Governments working together and making good on our commitments to road safety.”

Remediation methods such as rock bolting, shotcreting and steel mesh installation will ensure the slopes are less likely to pose a hazard for road users.

While this work is essential for improving resilience and safety and will be coordinated to minimise inconvenience wherever possible, it also unfortunately means localised traffic delays will be unavoidable for much of the year.

Traffic impacts will include up to 3 separate lane closures along Bells Line of Road for much of 2024, and up to 2 lane closures along Putty Road mostly from the second quarter of this year.

Most remediation work will take place between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday and, less frequently, on Saturday mornings. This will be communicated as necessary.

No work will take place on Sundays or public holidays, unless otherwise communicated. Portable boom gates will be used while work takes place to close lanes. Vehicles will be diverted into a single-lane with stop-start traffic control.

There will be traffic controllers and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h for the safety of workers and road users. 

More information on the program can be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Attorney General Michael Daley today announced the appointment of two new members to the NSW Sentencing Council, Melissa Burgess and Adam Hennessy.

Ms Burgess is committed to delivering reform to create better outcomes for Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system and brings a strategic, collaborative and results-driven approach to the Sentencing Council.

For the past 17 years she has worked in the criminal justice system as a solicitor with the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) and Legal Aid NSW, including as Deputy Director of the Criminal Law Division since 2022.

Ms Burgess has been appointed to the statutory position of member with expertise or experience in Aboriginal justice matters.

Throughout his career Mr Hennessy has been dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and is committed to promoting fairness in the criminal justice system.

For the past decade he has worked in a range of areas, including state and federal public sectors, mental health and academia. Prior to that, Mr Hennessy worked with NSW Police for thirteen years as a lecturer and program coordinator teaching students and running training courses.

Mr Hennessy has been appointed to the statutory position of member representing the general community.

The Sentencing Council advises the Attorney General on sentencing matters, including undertaking consultation and reporting on issues referred to it by the Attorney General and providing an Annual Report on sentencing trends and practices. It comprises 16 members with diverse experience, including judicial officers, prosecutors, criminal defence lawyers, police, victims’ advocates and members of the community.

The appointments follow a public recruitment process in 2023 and both members will serve for three years.

Find out more about the Sentencing Council

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“I would like to congratulate Ms Burgess and Mr Hennessy on their appointments to the Sentencing Council.

“The Sentencing Council plays a vital role in delivering justice in NSW and both individuals will bring a rich range of skills and experience to their positions. I would like to thank them for joining the Sentencing Council.”

The NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to provide additional support to wildlife hospitals, koala protection and research with more than $3.5 million in new funding provided to three regional wildlife care facilities.

Koalas in the state’s north will have a more secure future with $1.4 million allocated to complete construction of the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital in Wollongbar.

Friends of the Koala, based in Lismore, will receive a $110,000 grant to vaccinate 300 koalas against chlamydia, and develop a koala database.

This funding builds on previous NSW Government commitments to protect koalas in the northern rivers from vehicle strike and degraded habitats.

Grants totalling $460,000 were awarded to Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Tweed and Clarence Valley councils for signage to alert drivers to slow down and watch for koalas in vehicle strike hotspots.

Koala habitat restoration is also underway in the Northern Rivers region, with $810,000 invested to restore 660 hectares across private land and national park estate.

In addition to grants for Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital and Friends of the Koala, the NSW Labor Government is providing a $2 million grant to Port Stephens Koala Hospital to increase wildlife veterinary capacity.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the long-term survival of koalas in the wild and each partnership with councils, land managers, community organisation and wildlife groups is an important step toward achieving that goal.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“There are many reasons why a koala may be taken into care, including vehicle strike and disease.

“The NSW Government is taking steps to prevent koalas needing to be in veterinary care, and this funding helps to ensure that native wildlife have the best possible outcome when treated and returned to the wild.

“It is important that koalas have a bright future in NSW.”

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said:

“Koalas are a much-loved member of our community, and an iconic part of our region.

“This funding is a welcome announcement for our community which cares deeply for koalas and will greatly assist the amazing army of volunteers at Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

“Together we can help secure the future of koalas and other wildlife in our beautiful part of the world.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital is wonderful. We have already turned the first sod but this $1.4 million in funding ensures its place within our network of native wildlife care.

“Our local communities love our iconic koalas and the $110,000 in funding will help protect them against chlamydia, and importantly, keep track of them.

“Friends of the Koala in East Lismore is a fantastic organisation, professional, with compassionate and competent volunteers.

“I am proud to have advocated for and secured funding for these projects and very pleased to join Minister Sharpe to announce them here in the electorate.”

More than 175,000 people seeking non-life threatening medical care have avoided NSW hospital emergency departments (EDs), Healthdirect data from NSW Health reveals.

More than 315,000 people in NSW contacted Healthdirect between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Of these, more than half – or over 175,000 people – were referred to a healthcare service other than the ED or Triple Zero (000):

• 90,474 were referred to a GP;
• 35,243 were referred to virtual care or urgent care;
• 3,412 were referred to virtualKIDS care (a statewide service since 19 Dec 2023);
• 9,682 were referred to other pathways, such as pharmacies or allied health;
• 18,095 were provided with information; and
• 19,229 were provided guidance on self-care at home.

The NSW Government is encouraging people to contact Healthdirect for all non-emergency medical queries.

By phoning Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, callers will speak with a registered nurse. From there, the nurse can refer them to a GP, virtual or urgent care; a pharmacist or allied health professional; or provide guidance on how to care for their condition from home.

The NSW Health Single Front Door, delivered by Healthdirect, is a critical initiative providing alternatives to emergency department care. It is part of a broader range of measures the NSW Government is undertaking to ease pressure on EDs and improve the accessibility of appropriate care, including:

• Rolling out 25 urgent care services.
• Establishing the emergency department taskforce to explore ways to safely reduce ED wait times.
• Boosting staff and treatment spaces.

Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We don’t want to see people and their loved ones waiting around emergency departments for lengthy periods of time – it’s not good for them, our staff, or other patients.

“All patients are seen and triaged on arrival at the ED and, as always, the most seriously unwell patients are treated first. During busy times, those with less urgent conditions can experience longer wait times when there are large numbers of seriously unwell patients being prioritised for emergency care.

“We are embracing new and innovative ways to relieve pressure on our emergency departments by diverting unnecessary presentations.

“When you phone Healthdirect, you will speak to a qualified registered nurse who can organise an appointment with a GP for you, have a GP give you a ring, or guide you on how to care for your condition from your home.

“We want the Healthdirect number to be as second nature as Triple 0.”

Road safety experts from Australia and overseas, along with advocates for motorists and road victims will today gather at the NSW Government’s 2024 Road Safety Forum.

More than 90 experts are being brought under the same roof for the first time – and many more joining online – to focus on ways to improve safety on roads right across NSW.

Like all other Australian states, NSW has experienced a rise in fatalities on our roads since the COVID era and the forum will be an invaluable setting to consider solutions and innovations, drawing on the experience of Scandinavian countries that have had success in lowering their road tolls over the past decade or more.

The NSW Government is determined to co-operate with the Commonwealth on the national conversation on road safety, with a particular focus on data sharing among the states.

The Government has this week agreed to begin sharing crash information with motoring group NRMA to ensure continued transparency of road safety trends in NSW.

The forum’s keynote address is to be delivered by Dr Johan Strandroth who was instrumental in the implementation of Sweden’s “Vision Zero” approach which has been credited with lowering fatalities there since its introduction in the late 1990s.

According to the Australian Government, Sweden has the second lowest road fatality rate in the world behind only Norway. Australia was ranked 18 out of 31 OECD nations.

A key focus of today’s forum will be regional road safety and the effect of speeding, drink and drug driving. A third of the NSW population resides in regional areas, but just over two-thirds of the state’s road fatalities take place in our regions, including urban centres in regional areas.

The NSW Labor Government has been active in introducing new road safety measures, including the expanded use of mobile phone detection cameras that will this year begin enforcing the use of seatbelts.

The Government has also pioneered the carrot-and-stick approach through the demerit point scheme. More than 1.2 million NSW drivers will be rewarded with having a demerit point removed from their licence from April in return for maintaining a spotless record for 12 months from 17 January 2023.  

In conjunction with the forum, Transport for NSW is running an online survey to allow the public to have a say on a range of road safety topics.  

Have your say on road safety until 4pm Wednesday 6 March 2024

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“NSW is pleased to host this most important forum and I look forward to hearing from the most pre-eminent experts from Australia but also from countries that have had success in reducing fatalities on their roads in recent decades.

“Road fatalities have increased across Australia and many parts of the world after Covid. This forum is an opportunity to tap into the best ideas to counter that trend and make sure everyone gets home to their loved ones every time.

“The enhanced sharing and use of data around road crashes is an important element in improving safety in NSW and other states which is why our Memorandum of Understanding to share more information with the NRMA is another advance that we can build on.

“I want to remind the wider community that your input into this important issue is welcome and urge you to take part in the online survey being run in conjunction with today’s forum.”

Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Today’s forum is an important opportunity to collaborate and share ideas to help reduce fatalities and improve safety on our roads.

“I’m acutely aware that too many people are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, or in the passenger seat, and never coming home.

“Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and has a lasting impact on not only the friends, families and communities of those involved but on our first responders who attend far too many fatal incidents.

“The NSW Police Force are out there day and night working to protect the community but they can’t do it alone. Everyone has a role to play when it comes to keeping our roads safe.

“Everyone has a responsibility to themselves, their passengers and other roads users every time they get behind the wheel.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Today is an important day in NSW road safety history, as we gather together many different experts and stakeholders in the road safety space for the first time.

“Any death on our roads is a tragedy and as Regional Roads Minister I am particularly concerned that more than two thirds of these deaths take place on regional roads.

“We know country driving can be challenging – drivers in regional areas often drive longer distances on higher speed roads compared to those driving in the city. We know they’re often in older vehicles and environmental factors such as roadside hazards and bends in the road mean that a poor decision or mistake can be fatal.

“This is a conversation that I have been having across regional NSW since I came to office. I look forward to hearing the expert advice and to continue to work with rural, remote and regional communities to improve road safety in country NSW.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility and I urge every single road user to help us make sure everyone makes it home safely.”

Senator Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport said:

“Today’s road safety forum is an invaluable gathering that I hope will provide ideas and outcomes can be carried through to the National Road Safety Conference coming up.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility- from local, state and territory governments as well as the Australian Government and individual road users.

“The National Road Safety Conference has been convened to bring together Road Safety Ministers and Police Ministers from across the country to engage on the worrying trends we are seeing on our roads.”

The NSW Government will transform SafeWork into a standalone regulator following a 12-month inquiry by former judge The Hon. Robert McDougall KC.

The government has released the independent report as it continues work to create a modern, strong and fit for purpose work health and safety regulator.

The government has endorsed the report’s recommendations with further work underway to determine specific implementation details.

Many of the recommended reforms started after March last year, including reviewing SafeWork’s capabilities in triaging of incidents, improving the responsiveness of contact centre staff and pulling together SafeWork staff previously spread across the Department of Customer Service.

Other critical recommendations include:

• Requiring SafeWork to keep those affected by workplace incidents, including families of deceased workers and those seriously injured at work, informed of progress of investigations and prosecutions.
• Training more inspectors in dealing with psychosocial hazards in the workplace such as extreme workload and bullying.
• Reviewing complaints handling policies.
• Formalising data collection and analysis to make better compliance and enforcement decisions.

In opposition, Labor fought for the establishment of this inquiry to ensure that workers were protected, following a spate of scandals under Liberal-National Ministers such as an inadequate response to the emerging silica threat.

The Independent Review was informed by public consultation including submissions by former and current SafeWork staff, families of injured and deceased workers, unions and peak bodies, employer groups and SafeWork itself.

Detailed options are being developed on the possible design of the standalone regulator for the Government’s consideration.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“This government commits to all NSW workers that it will never allow the health and safety regulator to be compromised so badly again.”

“Worker safety is not red tape, it is not a tick a box function, it is not a cost of doing business.”

“It is a fundamental right for every worker to go to their job and come home safely.”

“We are committing to ensuring for family members that SafeWork will create improved processes to ensure they are informed at all steps of an investigation.

“We are committing to SafeWork’s inspectors that they will get the support they need to do their vital work.”

“I thank the Hon. Robert McDougall KC and those who made submissions to the review for their work.”

SafeWork NSW’s Trent Curtin said:

“SafeWork NSW is entering a new era. Our dedicated and passionate staff want to make sure that everyone that goes to work can come home safely.”

“The recommendations set out by the Hon. Robert McDougall KC will assist SafeWork to become a strong and responsive work health and safety regulator for NSW.”

“With work already underway, SafeWork NSW will take all steps necessary to analyse our regulatory approaches and support systems to ensure best-practise work health and safety regulation for NSW workers.”

The NSW Government is delivering on its promise to rollout a major staffing reform set to boost the number of frontline healthcare workers in NSW public hospitals.

The safe staffing levels rollout will see more nurses and midwives in NSW public hospitals between now and July 2027.

The new minimum staffing requirements will be rolled out in stages, starting at hospitals with emergency departments (EDs), who treat the most critically ill patients, and will be progressively implemented across other hospital departments.

The move follows extensive discussions at the Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce, responsible for the implementation of the Government’s commitment.

The Taskforce includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and New South Wales Health. 

The safe staffing reforms will be first implemented at Liverpool Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital EDs. The Safe Staffing Taskforce will review this initial rollout and use it to inform the roll out to future sites, which it will continue to oversee.

Phase one of the roll out will see a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied ED resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay units.

The NSW Government’s hospital safe staffing levels reforms forms part of a broader range of measures designed to build an engaged, capable and supported workforce, including:

• Saving 1,112 temporary nurses by making them permanent;
• Abolishing the wages cap and delivering record pay increases for nurses, paramedics and other health workers, as well as salary packaging;
• Beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
• Doubling the health worker study subsidies.

These reforms will improve conditions and staff experience and, in turn, boost retention, capacity and capability.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“This Government continues to deliver on its commitment to ensuring our hospitals have the frontline healthcare workers they need to continue to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients. This reform will mean more nurses providing frontline care to the people of NSW.

“We listened to the nurses, midwives, patients and other stakeholders who have told us of the need for these changes and have acted to ensure we have a health system that delivers the best care possible for all of NSW, now and into the future.

“This important reform will deliver improved experiences and outcomes of care for patients while backing essential frontline workers in all corners of the state.

“It will help retain our existing staff while also helping attract our future workforce.

“When we boost and support our health workforce, we will see improved health outcomes. It’s as simple as that.

“I want to thank the Safe Staffing Taskforce for their work to bring this Government’s commitment to fruition.”