Month: March 2024

Legislation introduced today will require insurers to provide specified data to the NSW Government to help reform the way emergency services are funded.

The amendment to the Emergency Services Levy Act 2017 will give Treasurer Daniel Mookhey authority to access anonymised data including the premiums paid on insurance policies and the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) component of those premiums.

Subject to privacy protections, this data will allow the Government to conduct detailed modelling and design of a new system to replace the current ESL.

NSW is the only mainland state to fund its emergency services by taxing insurance and has the highest average insurance premiums in any state apart from cyclone-prone Queensland.  

The ESL has caused premiums in NSW to be around 18 per cent higher for residential properties and around 34 per cent higher for commercial properties.

It’s also contributed to NSW having the lowest rate of home and contents insurance in Australia. 35 per cent of NSW households are going without contents insurance and 5 per cent of homeowners do not have building insurance.

As fewer people take out insurance policies, the emergency services levy burden increases for those who do have cover.

The Government announced the formation of a Stakeholder Reference Group last week, which will provide expert advice and perspectives to government as it moves ahead with this reform.

A public consultation paper will be released in the coming weeks.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“It’s imperative that the Government has access to the latest data held by insurers.  This will help to redesign the way emergency services are funded in NSW in the most effective way.

“This is information that will help government to model a new system that can sustainably fund NSW emergency services.

“With the cost of natural disasters only expected to rise with climate change, we’re acting now to find a better way to fund our emergency services and ease the burden falling disproportionately on households and businesses that choose to get insured.”

The Inaugural NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Strategic Plan, Working together to address domestic, family and sexual violence, has been released today, providing a roadmap for the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner’s activities between 2024 and 2027.

Last year the NSW Government became the first state or territory in Australia to have a stand-alone Women’s Safety Commissioner, Dr. Hannah Tonkin.

Lead by Dr. Tonkin the Strategic Plan sets out actions aimed at achieving 6 overarching and interconnected priorities to address domestic, family and sexual violence, by the Women’s Safety Commissioner and the NSW Government.

Priority 1 of the plan, ‘Put people with lived experience at the centre’, recognises the inclusion of people with lived experiences is crucial in planning, designing and implementing policy and programs to address domestic, family and sexual violence.

To support this the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner will create a lived experience advisory body for NSW, supported by a broader network of people with diverse lived experiences across the state. This will be a significant step forward and complement existing groups.

The Strategic plan also outlines 5 other priorities, including:

• enhancing oversight, monitoring and accountability for delivery of the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-27 and NSW Sexual Violence Plan 2022-27
• promote safe, accessible and integrated responses to domestic, family and sexual violence
• champion a greater focus on primary prevention
• strengthen domestic, family and sexual violence workforces and informal support networks.
• support women’s economic safety and security.

Over the coming years these priorities will guide the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner.

The progress in relation to these priorities will be published in an annual report card by the Office of the Women’s Safety Commissioner.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“People with lived experience of domestic, family and sexual violence have a unique point of view that is invaluable to the NSW Government and we are committed to listening to them.

“The NSW Government welcomes the launch of this strategy as part of our commitment to implement a range of strategies to reduce and eventually eliminate domestic, family and sexual violence.

“This strategy is key to transforming our actions around domestic, family and sexual violence to a whole-of-government and whole-of-community issue. Not only are we putting victim-survivors at the centre, we are also focusing on primary prevention to address the drivers of violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:

“Eliminating domestic and family violence is a complex challenge that will require both systems reform and cultural change over the long term. The creation of a lived experience advisory body, supported by a broader network of people with diverse lived experience, is a significant step that would complement existing groups in NSW.

“We will consult with experts, including in other jurisdictions, to ensure that the establishment and operation of the new body follows best practice.

“We recognise that no single group of people can ever represent such a diverse range of experiences, so we will continue to work closely with community organisations and researchers to ensure a wide range of voices are heard and listened to.”

Dubbo residents and visitors now have a safer and more accessible train station after the completion of a significant upgrade.

The NSW Government’s accessibility upgrade to Dubbo Station includes better lighting and security and improvements to the ticket counter and waiting room.

The work also included regrading and line marking of the 32-space car park, the installation of new tactile indicators along the station platform to improve safety and accessibility for people with vision impairment, the replacement of external lighting and installation of new heritage light poles.

Upgrades have also been made to existing paths around the station precinct with new surfaces and tactile indicators. Other key benefits include a new kiss and ride zone and improved amenities.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The historic Dubbo Station has been operating since around 1881 and is a landmark in the community.

“This upgrade has enhanced the facility to make it more comfortable for current commuters and to help plan for future growth while protecting and retaining the facility’s heritage status.

“We also made upgrades to the five bus and coach bays, regraded parts of the platform and installed new drainage.

“Modifications have also been completed to the café and ticketing counters, which have been lowered to make them accessible for customers in wheelchairs, as well as to the waiting room where we have improved lighting and provided wheelchair spaces alongside the seating.”

Dubbo Duty MLC Stephen Lawrence said:

“I’ve been watching the development proceed over the last seven months and have been extremely impressed with the improvements.

“Dubbo Station is a major bus and coach interchange given that it is the end of the line for the passenger train, and the improvements will enhance the transport experience.

“This Government sees improvements to public transport as a vital part of people’s quality of life in region, rural and remote NSW.”

The Safe Accessible Transport program aims to make public transport safe, inclusive, and easy to use for all passengers, especially people with disability, older people, people with prams or luggage and others who may be experiencing mobility problems.

The 2023-2024 NSW Budget allocated a total of $800.7m over four years to implement the new program, which combines the funds of both the existing Transport Access Program (TAP) and Commuter Car Park Program (CCP) and includes an additional $300m commitment.

The program will upgrade stations and wharves to achieve Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) compliance, improving amenity, access and safety and acknowledging the important role these locations have to the communities they serve.

Metro services through the Sydney CBD are in sight, following a major testing milestone ahead of services starting on the Sydney Metro City & Southwest line later this year.

All 45 metro trains in the current fleet have now completed at least one return journey between Tallawong and Sydenham at operational speed.

Preparations are now underway for the next major phase of testing – trial running, which is expected to begin in the coming months.

Trial running is the last stage of testing before the launch of the new metro line, where network operator Metro Trains Sydney will run a series of timetable running and operational tests.

Each train stopped at every station during the 51-kilometre journey to confirm train and platform screen doors performed as designed. Passenger help points and information displays on the trains were also put through their paces.

The performance of each train is being monitored closely to ensure passengers can look forward to the new turn-up-and-go metro timetable of a train every four minutes during peak periods.

Extensive integration testing is continuing between the Metro North West Line and the new City section to ensure the trains, signalling and station systems are working together and functioning seamlessly along the length of the line.

Since the rigorous testing and commissioning program started in April 2023, more than 8,700 hours of a total of 11,000 hours of required testing has been completed.

When world-class metro services extend beyond Chatswood and into the city this year, passengers will benefit from direct, fast and reliable public transport services with record travel times in the peak, including from:

• Martin Place to Crows Nest in 7 minutes
• Sydenham to Macquarie University in about 30 minutes
• Central to Chatswood in 15 minutes
• North Sydney’s Victoria Cross in North Sydney under the harbour to Barangaroo in 3 minutes

The extension of Metro services from Sydenham to Bankstown will be the next stage of Sydney Metro’s transformation.

The T3 Bankstown Line will be closed for the 12-month conversion in order to deliver turn-up-and-go metro services every four minutes by late 2025. A comprehensive temporary transport plan, including alternative bus and rail services, will be released in the coming months.

The closure of the T3 Bankstown Line will not occur until the new City section of the line is providing a reliable service for commuters from Sydenham into the CBD.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“World-class metro services into the heart of Sydney’s CBD are within reach as testing ramps up.

“Commuters from Tallawong in the North West to Sydenham in the inner west can look forward to easy and reliable turn-up-and-go metro services every four minutes in the peak.

“From the middle of this year, our city will be served by six brand new metro stations, giving commuters more travel options than ever before.

“As we hit a critical stage of integrating the existing Metro North West line with the extension under the CBD, I want to thank the community for their patience. There’s no doubt weekend testing is inconvenient and challenging, but the long term benefits of this line will be a real game changer.”

The Orange community is able to access non-emergency healthcare in a more timely way, and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department, thanks to a new Urgent Care Service opening this week.

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said the Orange Urgent Care Service will mean the local community can receive care quickly for conditions which can be safely and appropriately treated outside the region’s busy EDs.

“The Orange Urgent Care Service will be open 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm, and will be staffed by General Practitioners and nurses with important diagnostic services on-site including radiology and pathology,” Mr Park said.

“The service is well-supported to treat a range of illnesses and injuries that are deemed urgent, but not life-threatening, such as minor wounds that need stitches, suspected broken bones and skin infections that need antibiotics.

“I’m committed to increasing availability of healthcare to communities through urgent care services just like this one, which are aimed at bridging the gap between primary care and emergency care, ensuring that patients have fast access to the urgent care they need.”

Member for Orange Phil Donato welcomed the urgent care service which gives the Orange community a genuine alternative outside of a busy ED for urgent – but not life-threatening – illnesses and injuries.

“This is an incredibly important service for people living in Orange and the surrounding towns, which will improve access to care, whilst also easing pressure on the region’s busy emergency departments,” Mr Donato said.

To access the service, patients should call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse will assess the patient’s condition and then discuss with the patient the best place for their care needs. This may include an appointment at the Orange Urgent Care Service, a telehealth appointment with the virtualKIDS or virtualGP services or escalating their care to other services like NSW Ambulance if required.

Healthcare provided at Orange Urgent Care Service is bulk billed.

The Orange Urgent Care Service is being delivered in partnership with the Western NSW Primary Health Network.

“We welcome this important service to Orange, which will ensure people in the region have better access to fast medical attention for their urgent care needs and relieve some of the pressure on our Emergency Departments,” said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive Officer, Western NSW Primary Health Network.

NSW Health has partnered with primary health networks to deliver additional Urgent Care Services right across the state, in an effort to ease pressure on busy hospital EDs and ensure the people of NSW continue to receive care at the right time and place.

The NSW Government committed $124 million over two years to deliver 25 Urgent Care Services in NSW by mid-2025. It is also supported by funding from the Commonwealth Government.

The NSW Labor Government is expanding a successful educational program that raises student engagement at schools across the state through increased access to vocational education opportunities.

Funding for the Educational Pathways Program (EPP), now operating in 148 public high schools in 9 regions, will be continued for another 2 years and expanded to an additional 20 schools across the state.

The EPP is an innovative program designed to improve education and career outcomes by introducing public high school students to a range of vocational training and employment pathways.

It supports existing careers activities at schools by providing extra resources including 2 key roles: Head Teachers Careers and School-Based Apprenticeships (SBAT) and Traineeship Engagement Officers.

As part of the program, schools match students with local employers and offer support while they explore their pathways through school-based apprenticeships or traineeships.

Over the past 12 months the EPP has seen:

• 1771 students undertake school-based apprenticeships or traineeships (SBAT), a 129% increase from February to October 2023
• more than 1000 students re-engage in their education through support and mentoring initiatives
• more than 7800 students participate in “test and try” vocational courses with TAFE NSW
• 1079 students secure nationally recognised pre-apprenticeship or pre-traineeship credentials.

One school participating in the program is Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School which focuses on career opportunities for students in the trades and aged care sector, both areas of skilled shortages across the state.

The locations of the 20 additional schools are:

• Batemans Bay High School
• Bega High School
• Bourke High School
• Bowraville Central School
• Brewarrina Central School
• Broken Hill High School
• Chatham High School
• Coomealla High School
• Coonamble High School
• Gilgandra High School
• Kempsey High School
• Macksville High School
• Melville High School
• Menindee Central School
• Moruya High School
• Narooma High School
• Nyngan High School
• Taree High School
• Wilcannia Central School
• Willyama High School

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The NSW Government remains committed to empowering students with the skills and knowledge essential for successful futures. 

“The expansion of the Educational Pathways Program is a fitting example of this commitment, ensuring that more school students have access to high-quality vocational education and training.”

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, said:

“We know 4 out of every 10 new jobs created in the next decade will need vocational qualifications.

“Last year, through the EPP more than 1000 students completed pre-apprenticeship or pre-traineeship training, earning nationally recognised VET credentials.

“The EPP plays a key role in removing barriers so our public high school students remain engaged with their education and have a head start in embracing the lifetime of opportunities.

“I am particularly pleased that we are expanding this program to more regional, rural and remote schools. Supporting schools outside the metropolitan areas is a key focus and I am thrilled to be able to better support regional schools with this important program”. 

Penalties for many environmental crimes will double under the biggest amendment to environmental protection laws since the Environment Protection Authority was created in 1991.

The NSW Government will today introduce changes to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) and other environmental laws, to strengthen penalties and the EPA’s powers to deter repeat offenders and make polluters pay.

Most NSW environmental penalties have not increased since 2005, including those for serious offences. 

The current criminal investigation into asbestos-contaminated mulch, the biggest in the EPA’s history, has highlighted the need to address loopholes and enhance investigative capabilities.

The Environment Protection Legislation Amendment (Stronger Regulation and Penalties) Bill 2024 includes:

• Doubling maximum penalties for Tier 1 serious offences to $10 million for companies and $2 million for individuals.
• Doubling maximum penalties for Tier 2 asbestos-related offences to $4 million for companies and $1 million for individuals.
• More than doubling on-the-spot fine amounts for certain Tier 3 offences to $30,000 for companies for a first offence and $45,000 for a second offence. For individuals this will be $15,000 for a first offence and $22,500 for a second offence.
• Doubling on-the-spot fines for general littering of small items to $160 for individuals and corporations in public places.
• Cracking down on small-scale illegal dumping with maximum penalties of $50,000 for companies and $25,000 for individuals. On-the-spot fines of $5000 for companies and $1000 for individuals will be able to be issued by public land managers, including councils, NSW Police and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
• Implementing a specific, higher penalty for small scale illegal dumping on sensitive land such as childcare centres, hospitals, schools, national parks and beaches.
• Increasing maximum penalties for breaching resource recovery orders and exemptions from $44,000 to $2 million, or $4 million for offences by corporations involving asbestos waste.
• Introducing new product recall powers for materials that may be contaminated with harmful substances across an entire supply chain, to quickly safeguard human health and the environment and warn the public.
• Establishing a public ‘name and shame’ process to issue public warnings about poor environmental performers and sub-standard practices.
• Strengthening investigation powers, introducing investigation notices, and improving and expanding clean-up notice controls.
• Allowing the Land and Environment Court to ban serial and serious offenders from applying for an environment protection licence.
• Providing a framework to establish a new waste accreditation scheme to ensure accurate assessment, classification and disposal of waste. This will protect the integrity of recycling streams by targeting the source of contamination. Regulatory effort will be focused upstream towards the waste generator, providing greater visibility and control over supply chains.

These statewide reforms are designed to overcome emerging issues and urgent regulatory challenges. This is the first step the NSW Government is taking to ensure environmental frameworks are preventing contamination entering the community and recycling streams and enforcing deterrents to environmental crimes.

The NSW Government will consider further changes in response to the ongoing investigation into contaminated mulch or recommendations of the Asbestos Taskforce and Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“Today is a downpayment on our election commitment to strengthen environmental protections in NSW. I’m proud that we’re introducing the biggest boost to environmental regulation since the creation of the EPA in 1991.

“Under 12 years of conservative government, penalties and regulation haven’t kept pace. We need a tough environmental cop on the beat. Our changes will give the EPA more power to better protect our precious places and to deter environmental crime.

“The events of the past two months have shown the urgent need to reform environment protection laws and increase penalties.

“These sweeping reforms will directly improve the protection of human health, the environment, and the community.

“Penalties are being ramped up to reflect the risk of harm and disruption to the environment and the community, and for those doing the wrong thing the fine will no longer just be the cost of doing business.”

Offence tiers

Tier 1 offences – wilful

Wilful harm to environment from disposal of waste, or causing any substance to leak, spill or otherwise escape.

Tier 1 offences – negligent

Negligent harm to environment from disposal of waste, or causing any substance to leak, spill or otherwise escape.

Tier 2 offences with higher penalties – asbestos waste and other serious offences

For example, pollution of land where offence involves asbestos waste.

Other Tier 2 offences

For example, failure to comply with licence condition or a clean-up notice.

Tier 3 offences

Environmental offences which are dealt with via penalty notices (on-the-spot fines).