Month: March 2024

The Opposition is calling on the Minns Labor Government to urgently step in to keep the Paramatta Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) open.
 
The former Liberal Government committed $111 million ahead of the last election to establish a community facility in Paramatta that would house dance and music studios, a homework hub, indoor gyms and multi-sports courts.
 
Shadow Minister for Western Sydney Mark Taylor said, “It’s disappointing to see the Minns Labor Government turn its back on the Parramatta PCYC given their unwavering commitment to the local community since 1962. Our commitment would have provided a new home for PCYC Paramatta.”
 
“Labor has let Parramatta down, the new facility hangs in doubt, the land remains vacant as the Minns Government takes no action.”
 
Liberal MLC Rachel Merton said the community was suffering because of Labor’s inaction, which comes at a critical time when youth crime in NSW is alarmingly on the rise.
 
“PCYC’s are instrumental in keeping young people off the streets, providing them with constructive and engaging activities that steer them away from the grip of crime and delinquency. Closing the doors on the Paramatta facility is not just a disservice to Parramatta but a blow to our ongoing fight against youth crime,” Ms Merton said.
 
“We must explore all options and possible avenues to secure a new home for this vital institution. The investment in a new facility is not merely a financial transaction but a testament to our commitment to the young people of Greater Western Sydney.”
 
“Unlike the Labor Member for Parramatta, the Liberals won’t stand idly by and watch as a beacon of hope and development for our young people is extinguished. The PCYC Parramatta is more than a building; it is a community, a family, and a lifeline for many. It embodies the spirit of collaboration, resilience, and community support,” Ms Merton concluded.

The biggest changes to environment protection regulation in more than three decades have passed the NSW Parliament today. This paves the way for higher penalties and stronger regulatory action for those that do the wrong thing.

The Bill contains the most significant amendments to environment protection rules since the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) was established in 1991.

With the passing of this Bill, NSW now has the strongest environmental regulations of any state or territory in Australia.

The reforms address critical loopholes, introduce recall powers and ensure the EPA has stronger powers to deter environmental crimes and respond faster to pollution incidents.

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

• Doubling maximum penalties – The most serious offences will carry penalties of $10 million for companies and $2 million for individuals. Fines for certain asbestos-related offences will increase to $4 million for companies and $1 million for individuals.
• Raising on-the-spot fines – Common environmental offences will more than double to $30,000 for companies and $15,000 for individuals for a first offence, and $45,000 and $22,500 respectively for a second. Fines for littering small items in public places will double to $160. Public land managers such as Councils will have authority to issue illegal dumping fines of $5000 to companies and $1000 to individuals, increasing to $10,000 for corporations and $2500 for individuals if the dumping occurs in sensitive places like a school, hospital or national park.
• Environmental recall powers – New controls will be established to recall contaminated substances that could harm the community or the environment.
• Public transparency – A public ‘name and shame’ process will issue warnings about poor environmental performers and sub-standard practices.
• Strengthened investigations – Introducing preliminary investigation notices to allow early testing and sampling.
• Licence bans – The Land and Environment Court will be able issue orders to prevent serious and repeat offenders from applying for an environmental protection licence.

The urgent overhaul is occurring at the same time as the criminal investigation into asbestos-contaminated mulch, which is the largest probe in the EPA’s history and has emphasised the need to strengthen environmental legislation.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe: 

“This is the largest environmental regulation bill since the creation of the EPA in 1991.

“Today, the NSW Labor Government fulfils its election commitment to deliver an EPA with teeth and strengthen environmental protections.

“Penalties for serious offences have not been raised since 2005 when Labor was last in government.

“This is a pivotal moment in our fight against crimes that harm the environment.”

The new penalties and regulatory tools will come into effect in the coming days.

The NSW Treasurer will today reveal that privatising the state’s ports has left the people of NSW saddled with a potential liability of between $600 million and $4.3 billion.

Port privatisation contracts, along with boxes of other privatisation deeds, will be tabled in the Parliament today as part of the NSW Labor Government’s commitment to provide transparency to the people of NSW.

The Liberal National government sold off Port Botany and Port Kembla to NSW Ports in 2013. The Port of Newcastle was sold off a year later to a separate buyer.

Under the former government’s ports deal, the state would be liable to compensate NSW Ports if the Port of Newcastle were to develop a competing container terminal.

In a report commissioned by NSW Treasury, preliminary estimates by Deloitte Access Economics suggest that liability to the government could range between $600 million and $4.3 billion in today’s dollars out to the end of the contract in 2063.

Last October, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey wrote to port owners requesting consent to release these contracts.

The public should know the details of these sales for transparency and to understand if they got a good deal.

Documents to be tabled today also outline details of a port commitment deed signed with the Port of Newcastle.  This requires the Port of Newcastle to reimburse the state, should the state be required to pay NSW Ports.

IPART is currently working to set what the price of a 1-off payment to the state would be, to enable the Port of Newcastle to extinguish the reimbursement provision should it wish to do so.

IPART’s determination does not affect the Port Commitment Deeds with NSW Ports – the owner of Port Botany and Port Kembla.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey will deliver a Ministerial Statement and table the contracts in Parliament today.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“After more than a decade, the people of NSW are finally seeing what the impact of selling off their assets looks like.

“They shouldn’t have had to wait this long to see these contracts. All this government had to do was ask.

“The public deserves to know exactly what is in the agreements made when public assets were privatised.

“The NSW Labor Government promised to end the secrecy and today we’re delivering on that promise.

“I thank all contractual parties for helping us show the people of NSW the reality of these privatisation deals.”

Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, Australia’s biggest annual ticketed event, starts tomorrow (Friday 22 March) at Sydney’s Olympic Park highlighting the best of our state’s regional communities, produce and livestock.

Over 12 days, more than 820,000 visitors will pass through the gates to participate in this celebration of the very best of NSW agriculture and primary industries, which last year achieved a gross value of production of $21.2 billion.

The Show offers a unique opportunity for communities, farmers, and aquaculturalists to submit their produce for judging to find the best in show, with 15,000 trophies, certificates and medals awarded.

School students, exhibitors, and regular attendees travel from all over NSW to Homebush so they can participate in events or just enjoy strolling through the pavilions and sideshow alley. This great event provides professional acknowledgment that helps define our state.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries sponsors the iconic produce displays, designed to highlight the unique produce from four districts. Along with the best fruit and vegetables, visitors can see impressive displays of oysters, cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats, working dogs, honey, alpacas and the widely Instagrammed award-winning poultry.

This year the woodchop competition reaches an impressive milestone of 125 years with a first time women’s world championships in both the underhand and single handed sawing events.

Other highlights of this year’s Show include the family favourite Farmyard Nursery, the Grand Parade, alpaca sheering, the livestock judging, Country Women’s Association tea and scones, dagwood dogs, scary rides, show bags and fireworks.

The iconic Easter Show, and associated activities of the Royal Agriculture Society, generate more than $617 million towards the NSW economy each year.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The Sydney Royal Easter Show puts our world class NSW agriculture and primary industries front and centre in a showcase for visitors from all over.

“NSW farmers work hard to create the finest food and fibre of which our reputation is second to none, and this is a chance to recognise and highlight the ways they strive for excellence. 

“I look forward to presenting the Shows longest standing perpetual trophy for the Best District Display – the RAS Perpetual Shield – it’s a highly competitive field where dozens of people work tirelessly to make their pumpkins, corn, apples and wheat shine and tell a story.

“This year’s Show offers city lovers and bush lovers a chance to come together and experience great food and sights – it’s not to be missed, and wear a hat.”

On World Down Syndrome Day, the NSW Labor Government has announced $28 million in funding to ensure ongoing support and advocacy for people with disability.

Funding for the Disability Advocacy Futures Program (DAFP) will continue for a further 2 years to ensure approximately 1.4 million people with disability can access NSW Government funded services.

The DAFP provides funding to support people with disability navigate local services on a 1-to-1 basis, to fund organisations working towards long-term social change, and to fund policy advocacy groups run by, or on behalf of, people with disability.

The DAFP commenced in 2022 following a recommendation from the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission’s Review into Disability Advocacy Funding in NSW.

The program focuses on all people with disability in NSW who need support to access NSW Government funded services, regardless of whether they are participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

In addition, the DAFP also provides 1-off funding grants for special projects and sector development.

Find out more information about the DAFP

Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington said:

“Almost 1 in 5 people in NSW lives with a disability but only a small proportion of them are supported under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“The DAFP provides crucial support and representation for all people with disability to ensure they can access the services they need to reach their full potential.

“The extension of the DAFP will ensure ongoing support for the sector to drive better outcomes for people with disability through effective and inclusive advocacy.”

CEO of Down Syndrome NSW, Emily Caska said:

“We warmly welcome this much needed investment in advocacy for a further 2-year period, with advocacy organisations forming such an essential part of the ecosystem of trusted and independent supports for people with disability.

“The DAFP to date has had a significant impact on our community, ensuring that people with disability, their parents and siblings are informed, confident and connected.

“This in turn contributes greatly to our overarching aim of ensuring that people with disability are valued and active citizens within their thriving, vibrant and diverse communities across NSW.”

Scientists and researchers have discovered a juvenile platypus in the Royal National Park, less than a year after 10 platypuses were returned to the park where they had been locally extinct for more than 50 years.

The female was captured during a survey to assess the health of the translocated platypuses and confirm potential offspring.

Over 3 nights, researchers from UNSW Sydney, Taronga Conservation Society Australia and WWF Australia, with the support of NSW National Parks and Wildlife, laid nets in ‘hot spots’ along the waterways of the Royal National Park. They were placed in areas where monitoring had indicated regular activity.

The little platypus is in excellent condition, weighed in at 850 grams and is estimated to be about 6 months old. Her age aligns with the end of the platypus breeding season and means she would have only just emerged from her burrow. She will be named by the local Indigenous community.

Before she was returned to the river, researchers assessed her body condition, took several samples and fitted her with a microchip for future identification.

During the surveys, researchers also captured an adult female platypus named Delphi in the same area, who was also in good condition. Genetic analysis will confirm the juvenile’s parents, providing valuable insights into the breeding patterns and genetic health of the population.

Ongoing monitoring and tracking have confirmed all 10 of the original platypuses are still active, with a couple recently venturing beyond the detection range. The research team has not ruled out the possibility of more juveniles in the area.

The waterways in the Royal National Park have been extensively monitored, with results indicating habitat, food availability and water quality is suitable for supporting healthy populations of platypuses.

The breeding success is a significant milestone for the program and testament to the health of the park. Further reintroductions are planned over the coming years.

The return of platypus to the Royal National Park was the first translocation program for platypus in NSW and aimed to re-establish a self-sustaining and genetically diverse platypus population. The platypuses were sourced from across NSW to ensure genetic diversity and taken to Taronga Zoo’s purpose-built platypus refuge before being released into the park.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“This is a wonderful discovery by our dedicated scientists and researchers, who have spent their nights patiently monitoring the Hacking River for signs these platypuses have survived in their new home.

“Not only are they surviving, but the discovery of a juvenile platypus shows they are thriving, which means the Royal National Park is in great shape. Invasive species are being dealt with and water quality is good.

“We have a biodiversity crisis in NSW. We can’t run away from that. We need to protect all the different species living within this unique landscape. Programs like this show it is possible to bring animals back from the brink, and what we learn here will be applied across NSW in the future.

“This gives me great hope that our collaborations are working; that we can protect what’s left and restore what has been damaged. Thank you and congratulations to UNSW Sydney, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, WWF Australia and NSW National Parks and Wildlife.”

UNSW conservation scientist and project lead Dr Gilad Bino said:

“Finding the juvenile platypus is a clear sign the reintroduced population is not just surviving but thriving, adapting well to their environment, and contributing to the genetic diversity and resilience of this iconic species.

“The success of this reintroduction underscores the vital role that targeted conservation actions, such as translocations, rescues, and reintroductions, play in the preservation of the platypus across its range.”

Taronga Conservation Society Australia Conservation Officer Dr Phoebe Meagher said:

“The platypus is such an iconic and enchanting animal, but sadly is being hit from all sides – from climate change, droughts, bushfires and floods, through to habitat fragmentation and pollution.

“Being able to refine and learn from conservation translocations so we can step in and assist vulnerable populations in times of need is absolutely critical.

“To have such success in the first-ever translocation of platypus in NSW fills me with hope for the future of this species.”

WWF-Australia Rewilding Program Manager Rob Brewster said:

“Proof of successful breeding is about much more than the happy news of discovering a healthy juvenile platypus.

“This whole project embodies what ‘rewilding’ is. The community coming together and saying that we don’t accept species and ecosystem decline. That we can return those vital missing elements that make our world so interesting to us all.”