Month: June 2024

Struggling families are missing out on vital payments during the cost of living crisis, with new figures revealing Services Australia is sitting on more than 232,000 claims that are yet to be processed after more than 90 days.

The following table lists the number of social security and welfare claims and health work on hand at Services Australia as at 25 March 2024 that are older than 90 days.

	90-129 days	130-199 days	200+ days
Social security and welfare	27,022	15,552	7,013
Health	62,502	63,622	57,126

The agency’s own timeliness standard requires that the majority of social security and welfare claims are processed within 30 days, while the majority of claims submitted digitally under the Medicare Benefit Schedule are required to be processed within 7 days of lodgement. 

The Opposition obtained the data following a series of parliamentary Questions in Writing.

Shadow Minister for Government Services Paul Fletcher said the figures are a stark reminder of the Albanese Labor Government’s shocking mismanagement of this crucial agency.

“Vital Centrelink and Medicare claims are gathering dust under the Albanese Labor Government because there is zero focus on delivering great customer service,” Mr Fletcher said.

“Families are doing it tough and need claims processed quickly and efficiently. Instead, they are being subjected to an unacceptably slow system that makes life harder for them.

“What’s the point of having a timeliness standard if you’re not going to get anywhere near achieving it?

“Bill Shorten is doing a terrible job as Minister and needs to demonstrate leadership. Simply boosting Canberra’s bureaucracy and pleasing the unions isn’t good enough.”

Live music provides 25,000 jobs and contributes an economic output of $5.5 billion to the NSW economy, first-of-its-kind research has found.

The first State of the Scene report, to be released this week, confirms NSW is Australia’s music powerhouse. With 55 dedicated live music venues, 453 regular and ongoing venues, 56 large-scale multipurpose venues and 231 venues that offer live music as an ancillary function, the report confirms there are now 795 live venues areas across NSW.

This report provides an important baseline for the sector and for the NSW Government to continue to build upon.

The State of the Scene report acted as the first-ever census of live music in NSW, using feedback from 750 industry participants and 550 members of the public who attend live music gigs.

Feedback from industry in the development of the inaugural State of the Scene report also revealed several barriers to growth for the sector, including:

• a high-cost environment impacting financial viability of live music venues, including cost-of-living pressure for audiences
• regulatory red tape reducing operating capacity of venues
• expensive pricing and security environments for venue operators
• changing audience behaviours and fragmented media landscape
• complex government policy and grant schemes
• lack of mid-career growth opportunities and reduction in youth live music spaces and all ages events
• access and inclusivity
• public transportation.

The 2024 to 2025 Budget will build on the NSW Government’s commitment to building better, more vibrant communities, with more than $45.4 million in funding for strategic support for artists and live venues through funding to Sound NSW and the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner.

The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will receive $26.9 million to empower the night-time economy industry and local councils through regulatory reform, grants programs, precinct-based initiatives, digital tools and other support to help create diverse, safe, and vibrant communities across NSW.

This will enable the Office to support communities and businesses across the state – those that make our cities lively and exciting, employ people and contribute to a culturally rich, diverse, inclusive, and innovative nightlife.

Sound NSW will continue to build and support the role that the contemporary music industry plays in the night-time economy, with $18.5 million to deliver programs that drive audience and international market development, strengthen the live music ecosystem and champion NSW artists and stories.

Combined, these investments will make it fairer and easier for businesses, artists, and communities to develop and support their music cultures and night-time precincts.

That means less red tape, reduced risk of getting shut down by unfair complaints and removing hidden costs to give certainty and to encourage communities and businesses to innovate.

This is part of the NSW Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we have vibrant, well-connected neighbourhoods.

A plan to build a better NSW.

Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham said:

“We have never known the full number of venues or had a clear picture of their economic impact of live music in NSW. Now we want to grow that number.

“What this shows is not only the number of venues that offer live music across the state, but the different types of venues and the important roles they play in their community, as well as the enormous social, economic impacts and jobs the industry provides.

“Without knowing this detail, it’s impossible to grow. This data will allow Government to better respond to industry and audience needs, and target bringing more venues online which may currently have the capacity to offer live music but aren’t doing so.

“Contemporary music and the night time economy are pivotal threads in the creative and economic fabric of our society. That is why we’re investing over $45 million into both music and the night-time economy in the 2024 to 2025 Budget.”

About the Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner

• In November 2023, the NSW Parliament passed the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Act 2023, making the role a permanent, statutory appointment.
• The Act specifically outlines the remit of the Commissioner as statewide, placing a renewed focus on how the Office can adapt and expand its programs and initiatives to key urban centres across Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast, Newcastle and regional NSW.
• The Office will deliver a refreshed 24-Hour Economy Strategy and support councils and businesses through capacity-building workshops, mentoring and grant opportunities to enhance and manage their unique nightlife precincts.

About Sound NSW

• Established in 2023, Sound NSW is a dedicated office within the NSW Government committed to the growth, development and promotion of contemporary music in NSW.
• In 2023 to 2024, Sound NSW has delivered direct support to the industry through target initiatives to help soundproof venues, support NSW touring artists with touring, recording and promotion, as well as supporting artist managers and critical support bodies.
• The data and stakeholder feedback will be used to inform the NSW Government’s work to support industry and artists, including the development and implementation of the NSW Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy, due for release later this year.

About Liquor & Gaming reforms

• The NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms have increased the incentives for extended trading hours to host live music and will prevent single noise complainants from shutting down venues.
• Under the former government, NSW lost more than half its music venues, with just 133 venues registered to participate in incentives with Liquor & Gaming NSW as live music and performance venues across the state in March 2023. Since then, 157 pubs, clubs and other live venues have joined the list, more than doubling the number of establishments that qualify for the extended trading incentives in return for staging live music and backing local musicians.
• The Liquor & Gaming NSW list will continue to be an important source of information for the NSW Government, but this census provides a comprehensive view of the music ecosystem, including capturing live music venues that do not hold a liquor licence,  that assists in our ultimate goal – to grow music in NSW. 

Spontaneous volunteers who turn up to help in times of crisis will be better trained, equipped and coordinated through a new $5 million grants program funding councils, non-government-organisations and community groups to prepare for future natural disasters.

From Resilient Lismore supporting the local community in the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, to the countless volunteers assisting in the Black Summer bushfires, NSW communities step up in times of crisis.

The Spontaneous Volunteer Support (SVS) Program is designed to ensure that in situations where people decide to spontaneously or informally help during emergencies, organisations are better placed to coordinate this support to complement trained volunteers and emergency service efforts.

The SVS Program is one of the outcomes of a NSW Government review to help develop a longer-term vision for emergency volunteering in NSW to ensure its continued sustainability into the future.

Recent prolonged and catastrophic disasters, and subsequent inquiries into preparation, response and recovery efforts, have highlighted the importance of volunteers to the state’s emergency management capability.

A review coordinated by the Premier’s Department on behalf of the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) found that while emergency volunteers and the organisations that support them provide a strong foundation for the state’s future emergency capability, an enhanced approach to planning for the future of volunteering is required.

The review involved consultation with more than 4,000 emergency volunteers and collaboration with SEMC member agencies, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities in emergency volunteering. Emergency volunteering in NSW has strong foundations, with many highly committed individuals and volunteer organisations.

Formal volunteering in association with emergency services organisations is at the core of NSW’s emergency management framework. While the number of formal volunteers has remained relatively stable in recent years, some communities (particularly in some remote and rural areas) are experiencing challenges in relation to recruitment and retention.

In the face of increased demands resulting from population growth and the escalating impacts of disaster events, NSW emergency volunteers have continued to play a key role in keeping communities safe, helping them to recover and working to build community resilience.

The review underscores the need for a coordinated whole-of-sector approach to planning for the future of volunteering.

Key recommendations include:

• A dedicated Action Plan to grow and strengthen the emergency services volunteer workforce, focus on improving volunteer recruitment and addressing barriers to volunteering.
• Integration of informal volunteers as part of NSW’s emergency management arrangements: updating the NSW State Emergency Management Plan to recognise the significant contribution of informal volunteers and strategies developed to include them in the emergency management framework.
• Improved engagement with volunteers: The NSW Government is launching a new online hub to promote and connect community members with the wide range of emergency volunteering opportunities across the state, including training programs.
• Improved recognition of emergency volunteers: including the establishment by the Minister for Emergency Services of a new state-based award for volunteers.
• Community capability building: a strengthened approach to building community capability and resilience to respond to disaster events including a more coordinated approach to informal volunteering through the new SVS Program to support community organisations.

These outcomes have been developed in alignment to the findings and recommendations of the 2022 Flood Inquiries, with their implementation to be overseen by the SEMC.

The competitive SVS grant program opens next week.

View the review outcomes.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Whether on the frontline or behind the scenes, our emergency service volunteers’ unwavering commitment in the face of unprecedented challenges has been demonstrated time and time again.”

“This important review underscores our commitment to support and strengthen the emergency volunteering sector and provides a roadmap for the future for our volunteers and the communities they serve.”

“As we face increasing frequency and severity of disasters, it has never been more important for us to support volunteers in their work and make it easier for the next generation to take up the mantle.”

“We know that people who want to volunteer can sometimes find it difficult to commit time consistently, by supporting informal volunteering we are providing another way to help ensure more volunteers are ready when the call comes.”

“I encourage people who care about their community and want to make a contribution, no matter how big or small, to visit our new emergency volunteering hub and have a look at some of the exciting and meaningful opportunities that are available.”

Minister with responsibility for Volunteering Jodie Harrison said:

“Volunteering enriches the lives of people, strengthening local communities across NSW to be resilient and inclusive.”

“Communities across NSW have shown throughout many natural disasters that they have a breadth of abilities and compassion in their approach to disaster response and recovery.”

“This program will go a long way to supporting that important engagement and co-ordination by volunteers.”

The 2024-25 NSW Budget will help open Western Sydney to the world, with more than $1 billion for roads connecting people and communities with the new International Airport and Bradfield City Centre.

Connecting Western Sydney International Airport, which is due to open in 2026, to communities is a key priority of the Minns Labor Government, and this commitment builds on recently announced funding for the same roads by the Australian Government.

Elizabeth Drive, which will take travellers directly to the new airport and connect major arteries of Mamre and Northen Roads, will see the state contribute $400 million for a long-awaited upgrade into a four-lane divided road.

This takes the total funding for Elizabeth Drive to $800 million in partnership with the Federal Government.

An additional $500 million will allow the next stage of construction to begin on Mamre Road between Erskine Park and Kemps Creek.

Mamre Road, a key freight route and zone for commercial development, will be widened with extra lanes to meet future growth, providing upgraded and new intersections and a new shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.

This Budget investment takes total Federal-State funding of Mamre Road to $1 billion.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget provides $115 million for Mulgoa Road to see a separated four-lane dual carriageway between Glenmore Park and Jeanette Street.

And $10.5 million for Appin Road will provide an upgraded intersection at St Johns Road, building a stronger connection from Wollongong and the South Coast to Campbelltown and the Western Sydney Airport precinct.

This budget continues work on the M12, a critical link which is under construction.

And we’re getting on with planning for the Eastern Ring Road and Badgerys Creek South Road – key future projects for the airport.

The two roads will connect to create the long-term north-south corridor east of the airport. The Eastern Ring Road will perform a major freight function and ultimately create a further connection for bus services into the airport.

Planning and construction will be staged and sequenced to ensure the road network meets growth and travel demand.

Western Sydney is the fastest-growing region in the country, with a population expected to grow from two million to three million people over the next two decades.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget guarantees these critical roads advance by matching federal funding.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we’re building infrastructure which produces stronger, well-connected communities.

A plan to build a better NSW.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to building better roads in Western Sydney, supporting the city’s new international gateway.

“The Liberals talked a big game about Western Sydney, but when it came to providing for our community, they simply did not deliver, and road projects stalled.

“By investing with the Australian Government, these roadways will service the new Western Sydney International Airport and the surrounding community.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“This is an investment in jobs in Western Sydney.

“Today we make it clear through dollars and determination that the necessary road infrastructure will match the once in a generation, city-shaping, opportunity that is the Western Sydney International Airport.

“Along with our partners in the Australian Government, we have identified where we need to invest, what we need to plan and we will deliver in a staged and methodical way that is appropriate for a fast-growing region attracting people, commercial development and a large freight network.”

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“While NSW faces strong economic headwinds and a legacy of record debt notched up by the Coalition, our commitment to development in western Sydney – Australia’s fastest-growing region – is ironclad.

“Our investment in roads in this region, in lockstep with the Federal Government, will provide industry the assurance to co-invest and get development moving. We are transforming and building the roads and the jobs will follow.”