Month: July 2024

10 years since downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

Today marks 10 years since the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and the tragic loss of 298 lives, including 38 people who called Australia home.

Ten years on, those killed that day remain in our hearts and in our purpose. Our thoughts are with their loved ones – the passing of time does not diminish the pain of their loss.

We acknowledge and remember the courage and resilience shown by those who responded to the disaster. We recognise the Australian Federal Police, Defence Force and Australian Transport Safety Bureau personnel whose work was central to the thorough and painstaking investigation.

Australia remains steadfast in our commitment to seeking truth, justice and accountability from those responsible for this horrific act of violence.

In November 2022, the District Court of The Hague found Russians Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, and Ukrainian separatist Leonid Kharchenko guilty for their involvement in the downing of Flight MH17 and the murder of all 298 on board.

Australia has imposed sanctions against these three, as well as Sergey Muchkaev who commanded the Russian Brigade that provided the surface-to-air missile that shot down Flight MH17.

The Court unequivocally and conclusively established Russia’s responsibility for the downing of Flight MH17.

Australia continues to call for the Russian Federation to take responsibility for the role it played and to cooperate to ensure these perpetrators serve their sentences.

Australia and the Netherlands are pursuing accountability through a dispute against the Russian Federation in the International Civil Aviation Organization Council.

Today, the Foreign Minister will host a memorial service with victims’ families, along with first responders, investigators and officials, at Parliament House in Canberra.

The Attorney-General will attend an event in the Netherlands hosted by the MH17 Air Disaster (Next of Kin) Foundation with representatives from victims’ families and loved ones.

Visit to Japan for the Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting

This week I will travel to Japan to represent Australia at the 10th Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10). The meeting in Tokyo is an opportunity for the Pacific family to discuss regional challenges and Pacific priorities with Japan.

A long-time partner in the Pacific, Japan is a strong advocate for increasing Pacific unity through the Pacific Islands Forum and supporter of the Pacific’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Australia and Japan are working together to deliver on Pacific priorities such as climate resilience, infrastructure, health, and digital connectivity.

Our countries have never been closer; we have a strong relationship underpinned by shared interests and complementary economies. Australia is committed to remaining a long-term energy security partner for Japan as we transition to net zero.

Australia and Japan share the Pacific’s vision for a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous and where sovereignty is respected.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE LICENCE FOR US, UK NUCLEAR SUBS GETS THE NOD FOR PERTH

Australia’s nuclear regulator has today approved a license to store waste from US, UK and possibly Australian nuclear submarines at HMAS Stirling off Perth. 

The licence allows the Australian Submarine Agency to establish a ‘Controlled Industrial Facility’ to handle the waste of US and UK nuclear submarines that dock at HMAS Stirling Navy Base, Garden Island, in Western Australia. 

The nuclear regulatory body, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) said in a statement the license is “intended” to cover low-level waste from US and UK nuclear submarines. 

However, the Australian Submarine Agency admitted in the June Senate Estimates hearings that the licence also covers intermediate-level waste. 

ARPANSA received 165 public submissions concerning this licence application, many concerned over the lack of public information concerning the scope of the application, community impact and decision-making. 

The Albanese Labor government are currently in the process of seeking to pass legislation that can make anywhere in Australia a nuclear waste dumping ground with no public consultation or First Nations consent. 

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 also allows for the US and the UK to dump high-level nuclear waste in Australia. 

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Defence, said: 

“We are already seeing the toxic impacts of AUKUS with this move to store nuclear waste from US and UK nuclear submarines off Perth. The community overwhelmingly opposed this application and pointed out the lack of transparency and balance in the approvals process.

“It is remarkable that ASA failed to include in its public consultation material the fact that this license allows for the handling of intermediate-level waste. This waste is significantly more toxic than any other nuclear waste currently stored in Australia.

“While this licence was quietly pushed through, the Albanese Labor Government has stalled legislation in Parliament that would allow unlimited amounts of high-level nuclear waste to be dumped here. 

“This ARPANSA licence looks like a rushed plan B from Labor to avoid the political damage it from pushing its naval nuclear waste legislation while also trying to oppose Dutton’s disastrous civil nuclear plans.”

Senator Dorinda Cox, WA Senator and Greens spokesperson for First Nations, Resources, North Australia, Trade and Tourism said:

“As a First Nations woman, today’s approval of this licence devastates and angers me. It is shameful that although I stood with my community outside Minister King’s office in protest and the voices were clear, they did not want the storage of nuclear waste on their lands, this licence has still been granted.”

“There has been no respect shown to the community and to Traditional owners who opposed this licence.

“I personally raised this lack of prior and informed consent at recent Estimates and was assured consultation would happen. Myself and the Traditional Owners of these lands are still waiting for the basic respect of a meeting to share our concerns and be consulted with. 

“Today’s decision yet again silences our voices and is shameful. First Nations peoples have seen nuclear storage devastate their lands, waterways and communities before. This storage is costly and will destroy irreplaceable cultural heritage, including intangible heritage such as song lines and the local biodiversity.
“Why are the Labor government allowing this to take place in our waters alongside the silencing of First Nations voices again and at the risk and detriment of all Australians? This is shameful.”

Wallsend preparing for a party 150 years in the making

The past, present and future will be celebrated next month with a family-friendly festival to mark the 150th anniversary of Wallsend being declared a municipality.

City of Newcastle has worked with the local community to create a hallmark event featuring something for all ages including musical and cultural performances, market stalls, rides, children’s activities and storytelling.

Wallsend Business Improvement Association board member Luke Whitby, penny farthing rider Sanjex, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk prepare for the upcoming family-friendly celebrations in Wallsend.Wallsend Business Improvement Association board member Luke Whitby, penny farthing rider Sanjex, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk prepare for the upcoming family-friendly celebrations in Wallsend.

The celebration will run from 1pm to 6pm on 17 August with Wallsend Park to host art workshops and food stalls, while most of the action will take place near the historic rotunda and on Nelson Street.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Wallsend’s significant contribution to our region during the past 150 years deserves a major celebration.

“City of Newcastle has worked hard to prepare for this unique milestone with extensive road resurfacing on Nelson Street, as well as a pressure cleaning campaign on the footpaths and around the 136-year-old rotunda,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Wallsend was once a mining colony that once supported around 7500 workers and their families. The local coal was some of the best in Australia and played a major role in the development of Newcastle as a port city.

“Since then the suburb has become a vibrant home to a unique and close-knit community, emerging as a multicultural hub that attracts young families from all over the world.”

Thousands of people are expected to attend the celebration on 17 August, held in a familiar timeslot to the former Winter Fair, with entertainment throughout the afternoon from an impressive line-up of performers on the main stage.

Visitors will be able to step back in time and into a photo booth wearing historical dress, The Creative Co will keep the kids entertained with messy play and a cake smash, and when the sun goes down, Wallsend’s rich history will be projected onto buildings through a collection of digitised photographs.

Cr Nelmes said City of Newcastle is aiming for a vibrant, safe, and accessible event for everyone to enjoy.

“Wallsend is a place of inclusivity and belonging so it’s only fitting the 150th anniversary celebration has the same theme,” Cr Nelmes said.

“First Nations artists will kick off proceedings and then to reflect Wallsend’s multicultural diversity other performers with inspiration from across the world will entertain including samba from Brazil, flamenco from Spain and muqam from China.

“Along with a range of community-led activities and markets there will be something for everyone.”

For more information visit https://whatson.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Wallsend150

This event is supported through the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Program.

Taking the pressure off NSW hospitals

I’ve lost count of how many emergency departments across the state I’ve visited, from Broken Hill in the Far West to Tweed in the North, Moruya in the south and to Liverpool or Westmead in Sydney. While these hospitals differ in many ways, the fact is they’re all under pressure.

Last quarter alone there were 810,291 ED attendances up 5.2% on the same quarter last year, which is an additional 40,235 attendances in just one quarter within 12 months. If you combined the populations of the Penrith, Newcastle, Wollongong and Fairfield Local Government Areas you would still just fall short of the number of ED attendances in NSW hospitals over 3 months.

It’s why last month our Budget delivered almost a half a billion dollars towards an ED Relief Package. Today I announce the first stages of implementing this critical investment.

Firstly, to support people with alternatives to EDs. The fact of the matter is sometimes people turn up to hospital when it’s not an emergency. We’ve seen what happens when alternatives are available. Our virtualKIDS service has cared for more than 3,600 children in just 4 months. We’ll next roll-out virtualADULTS to help to manage urgent care that can be safely assessed and treated by virtual care in the patient’s home.

If you or a loved one are feeling unwell, worried about symptoms or need health advice you can call healthdirect anytime on 1800 022 222 to get the help you need. A registered nurse will assess your condition and connect you with the care you need, whether an appointment at a local urgent care service or virtual care. It means healthcare, anywhere, in the time it takes to make a phone call.

Secondly, we need to enhance our capacity in EDs. Short Stay Units get people in and out of EDs swiftly and safely when they don’t require a hospital admission.  We’re investing a further $70 million in expanding these units. The first additional unit is now operational at Maitland Hospital.

Thirdly, we seek to get patients safely out of hospital and into the comfort of their own homes quicker. We’ve invested $53.9 million towards a new Discharge Concierge Service. These roles will ensure the often complex and time-consuming discharge process is better coordinated.

The ED relief package will mean 290,00 trips to the ED and 76,800 hours waiting in the ED are avoided each year.

For health workers, who have been through so much in recent years, means more time with their patients, more colleagues to share this immense workload and better tools to do their job.

For patients, it will mean more options to get care beyond the ED, a shorter wait when they do need an ED – more time at home, less time in hospital.

For our state, it means the right level of care, support, and access.

Nursing boost commences in regional hospitals

Lismore Base Hospital will become one of the first regional hospitals in NSW to commence rollout of the new Safe Staffing Levels.

Lismore Base Hospital is the latest site in NSW to commence roll out of the new Safe Staffing Levels in its emergency department, with recruitment underway for approximately 29 FTE additional nurses to meet Safe Staffing Level requirements. Port Macquarie Base Hospital is also currently undertaking recruitment as part of the Safe Staffing Levels roll out.

The staffing boost at Lismore and Port Macquarie Base Hospitals facilitates staffing levels based on a one-to-one nursing care ratio for generally occupied Emergency Department (ED) resuscitation beds on all shifts, and one nurse to three generally occupied ED treatment spaces and ED short-stay unit beds on all shifts.

This follows discussions with the Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce – established to oversee the rollout of the Government’s commitment of the equivalent of 2,480 full-time employees over four years towards staffing levels. It includes key leaders from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA), NSW Health, and local health districts.

Implementation of safe staffing level areas is scheduled to occur in phases over the next three years.

Phase one of safe staffing levels is initially commencing in Level 5 and Level 6 EDs, which treat the most critically ill patients, and will then be progressively implemented across other hospitals and departments.

The Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce will review the initial rollout at these facilities to help inform the rollout at future sites.

Implementing safe staffing levels is just one of a range of measures that the NSW Government is embracing to build a more supported health workforce, including:

  • abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest pay increase in over a decade for nurses and other health workers;
  • beginning to roll out 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities; and
  • introducing the health worker study subsidies scheme.

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:

“The rollout of Safe Staffing Levels aims to improve the experience of our patients and staff and boost retention, capacity and capability in our hospitals.

“The Safe Staffing Levels initiative involves the introduction of minimum staffing levels on every shift, which will result in more nurses employed in hospitals right across the state.

“The rollout began earlier this year at Liverpool Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospitals, with Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Lismore Base Hospital now coming on board.

“Importantly, this reform will deliver improved nursing numbers to provide care for patients while supporting our frontline healthcare staff.

“I look forward to working with representatives from the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and NSW Health as part the Safe Staffing Levels Taskforce as they review this rollout and use these experiences to help inform safe staffing levels implementation at future sites.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:

“This initiative aims to support the attraction and retention of health staff to Lismore and the Northern NSW Local Health District to help ensure local patients have better access to safe, high-quality care.

“This will make a big difference to nurses in the emergency department at Lismore Base Hospital, and be a major benefit for everyone in the community who requires emergency care at the hospital.”

Digging deep to build Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel

The Western Harbour Tunnel has passed an important milestone with work on the main roadway now progressing under the Warringah Freeway and just over one kilometre of tunnelling completed.

Working on what is known as Western Harbour Tunnel Stage 2, road header machines have cut through sandstone from Cammeray and are now breaking through 1000 tonnes of rock a day – the equivalent weight of two Airbus A380s – on the north and southbound mainline tunnels.

Currently underneath the Warringah Freeway, there are five road headers at work, including one that has commenced tunnelling from Ridge Street North Sydney to complete the future Falcon Street off ramp.

The 6.5 kilometre Western Harbour Tunnel is due to open to traffic in 2028 and importantly, will remain in public ownership.

As the first new road crossing of the harbour in over 30 years, Western Harbour Tunnel will deliver time-saving benefits to motorists, with 20 minutes shaved off a journey between North Sydney and Sydney Olympic Park or Leichhardt.

Tunnels currently being excavated under the Warringah Freeway will progress to Waverton where specialist tunnel boring machines will then tunnel under the harbour to Birchgrove and plug into the Rozelle Interchange.

The connection will be a key moment for the Sydney road network as the Western Harbour Tunnel will take pressure off the Anzac Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge, assisting traffic flow in the inner-west following the opening of the Rozelle Interchange.

The project’s twin, three-lane tunnels are expected to reduce traffic on the Western Distributor by 35 per cent, the Harbour Tunnel by 20 per cent and the Harbour Bridge by 17 per cent.

Work on the southern side of the harbour is now 80% complete and is due to be wrapped up in 2025.
Following the release of the final report of the Independent Toll Review on Tuesday, the NSW Government is focused on creating a fairer, simpler and transparent tolling network. 

The facts – Western Harbour Tunnel Stage 2:

  • More than 3,300 workers inducted 
  • Five road headers are advancing 20-25 metres a week through Sydney sandstone
  • Over 186,000 tonnes of material so far excavated from Cammeray construction site 
  • 1.1 linear kilometres of tunnel excavated
  • 11,000 linear metres of rock bolts installed
  • 244 concrete piles have been installed for the future Falcon Street off ramp – the equivalent of 1500 linear metres.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“This is an important and exciting project for Sydney and we are seeing important progress today.”

“I want to thank the 3300 workers so far inducted on the project, with 7000 jobs expected to be created before its opening in 2028. 

“Anyone who has crossed the harbour by road knows the system is constrained so the Western Harbour Tunnel will provide much-needed relief, slashing travel times by 20 minutes on a simple journey from North Sydney to Leichardt or Sydney Olympic Park.”

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“It has been more than three decades since a new road crossing of the harbour opened and this project will bring vital extra capacity and take pressure off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel, Western Distributor and Anzac Bridge – roads used by more than 2.5 million motorists every year.

“The Western Harbour Tunnel will remain in public hands and is part of our plans to remake a fairer toll road network for Sydney.

“Once completed, the Western Harbour Tunnel will provide more scope to improve traffic conditions through the inner-west, particularly on Victoria Road.”

NSW plan for nature puts biodiversity protections, and landholder support front and centre

The Minns Labor Government has today released its response to the statutory reviews of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the native vegetation provisions of the Local Land Services Act 2013. The response signals a shift in the way the state fulfills its responsibilities to protect the environment and manage native vegetation across the State, now and into the future.

The plan will deliver on three key election commitments in this term of government: to reform the biodiversity offsets scheme, to end excess land clearing and strengthen environmental protections.

It also outlines the legislative, policy and program directions the NSW Government will take to respond to the statutory reviews and deliver on its commitments.

The response:

  • recognises a change in approach is needed to set nature on a path to recovery;
  • acknowledges the intrinsic relationship between biodiversity and Aboriginal culture and recognises the social, economic and environmental benefits that flow from caring for Country as well as the broader interests’ Aboriginal people have in biodiversity and land management issues;
  • sets out short, medium and long-term priority actions to improve biodiversity protections and land management practices;
  • sets the direction to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and support environmental repair and regeneration;
  • introduce a NSW Nature Strategy to guide actions to protect, restore and enhance ecosystems and landscapes;
  • recognises the strong connection farmers and landholders have with their land and the key role they play in managing and enhancing native vegetation and natural assets;
  • outlines NSW Government support for landholders to access emerging natural capital markets, incentivising them to undertake sustainable farming practices while protecting and restoring their environmental assets;

Amendments to the Biodiversity Conservation Act will also require the biodiversity offsets scheme to transition to overall ‘net positive’ outcomes, and upfront consideration of biodiversity will be strengthened in planning and development processes. To support ongoing improvements to native vegetation management on private land, the NSW Government will strengthen prescriptions in the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code and implement a new monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.

The NSW Government is committed to working with the community to design and deliver the wide range of initiatives outlined in the response to ensure natural resources are managed in the social, economic and environmental interests of the state.

The full response is available at www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-plan-for-nature

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“We cannot ignore the truth: biodiversity in NSW is in crisis. Our goal must be to leave nature better off than we have found it.

“The independent review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act showed we need to take a number of reform measures not just to protect the biodiversity we have now, but to build on this baseline and do better. Our response to this review is that we are ready to take on that challenge.

“It’s clear we need new approaches, and that additional effort must be directed into proactive landscape-scale biodiversity protection, restoration, and management. We must go beyond the aim of halting loss to one of achieving overall ecosystem gains.

“The response sets out our immediate priorities and directions, but this is the start of concerted action, reform, investment.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is committed to improving the management of native vegetation on private rural land and supporting landholders to improve environmental outcomes and access emerging natural capital markets.

“While the statutory LLS review found the objectives of the native vegetation provisions are valid, it also showed us there are actions we can take to improve native vegetation management on private land.

“To support further improvements to native vegetation management on private land, there will be an independent review by the Natural Resources Commission commencing in 2025, to provide Government with advice and options to further protect and restore biodiversity in regional landscapes and enhance value and support for landholders.

“Importantly, we will be working with farmers to deliver the actions outlined in this response to ensure we better protect native vegetation and promote sustainable agricultural production.”

Farmers or landholders who have questions about native vegetation management can contact their closest LLS office: www.lls.nsw.gov.au/i-want-to/contact-my-local-office.

Motor Neurone Disease researchers receive $2 million boost

The Minns Labor Government has awarded $2 million to three outstanding motor neurone disease (MND) reseachers, to support people in NSW affected by the disease and to better understand its causes.

Motor neurone disease is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that causes rapid degeneration of muscle activity and can impair walking, talking, breathing and general functioning. There is no cure for the disease.

MND affects approximately eight in every 100,000 Australians, and 90 per cent of cases occur sporadically, without any apparent reason or family link.

The MND Grants will fund research to help improve the wellbeing and health outcomes for people living with the disease, and drive advancements in diagnostic tools to improve rates of early detection and referral.

The merit-based funding will also support researchers to improve gaps in understanding about why incidences of MND is more prevalent in parts of NSW, by exploring environmental and occupational factors.

The MND Researcher Grants recipients are:

  • Professor Dominic Rowe AM, Macquarie University. Awarded $997,808 to undertake systematic identification of sporadic MND patients in NSW to try and better predict random occurrences of the disease and improve delivery of care and therapy.
  • Dr Rachel Tan, University of Sydney. Awarded $485,515 to identify blood measures of brain changes to improve diagnosis, prognosis and accelerate targeted intervention.
  • Professor Steve Vucic, Sydney Local health District. Awarded $500,000 to develop a new multimodal diagnostic approach for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a MND of the nervous system.

For more information on the Motor Neurone Disease Research Grants, visit: https://www.medicalresearch.nsw.gov.au/motor-neurone-disease/

Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:

“This research is an important step to ensure we improve treatment and outcomes for people in NSW with a motor neurone disease diagnosis.

“It is a privilege to support these three remarkable researchers and invest funds to improve treatment outcomes for a disease that currently has no cure.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“I want to congratulate the recipients of the Motor Neurone Disease Research Grants, who work incredibly hard to improve our understanding of this debilitating condition, so the health system can continue to provide care and support to the people in NSW suffering with the disease.

“This grant program delivers on our 2023 election commitment to invest funding to support research into motor neurone disease in NSW, including in the state’s Riverina.”

Member for Murray Helen Dalton said:

“The people in my electorate have been deeply concerned about this crisis for more than a decade. With this continued funding for research hopefully we are another step closer to treatment and a cure.

“Rates of motor neuron disease are up to seven times higher around Lake Wyangan, located near Griffith, than in other areas of Australia and this allocation of funds is great news for communities in the Riverina.

“I’m pleased the Minns government has listened to our community and delivered on their election commitment to continue this vital research, because ultimately it’s our lives that are at stake here.”

Latest designs released for Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment as next phase of building begins

Major construction is underway for the $53 million Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment, which will deliver enhanced health facilities for the region.  

The Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment includes construction of a new acute services building, housing an expanded emergency department and a modern birthing, maternity, and inpatient unit, which will support contemporary models of care.

New artist’s impressions for the redevelopment have been released, including the inpatient bedrooms to be delivered, which feature a carer’s zone and large windows with views of the landscaped courtyards.

The interior design reflects the Gunnedah landscape and includes contemporary, calming, and welcoming spaces that have been designed in consultation with staff and the local community.

Early works have been completed including demolition to prepare the site for the next stage of construction. The hospital main entry and reception has also been refurbished to improve access for patients and visitors.

Construction is expected to be completed in late 2025, and hospital services will continue to operate throughout the construction period.

The redevelopment is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Hunter New England Local Health District and supported by builder Richard Crookes Constructions.

For more information about the Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment, visit:

https://hneinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/gunnedah

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“As this exciting project takes shape, the community can expect to see an increasing number of builders onsite in the coming months.

“The new artist’s impressions showcase a health facility that will provide contemporary facilities for patients and a better workplace for staff.”

Labor Spokesperson for Tamworth Anthony D’Adam MLC:

“The design for the new facility has been developed following extensive consultation with staff, consumers, carers, community members and the local Aboriginal community.

“There will also be breakout spaces for family, carers and visitors, which will provide areas for families to stay on Country to further support the health and healing of those in need of clinical care.”