Month: September 2024

The Minns Labor Government has reasserted its commitment to strengthening the states resilience against biosecurity threats and welcomed the release of the Natural Resources Commission’s (NRC) final preliminary report into the ongoing biosecurity risks of introduced species.

The preliminary report, ‘Reducing Risk, Securing the Future – NSW Invasive Species Management Review’ delivers on an election commitment and provides a comprehensive overview of the priority risks and impacts of invasive species in NSW, including the effectiveness of management strategies set up by the former Government.

Invasive species are a serious threat to landscapes, with more than 340 weed and 40 pest animal species causing extensive impacts to the NSW economy, environment, and communities.

Concerningly, the report highlights that the former Government dropped the ball when it came to effective management of invasive species, with the cost of invasive species to NSW ballooning from $661.2 million in the 2000s to $1.9 billion in 2022-23.

This year’s Minns Government budget included a record $946 million allocation for biosecurity, with an additional $60 million announced recently to rebuild essential infrastructure across the State’s network of research stations where work is ongoing to address biosecurity and other threats.

The report further projects that without concerted action by 2030 new incursions could cost the state $29.7 billion annually.

This preliminary review will now open for consultation with industry, experts and stakeholders, with a final report to be published before the end of the year, including a framework and recommendations to address the impacts of invasive species moving forward.

The New South Wales Government has made it clear that strengthening the state’s resilience, response and protection against biosecurity threats is a priority, with the NSW’s first Independent Biosecurity Commissioner Dr. Marion Healy appointed this year.

In line with the preliminary report recommendations of the NRC the NSW Government is also:

• Investing $26 million between 2023 and 2025 to deliver the Feral Pig Program and expanded Feral Pig and Pest Program
• Updating regional pest animal management plans and developing annual operations plans to outline how priority pest animal will be targeted though local control programs
• Developing an updated Local Land Services compliance policy to guide the agency’s strategic approach to pest animal and weed compliance
• Rolling out the $10 million Good Neighbour Program to tackle pest and weed infestations on private property neighbouring public land
• Reviewing the regulatory and policy settings for priority pest and weed species

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said:

“The Government commissioned this report so we could understand the problems we inherited from the former Nationals/Liberal Government’s management of this critically important area.

“While the NRC was developing this report we haven’t sat still – we’ve got on with the job and started addressing the feral pig problem, fixing the system’s governance by creating the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner role and appointing Dr Marion Healy, plus providing record funding for biosecurity and NSW local land services.

“We are committed to responding to the NRC report comprehensively and we are already reviewing the current compliance settings to make sure they are fit for purpose.

“In addition, we will be making sure that public land managers are not only compliant but are leading the way in how they manage the public estate for future generations.

“As a government we will continue to provide education and guidance about what is required to assist all land managers comply with their biosecurity responsibilities.”

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• FileReducing Risk, Securing the Future – NSW Invasive Species Management Review (PDF 3.14MB)

Communities in Western Sydney have been given a first look at the new purpose built Supportive and Palliative Care Unit to be delivered at Westmead Hospital.

The new Unit is part of the $93 million allocated for capital investment as part of the NSW Government’s World Class End of Life Care Program and will feature contemporary supportive and palliative care bedrooms with ensuites, communal areas, meeting spaces, outdoor areas and plenty of natural light.

The location, within a rooftop expansion zone on Level 5 of the Clinical Acute Services Building at the Westmead Hospital, was selected following a comprehensive campus-wide site investigation. The location is close to complementary health services within the hospital, while also providing for patient and family privacy, and access to outdoor space.

The planning and design of the new Unit have been informed by extensive consultation with Supportive and Palliative Care health professionals, carers and community members. The new Unit will provide a culturally sensitive and home-like space to provide care, places for gathering and family, a multi-faith room and access to an outdoor veranda area from all rooms.

The NSW Government’s $93 million capital investment in the World Class End of Life Care program will deliver new or redeveloped palliative care facilities across the state. Other locations to benefit from the Government’s funding for enhanced palliative care units include Wyong, Orange, Tamworth and Penrith.

Planning and design for the new Westmead Hospital Unit will continue over the next few months, with a focus on interiors, landscaping, fittings and equipment.

Construction timeframes will be confirmed following the completion of the design process and once a building contractor has been appointed.

For more project information, visit the website:
World Class End of Life Care Program – Health Infrastructure NSW

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The new dedicated Unit will provide purpose-built facilities within a home-like setting for palliative care staff to deliver care and support to patients and families during what can be one of the most challenging times in their lives.

“The new Supportive and Palliative Care Unit at Westmead Hospital will provide access to mostly single patient rooms, family and communal spaces, a multi-faith room and access to the outdoors from all rooms. The location will provide a private and sensitive space.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis:

“I’m pleased to see this important project progressing which will provide high-quality end-of-life care to further support local patients and their families.”

“Having access to family and communal spaces, the outdoors and a calm, homely space were common themes during recent consultation undertaken as part of the planning for the new Unit. We have listened to families and included these features in the new Supportive and Palliative Care Unit, which will be a suitable space for patients and their loved ones at such a difficult time.”

Hospitals and patients will be hit hard tomorrow because of the Minns Labor Government’s mismanagement of wage negotiations with our hard-working nurses and midwives.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Labor’s failure to negotiate an outcome comes after successive budget cuts and empty promises.

“It’s shocking that a government claiming to care about essential workers can let it get to this point. Nurses and midwives should be in our hospitals caring for patients, not out on the streets striking while the Government can’t get its act together,” Mr Speakman said.

This strike adds to the growing unrest within the public sector, with firefighters and transport workers also taking action. The Minns Government is losing control of essential services, leaving NSW in disarray.

Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane said that our nurses have been failed by the government. “Ryan Park and Chris Minns need to front up, take responsibility for the chaos and apologise to the people whose healthcare will be impacted by this strike tomorrow.

Chris Minns promised stability, but all he’s delivered is bungled promises and deliveries.

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Damien Tudehope said that Chris Minns and Ryan Park created this mess and it’s their job to fix it.

“This is a direct consequence of the NSW Labor lying to nurses across NSW before the election and making promises that they had no intention of keeping,” Mr Tudehope said.

“They have failed our nurses and midwives, and they are failing the people of NSW. Enough is enough – it’s time for this government to show some leadership and take responsibility for the chaos they’ve caused.”

The Opposition is demanding Chris Minns and Ryan Park return to the negotiating table and resolve the crisis before further damage is done to NSW’s already strained health system.

The NSW Shadow Minister for Digital Government and Customer Service James Griffin is calling on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on the extent of cuts to the Service NSW ‘Business Bureau’.
 
In a shambolic display at Budget Estimates, Minister Jihad Dib, who is responsible for Service NSW, today contradicted evidence given by his Ministerial colleague a week earlier.
 
In an appearance at Budget Estimates last week, Minister Steve Kamper, the Minister for Small Business, was asked whether staff at the Business Bureau would be retrenched as part of foreshadowed cuts at Service NSW. Minister Kamper stated “they’re not being retrenched. I’ve got the Business Bureau fully funded”. When asked whether there would be any changes to the Business Bureau at all, Minister Kamper answered, “No.”
 
In stark contrast, Minister Dib today would not confirm that no retrenchments would be made to the team at the Business Bureau.
 
The Business Bureau provides essential support to small businesses during the current cost of living crisis. Since its inception in October 2023, it has dealt with 160,000 business inquiries and delivered more than 24,000 hours in personalised advice. However, the Minns Labor Government is now proposing an $11.7 million cut in funding to the Bureau, or 31% of its budget.
 
“It seems that no one is in control of the decimation of Service NSW. One Minister claims there will be no changes, the other Minister wouldn’t say the same. At the end of the day, there are hard -working staff who don’t know whether they’ll have a job once these guys sort out what is going on.
 
“Service NSW was once the shining light of citizen engagement and was envied right across Australia. Unfortunately, it looks like it is going through a world of pain under this Minns Labor Government,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“I am concerned that the Minns Labor Government have given up on pursuing the critical digital reforms initiated under the former Liberal and Nationals Government which would have continued to make life easier for citizens. Service NSW seems to be spiralling even further out of control under this Minns Labor Government. The Minister had a chance today to clarify whether they’re cutting more people or not, and instead his answer has just led to more confusion for staff at the Business Bureau.” said Mr Griffin.