Month: October 2024

Today the Greens, alongside spokespeople from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, the Maritime Union of Australia, Rising Tide, Extinction Rebellion, Palestine Action Group, First Mardi Gras Inc, Students for Palestine Sydney Uni and North East Forest Alliance called a press conference to address the recent crackdown on the right to protest and call on the Premier to walk back the anti-democratic laws infringing on this fundamental right .

Earlier the same day, Greens MP and Democracy spokesperson Kobi Shetty MP introduced a bill to repeal controversial anti-protest laws, introduced by the former Liberal Government and supported by Labor in 2022 and Greens MP and spokesperson for Justice Sue Higginson moved a motion on a Matter of Public Importance triggering a debate on the Policing of Protest in the Upper House.

Supporters packed the seats of the public gallery to listen to the debate and filled out the rooftop garden as spokespeople cracked down on the Premier’s recent string of actions signalling the further tightening of a chokehold on the right to protest in NSW, including a “user-pays” system.

Quotes Attributable to Various speakers:
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Greens MP and spokesperson for Justice, Sue Higginson said:

“Today was a wake up call for the Minns Labor Government. We had wharfies, lawyers, original 78er’s, anti-war organisers, forest advocates and young climate heroes all standing alongside the Greens to deliver one clear message: enough is enough,”

“The Premier has gone too far. He has stirred division in his own caucus, he has lost control of the police and he has angered the people. We will not sit by while the Minns Labor Government drags us down the slippery slope of state oppression where our right to protest is threatened because this is an assault on our democracy,” Ms Higginson said.

Greens MP and spokesperson for Democracy, Kobi Shetty said:

“ In the last month we have seen repeated attacks on the right to protest from the NSW Labor Government. Most recently the appalling suggestion from the Premier that police should be given the power to veto protest applications at their discretion. This suggestion is the latest in a slew of protest busting initiatives from the Minns government,”

“The Greens oppose these draconian anti-protest laws, and I was pleased today to introduce the Greens bill to repeal these undemocratic laws. The right to protest is a cornerstone of democracy and must be fully reinstated. NSW Labor must repeal these undemocratic laws as a matter of urgency, and I urge them to support the Greens Bill,” Ms Shetty said.

President of NSW Council for Civil Liberties Lydia Shelly said:

“The NSW Council for Civil Liberties will always stand up and defend our democratic freedoms. Our right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. The silencing of dissent in this state has gone on for too long. Our democracy is under threat from laws that criminalise and repress the right to protest,”

“The public will not benefit from these [proposed] laws; where only the rich will be considered worthy to be able to express a political opinion. In a cost of living crisis, for such laws to be introduced, is scandalous and a betrayal to every person in NSW who is struggling to make ends meet. Their voices matter just as much as those who have not been touched by the cost of living crisis,”

“The idea that you can arrest your way towards social cohesion is fundamentally flawed. The idea that you can safeguard democracy by repressing and criminalising the right to protest, is Orwellian,” Ms Shelly said.

Spokesperson for MUA, Paul Keating said:

“These laws criminalise the right to protest, they are a stain on this Parliament, on Chris Minns, and his Government. The right to protest is union business. It’s union business to stand alongside our communities as they fight for their rights, and the unions will stand behind the Greens in this fight,”

“The trade union movement in NSW condemns these laws and any strengthening of further anti-protest laws. We will challenge every politician, every Government who tries to get in the way of the right to protest. We will never ever forgive any politician who does not stand on the side of our communities. This NSW Government has got a use-by date. Chris Minns will not see another term, and he doesn’t deserve it,” Mr Keating said.

Spokesperson for Palestine Action Group, Josh Lees said:

“In the last 2 weeks the NSW Government has carried on an extraordinary campaign against our right to protest against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon. They tried to ban our peaceful march, then when that failed they mobilised hundreds of riot police to intimidate people attending a candlelight vigil. Then Chris Minns’ had the nerve to complain about the cost of policing, as if this whole fiasco of over-policing was our decision and not his,”

“If the Premier is so concerned with the costs of protests why doesn’t he address the reasons we are protesting in the first place? His Government continues to actively support the state of Israel as it carries out a genocide in Gaza. In two weeks the NSW Government is hosting the NSW Defence Summit, with weapons companies operating right here in Sydney that are supplying, and profiting from, Israel’s genocide in Gaza and invasion of Lebanon,” Mr Lees said.

Spokesperson for First Mardi Gras Inc, Paul Keating said:

“We won the right to get the police out of protest back in 1978 and one of the results of the terrible event. We condemn the Police Commissioner for going to the court and trying to shut down peaceful protest. That’s a political action and she should not have done it. We cannot have the police being an arm of political expression,” Mr Keating said.

Spokesperson for Rising Tide, Zack Schofield said:

“As Australians, our rights at work and in our democracy are the product of peaceful non-violent disruption by everyday people from the union movement, the suffragettes and feminist, and civil rights movements. Undermining protest is anti-democratic, and it’s time that anti-democratic Governments should be removed,”

“Rising Tide activists facing fine-only offences for the first time have been denied bail or set punitive bail conditions due to pressure from the NSW Government,” Mr Schofield said.

Spokesperson for North East Forest Alliance Susie Russell said:

“Last week I was arrested for peacefully protesting the destruction of Greater Glider habitat in Bulga State Forest. Despite only receiving charges that would result in a fine if found guilty, I was kept overnight in the police station and had bail conditions stipulating not to engage in any other protest activity. What we are seeing is a serious culture of police overreach emboldened by these laws – the kind of laws that will affect all of us, eventually,” Ms Russell said.

The Minns Labor Government met today with representatives of the private health insurance sector to discuss its members’ use of the public hospital system and refusal to pay their bills. 

While no alternative solutions were proposed, the parties agreed to continue dialogue. 

This ongoing standoff is costing taxpayers $140 million per year.  

The NSW Government will continue with implementing the same legislative approach as led by former Treasurer Mike Baird in 2013, enabling it to resolve the issue.

The Government has met with representatives of the private health insurance sector more than 20 times since May 2024.  

The Treasurer and Health Minister’s offices reiterated their commitment today that their doors remain open.

The Government applauds the majority of private health funds, including Teachers Health, Nurses and Midwives Health and Emergency Service Health, who continue to pay the correct amount.  

As part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to confront the housing crisis, a proposal from Landcom to deliver 330 new homes in Orange, with 20 per cent of these homes being identified as affordable housing, is on exhibition for community feedback.

This rezoning proposal for Redmond Place Precinct at Orange is the first site recommended to progress through the Social and Affordable Housing Rezoning Pathway, one of the Government’s earliest policies to reform the planning system.

The policy implements a faster, simplified rezoning process for the state’s housing agencies; Homes NSW, Landcom and the Aboriginal Housing Office, to speed up the delivery of social and affordable housing.

This pathway adds to the planning reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government over the past 12 months aimed at delivering more homes faster.

The proposal aims to amend the Orange Local Environmental Plan (OLEP) 2011 to allow the rezoning of vacant Council-owned land for a residential precinct.

The public exhibition opens on Monday 21 and will close on Monday November 12, 2024.

To make a submission or find out more, visit the NSW Planning Portal at https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/redmond-place-orange

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This proposal will deliver good housing outcomes for Orange.

“The NSW Government is committed to exploring suitable housing opportunities across the state which promote economic diversity, innovation and sustainability.

“We need to confront the housing crisis head on by using all levers we can pull to speed up the delivery of new homes.

“The Social and Affordable Housing Pathway is an important part of the NSW Government’s plan to boost affordable housing stock across the State.

“Our State’s future depends on more affordable homes being built for families. This is critical because if NSW loses our young people, then NSW loses its future.”

Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

“The proposal from Landcom in partnership with Orange City Council will help meet the growing demand for housing in regional New South Wales.

“I encourage everyone to have their say on this proposal from Landcom.

“Let’s make the great Australian dream of owning a home a reality!”

Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said:

“There is still work to do but this is a great milestone to reach for Orange. The community has some strong views on how the city should be developed and how we can address affordability. It’s great to see the vision reflected in the rezoning proposal. I urge Orange residents to get involved in this latest step to seek feedback.”

Landcom CEO Alex Wendler said:

“The development will provide new homes to accommodate the changing needs and demographics of the Orange region and offer more opportunity for households to buy their own home.

“I look forward to working with Council and the community as we progress with the project to deliver much needed housing.”

Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty has met with Forestry Corporation fire specialists to discuss bushfire preparations on the Mid North Coast.

Minister Moriarty attended Forestry Corporation’s Wauchope depot to speak with fire crews, who are geared up and ready to put their training into action protecting forests and communities during the NSW bushfire season.

Forestry Corporation is one of the state’s four fire authorities joining the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and National Parks and Wildlife.

The organisation oversees land management, bushfire preparation and response across more than 2-million hectares of state forests.

Forestry Corporation has more than 500 trained firefighters rostered on to respond to state forest fires across NSW.

Firefighters are trained in national firefighting competencies and its highly experienced managers undertake Incident Management Team roles on major firegrounds.

Forestry Corporation has a statewide fleet of more than 450 fire appliances, 35 pieces of heavy plant, four contracted aircraft and over 130 drones and trained pilots.

Heavy plant machinery, which the broader forestry industry uses to harvest sustainable timber is also available to fight fires.

This machinery including bulldozers, excavators and specialist harvesting machines are used to create control lines for firefighting, set up back burns and remove dangerous trees for firefighting safety.

In 2023/24 Forestry Corporation firefighters and fire managers were engaged in a total of 184 fires, this impacted 98,250 hectares of land.

During the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, this heavy plant machinery played an instrumental role in stopping the spread of fast burning bushfires saving life, property and assets across NSW.

Outside of the bushfire season, Forestry Corporation also conducts forest hazard reduction burns and undertakes cultural burns in partnership with local Aboriginal communities.

Forestry Corporation also sends its expert fire specialists abroad in the winter months to assist international firefighting agencies in the Northern hemisphere.

Six staff members deployed to the United States and Canada this year and last year Port Macquarie local Matt Model was one of Forestry’s fire specialists, who deployed to Canada bringing back firefighting skills and expertise to the region.

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty:

“The NSW Forestry Corporation has managed fire in state forests for more than 100 years.

“Forestry Corporation’s trained firefighters work in State forests every day of the year, protecting lives, the environment, forestry resources and local communities.

“They have decades of experience in managing forest fires, working with the RFS, managing heavy equipment across major firegrounds and maintaining thousands of kilometres of fire trails,

“When bushfires are reported in our NSW state forests, our forest firefighters rapidly respond using their large fleet of appliances and bringing in heavy plant machinery from the broader forest and timber industry.”

Forestry Corporation Senior Manager Fire and Natural Hazards Rebel Talbert:

“As one of the four statutory firefighting authorities in NSW, Forestry Corporation works collaboratively with the other agencies to protect communities, the environment and the State’s essential timber assets from the risk of fire.

“We are well prepared heading into the fire season with a workforce of skilled firefighters, a fleet of equipment, drones and heavy plant ready to deploy and networks of fire trails and fire towers maintained to aid rapid detection and early suppression of fires.

Forestry Corporation Fire and Operations Team Leader, Wauchope, Matt Model:

“In managing more than 200,000 hectares of state forests here on the Mid North Coast, we keep the Mid Coast Bush Fire Management Committee briefed on fuel loads and fire conditions in state forests.

“Since the Black Summer Bushfires here on the Mid North Coast firefighting technology has been rapidly expanded across NSW to include drones and satellite technology, which this summer will  help our crews with early detection, mapping, response and containment of forest fires.” 

A second NSW hospital has joined an innovative pilot scheme that has paramedics working alongside other healthcare professionals to improve access to care in regional settings.

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital has joined Mudgee Hospital’s emergency department in the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot, which is seeing paramedics included in a multidiscplinary team to provide care to patients in the hospital’s Rapid Access Clinic.

The paramedics will be working alongside other clinical staff in the Rapid Access Clinic, which was originally developed in 2018 to help reduce waiting times in the hospital’s Emergency Department.

The Rapid Access Clinic has since been expanded to offer a range of healthcare services including diagnostics, allied health, Hospital in the Home, an Infusion Clinic, minor procedures and specialist team review.

The Wagga Wagga trial will see up to two NSW Ambulance paramedics rostered on in the Rapid Access Clinic and Hospital in the Home service, working alongside regular clinic staff for a period of eight weeks.

How a paramedic works with existing Rapid Access Clinic staff as part of the multidisciplinary team in treatment areas will depend on each patient’s individual needs and hospital staff will inform patients if a paramedic is involved in their care.

The trial, which is open to NSW Ambulance paramedics across the state, is evaluating how paramedics may be able to complement existing workforces in healthcare settings.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park

“In Wagga Wagga, paramedics will provide additional clinical care working alongside our dedicated doctors, nurses and allied health teams to provide treatment, and improve access to care.

“Attracting and retaining healthcare workers in regional settings is a longstanding challenge faced by every state and territory in Australia, and the NSW Government is committed to building a more supported regional health workforce through innovative initiatives like the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot.”

Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr

“I welcome the news that Wagga Wagga Base Hospital has been selected to trial this innovative model to improve access to care.

“Access to care in regional and rural areas is something we need to improve, and I look forward to the results of this pilot.”

Murrumbidgee Local Health District Chief Executive Jill Ludford

“Murrumbidgee Local Health District has a long history of innovation in the delivery of high-quality care, so we are proud to join Mudgee Hospital in trialling another innovation – the Integrated Paramedic Workforce Model Pilot.

“Our District continues to work closely with our colleagues at NSW Ambulance to consider how and when paramedics will provide their skills, to ensure all patients receive appropriate care from appropriate staff.”

Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper are more concerned with cage fighting as families across the state grapple with rising cost of living costs, rental stress, and a housing crisis.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said families are hurting under the weight of rising rent, fuel prices, and skyrocketing groceries, and this Premier think’s cage fighting is the answer.
 
“This is a Premier who can’t read the room and is tone deaf, hosting an event where women’s safety advocates have warned glorifies violence — while households are scrambling just to keep the lights on,” Mr Speakman said.
 
This is not the first time the government has chosen to back the UFC despite public outcry. During the last UFC event in NSW, fighter Sean Strickland — who headlined the event — openly bragged about punching a fan at Bondi. Despite this behaviour, the Minns Labor Government continues to host these events.
 
The government has repeatedly talked about addressing violence, yet they are choosing to invest taxpayer money into promoting cage fighting.
 
Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Leslie Williams said women’s groups have warned these events sends dangerous messages about masculinity and violence.
 
“What kind of message does it send to struggling families when the government’s priority is cage fighting rather than providing cost of living relief in the lead up to Christmas,” Ms Williams said.
 
During a cost-of-living and housing crisis, people need real support, not distractions. The Minns Labor Government should be focusing on easing the burden on families, not investing in events that do nothing to address the challenges they are facing.