Month: October 2024

Low interest loans for regional businesses to grow jobs and revenue

The Minns Labor Government is continuing its commitment to boost economic development and services for regional NSW with the announcement today of the first seven low interest loans to regional food and beverage manufacturers.

The loans, delivered as part of the Government’s Regional Development Roadmap will help boost productivity, create jobs, and deliver advanced manufacturing capabilities.

The loans have been made to businesses in Dubbo, Byron Bay, Wagga Wagga, Wauchope, Bathurst, the Central Coast and Southern Highlands.

Under the $5 million pilot program, low interest loans can be used for projects such as installing automated production lines, upgrading bottling lines, or buying equipment that will enable products to be exported more efficiently.

Loans are available of between $100,000 and $1 million, and interest is charged monthly at a fixed rate of 2.5 percent for the life of the loan. Loan repayments are interest only for the first two years. The maximum loan term is seven years.

Unlike a commercial loan, these loans do not require family homes to be put forward as security,

In a series of Ministerial Roundtables with regional businesses this year, food and beverage industry leaders indicated they needed assistance to adopt new technology to increase productivity and expand their market opportunities.

The NSW Government is assisting good businesses grow so they can increase demand for local produce, add value to their products, boosting revenue and creating jobs into their regions.

Businesses receiving a low interest loan include:

  • Little Big Dairy Co in Dubbo will use funding to install automated technology to reduce waste and increase capacity and improve energy efficiency creating job opportunities and opening new markets.
  • Byron Beef Jerky will convert existing areas into cool rooms and food preparation spaces, upgrade power supply, and improve production and storage leading to higher demand for local beef and job growth.
  • East Coast Beverages on the Central Coast will upgrade its production capacity by installing automated technology including high speed conveyors, bottling equipment, and advanced line cleaning systems to increase production and reduce waste.
  • Ezy Fresh in Wagga Wagga who supply processed vegetables to manufacturers will invest in diversifying their product range and enable a more efficient production process that enables upskilling of staff, doubling of their capacity, which will increase demand for local grown vegetables.
  • Timber Town Pies in Wauchope can now invest in upgrading equipment to double their production capacity, create new jobs plus increase demand for local beef..
  • McDowells Herbal in Bathurst will invest in specialist equipment to increase their product line and significantly increase their output which will multiply job opportunities and revenue.

For more information on each of the companies receiving low interest loans click here.

The food and beverage manufacturing sector is a major employer in regional NSW, which is already home to companies such as Nestle, Ferrero, Stone and Wood, Sanitarium and Simplot Foods.

The food and beverage manufacturing sector across NSW had an annual turnover of $42.5 billion in 2022-2023 and employed more than 66,000 people as of May 2024.

For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is changing the way it invests in regional NSW, and this investment package supports our regional food and beverage manufacturers to grow, create more jobs and benefit local producers.

“The NSW Government is committed to strengthening the farming sector and regional economies by encouraging and assisting local businesses that add value to local produce, expand their production capacity and product offerings so they can employ additional local people, compete against imported products and bring revenue into the region.

“This pilot package has demonstrated there is high interest in the low interest loans for food and beverage businesses, just as we were advised in my Roundtable listening tour through the regions. I look forward to considering the pilot review so we can evaluate this work and propose next steps.”

David Harding, Executive Director Business NSW said:

“The take up on this attractive low interest loan pilot from the NSW Regional Development Trust is encouraging but not at all surprising.

“Enabling regional businesses to invest in themselves and scale is exactly what is needed, especially with a loan focus on automation, efficiency and export potential.

“I look forward to seeing these regional backbone enterprises grow and flourish, and expect the pilot scheme to be a great success.

“I thank the Minister for Regional Development and Primary Industries, Tara Moriarty for initiating this smart and valuable initiative”

Emma Elliot, Director, Little Big Dairy Company said:

“As business owners we should all be taking up the opportunities that are put in front of us and I think it’s a really good scheme to borrow cheap money, and the interest only at the front of the loan is really attractive.

“We really love being a regionally based business and it’s really cool to see the state government looking for ways to support us to continue to be our community doing the roles we love and sharing the product that we make here into the future.

“It enables us to embark on projects sooner than we would without the scheme and I think it’s really exciting for us a family as because it works towards our sustainability in terms of being in business into the future.”

CASE STUDY

Little Big Dairy Company (Dubbo)

The Little Big Dairy Co. is one of the first businesses supported by the NSW low interest Food and Beverage Manufacturing loan program under the Regional Development Roadmap

The business was established in 2012 by the Chesworth family in Dubbo NSW and is family-owned and operated dairy business.

The Little Big Dairy Co specialises in producing high-quality, single-source milk which is traceable back to the family dairy farm located west of Dubbo

The company delivers over 100,000 litres of fresh bottled milk each week direct to customers across NSW and the ACT

Their product line also includes flavoured milk, butter and cream, which is free from permeates and additives

The farm hosts over 1,000 Holstein cows and is committed to employing sustainable and innovative practices to minimise their environmental impact

The company carries a legacy of over 100 years in the dairy industry, spanning five-generations of the family,

Dubbo Base Hospital announced as regional trauma service

Dubbo Base Hospital has achieved accreditation as a regional trauma service, allowing more seriously injured patients to be treated closer to home.

The accreditation follows four years of work to demonstrate the clinical standards required to function as a service that can manage trauma injuries assessed as minor or moderate.

Previously, these patients would have been transferred to a metropolitan facility for treatment by air or road. Patients experiencing major trauma will continue to have their care initiated at Dubbo Hospital prior to transfer.

Dubbo Base Hospital was assessed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Institute of Trauma and Injury Management before being designated as a regional trauma service by NSW Health.

The trauma team at Dubbo includes nurses, doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, pathology technicians, and radiographers.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“Dubbo Base Hospital continues to build its services and reputation as a rural referral facility, and this elevation in status is a credit to the team who have worked to achieve accreditation.

“Dubbo is more than 400km from Sydney and has a huge catchment in the north-west of the state. Being able to treat more people with traumatic injuries closer to where they live is hugely important as we know staying connected to family and community is a vital factor in recovery.”

Labor Spokesperson for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence MLC:

“The fantastic trauma team in Dubbo is made up of a number of disciplines who all play a part in caring for someone who has a traumatic injury.

“Dubbo Base Hospital is the referral hospital for patients from all over the north-west of the state, where we see patients who have sustained injuries from activities such as motor vehicle accidents, sporting injuries, falls, assaults and farm accidents.”

Dr Simon Heppell, Director of Trauma, Dubbo Base Hospital

“Achieving accreditation as a regional service is really important for our local population because patients with traumatic injuries need to be assessed and treated as quickly as possible. Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in younger age groups and is an increasing burden on our older citizens due to falls.

“We are a long way from Sydney and its vital that we are able to treat patients locally whilst at the same time stabilising the very sickest trauma patients and transferring them to Sydney for ongoing care.

“Dubbo is now verified as a Level 3 trauma service which means we are able to provide high quality care locally for minor to moderate trauma patients, whilst stabilising major trauma patients prior to their transfer to a higher level service.”

$20,000 sign-on bonus to fill midwifery roles in regional NSW

Midwives who choose to relocate and start work in rural, regional and remote NSW will be eligible for a $20,000 sign-on bonus, as part of an innovative trial starting later this month.

The trial, which forms part of the NSW Government’s Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, will run for six months from 30 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, and is aimed at boosting the regional midwifery workforce to better support mothers, their babies, and families.

The one-off payment will be available for midwives relocating and starting new roles in Modified Monash Model level three to level seven facilities.

Attracting health workers to regional, rural and remote locations is a challenge for all health jurisdictions and governments.

The Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme is supported by a broad suite of initiatives introduced by the Minns Labour Government to further strengthen the state’s health workforce, including:

  • Implementing the Safe Staffing Levels initiative in our emergency departments
  • Providing permanent funding for 1,112 FTE nurses and midwives on an ongoing basis
  • 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.
  • An investment of an additional $200.1 million to deliver more health worker accommodation in regional, rural and remote communities.

For more information on eligibility for the sign-on bonus and to apply for a midwifery position, visit the NSW Health website.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“This Government is committed to attracting and retaining more healthcare workers to regional, rural and remote areas to ensure people living in these communities can receive high-quality, timely care close to home.

“I’ve said this countless times, worker shortages in our regional, rural and remote communities is the biggest single challenge facing our health system.

“Midwives support the birth of almost 100,000 babies right across our state each year, regardless of where a family lives the importance of providing women, their partners and families with high quality, compassionate care cannot be underestimated.

“With this innovative trial, we are looking at new ways to fill critical vacancies in our regions so we can build a stronger and more supported regional health workforce.”

Social Media Raise the age to 16

With the rise of social media fuelling increasing levels of cyberbullying, anxiety, depression and even suicide among teenagers, the NSW Opposition remains committed to supporting raising the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16.
 
In August, the NSW Opposition endorsed the 36 Months campaign, which spotlighted the critical dangers social media poses to children during the most vulnerable stage of their psychological development, between the ages of 13 and 16.
 
The Legislative Assembly carried the motion of the Leader of the NSW Opposition Mark Speakman to support raising the legal age of access to social media from 13 to 16 and to call on the NSW and Federal Governments to work together to implement this much-needed change by July 2025.
 
Mr Speakman said our children are facing a mental health crisis driven by the unchecked influence of social media.
 
“Parents feel powerless, watching their kids struggle under the pressure of a digital world they’re not ready for. By raising the social media age to 16, we’re giving families back control and protecting our young people when they need it most,” Mr Speakman said.
 
New data from the eSafety Commissioner revealed that 84% of children aged 8 to 12 have accessed social media platforms. Alarmingly, 1.3 million Australian children under 13 are currently using social media, exposing them to risks such as cyberbullying, online predators and harmful content that severely impacts their mental health.
 
Peter Dutton, Leader of the Federal Opposition, has also committed to raising the national minimum age for social media use to 16 within his first 100 days in office, ensuring that this critical change is implemented nationwide.
 
Parents, community groups and mental health experts have repeatedly called for stronger safeguards to protect young people.
 
We’re not just talking about numbers—these are real lives, real families, and real tragedies. It’s time to stand up to the tech giants and put our children’s futures first.
 
The NSW Opposition is committed to standing alongside parents and families across the state, ensuring that governments act now to safeguard the mental health and well-being of young Australians.

Australia’s Housing Crisis: A Call for Reform

A speech by Malcolm Roberts, Senator for Queensland

The need for the Australian Government to implement a national housing and population plan that manages international student growth based on consultation and without unintended consequences for the economy or Australian students.

We need a housing and population plan that works for Australians.

The government currently has a plan.

That plan is: open the floodgates to arrivals no matter how many Australians are made homeless.

We need a plan that does the opposite and puts Australians first.

Australia just hit a record level of temporary visa holders.

Excluding tourist and other short stay visitors, there are now 2.43 million temporary visa holders in the country.

This blows the previous record of roughly 1.9 million clear out of the water.

That’s up to a million extra houses needed to put those people in.

680,000 of these are international students, another record.

This is putting untold pressure on the housing crisis.

When the borders were closed, nearly all suburbs close to the universities experienced higher rental vacancy rates.

That means, when international students couldn’t come into the country there were more homes available for Australians… who would have thought?

The truth is some universities and private VET providers are completely abusing the system.

A student visa is more often seen as a backdoor way to get working rights in Australia and eventually stay here forever.

Hundreds of thousands of people on temporary student visas end up illegally working full time hours and sending the money back to their home country.

Personal remittance flows out of Australia almost perfectly follows the amount of student visa holders in the country.

This transfer out of Australia hit a record $11 billion in 2023, on the latest figures.

We can only assume it’s increased from then.

You’ll hear a particular lie also pedalled in this debate.

That lie is that “international students are one of Australia’s largest exports at $48 billion a year.”

That figure assumes an international student arrives here on day one with all of their money for course fees, rent, food, transport, bills and other spending already saved in a bank account.

In reality, most students end up working here for the money to support themselves and send the remainder back home.

The claim that international students are one of our biggest exports is simply not true because it doesn’t align with reality.

If you intend to move here permanently, there’s a proper process to go through.

There was a rule that automatically blocked people from studying in Australia if they said they wanted to move here permanently.

The Labor Party removed this rule, of course.

This explosion in international students isn’t helping our education institutions or the housing crisis.

At the moment, our universities have a pretty good reputation.

Unfortunately, they’ve been pursuing international students as a cash cow at the expense of education quality.

If we don’t save the universities from themselves, they’ll destroy that hard won reputation.

Australia’s universities have been accused of awarding degrees to students with no basic grasp of English.

Academics say universities have turned a blind eye to language shortcomings because of the revenue generated from international student fees.

Academics say they are being pressured into passing hundreds of students suspected of plagiarism and other forms of cheating in order to maintain their universities’ revenue streams that are hugely dependent on the international market.

Then we had the story of Harry, a first year economics student at Melbourne University, who began attending his mandatory tutorials. He was excited to engage with his fellow student and start his further education journey.

But Harry found himself unable to participate in his class after students and the tutor would converse in Mandarin for almost the entire session.

It may be too late to save the universities completely.

The Guardian reports today “Australian universities tumble as some record worst result ever”.

One can only wonder why.

The first focus of our Australian universities should be the education quality of Australian Students.

We have roughly triple the ratio of international students as any other country in the world.

The universities have unfortunately proven they cannot be trusted to balance the money they make from internationals with their primary job of educating Australians.

One Nation has real solutions for the tertiary education sector, we would:

cap international student numbers

Force universities to report the average salaries of graduates of every degree so students know what they’re signing up for

Cut fees for subjects that used repeated recorded content to lower HECS debt and

Enforce English standards for international students.

One Nation will make sure universities aren’t sacrificing the quality of Australian educations to increase profits from international fees.

New party representing foreign interests raises Constitutional eligibility question

Australia’s Constitution is certainly not a ‘perfect’ document but there’s no doubt it’s served the country quite well over the past 123 years. It’s a testament to the people who drafted it, debated it and voted on it: people with a real vision for a brand new sovereign nation.

Part of that vision was that elected representatives in this democracy would be completely loyal and solely dedicated to the service of Australia. They could only be citizens of Australia—no dual citizenships. They also shouldn’t be bankrupt or profiting off the Commonwealth, thereby creating a conflict of interest. These provisions are contained in Section 44 of the Constitution, regarding eligibility to serve in Parliament.

It’s a historic fact these requirements have not always been met. The citizenship status of Australia’s third Prime Minister (and the first ever Labor MP to hold the office), Chris Watson, has always been dubious. It’s never been satisfactorily determined where the man was born, but it’s possible it was on a ship off the coast of Chile or in Chile itself way back in 1867. He had a German-Chilean father. His mother, who wasn’t Australian but Irish, raised him in New Zealand. He wouldn’t meet the requirements of Section 44 today but in 1904, when he became Prime Minister, detailed birth and citizenship records weren’t universal or simple to check.

Fast forward to 2017, when the so-called eligibility crisis exploded. Prominent representatives, including two ministers, were discovered to have not been eligible to sit in Parliament due to their citizenship status, including our very own Malcolm Roberts—a truly loyal Australian if there ever was one. Since then, political parties across the board have tightened up their checks on candidates to ensure it didn’t happen again—or so you’d think.

Western Australian senator Fatima Payman, who made headlines when she crossed the floor against her own Labor Party in June this year and then defected from Labor the next month, is the case in point. She was born in Afghanistan in 1995 to Afghan parents, who fled the country’s Taliban regime and entered Pakistan five years later. In 1999, her father traveled to Australia illegally by boat and spent a brief period in immigration detention. He brought the rest of his family to Australia in 2003.

Payman is again in the headlines for launching a new political party, ‘Australia’s Voice’. The name hasn’t won her any friends among the indigenous establishment that campaigned for the voice to Parliament, nor has the timing – only a few days before the anniversary of the referendum. There have always been questions about whether she had done enough to renounce her Afghanistan citizenship as required by the Constitution. When she was elected in 2022 (scraping in last on the party vote), Labor declared she’d taken the ‘reasonable steps’ determined by the High Court but since her defection, they’ve questioned it again.

So has Senator Pauline Hanson. Writing to the Prime Minister, she’s asked that the matter be thoroughly examined. Does the single failed effort to renounce citizenship constitute ‘reasonable steps’? Wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect those efforts to continue as conditions in the country of origin change so the matter can be put beyond doubt? We think the question, at least, needs a definitive answer.

And that’s because Payman doesn’t seem to speak for Australian voices, but for foreign voices. Her defection from Labor was precipitated by her crossing the floor over a motion on the conflict in the Middle East. She’s been a loud voice for Palestinians who support Hamas but not for Australians.

There are further steps to take if our weak Prime Minister won’t step up. Stay tuned!

Resumption of live rock lobster trade with China

The Albanese Labor Government has agreed a timetable with China for the full resumption of Australian live rock lobster exports by the end of the year.

This will save the jobs of 3,000 Australians employed in the industry, 2,000 of which are in Western Australia.

The agreement to a timetable for the re-entry of live rock lobster was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and China’s Premier Li Qiang today on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos.

This outcome is another step towards stabilising the bilateral relationship between China and Australia. This is positive news for the lobster industry and for Chinese consumers, who will have access to high-quality Australian rock lobsters in time for Lunar New Year. 

Since 2020, Australian rock lobsters have been effectively prevented from entering China’s market, which was worth over $700 million in 2019.

We acknowledge the Australian rock lobster industry for their resilience during a challenging period.

The Albanese Government has seen progress on the removal of trade impediments for wine, barley, coal, cotton, timber logs, copper ores and concentrates; and some meat establishments – almost $20 billion worth of Australian exports.

With our patient, calibrated, and deliberate approach, we are restoring Australian trade with our largest export market.

The Albanese Government will continue with its calm and consistent approach to the China relationship – where we cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Resolution of trade impediments is at the top of our Government’s agenda. The reinstatement in normalised trade for all commodities is front and centre of the Government’s engagement strategy with China.

“It is in the interests of both our countries to continue this path of stabilising our relationship. A resumption in trade for all Australian commodities is an important part of this process.

“Having dialogue helps us navigate our differences and build upon areas where we can cooperate – without compromising on any Australian interests.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong

“The Albanese Government’s approach to China has been patient, calibrated and deliberate – and our approach has paid dividends for Australians and for the national interest.

“We continue to urge Australian businesses to diversify to grow value for their companies and for their country.

Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell

“This is a great outcome for the Australian lobster industry and for Chinese consumers.

“The Albanese Government is delivering for Australian farmers, miners, businesses and workers.

“I encourage businesses to continue to take advantage of new trade diversification opportunities created by this Government.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins

“This agreement on a timetable with China for the full resumption of trade by the end of the year is a significant step forward for Australia’s rock lobster industry and will deliver job security for fishing communities in regional areas.

“The resumption of full Australian rock lobster exports to China is expected to have a trade potential of over $700 million.”

Appeal to locate missing teenager – Muswellbrook

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a teenager missing from the state’s north.

Alea Picket, aged 14, was last seen on Ford Street, Muswellbrook, about 12.30am yesterday (Thursday 10 October 2024).

When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.

Police hold concerns for her welfare due to her young age.

Alea is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm-170cm tall, of thin build, with blonde hair brown eyes.

She is known to frequent the Muswellbrook area.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to contact Hunter Valley Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Labor votes down action on price gouging

Labor has sided with big business, voting down a Greens Bill that would have made price gouging illegal, showing they’re more interested in protecting corporate profits than looking after everyday Australians.

“Labor had the chance to stand up for Australians struggling with skyrocketing costs, but instead they chose to protect their corporate donors,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“They talk about fairness and tackling the cost-of-living crisis, but when it comes to taking real action against the supermarket giants, Labor is nowhere to be found.”

“Major corporations like Coles and Woolworths will keep raking in massive profits, while shoppers are forced to pay more for their groceries, electricity, and other essentials.”

The Greens’ bill would have made it illegal for corporations with substantial market power to engage in price gouging, with penalties of up to $50 million for those found guilty.

“Labor failed Australians today. This was a golden opportunity to hold the worst corporate offenders accountable for profiteering, but they chose to protect the billion-dollar profits of their mates in big business instead.”

“Labor tried every procedural trick in the book to stop the Bill going to a vote. They are embarrassed of their own position.”

“This Bill had the numbers to pass the Senate with Labor’s support.”

“If we’re serious about fixing the cost-of-living crisis, we need to rein in corporate power.”

“But Labor is either too compromised or too weak to take on the big end of town. Australians deserve better.”

The Greens will keep fighting for meaningful reform to crack down on price gouging and protect people from corporate greed.