Month: October 2024

This Sunday 27 October is NSW Grandparents Day – a day for families to come together to celebrate grandparents and those who play grandparent roles in our lives.

NSW Grandparents Day has been an initiative under the NSW Ageing Strategy since 2011 and is celebrated on the last Sunday of October.

Whether they’re nan and pop, grandad and grandma, nonna and nonno or mama and papa or simply a grand-friend, NSW Grandparents Day is an occasion to enjoy family fun, whether that’s a picnic, a trip to the park or simply reading a book together.

The NSW Government provides over $50,000 in funding to local libraries to deliver activities to help the community celebrate Grandparents Day this Friday through the weekend. Events include special storytime, digital programs and even musical performances. This year, 105 libraries across NSW will be running events for the whole family.

For more information and ways to celebrate, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/grandparents-day/story-time-library-resources

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“NSW Grandparents Day recognises the diversity of grandparent relationships and the roles of older people in our community.

“It’s important to celebrate the contributions grandparents make to their families and communities.

“The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is special and should be celebrated year-round, but having a special day to recognise that connection and do an activity together is a great way of acknowledging their special and meaningful contributions to family and the community.

“If you can’t make it to a library for storytime, there are still plenty of other ways to thank grandparents such as having a morning tea together, sending them a hand-drawn card, or by calling them on the phone.”

The Opposition has today called for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the illegal tobacco (“chop chop”) trade in NSW. 

This inquiry would cover, but not be limited to, organised crime links to the illegal tobacco trade in NSW, departmental responsibility for enforcement, licensing schemes for tobacconists, landlord responsibilities, increasing penalties, money laundering schemes operating via tobacconists, improved education and public awareness.

Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane says we are seeing an alarming increase in the supply of illegal tobacco in NSW, which has been linked to organised crime syndicates.

“Profits from illegal tobacco sales are lining the pockets of criminals, with the growing trade estimated to be worth billions in Australia. This inquiry will give parliament the opportunity to hear from experts, small businesses, health professionals and law enforcement to ensure we have the right legislation in NSW to crack down on this illegal trade,” said Ms Sloane.

“We know that users of illegal tobacco report significantly worse health outcomes than smokers of legal tobacco^[1], and given the lower cost and easy access to illegal tobacco, NSW is at risk of going backwards on fifty years of public health progress in reducing nicotine and smoking rates.” 

Shadow Minister for Regional Health Gurmesh Singh says the illegal tobacco trade is putting pressure on small businesses across New South Wales, especially in the regions.

“The regulation of the tobacco industry has been a cornerstone of our health response to smoking for decades. It’s important to our communities to have an open inquiry into the illegal aspects of this industry.”

Key Facts: 

• NSW Health data shows there has been an increase in the number of tobacconists opening, rising from 14,500 four years ago to 19,500 today. 
• Tobacco smoke accounts for around half of the estimated preventable cancers deaths in Australia.
• Some batches of illegal tobacco contain bulking agents such as twigs, raw cotton and grass clippings. Fungal (mould) spores have also been detected.^[2]
• The ATO has estimated that 1,234 tonnes of illegal tobacco went undetected in the Australian market in 2020–21, worth approximately $1.89 billion, and that approximately 10 % of Australia’s tobacco market were illicit. ^[3]
• Since 2018, authorities have seized nearly 480,000 kilos of illegal tobacco, which equates to nearly 22 million cigarettes and $731 million in lost excise. ^[4]

^[1] https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-27-health-effects-of-smoking-tobacco-in-other-fo

² https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-27-health-effects-of-smoking-tobacco-in-other-fo

³https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395924001099#:~:text=The%20ATO%20estimated%20that%201234,%E2%80%9316%20(Australian%20Taxation%20Office%2C

⁴ https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/tax-avoidance/the-fight-against-tax-crime/our-focus/illicit-tobacco

The hypocrisy of Labor has been laid bare today with NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education admitting in Parliament that TAFE NSW will shed 80 jobs in a restructure.

In response to a question from Shadow Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Minister Justin Clancy in Question Time, the Minister admitted, “there will be some offered the opportunity for transfer or made redundant.” “Out of this new operating model I expect the net change will be that 80 employees will lose their positions”.

The admission comes at a time when NSW continues to face an acute skills crisis, with the most recent data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) showing that under the NSW Labor government, apprentice and traineeship commencements have fallen to their lowest level since 2020. Program enrolments for VET in Schools have dropped to figures not seen since 2019, while the number of government-funded students and courses are also at a four-year low.

Mr Clancy said it is vital the NSW Labor Government comes clean and reveal the location of these 80 job losses, including if any are in regional parts of NSW. The Minister must also confirm impacted departments, following previous reports administration, IT facilities management, and accounting job would be slashed.

“The need for strong, well-supported NSW TAFE institutions has never been greater, the last thing we need is to be taking a knife to our vocational education and training sector.

“NSW Labor has talked a big game, continuously claiming to be “Rebuilding TAFE”, but this announcement demonstrates yet again that the Minns Labor government will say one thing but do another.

Merchant fee surcharges were levied on tens of millions of customer card transactions, despite repeated legal advice during the term of the former Liberal-National government that the government agency surcharges were unlawful.

The issue was identified by the NSW Auditor-General during settlement of the Department of Customer Service (DCS) financial statements for 2023-24 and brought to the attention of the current Government.

The current Secretary of DCS, Graeme Head, sought further information from his Department which revealed that Service NSW’s practice of charging merchant fees had been flagged as unlawful in legal advice received from the Crown Solicitor’s Office between February 2016 and December 2022. Despite this, merchant fees continued to be passed onto customers.

Merchant fee surcharges are levied to recoup transaction fees charged by payment providers including banks. Recouping the cost of merchant fees was directed by NSW Treasury in 2012.

Typical surcharges on Service NSW transactions include 30 cents for a 1-year licence renewal, 29 cents for a marriage certificate and $1.92 to renew registration for a small car (like a Toyota Corolla). The average surcharge on a Revenue NSW payment in 2023-24 was $0.92.

It’s currently estimated that 92 million transactions unlawfully incurred about $144 million in merchant fees from 2016 across Service NSW and Revenue NSW.

The Minns Labor Government has established an incident management taskforce and is progressing urgent work to shut down the unlawful charging of merchant fees.

People who have been charged fees are encouraged to register for updates on the Government’s response at service.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-services/merchant-fees or by calling Service NSW on 13 77 88.

The Treasurer, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, and Minister for Finance have written to the NSW Ombudsman requesting an investigation into possible serious maladministration.

The Secretary of DCS has also referred the matter to the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, noting the apparent failure to act on the 2016 Crown Solicitor’s advice.

The taskforce led by DCS has switched off fees being charged directly by Revenue NSW and the Rental Bond Board, and stopped fees on more than 80 per cent of Service NSW transactions.

Merchant fee surcharges have been switched off for more than 90 per cent of online payments, including the top 12 Service NSW transactions such as renewing a driver licence or vehicle registration or paying a fine.

Service NSW is urgently continuing work to switch off fees on all remaining transactions, including thousands of credit card terminals in Service NSW Service Centres. These transactions span several technology platforms and are conducted on behalf of multiple agencies.

While this work is being completed, alternate payment methods are available which do not incur a surcharge, such as paying in a Service Centre by cash or online with over-the-counter support from Service NSW staff.

The majority of Government transactions take place through Service NSW, but as a result of this information being uncovered, all departments have been instructed to report to NSW Treasury by 30 November on whether they charge merchant fees for services and to confirm they have the legal authority to do so. 

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib: 

“Our most immediate priority has been to stop these charges as quickly as possible.”

“It is deeply concerning that this practice has been ongoing, despite legal concerns being raised.”

“While the individual amounts typically charged may appear to be small, they have been charged unlawfully.”

“The community rightfully deserves an explanation about how this was allowed to continue for so long under the previous government.” 

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“We have acted swiftly to establish a taskforce to deal with this issue. Our immediate efforts are focused on switching off the payment methods that charge these merchant fees as quickly as possible.

“We will get to the bottom of what happened and why millions of people were unlawfully charged merchant fees.

“Families, households and businesses expect governments to conduct themselves lawfully. That’s why all agencies have been instructed to examine their own processes.”

The Singleton Local Government Area has received $7 million in funding from the Albanese and Minns Governments to help improve the resilience of Kilfoyles Bridge and Stanhope Road ahead of future flood events.

The funds, provided through the Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package, will go towards:

• Raising Stanhope Road at Elderslie; and
• The betterment of Kilfoyles Bridge and approaches on Luskintyre Road with a two-lane concrete structure.

Work to raise the road level along a one kilometer section of Stanhope Road is already underway and will involve major culvert upgrades to better manage drainage and improve access to the route during future rainfalls.

The funding also covers raising Kilfoyles Bridge and approaches on Luskintyre Road by at least 2.2 metres, and upgrading the bridge to a two-lane concrete structure with a higher bridge deck and scour protection. This work is expected to start in November 2024.

The improvements will help reduce the likelihood of road and bridge closures during severe weather and reduce costs for ongoing repairs and maintenance.

These upgrades are jointly funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“We are working with the Minns Government and regional councils to ensure communities have resilient infrastructure they can rely on every day, but particularly in times of crisis.”

“Upgraded roads and bridges will help residents stay connected during flooding and improve access to emergency services.

“By raising the road and increasing the capacity of culverts, these projects will also reduce turbulence and help flood water escape quickly.”

Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi:

“We’ve seen over the last few years the devastation that constant rain and flooding has had on our communities and on our vital infrastructure.

“Keeping our roads and bridges open during flood events is vital to stop communities being isolated.

“It’s all about building back better and it’s about the Albanese Labor Government working with the states and the local government so that we can build back better and give people the future they need.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This key investment by the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments will improve Singleton’s resilience to floods.

“Workers, students, tourists, freight operators and other residents will be able to continue to go about their business, get to education and medical appointments with less inconvenience and disruption during disasters.

“This will reduce their reliance on Surf Life Saving and the State Emergency Service (SES), particularly for residents of smaller communities like Lambs Valley and Stanhope.

NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal:

“These flood resilience projects will keep communities better connected during disasters while importantly protecting lives and livelihoods across the Upper Hunter.

“It’s great to see all three levels of government working together to deliver projects that make such a big difference to our regional communities.”

Singleton Council Mayor Sue Moore:

“I’m very pleased to have State and Federal Governments working together to improve access in times of flooding for Singleton rural communities.”

Singleton Council General Manager Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr:

“Stanhope Road and Kilfoyles Bridge form an important transport route for the community and agricultural businesses but in times of flooding, they become inundated and unpassable for days at a time.

“By upgrading and raising the level of this road and bridge, we’ll keep our community connected during future flooding disasters.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Australian and NSW governments for their support to deliver these integral infrastructure projects for Singleton.”