Month: November 2024

Construction completed on Fairy Meadow’s new ambulance station

The Wollongong community will soon have access to enhanced emergency health care, with construction of Fairy Meadow’s new ambulance station now complete.

Keys to the new ambulance station have been handed over to NSW Ambulance paramedics and the new Ambulance station will become operational in the coming weeks.

The modern, purpose-built Ambulance station, which is co-located at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, features internal parking bays including an internal wash bay, administration and office areas, staff rest facilities, gym, logistics and storage areas, and on-site parking.

An additional 25 paramedics have been recruited for the new Ambulance station and are already on the road, temporarily operating from other nearby stations.

The new Ambulance station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program. The RAIR program is delivering 54 new or upgraded ambulance stations and is the single largest infrastructure investment in regional NSW Ambulance’s almost 130-year history.

The NSW Government is recruiting 2,500 additional NSW Ambulance staff as part of the Strategic Workforce and Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) program, including 500 paramedics to rural and regional areas, to boost emergency and mobile healthcare for our metropolitan and regional communities.

The $1.76 billion SWIFT program is also delivering 30 additional ambulance stations to help save lives and provide critical emergency care across NSW.

New Ambulance stations are also planned at Warilla and Unanderra to bolster the network of stations across the Illawarra as part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Once operational the new Fairy Meadow Ambulance station on Innovation Way will significantly enhance access to mobile emergency health care for the growing community across the Illawarra.

“The new Ambulance station will also provide paramedics with a high-quality base with the latest facilities and equipment to meet the current and future emergency care needs of the local community.

“The NSW Government is committed to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for local communities.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“I’m pleased Fairy Meadow’s first ambulance station is nearly complete and look forward to the day when paramedics move into this state-of-the-art facility and add to the local ambulance network.

“As Wollongong grows, it is important that we invest in health infrastructure to meet the needs of the local community.”

At least 51 talk fests and counting – the Minns Labor government is all talk, no action

The Minns Labor Government has cemented its place as the government of taskforces, round tables and inquiries, with Premier Chris Minns once again choosing to dodge real action by announcing yet another taskforce, as exclusively revealed by the NSW Opposition on radio yesterday. No work, no outcomes—just endless committees and hollow promises.

This is at least the 51st time Chris Minns has promised “action” through a taskforce, round table or inquiry, yet all we’ve seen is a government that has become an expert in the blame game. 

It’s been almost 20 months since Chris Minns came to office, but the tally of real results sits at zero. What has Labor achieved in all this time?

Even the latest “secret” housing taskforce, reportedly set up in September under the former Infrastructure NSW CEO Janine Lonergan, hasn’t delivered anything beyond rhetoric. 

With housing approvals down 14.8% in September, if this taskforce had actually m

Man charged following fatal crash near Maitland

A man has been charged following a fatal two-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Region earlier this year.

About 3.45pm on Monday 5 August 2024, emergency services responded to reports of a two-vehicle crash on Cessnock Road, Gillieston Heights, approximately 5km south of Maitland.

Officers attached to Port Stephens – Hunter Police District attended and found a Nissan Patrol and an Isuzu truck had collided.

The driver of the Nissan patrol – a 31-year-old man – died at the scene.

The passenger – a 30-year-old woman – sustained minor injuries and was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

The driver of the truck – a 34-year-old man – sustained serious leg and spinal injuries. He was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

A crime scene was later examined by specialist police attached to the Crash Investigation Unit.

Following inquiries, on Thursday 14 November 2024, the 34-year-old man was charged with dangerous driving occasion death – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), not keep left of driving line-not class B/C vehicle, drive licence suspended under section 66 Fines Act and possess prohibited drug.

He will appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 15 January 2025.

Visit to Peru to attend APEC Ministerial Meeting

This week, Minister Collins will travel to Peru to represent Australia at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting, from 13 to 14 November.

At APEC, Minister Collins will champion Australia’s priorities of bolstering digital and services trade, promoting a move towards paperless trade, the economic empowerment of women and Indigenous Peoples, and advancing APEC’s work on environmentally sustainable economic development, including in agriculture.

Minister Collins will also meet with ministerial counterparts to progress Australia’s trade and investment agenda and emphasise our commitment to the rules-based multilateral trade system with the World Trade Organization at its core.

APEC is our region’s premier economic forum, bringing together 21 member economies that account for around 75 per cent of Australia’s total trade in goods and services.

For over 30 years, APEC has been a vital force for promoting open and inclusive rules-based trade and practical, market-oriented regulatory reform in the region.

Australia’s participation in APEC strengthens our economic relationships and supports new export opportunities. Trade diversification is a key plank of the Albanese Labor Government’s trade agenda.

Australia values its strong and growing relationship with Peru which is underpinned by the Peru-Australia Free Trade Agreement (PAFTA), likeminded approach to trade, growing people-to-people links and strong commercial engagement—particularly in the mining sector.

Breaking down barriers to abortions across Australia. A call for publicly funded abortions to end the postcode lottery

The Greens will provide $100m a year to ensure all public hospitals provide abortion services, moving the conversation from legality to affordability and accessibility.

This will ensure that all Australians—especially those in rural and regional areas—can access essential reproductive healthcare at no cost, through the public hospital system.

In the context of politicised debates about reproductive healthcare in the Queensland and US elections1, the Greens are calling on Labor to lock in free and accessible reproductive care for all Australians across the country, regardless of their postcode or ability to pay.

In Australia, many public hospitals do not provide termination services, meaning many pregnant people are forced to travel or pay for expensive private services. A surgical abortion cost ranges from $500 and can go up to $85002.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women, Larissa Waters

“Reproductive healthcare must not be a culture war or a postcode lottery. No one should fall through the cracks when it comes to accessing vital healthcare.

“While abortion is now legal across the country, whether or not you can actually access this time-bound healthcare is a postcode lottery.

“With the closure of many private abortion facilities in recent years, many women – particularly those in regional and remote areas – are left with little choice but to travel hundreds of kilometres and spend thousands of dollars.

“The Greens will provide $100m per year to equip public hospitals with the personnel and facilities required to provide terminations services.

“In 2018, after decades of advocacy, we finally decriminalised abortion in Queensland and Western Australia became the last state to decriminalise this basic form of healthcare a year ago, a monumental victory.

“We’ve seen conservatives in Queensland, South Australia and the USA open the culture war again and it’s critical Labor take this opportunity to make sure every person in the country can access the reproductive healthcare they need.

“It is disappointing that Labor has ruled out returning to its 2019 position of requiring public hospitals to provide abortion care as part of federal funding agreements. The Greens will push the next government to do what Labor promised in 2019 and get all public hospitals to
provide abortions, and we’ll deliver extra funding to help make it happen.

“The Greens will fund the provision of abortion services and care at no cost through the public health system, and receipt of this new funding will require public hospitals to provide a full suite of reproductive health services, including surgical abortions.

“The Albanese Government is more than a year late to respond to the 36 recommendations in the inquiry’s report, Ending the Postcode Lottery. Women cannot afford to wait any longer.

“The Greens will always prioritise free safe abortions for everyone across Australia.

“Access to reproductive healthcare is not just about legality; it’s about health equity and human rights. It should be available, affordable, and stigma-free for everyone.”

Family Planning Alliance Australia Chair Caroline Mulcahy

“Access to abortion close to a person’s home is vital for reproductive choice.

“Money should not be a factor in the decision to have an abortion or choose to parent, everyone should have universal access to their healthcare choices.

“Abortion is healthcare and should be available in every public hospital in Australia.

“Abortion should not be a postcode lottery, where you live shouldn’t change your reproductive choices or access.

“Supporting hard working doctors and nurses to provide healthcare and ensure our hospitals are equipped to provide abortions should be a priority.

“Decriminalising abortion was the responsibility of states and territories, now it’s time for all governments to work together to make abortion accessible.

“Australians in regional and remote areas should not have to travel hundreds of kilometres for healthcare that could be provided where they live.

“Any barriers to accessing abortion will impact rural and regional Australians, who should have the same quality healthcare as people living in the city.”

References
1. There were highly publicised debates on abortion during the U.S. election. Furthermore, the newly elected Queensland LNP premier could allow abortion rights to be backtracked if he gives his MPs a conscience vote on a private member’s bill, as the Katter Australia Party KAP have indicated they would ‘test the parliament’ on abortion.

Additionally, recent threats to reproductive rights in South Australia remind us how fragile abortion rights can be, we must not take our progress for granted and we must entrench our rights further and move the conversation from legality to affordability
and accessibility. 

2. How Much Does An Abortion Cost 

Coalition Commits to Tassie Water Infrastructure

Today we announce that an elected Dutton Government will commit to developing the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme (GSEIS) in Tasmania.

The GSEIS is a critical project for Tasmania that will provide water security and reliability to farmers and boost the region’s economy.

This project will employ over 200 Tasmanians in construction and support almost 470 ongoing jobs.

The $300 million scheme will be funded by $150 million from the Coalition, along with $75 million each from the Tasmanian Liberal Government and Tasmanian Irrigation.

This is in stark contrast to the Albanese Government who has provided no funding the GSEIS and has cut $5.9 billion in funding to water infrastructure projects.

The project will source water directly from Lake Meadowbank in the Derwent Valley, and supply more than 37,000 ML of water, in what’s traditionally been one of Tasmania’s lowest rainfall areas.

This commitment will boost previous investments made by the Tasmanian and Federal Governments, by integrating and expanding existing irrigation schemes and creating an integrated water grid for the region.

Only a Coalition Government is committed to making sure Australian farming stays strong and successful for generations to come.

Media Statement – Rising Tide event

City of Newcastle notes the ruling of the NSW Supreme Court last Thursday regarding a planned protest on Newcastle Harbour and at Camp Shortland.

City of Newcastle has received independent legal advice confirming that City of Newcastle’s authority to issue a permit for the event on its land at Camp Shortland does not impact the ability of NSW Police to exercise their powers of arrest for any offences. 

Rising Tide organisers met with Lord Mayor Councillor Dr Ross Kerridge on Tuesday and provided the Lord Mayor reassurance that they intend to hold a peaceful event at Camp Shortland. They committed to taking action to focus on safety and obeying police.

Dr Ross Kerridge said that he attended last year’s Rising Tide event and was impressed by the professionalism of the organisers and their commitment to ensuring a safe event with a focus on climate change.

“I have today provided my formal support for the Rising Tide event occurring at Camp Shortland. I did however stress my expectation that the event organisers take all reasonable efforts to ensure that any closure of the harbour is for the briefest possible time,” the Lord Mayor said. 

“As a result of our meeting and my request, the Rising Tide organisers provided me with a written commitment to use their best endeavours to ensure all participants obey police directions.

“Specifically, this includes directing people to remain close to the shore and not enter the shipping channel, nor make movements that suggest they are attempting to get into the channel. 

“Rising Tide also committed to me they would direct people to follow police directions, and would warn participants of the consequences of likely arrest if they do not obey police.

“Lastly, Rising Tide committed to discouraging people from disruptive activities away from the harbour such as stopping coal trains.

“City of Newcastle received 123 submissions on Rising Tide’s request to hold an event at Camp Shortland. Almost 75% of these submissions were supportive of the event occurring. 

“I also encourage everyone attending the event to look after the sensitive coastal environment at Camp Shortland and respect residents and visitors in the vicinity of the event.” 

Minns Labor Government ends unfair ticketless parking fine system

Minns Labor Government ends unfair ticketless parking fine system

The changes bring to an end the ticketless system introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government in 2020. Under the ticketless system, instead of having the infringement notice left on the vehicle, the fine was sent by post, sometimes not being received until weeks after the incident. 

Soon after the introduction of the previous government’s ticketless system, the NRMA and other stakeholders raised issues with the scheme, identifying that it removed transparency and make it more difficult for motorists to contest their fine.

In 2023/24, local councils issued 822,310 ticketless parking fines, a 49% increase over the 551,441 issued in 2022/23.

The Fines Amendment (Parking Fines) Bill 2024 restores fairness and transparency to the parking fine system by:

  • Requiring councils to attach an on-the-spot notification to the vehicle.
  • Requiring councils to take photos of offences and make them available for Revenue NSW to provide to drivers.
  • Providing limited exceptions where an on-the-spot notification is not required, for example where it may be unsafe or hazardous for a ranger to do so.
  • Invalidating ‘repeat’ ticketless parking fines, where drivers can be fined multiple times for the same offence before they even become aware of the first infringement.
  • Introducing data reporting rules to evaluate if further reforms are necessary.

A working group, which has representatives from stakeholders including Local Government NSW, has been established by Revenue NSW to inform the drafting of regulations and assist with implementation.

Even before the bill passed, a number of councils began proactively providing on-the-spot notifications to drivers.

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“The community feedback on this issue has been clear, and dates all the way back to when ticketless parking was first introduced in 2020.

“No one likes getting a parking fine. Finding out about it two weeks later stings even more.

“Bringing back on-the-spot notification for parking fines is a common-sense reform and restores fairness and integrity to the parking fine system.

“I want to thank the councils which have already started issuing on-the-spot notifications again. There is nothing stopping other councils from joining them. It is clearly in the interest of drivers and the community.”

NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury:

“Since some councils began introducing the ticketless parking system four years ago it was clear the system was broken and needed to be fixed – for this reason the NRMA commends the NSW Government on today’s announcement.

Ticketless parking leaves motorists in the dark and robs them of the chance to contest their fine if they believe they have a legitimate case, the NRMA has been against this approach from day one.”

Congratulations to our 2025 NSW Australians of the Year

The Minns Labor Government congratulates the 2025 Australians of the Year for NSW, who have been announced at a ceremony at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art tonight.

The Government congratulates Kath Koschel, the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year, and NSW’s three other recipients, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM, Maddison O’Gradey-Lee and Martha Jabour OAM.

The 18 nominees have made remarkable and diverse contributions to our state.

These inspirational members of our NSW community have overcome unimaginable challenges, demonstrated resilience, and have made a positive difference to our state and nation.

The NSW recipients will join those from other states and territories for the national awards ceremony in Canberra on Saturday, 25 January 2025.

For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards, visit: https://australianoftheyear.org.au/

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“To all NSW finalists and recipients: thank you for your extraordinary contribution to our state and nation.

“While the ultimate reward for these exceptional Australians isn’t any formal honour or award, this recognition is completely deserved.

“These remarkable people have changed NSW and the nation for the better.

“To our NSW Australian of the Year, Kath Koschel: NSW will be cheering you every step of the way between now and the national awards.

“Kath’s resilience is inspiring, while her campaign for kindness is a message of positivity we need in our world.

“These are people that help others, overcome challenges, aim for excellence, and represent the very best of what it means to be Australian.”

Vacancies down, job security up in regional and rural NSW

The Teacher vacancies have been slashed in regional NSW public schools with 24 per cent fewer vacancies in Term 3 this year than the same time last year, as changes made by the Minns Labor Government result in more teachers in NSW schools.

The improvement in teacher numbers in the regions comes alongside a drop in resignations and retirements, with teaching vacancies in the regions at the lowest number start since August 2021.

Rural and remote regions, which have been traditionally difficult to staff, have all seen a surge in vacancies being filled. From Term 3 2023, vacancies have dropped 39 per cent in Rural North including Grafton, Northern Tablelands and Armidale, and 20 per cent in Rural South and West, including Orange, Griffith, and Albury.

The results follow the Government’s 2023 Temporary Workforce Transition Initiative which saw more than 4,800 temporary teachers and 4,700 temporary school support staff made permanent employees in rural, remote, and regional schools.

Having already delivered NSW public school teachers the biggest pay rise in a generation while addressing teacher workload, the Minns Labor Government is taking extra steps to ensure our state’s regions are great places to work for our teachers.

Initiatives and incentives to attract teachers to rural and remote areas of NSW include:

  • Expanding the department’s Priority Recruitment Support to an additional 26 schools in regional, rural and remote areas, providing targeted support to schools experiencing specific staffing challenges
  • Rural Teacher Scholarships for high-achieving university students
  • Recruitment bonuses for key roles, Rental Subsidies and Retention Benefits in targeted rural areas
  • Rural and Remote Relocation Support
  • Stamp Duty Relief payment
  • Conducting the ‘Beyond the Line’ program; a week-long rural and remote school tour for teaching students to get a taste of living and working in these areas.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“There has never been a better time to consider a teaching job outside of the major cities.

“The Minns Labor Government has pulled out all the stops to support teachers and support staff to make career moves to places where they are needed most.

“The sustained drop in vacancies shows we’re making progress on addressing the teacher shortages left by the former NSW Liberal National Government, ensuring we have qualified teachers in every classroom to support student outcomes.