Editors Picks
05 May 2024
BLACKTOWN MAYOR DIES ON CHINA FLIGHT
THE sudden death of Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM, while on a flight home to Sydney from an official visit to China has shocked the community with tributes flowing for "a great servant of the city"..
“The Bleasdale family is shocked as with the many people contacting the council,” Blacktown Deputy Mahyor, Clr Quilkey said.
“It has been a shock for everybody here at the council, and many local people are saddened by his death. We are in touch with his family.”
Clr Bleasdale, 77, was leading a delegation on official visit to Laiocheng City in the Shandong province of China and Daegu City in South Korea as the countries among Blacktown City’s current Sister Cities.
Clr Bleasdale has served NSW’s largest council with more than 400,000 residents since 1996, representing Ward 5.
He was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) medal in 2010 for his long years of service to the Blacktown community, his many charity achievements supported and praised by peers and the wider community.
He was elected the city’s mayor in 2019 and has been among the esteemed members of the Australian Labor Party.
Clr Bleasdale was born in Liverpool, United Kingdom and survived by his wife Nina Bleasdale and their four children.
THE NSW Government is seeking applications for a new advisory council designed to improve understanding of issues affecting LGBTIQ+ people across the state.
Fulfilling an election commitment, the LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council will provide a mechanism for ongoing community consultation and contribute to the development of a NSW Government LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy.
The Advisory Council will provide ongoing advice to the NSW Government as it delivers on a range of initiatives and commitments designed to promote equality and inclusion for LGBTIQ+ communities.
These initiatives include:
Implementing new legislation to ban LGBTQ+ conversion practices, supporting Qtopia, the permanent home for the LGBTQIA+ museum at the former Darlinghurst police station, through a $6.7M commitment completing a legislative review to improve equality and inclusion for LGBTIQ+ people, and referring a review of the Anti-Discrimination Act to the NSW Law Reform Commission.
The 16-person Advisory Council will reflect the diversity of LGBTIQ+ communities in NSW.
Applications are being sought from people over 18 years of age with respect, influence and status within LGBTIQ+ communities and a demonstrated commitment to cooperation, inclusion and diversity.
People from First Nations, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Applications can be submitted at www.nsw.gov.au/lgbtiq
The Minns Government is also establishing a Cross-Portfolio Committee on LGBTIQ+ Issues, bringing together senior government officials with community representatives, that will coordinate efforts across government and enhance collaboration and partnerships.
This Committee will work with the Advisory Council to develop a whole of government LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy.
24 April 2024
VALE TERRY HILL
THE NSW Greyhound Racing industry is today in deep shock and sadness following the news of the sudden passing of Terry Hill.
While known for his outstanding rugby league career, Terry was also extremely passionate about his greyhounds, as an owner and a major supporter of the sport.
“Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), and in fact the entire greyhound racing community, is deeply saddened today by this tragic news of the passing of Terry Hill,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said.
“Terry was one of the great assets of the greyhound industry. He has been a lifelong supporter of greyhound racing, has owned some wonderful champion greyhounds along the way, and more importantly, his passion for the sport was infectious.
“Terry had great enthusiasm for greyhound racing and was responsible for helping the sport to attract widespread media coverage in the 1990s with his live television crosses to Dapto on a Thursday night during the Channel Nine Footy Show to watch his greyhound Nads race.
“Years later Terry said he would be stopped on The Corso at Manly not to be asked about his football career, but to chat about Nads and the racetrack he loved, Dapto.
“Only last year Terry gave of his time to be on hand at Dapto to help GRNSW promote the Group 1 Megastar at that venue.
“On behalf of GRNSW and the entire greyhound community in NSW, I offer our deepest condolences to Terry’s family and his enormous group of friends.
“Terry Hill will be sorely missed.”
24 April 2024
COUNCILS WELCOME MOTORWAY TOLL REVIEW
THE peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), has welcomed the findings of the independent review of motorway toll pricing across Sydney.
Led by Professor Allan Fels (former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) and Dr David Cousins, the review was set up by the NSW Government in 2023 to examine the basis for setting motorway tolls in Sydney.
The review has concluded that toll reform is preferable to toll relief schemes, which the report says are “expensive and more likely to be claimed by drivers from middle and high-income households”.
Other recommendations of the review include:
• Using legislation to allow the government to take back control of tolls,
• Giving the independent pricing regulator “significant oversight” in setting the price of tolls,
• Charging motorists less the longer they drive on toll roads, and
• Two-way tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel and Eastern Distributor.
“WSROC has been advocating for a review of road tolls over many years, urging the government to make toll roads simpler and fairer,” said WSROC President, Councillor Barry Calvert.
“The people of Western Sydney are more greatly impacted by tolling issues than other parts of Sydney, due to their greater dependence on private vehicles resulting from Western Sydney’s lack of equivalent public transport coverage and capacity.
“Also, on average, Western Sydney residents travel further to access jobs, services, and recreation. As a result, tolls represent the second largest cost for most households in Western Sydney.
“In effect, road tolls and the fuel excise constitute a regressive tax, which greatly and disproportionately burden working families in Western Sydney, already contending with soaring energy costs, rents, and food price inflation.”
24 April 2024
LIVERPOOL COUNCILLORS REBEL AGAINST MAYOR
A GROUP of labor and Independent Councillors at Liverpool City Council is concerned about the capacity of the Mayor Ned Mannoun to make decisions in the best interests of the community. The Mayor plans to push through unpopular, unproven, and potentially disastrous staff cuts, including sacking the popular and effective CEO John Ajaka, to fund the construction of a $50M pool in the electorate of Holsworthy, currently held by the Mayor's wife Tina Ayyad, the group says. “This is just another example of the Mayor making increasingly erratic decisions that just don’t stack up,” says Councillor Charishma Kaliyanda. In addition to potentially cutting 150 staff to fund the project which would see service to ratepayers drop, the Mayor is trying to push out current Liverpool City Council CEO John Ajaka, the group says. “Liverpool is a growing LGA, we need a Council that grows with it, to provide the services the community expects. The recruitment landscape is already difficult, Council needs to be attracting and retaining staff to suggest job cuts at this time is frankly bizarre” Councillor Dr Betty Green said.
The groups is made up of Councillor Charishma Kaliyanda, Councillor Dr Betty Green and Councillor Peter Harle.
Featured
23 April 2024
WEST FIRM WINS NATIONAL AWARD
PNP Constructions a small business champion
ELIZABETH FRIAS
A SPEACIALIST construction company based in Gregory Hills serving the country’s disability sector has taken the top gong in the 2024 Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
18 April 2024
EXTRA POLICE TO MAINTAIN COMMUNITY COHESION
THE NSW Government welcomes the immediate action from the NSW Police Force to stand up Strike Force Dribs and direct extra police resources to Western Sydney following Monday night’s violence in Wakeley.
Strike Force Dribs is tasked with increasing the police presence in the area to reassure the community and keep them safe.
More than 70 additional police officers across general duties and specialist commands are on the streets, conducting high-visibility patrols to maintain community safety. Those patrols began last night.
In addition, 32 investigators are working under Strike Force Dribs to investigate the public order incident outside the Church that night, during which projectiles were thrown at police, officers were injured, police vehicles were damaged and property stolen.
These investigators are collating evidence including mobile phone and CCTV vision with the aim of identifying, arresting, charging and bringing those responsible before the courts.
Any witnesses and anyone with mobile phone vision who has not yet spoken to police, should call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said: “Everyone has the right to go about their daily lives and practice their faith free from violence or intimidation.
“These extra boots on the ground will help provide calm and safety at a time when it’s needed most.
“Over the past four days, we’ve seen the best of the best from the NSW Police Force. These officers run towards danger and put their lives on the line to protect the community. I’ve never been prouder.”
