Editors Picks
08 June 2023
BUSINESS CONCERN OVER IR CHANGES
THE proposed industrial relations (IR) changes by the Australian Federal Government could have various consequences, says Business NSW. These include a surge in grocery prices, an increase in cash-in-hand work, and higher costs for major events. Business NSW expressed concern about the reforms, stating that they will permanently alter the operations of over 840,000 businesses in the state. Key concerns for businesses are the Same Job Same Pay provisions and changes to entitlements for casual employee.
08 June 2023
EASIER MANAGEMENT OF LAND TAX
THE NSW Government has expanded its MyServiceNSW Account platform to include the management of land tax obligations. People can now seamlessly access and manage land tax alongside other services such as driver license renewal or applying for cost-of-living support. Through the MyServiceNSW Account, users can view or manage land tax, lodge returns, request exemptions, access assessment notices, and set up payment plans. They can also opt-in for digital notifications, reducing delivery time to just 48 hours.
08 June 2023
SYDNEY WATER SAFE FROM SALE
THE NSW Minns Government has passed the Constitutional Amendment (Sydney Water and Hunter Water) Bill 2023, protecting Sydney Water and Hunter Water from privatization. The amendment to the Constitution Act ensures that these state-owned corporations and their main undertakings remain in public ownership and cannot be sold or disposed of.
01 June 2023
FUTURE FUND WILL FIGHT HOME CRISIS
THE Housing Australia Future Fund Bill is crucial to address the escalating housing crisis in Western Sydney region according to a leading advocate group.
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take responsibility and engage in Senate negotiations to pass the Bill.
Chairman Christopher Brown said the region’s most vulnerable individuals were being pushed towards homelessness due to historically high levels of housing stress and rising rents
Mr Brown urged the Prime Minister to use his parliamentary negotiation experience and authority to swiftly resolve the deadlock and ensure the government's housing reform package was implemented.
While acknowledging that housing stress is not exclusive to the West, Mr Brown stressed the region bore a disproportionate burden due to population growth.
“The Dialogue not only urges the Prime Minister's involvement but also calls for the government to explore innovative solutions by combining public and private funding. This collaborative approach would effectively address the critical housing issue in Western Sydney,” he said.
Mr Brown expressed disappointment that since the conception of the HAFF two years ago the housing crisis had deteriorated significantly.
“Urgent action is necessary to curb the worsening conditions as population growth and international tourism return to pre-pandemic levels.”
“The government must act swiftly and decisively to address the housing crisis in Greater Western Sydney by passing the HAFF Bill. The future of the region depends on it.”
17 May 2023
DOCTORS BACK VAPING CRACKDOWN
THE Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has expressed support for the Albanese Government's crackdown on vaping.
The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, has announced measures to curb the e-cigarette black market, including restrictions on flavors and colors, pharmaceutical packaging, limits on nicotine concentrations and volumes, and a ban on single-use disposable products.
The RACGP President, Dr. Nicole Higgins, welcomed these actions and emphasized the need to protect young people from nicotine vaping.
She praised the $63M advertising campaign aimed at discouraging vaping and smoking and highlighted the importance of limiting the appeal of vaping products, which often target children.
Dr Higgins also emphasized the RACGP's willingness to collaborate with the government and promote vaping as a smoking cessation strategy under medical supervision.
She encouraged individuals to seek help from their GPs for various quitting options.
17 May 2023
$7M SUPPORT FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS
THE NSW Government has allocated over $7M to support disadvantaged students in vocational training.
The funding will remove the cap on needs-based loadings for Smart and Skilled approved training providers, benefiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with disabilities, and the long-term unemployed.
Previously, providers could only receive one loading per enrolment, but the removal of the cap acknowledges that students may have multiple needs, allowing for additional loadings.
The decision is based on a report titled "Disadvantage, Disability, and Vocational Education and Training" commissioned by the NSW Department of Education, which found that disadvantaged students have a 15% lower completion rate.
TAFE NSW, known for training a higher proportion of disadvantaged students, will receive the majority of the additional funding.
The Department of Education will also establish a community of practice to share best practices and learnings among training providers.
17 May 2023
AUSSIE GREYHOUNDS OFF TO AMERICA
IN a historic partnership, retired Australian greyhounds will be sent to the United States to serve as companion animals for law enforcement officers.
The Pacific Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Greyhounds Australasia, Greyhound Racing NSW, and the US Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
The FOP, with over 367,000 members across 3,000 lodges nationwide, aims to provide greyhounds as PTSD dogs and pets for its officers.
The initiative is inspired by successful programs in Australia with the Australian Federal Police Association and Police Association of NSW.
The partnership is seen as a merging of human and animal welfare, providing comfort to officers exposed to traumatic incidents. The initiative has attracted widespread support in the Australian greyhound industry.
