SearchArchives for December 2008
17 December, 2008Corruption reports taken to new level
Premier Nathan Rees has written to Ministers and Agency heads to inform them of amendments to the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act, which include a Ministers obligation to report suspicion of corruption directly to the Independent Commission Against Corruption or their Agency head.Mr Rees said any matter that a Minister suspected may concern corrupt conduct needed to be reported.
In his Ministerial Memorandum, Mr Rees said Ministers could no longer report their concerns to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
“If a matter is reported to the Minister’s Agency head, that Officer is in turn under an obligation under the Act to report any matter the Officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, concerns or may concern corrupt conduct to the ICAC,” Mr Rees said.
“If a Minister generally wishes to comply with the duty by referring all corruption allegations to the Minister’s Agency head, the Minister should put in place arrangements to ensure that referrals are made only where this is an appropriate course to take.”
He said in circumstances where it might be appropriate to refer the matter to an Agency head, the Minister should form his or her own view as to whether the allegations should be reported to the ICAC.
Mr Rees said although the option of referring corruption allegations to the DPC was no longer available to Ministers, the Department remained available to advise them on their obligations under the Act and in relation to allegations of corrupt conduct generally.
“Under section 53 of the Act, the ICAC has the power to refer matters for investigation or other action to any person or body the ICAC considers to be appropriate in the circumstances,” he said.
Mr Rees said the ICAC may therefore choose to continue to refer matters to the Department of Premier and Cabinet for investigation or take other action, even if the Department was not the Agency that originally referred the relevant matter to it.
He said the duty imposed on Ministers by the amendments extended to possible corrupt conduct that occurred before the commencement of the amendments.
“The duty applies, therefore, to allegations brought to a Minister’s attention now or in the future, even if they concern possible corrupt conduct which is alleged to have taken place in the past.”
“Consistent with the ICAC publication and the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s approach to date, Ministers and Agency heads are encouraged to err on the side of caution and report allegations to the ICAC if they are in any doubt as to whether or not the allegations satisfy the test for reporting.”
17 December, 2008
RailCorp study shows Agency off the rails
RailCorp’s structure and the way it operates allows and encourages corruption according to a report from the Independent Commission Against Corruption.In the eighth and final report on its Investigation into bribery and fraud at RailCorp, the Commission made 40 recommendations to combat corruption after what it said was one of the largest investigations in its history.
The report said the investigation uncovered almost $19 million in improperly allocated contracts that were awarded to companies owned by RailCorp employees, their families and/or friends in return for more than $2.5 million in corrupt payments.
Commissioner of the ICAC, Jerrold Cripps QC said corruption at RailCorp was endemic.
“Corruption in RailCorp is not a few ‘bad apples,’” Commissioner Cripps said in the report.
“The very structure of the organisation and the way it operates allows and encourages corruption.”
He said the ICAC was of the opinion that the decision to outsource the provision of certain goods and services in an environment of dysfunctional markets, a lack of internal firewalls within procurement positions, the inability of management to effectively manage the procurement process, and the weak oversight of the RailCorp Board all worked in concert to allow the widespread corruption to develop.
"The investigation and findings entitle the Commission to infer that the type of corruption exposed extends beyond those individuals identified in this investigation.”
The report described record-keeping at RailCorp as "shambolic" and said that its form of contracting, process design, reporting arrangements, management competence, culture and oversight arrangements all contributed to endemic corruption in the organisation.
The ICAC identified four critical areas for reform and recommended RailCorp:
- Reduce procurement risk by ensuring that it buys only what it can adequately monitor;
- Create firewalls that remove end-to-end control of procurement by single individuals;
- Improve overall managerial effectiveness in the Asset Management Group (the focus of this investigation); and
- Improve oversight, especially by ensuring that corruption risk management strategies are implemented.
The Minister for Transport, David Campbell, confirmed all the recommendations would be implemented.
The ICAC report said: “Beyond the Asset Management Group, it is clear that the importance of preventing corruption in RailCorp was not a priority for the senior executive team or part of the standard oversight framework of the organisation.”
It said the responsibility for preventing corruption in the “critical public organization” was shared by RailCorp’s CEO, the RailCorp Board and the Minister for Transport.
It said it was incumbent on each of the above to break with past practices and improve oversight and action regarding corruption prevention.
The Commission recommended that the responsibilities of the proposed RailCorp Advisory Board, the RailCorp CEO and the Minister for Transport be reviewed to determine whether they need to be restructured to better ensure financially responsible management that would limit the opportunity for corruption.
The report said the Commission would monitor the implementation of the recommendations made as a result of its investigation.
17 December, 2008
Retired police in the firing line
The Auditor-General has reported that frontline policing is at risk due to the early retirement of experienced Police Officers and has called for an immediate review of the Police Force’s Death and Disability scheme.Auditor-General, Peter Achterstraat said that since the new Scheme was introduced in 2005, medical retirements had tripled in the first two years.
He said NSW now had 10 times more Police Officers retiring on medical grounds than Victoria.
“This trend is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue”, Mr Achterstraat said.
“These early retirements are hurting the people of New South Wales in the hip pocket.”
He said the direct cost of injured Officers to the Police Force was over $110 million and he stressed that early rehabilitation to get Officers back to work as soon as possible was best for the Officer, the Force and the community.
Mr Achterstraat said the Police Force had improved at rehabilitating Officers and returning them to work quickly.
He recommended that the Police Force conduct an immediate review of the Death and Disability scheme with a view to either reducing benefits, increasing Officer’s contributions or ceasing the scheme.
Mr Achterstraat released his findings as part of the Audit Office’s report into ‘Managing Injured Police’.
He said the audit report looked at key aspects of injury management and gave some examples of the types of injuries and claims that had occurred.
“The people of NSW are losing out because they are losing experienced, highly trained Police Officers who take a great deal of time to replace,” he said.
“The financial cost is one thing but more importantly, it’s not always the best outcome for the Police Officer and the community.”
17 December, 2008
Legislative program caught in the Acts
Details of legislative matters intended to be brought before Parliament in the 2009 Budget Sittings have been called for, to assist in forward planning the Government’s Legislative Program.The Department of Premier and Cabinet has made the call saying a schedule should be completed for every piece of legislation intended for the session, including any matters that failed to pass through all legislative stages by the end of the Spring 2008 Sittings.
The deadline for returning the schedules is Friday of this week (19 December).
The DPC notice said that in order to ensure the passage of legislation through the Parliament, the deadlines for the receipt of Cabinet Minutes and introduction of Bills for the 2009 Budget Sittings of Parliament were:
- Cabinet Minutes for all the major legislative proposals for the session to be provided to the DPC by 9 April 2009.
- All Bills to be approved by Cabinet or the Cabinet Standing Committee on Legislation no later than the week the commencing 1 June 2009 for introduction into the Parliament.
It said Ministers were required to instruct Agencies under their administration to provide drafting instructions to the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office within five working days of Cabinet’s in-principle approval.
17 December, 2008
Electoral contacts to rock the vote
The NSW Electoral Commission is to send voters SMS and email reminders of their duty to vote during future State and Local Government elections.The NSWEC launched the Australia-first initiative to remind the State’s 4.5 million voters when and where an election would be held.
Electoral Commissioner, Colin Barry said the timing for the new system was right, with SMS and email communication now firmly cemented in Australian society.
“We successfully used SMS and email to recruit 11,500 casual election officials for the September Local Government elections and decided to expand it to the general population,” Mr Barry said.
He said the SMS/email service should reduce the number of penalty notices issued after each election by increasing the number of people who vote.
Mr Barry said 398,000 notices would be sent to electors who appeared not to have voted in the September Council elections, which was in line with the 2004 amount.
“That’s despite an extra half a million voters joining the NSW electoral roll over the past four years,” he said.
Mr Barry said that the NSWEC was required to issue a penalty notice to any elector who appeared not to have voted and anyone receiving a notice could provide a reason for not voting, pay a $55 fine, or have the matter dealt with by a Court.
He said the NSWEC would conduct research next year to gain a greater understanding of why some people failed to vote.
“We’ll be trying to identify any non-voter trends within certain demographics and formulating a strategy to address those issues before the next State election in 2011,” he said.
“It is important that everyone has equal access to democracy and our role is to ensure that any roadblocks to people participating in that process are removed.”
Mr Barry said voters could sign up for the SMS/email reminder at www.elections.nsw.gov.au
17 December, 2008
Penrith ripe for new green building
A new environmentally friendly building has been opened at Penrith to house the Office of the Hawkesbury-Nepean, Office of Fair Trading, the Department of Community Services and the Sydney Catchment Authority.The official opening was performed by the Premier Nathan Rees.
Mr Rees said the state-of-the-art building was a mark of determination to deliver frontline services to Western Sydney.
“This $46 million building will be home to the people who deliver the frontline services the community expects in one central location,” Mr Rees said.
“Through this new Government facility, we are providing the community with better face-to-face customer service and a single point of contact for Government Agencies in the area.”
He said the Offices would be home to some 386 employees, although there was potential for up to 450.
Mr Rees said the office workers would provide a boost for the Penrith CBD and local businesses.
Member for Penrith, Karyn Paluzzano said the new Centre added a significant new presence and focus to the Penrith CBD as it was adjacent to the Penrith Railway Station and the major commercial and retail heart of Penrith.
Ms Paluzzano said the new seven-storey building offered 8,000 square metres of flexible office space, state-of-the-art design features and high water and energy efficiency ratings.
“The building has been designed to achieve a 4.5 star National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme (NABERS) rating which reduces greenhouse emissions and monitors tenants’ power consumption,” Ms Paluzzuno said.
“Its contemporary steel cladding, which will weather over time, is designed to draw on the natural colours of the surrounding environment while significantly reducing long-term maintenance costs.”
17 December, 2008
Wildlife goes wild at parks parties
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has put together a summer holidays program of Discovery walks, talks and tours that reveal many secrets behind New South Wales’ and Australia’s landscape.Head of the NPWS, Sally Barnes said children could investigate rock pools, observe water dragons from a canoe, settle around a campfire to hear stories of the stars from an Aboriginal guide or get marooned on 'Pinchgut' Island and learn about convicts.
Ms Barnes said the guided activities would be led by specialist Discovery rangers in national parks across the state.
"We really want kids to have a fantastic time in parks this summer," Ms Barnes said.
"We've put together a program of thrilling adventures with a range of hands-on activities, from exploring the rainforest creatures by torch to interacting with native animals on the Zoomobile and playing traditional Aboriginal games.”
Ms Barnes said families could take an evening stroll through the Samurai Sand Dunes, star-gaze the night sky together, or go on a search for bush foods in their local area.
She said the programs were inclusive and suitable for a wide range of people.
"Whether you are five years old or 95, looking for easy, medium or more challenging activities, there are affordable, fun Discovery activities for everyone," she said.
Ms Barnes said Discovery programs also gave a unique opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of Aboriginal communities.
She said the Aboriginal Discovery program involved Aboriginal people who conducted professional guided tours around parks and reserves, interpreting and celebrating their cultural heritage.
Ms Barnes said the Discovery activities to be offered this summer included Bird watching walks in the Blue Mountains, rock art finds in Wollemi National Park, snorkelling safaris on the Sapphire Coast, starry night tours in the Hunter Coast and exploring the wonderful world of the eucalypt forest.
She said more information could be found at www.environment.nsw.gov.au
17 December, 2008
Hospital survey gives clean bill of health
The standard of care are across the State’s hospitals has improved over the past year, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Health.Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, released the results of the second State-wide patient survey which was conducted across all eight area health services and The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
Mr Della Bosca said about 80,000 patients responded to the NSW Health 2008 Patient Survey which asked them to report on their experience of healthcare in a range of categories.
"The survey helps us identify areas where we need to improve patient care and also inform us about the things we are doing well,” Mr Della Bosca said. “It provides us with a true picture of people’s experiences in our public hospitals.”
"The vast majority of patients - 89.2 per cent - rated their care as good, very good or excellent.”
He said the results were an improvement on the 2007 survey.
Mr Della Bosca said other key findings from the survey included:
- 81.2 per cent said they found the availability of nurses good, very good or excellent;
- 73.5 per cent said they always had confidence and trust in nurses; and
- 76.9 per cent said they found the availability of doctors good, very good or excellent.
"The survey also reveals areas where we need to do better and one of the main concerns was the level of communication and sharing of information between doctors, nurses and patients.”
Mr Della Bosca said the recently released Garling Report into acute health care services made a number of recommendations about improving communication and team work in public hospitals and the need to be more patient-focussed.
He said the report would be used to put together an action plan to further improve the State’s health services.
"Before implementing any changes, I will be consulting with clinicians and the community about how we can go about putting improvements in place," Mr Della Bosca said.
17 December, 2008
Regulator pays out on dodgy charities
The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has warned NSW residents to beware of bogus or disreputable charities taking advantage of the Christmas season of goodwill.The Office urged people to continue to show their generosity of spirit over the Christmas holiday season, but to also be aware of the possibility that not all was as it seemed.
Minister for Liquor, Gaming and Racing, Kevin Greene said members of the public deserved to have peace of mind that if they made a donation to charity it would go to a proper cause.
Mr Greene said an easy way to check whether a charity was licensed or not was to visit the public register online at www.licence.nsw.gov.au
“Christmas is a time for giving but before handing over your hard-earned dollars, take the time to ensure you’re helping a licensed charity,” Mr Greene said.
“There are 5,000 charities licensed to raise funds in NSW that comply with the law and ensure the money donated goes to the intended cause.”
Mr Greene said some basic tips to ensure a donation went to the right place included:
- Check ID: All face-to-face collectors must wear an ID badge with their name, who they are collecting for, a telephone number and the signature of the licence holder;
- Read the fine print: The ID badge of paid collectors must state they are being paid so the donor is aware that some of their contribution will be used to pay collectors;
- Phone carefulness: If you are contacted by telephone, ask for the full name, address and telephone number of the charity, as well as the name of the collector. You can then contact the charity to ensure the call is legitimate;
- Know exemptions: Some religious organisations are exempt from having to have a licence; and
- Protect your privacy: Always be careful of giving out your banking details if you’re asked to donate by credit card or direct debit and never, ever disclose a banking password or PIN.
“By being a little bit careful, we can all make sure that our charity dollar goes where it’s needed most.”
Mr Greene said anyone who suspected unlawful fundraising should report it to the Department of Liquor, Gaming and Racing for investigation.
He said unlawful fundraising was a serious offence and carried a fine of up to $5,500.
17 December, 2008
New plan opens door on housing approvals
A new development code promises to cut red tape for housing approvals and is expected to speed up approvals for new houses and extensions to 10 days, saving 110 days and $6,500 per application.Minister for Planning, Kristina Keneally said the new code will help create a faster approval system for new detached houses, house extensions and minor development.
“If a proposed house meets set standards which limit its potential impact on neighbours and the look of a street, it should not be tied up in red tape,” Ms Keneally said.
“Under the new system, a new home or extension will go through a ‘checklist-style’ complying development code which will see it approved within 10 days if it meets specified standards.”
She said the new code would allow Councillors and Council staff more time to focus on bigger, more important projects.
“The code provides a straightforward approval process for straightforward buildings,” she said.
“The checklist includes set backs from the street, neighbouring properties and back fence.”
“If a proposed house exceeds these limits, it would go through the development application process.”
Ms Keneally said the code would protect neighbours’ rights and privacy and ensured they were informed before work starts.
She said it would also protect streetscape character and would not allow the demolition of heritage controlled houses.
Ms Keneally said that the new code would provide a much-needed boost to the housing industry in NSW, which saw only 16,000 NSW housing approvals last year compared to 31,000 in Victoria.
“Last year NSW homeowners had to collectively wait more than one million days for their new detached houses to be approved through the development application process,” Ms Keneally said.
“They also had to collectively wait an additional 1.9 million days for development application decisions on home alterations and additions.”
Ms Keneally said the code’s start date of 27 February 2009 would allow Councils time to adjust to the new system, and first home buyers time to access increased first home buyer incentives.
She said the $14,000 Australian Government additional grant for newly-built homes expired on 30 June 2009, while the NSW Government’s $3,000 supplement expired on 10 November 2009.
17 December, 2008
Roadside revivers ideal pick-me-ups
Seventy-five Driver Reviver sites are to operate alongside the State’s highways over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce fatigue-related motoring fatalities.Minister for Roads, Michael Daley said driver fatigue was the second biggest killer on the roads after speeding and he urged travelers to stop and revive this holiday season.
“Last year 87 people lost their lives in fatigue-related crashes,” Mr Daley said.
“If those people had stopped at a Driver Reviver site to have a cup of tea and a chat with the hard working volunteers, they could very well be alive today and looking forward to this Christmas with their families. “
He said Driver Reviver volunteers would serve up about 250,000 cups of tea and coffee and more than 400,000 biscuits, over the next six weeks.
Mr Daley said the Driver Reviver program was established in the early 1980s as a community-based initiative to help prevent fatigue-related crashes.
“This life saving program would not be here without the help of volunteers from organisations such as the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Rescue Association and Lions Club International,” he said.
“I thank each and every volunteer for their hard work.”
Mr Daley said travellers could check the Roads and Traffic Authority website for Driver Reviver sites along their route, and should plan their stops before heading off in the car.
He said motorists should take regular breaks at least every two hours to avoid the risk of driver fatigue.
“Drivers should be aware of the early warning signs of fatigue such as yawning, tired eyes, poor concentration and restlessness,” Mr Daley said.
“If you start to recognise any of these symptoms, I urge you – pull over and take a 10 minute break – it could be the difference between a safe holiday and a tragic one.”
More information on driver fatigue could be found at www.rta.nsw.gov.au
17 December, 2008
Builders’ guide to nail safety problem
WorkCover NSW has released a new guide to assist small businesses working in the residential construction sector meet their workplace safety responsibilities.Chief Executive of WorkCover NSW, Jon Blackwell, said the Housing Industry Site Safety Pack provided practical advice for employers regarding consultation and communication with workers about occupational health and safety issues as well as hazard identification and risk assessment and control.
Mr Blackwell said the pack highlighted some common safety requirements within the residential building sector and was designed to deliver safety outcomes that were comparable to other sectors of the construction industry.
“As well as providing a framework for improving safety outcomes for the residential building industry, the guide also provides information on how to manage a situation where a worker is injured,” Mr Blackwell said.
“The pack will assist small businesses and sub-contractors working on residential construction sites reduce injuries and meet their workplace safety obligations.”
He said the pack included easy to use tools that included a site-specific risk assessment form, safe work method statement form, record of tool box talk form, risk table, employee training register, plant and equipment, hazardous substances and electrical equipment register, and an incident and injury report form.
Mr Blackwell said the guide was developed by WorkCover’s Construction Team in consultation with representatives from the Housing Industry Consultative Committee, Master Builders Association and the NSW Housing Industry Association.
“The guide is another example of how WorkCover is working in partnership with industry to prevent workplace injuries and continually develop safety solutions,” he said.
“With workplace injuries and fatalities in NSW at their lowest levels in 20 years, WorkCover will continue to work closely with employers and workers to maintain safety standards.
He said the Housing Industry Site Safety Pack and other guidance material could be found at www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
17 December, 2008
Cheap transport means a fare go for all in
Families will be able to travel anywhere in Sydney by bus, ferry or train on Sundays for only $2.50 per ticket, under a new plan announced by the Premier, Nathan Rees.Mr Rees said it would now be cheaper and easier for families to use public transport for Sunday outings with the launch of ‘Family Funday Sunday’.
“This is an early Christmas present for families right across NSW,” Mr Rees said.
“The Family Funday Sunday fare will save a family of four $30 by replacing the current day tripper ticket.”
He said the scheme encouraged families to leave their car at home and would ease weekend traffic congestion and the strain put on family budgets with high petrol prices.
Mr Rees said the $2.50 fare was a cheap and easy way for families to get out and about on Sundays and had been introduced just in time for the summer holidays.
“Here is a way that families can go out together and have a fun day without spending too much money,” he said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Carmel Tebbutt said the tickets would also be able to be used in regional areas including Bathurst, Dungog and Goulburn as well as the Central Coast and Illawarra.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re going from Bondi to the Blue Mountains, or Campbelltown to Coogee, each family member will only pay $2.50 to travel,” Ms Tebbutt said.
Minister for Transport, David Campbell said the discount tickets would be available from 7-elevens, convenience stores, train and ferry ticket windows and bus drivers.
“This is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to improving the level of service the community receives when travelling on the public transport network,” Mr Campbell said.
He said more information was available at www.cityrail.info
17 December, 2008
Polluters dug up by new land laws
New, more responsive laws that enable quicker and tougher regulatory action against people contaminating land have been passed by Parliament.Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt said the new laws meant the Government was in a stronger position to manage contaminated lands.
Ms Tebbutt said the changes made under the Contaminated Land Management Amendment Bill would enable swifter and tougher regulatory action if required.
“The original Contaminated Lands Management Act was introduced in 1997 and everyone agrees this has led to a much better approach to, and management of, contaminated sites in NSW,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“However, a review of the Act revealed that changes were needed to streamline and strengthen aspects of the laws.”
She said the Government wanted to strengthen the ‘polluter pays’ principle to make sure those responsible for damaging the environment bear the cost of its repair.
Ms Tebbutt said the previous Act was too prescriptive and sometimes led to unnecessary delays in investigation and remediation of a contaminated site.
“These amendments give new powers to order an investigation and streamline the process between the investigation and remediation stages of a contaminated site,” she said.
Ms Tebbutt said other changes included:
- Clarification that more than one individual could be responsible for contamination
- Clarification that a person could be responsible for contamination due to inaction (the failure to prevent contamination)
- Clearer definition of what triggers were needed to report contamination
- Allowing the Minister to enter into off-set programs in the public interest through which the polluter could mitigate the community impacts of the contamination while remediation was being carried out
- Allow for conditions to be placed on voluntary agreements
Ms Tebbutt said the proposed new laws had been subject to extensive consultation.
17 December, 2008
Carers cared for in new system
Recruitment processes for foster carers are to be streamlined and support programs improved.Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney announced the new package saying it included an online recruitment system and a check-list to be used when a foster carer received a new child.
Ms Burney said the package tackled two of the main areas of improvement for foster carers highlighted by Justice Wood in his recent Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection.
She said the streamlining of recruitment, assessment and authorisation procedures for foster carers, and improving communication with, and the engagement of, carers by the Department, would help everyone involved in foster care work together.
“For me, the overall theme is teamwork,” Ms Burney said.
“Everyone involved in foster care has the best interests of children at heart and it’s all about focusing our energies on the same goals to make them happen.”
She said the most exciting innovation was the new online system to recruit, assess and communicate to new carers which was expected to be launched in the first half of 2009.
Ms Burney said it would take someone only a third of the time to register to be a foster carer under the new system.
“Prospective carers will be able to read information online and apply online,” she said.
She said consultation with foster carers earlier in the year revealed that carers wanted more than anything else a check-list to be used when a new child was placed in their care.
Ms Burney said the check-list included everything a carer needed to know about the child or young person, including any medical needs or relevant history.
“The sooner a carer has the details of the child in their care, the better the quality of their care,” she said,
“Foster carers are being asked for feedback to make sure the check list covers all the necessary areas.”
She said the Partnership Agreement which outlined how Community Services caseworkers and carers could best work together had also been revamped.
“The more carers we have, the better placed we are to protect children and young people from abuse and neglect,” Ms Burney said.
“Sadly, the number of children in care continues to rise, with the 2007/08 figures showing a 12-month increase of 15 per cent to 14,667 children and young people in out-of-home care.”
17 December, 2008
Tourism industry in for a landing
The State’s tourism industry has already started to feel the effects of the global economic slowdown, with the latest figures showing international visitor numbers to Australia falling over the year to 30 September 2008.Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay said NSW held its lead among the States, with Tourism Research Australia figures showing that more than half of all visitors to Australia came to see NSW and spent the largest share of total visitor nights in the state (35 per cent).
Ms McKay said while the data demonstrated the importance of Sydney and NSW as the gateway to Australia, the fall in overall visitor numbers pointed to tough times ahead for the tourism industry.
“There’s no doubt that growth in international tourism to Australia overall is suffering,” Ms McKay said, “even despite the recent weakness in the Australian dollar.”
“Travel, particularly to long-haul destinations, is often one of the first casualties when it comes to tough decisions about spending by consumers.”
She said the Government had released its new Tourism Strategy to work closely with industry to brace for the challenges ahead.
Ms McKay said Tourism NSW was expanding international promotions to generate stronger interest in NSW destinations across the globe.
She said the International Visitor Survey data showed that visitation from key Asian markets, including China and Japan, fell over the September quarter, a consequence of a number of factors including the Beijing Olympics in August.
“Tourism NSW has a number of campaigns in key overseas markets aimed at driving visitor numbers and creating further value internationally for the Sydney and NSW brand,” she said.
“Tourism NSW is working with a number of partners, including Etihad and MySpace, to target the youth market most recently in Ireland, the US and Italy.”
17 December, 2008
Days off rostered
The Department of Premier and Cabinet has released the official rostered days off for 2009 and 2010 for employees under the Crown Employees (Skilled trades) Award and General Construction (State) Award.
A list of the dates could be found at www.dpc.nsw.gov.au
Transport call centre renewed
The Ministry of Transport has established the Integrated Transport Information Services (ITIS) Procurement Project to replace the 131500 Call Centre and web site.
The Service is currently operated under a services contract with a call centre company but a number of changes have been made to improve the services offered to the public and the service has been put out to tender.
Crime trends down
The Bureau of Crime, Statistics and Research has released its latest quarterly crime statistics which show 16 out of the 17 major crime categories were either stable or falling.
BOCSAR said over the 24 months to September 2008, decreases were recorded in domestic violence (down 8.0%), robbery with a firearm (down 26.0%), robbery with a weapon not a firearm (down 19.2%), break and enter - dwelling (down 4.1%) and break and enter - non-dwelling (down 4.9%) among others.
The study showed a number of increasing trends outside the 17 major crime trends, particularly for drug possession, including possession/use of cocaine (up 37.5%), possession/use of cannabis (up 18.2%), possession/use of ecstasy (up 55.4%), and possession/use of other drugs (up 29.6%).
PSA jail petition
The Public Service Association of NSW has released a petition to keep jails in public hands.
The PSA campaign aims to keep jails public, and in particular stop the privatisation of Cessnock and Parklea, and prevent the casualisation and privatisation of the prison workforces across the state.
The PSA said the petition has being widely circulated in the communities with jails in their areas.
Diabetes trial gets needle
The biggest ever trial to prevent people from getting Type II Diabetes has been launched by the Minister for Health, John Della Bosca.
Mr Della Bosca said The Prevent Diabetes Live Life Well program was the largest community-based diabetes prevention trial ever undertaken in NSW.
He said the Program would target people at risk of getting Type II Diabetes and give them the information and support they needed to turn their lives around before it was too late.
Coal Council meets
The NSW Clean Coal Council, which supports clean coal technology and research, has met for the first time.
Minister for Mineral Resources, Ian Macdonald said the Council included representatives from the mining industry, unions and Government and would provide advice and make recommendations on project funding and policies which encouraged clean coal technologies.
Parklands on the cards
Centennial Parklands have released their Christmas Cards which feature photography of young local photographer, Ben Chapman.
The cards cost $1.50 each or 10 cards for $10, with profits going back into the Parklands, to ensure their survival for future generations.
For more information or to make a purchase, call (02) 9339 6699.
Yacht race warning
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has asked anyone intent on travelling to the Sydney Harbour to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day to plan their day very carefully.
NPWS is expecting key locations throughout the Sydney Harbour National Park to be very busy during the race and have put in place a number of safety measures to protect spectators and ensure people have a good time.
It is expected that parking will be in short supply and that some roads will be closed so spectators have been urged to use public transport.
Health issues Bali warning
The Department of Health has issued a warning for all Australians travelling to Bali saying the Indonesian Government had formally declared that rabies was present on the island.
Two dogs have been diagnosed with the virus.
It said Bali was previously considered rabies free.
NSW Health recommended that all adults and children visiting Bali should avoid contact with wild and domestic animals, including dogs, cats and monkeys, even if the animal appeared well.
Insurance forum for Tamworth
A public information forum has been held by Legal Aid in Tamworth for people experiencing difficulty with insurance claims, mortgage stress and other legal problems such as fines or disputes with Centrelink.
Chief Executive of Legal Aid NSW, Alan Kirkland said the help followed the recent major storms and floods, provided information on the insurance claim process, and provided opportunities for residents of the Tamworth region to ask questions of lawyers with expertise in the field.
School caution urged
The Minister for Roads, Michael Daley has urged motorists to continue to take care in school zones, with most schools still open until the end of the week.
Mr Daley said that because some private schools had already finished for the year, family and friends of those students might forget that the 40kmh zones were still operating.
He said the minimum fine if caught speeding in a school zone was $128 and four demerit points.
“In the new year, school zones will be back in time for term one on Tuesday 27 January 2009,” Mr Daley said.
10 December, 2008
Christmas warning for spending Agencies
Premier Nathan Rees has warned Department Heads to exercise restraint when spending money on publicly funded Christmas parties.Mr Rees re-issued the Government’s Expenses Policy to remind Ministers, Chief Executives and all Senior Officials of their responsibilities regarding the expenditure of State funds on end of year celebrations.
He said the Policy outlined sector-wide requirements, prohibiting the expenditure of State funds on any event that would provide predominantly personal benefit to Public Service employees.
“This restriction also applies to Ministers, members of their family or friends and State officials,” Mr Rees said.
“I would also ask you to exercise restraint in the scale and expenditure of any publicly funded reception or similar event to mark Christmas and the end of the year.”
He said under the Policy, expenditure on Christmas parties would not escape scrutiny.
“Expenditure on Christmas season parties and out of pocket expenditure are subject to the same standards of documentation and scrutiny (including internal and external audit) as other expenditure,” the Policy said.
“Agencies should only make payment for expenditure relating directly to their operations.”
The Policy said the allowance paid to Ministers would cover most of the normal representation responsibilities associated with the portfolio, however there may be occasions where it was appropriate for expenses incurred to form a valid charge against the hospitality funds of a Department or Authority for which the Minister was responsible.
It said the event must have a direct business relationship with the Minister's portfolio; working meals were to have relatively low charges per head; expenditure should not provide a predominantly personal benefit to the Minister, members of their family or friends or officers of organisations; tips would generally not be permissible; and expenditure on minor gifts of protocol or public relations were not acceptable.
“The accounting arrangements as outlined for the handling of out-of-pocket expenses for Departmental staff will apply and the charges incurred should fit within the allocation of the particular Department or Authority to whose activities the charges related,” the Policy said.
10 December, 2008
Building standards go up for disabled
Public buildings across Australia may have to comply with new standards for access by people with disabilities if a draft policy for improvement is adopted by Australian Governments.The Commonwealth used the recent International Day of Persons with a Disability to table new draft standards, saying they would be mirrored in the Building Code of Australia.
Federal Attorney General, Robert McClelland, said the standards would help provide better access to new and upgraded public buildings for people with a disability by making it clearer what was required to avoid discrimination.
He said mirroring the standard requirements in the Building Code of Australia would reduce complexity by aligning building and discrimination laws.
Mr McClelland said the Commonwealth believed access to public and commercial buildings for all members of society was critical for achieving social inclusion.
“These initiatives will have a positive impact on the daily lives of people with a disability – providing better access to premises such as shops, Government offices and hotels,” he said.
“It will make their rights clearer and more certain.”
The proposed Premises Standards addressed access issues such as signage, circulation space in lifts and accessible toilets, the number of wheelchair spaces in theatres and the use of tactile warning indicators on stairways and ramps.
Federal Minister for Innovation, Senator Kim Carr, said harmonising the access requirements and the Building Code of Australia would provide people with a disability with greater access to public and certainty for the building industry.
Senator Carr said the Commonwealth intended to refer the draft Standards to the House of Representatives’ Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for final public consultation, before it made its report in the first half of 2009.
10 December, 2008
Ombudsman reports on disability deaths
The Ombudsman has released his report on the reviewable deaths of people with disabilities in care.His report included a list of recommendations.
The Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour said the purpose of the review was to prevent or reduce the premature deaths of people living in, or temporarily absent from, residential care or a licensed boarding house.
Mr Barbour said in 2007, the deaths of 98 people with disabilities were reviewable, with 31 of those living in accommodation operated by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, 52 living in accommodation funded by DADHC and 15 people living in licensed boarding houses.
He said on average, the people who had lived in disability services were 54 years old when they died — six years younger than licensed boarding house residents — and around 25 years younger than the general population.
“The leading cause of death of people in the care of disability services is respiratory illness, including pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, and bronchopneumonia,” Mr Barbour said.
“Disability services residents are vulnerable to respiratory illness due to the existence of many risk factors, such as swallowing difficulties, need for help with meals and oral care, limited mobility, and taking multiple medications.”
He said the licensed boarding house residents who died typically had a mental illness and several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension and heavy smoking.
Mr Barbour said some of the people whose deaths were reviewed had complex needs, including complex health, behaviour, and/or support needs.
“While we identified examples of good practice in health care planning, we also noted some areas for improvement in meeting the complex health and other needs of some of the people who died in 2007,” he said.
He said for the past four years, his Office had repeatedly identified instances where first aid had not been provided, first aid had been ineffectively provided, or there were delays in seeking medical assistance.
Mr Barbour said there were concerns about the first aid provided in relation to at least five people who died in 2007.
“Our concern is that, while first aid qualifications are mandatory for DADHC staff, this is not the case for staff in funded services or licensed boarding houses,” he said.
“We consider that it should be mandatory — regardless of the disability accommodation setting — that there should always be at least one person on shift with current first aid qualifications.”
He said a project conducted this year on people with Down syndrome and dementia identified continuing concerns about the support available for people with disabilities in care as they aged, and the impact of barriers between the disability and aged care sectors, including inability to access community-based aged care services.
Mr Barbour recommended DADHC develop a policy that clearly articulated and documented the directions, strategies and actions the Department would take to support people with disabilities as they aged.
Copies of the Ombudsman’s report were available at www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
10 December, 2008
Koala recovery plan brought to bear
A new Koala Recovery Plan aimed at boosting Koala populations across the State has been approved by the Department of Environment and Climate Change.The Department said the iconic koalas had suffered a dramatic decline in numbers and distribution since the arrival of Europeans.
In the Recovery Plan for the Koala, the Department said although it was not currently considered threatened on a national basis, the conservation status of Koalas varied throughout Australia.
“Surveys in New South Wales indicate that since 1949, populations of koalas have been lost from many localities, particularly on the southern and western edges of their distribution,” the Recovery plan for the Koala said.
“Most populations in NSW now survive in fragmented and isolated habitat and many of the areas in which koalas are most abundant are subject to intense and ongoing pressures, in particular clearing for agriculture and urban expansion.”
It said koalas were formerly widespread in NSW, but remaining populations were now mainly concentrated on the central, mid-north and north coasts and west of the divide in the northern part of the State.
The Plan said koalas were listed as a vulnerable species under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.
“This plan encourages the use of established legislative mechanisms to conserve koala habitat and provides advice for those implementing these mechanisms,” it said.
“It also identifies initiatives to improve understanding of koala distribution, population numbers and habitat requirements in NSW.”
The Department said the plan provided a framework for localised koala recovery efforts throughout NSW.
It said recovery actions would be aimed at updating and implementing existing legislation to improve outcomes for koala conservation.
The Recovery Plan is to be implemented over a five year period, with actions to be undertaken by the Department and a range of recommended implementation partners.
Further information was available from www.environment.nsw.gov.au
10 December, 2008
Healthy results from disability package
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care’s Stronger Together package has exceeded expectations in a number of areas, according to Minister for Disability Services, Paul Lynch.Mr Lynch said a report released for the International Day for People with a Disability showed 10,000 extra disability places had been created in the first two years of the 10 year project.
He said the report showed 97 per cent of Intensive Family Support Services had been successful; 3,000 people with a disability had accessed services under the Family Assistance Fund; and 700 extra Early Childhood Intervention services were allocated.
Mr Lynch said 1,600 new respite places had been created, with 1,000 allocated to older parent carers.
He said 1,400 young people had been supported under Transition to Work; 315 accommodation places had been created, with up to 50 new places under the Disability Housing and Support Initiative; five demonstration projects promoting sibling, parent and peer support networks had been carried out; and a three year pilot under Family solutions had commenced.
Mr Lynch said more than half the young school leavers with a disability who participated in the first Transition to Work program had entered the workforce or gone on to further education studies.
He said the Government would ensure that Stronger Together continued to deliver impressive results.
“For the rest of the current financial year a further $282 million will be spent to support and strengthen families and to increase the availability of respite, therapy, case management, in-home support and specialist accommodation,” Mr Lynch said.
“This is in addition to the $350 million extra we have already spent.”
He said the report was available at www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au
10 December, 2008
Free bus service is just the ticket
A free shuttle bus to loop around the city to pick up office workers, shoppers and tourists has been launched in time for Christmas.Premier Nathan Rees said the new Sydney-CBD shuttle bus would take its passengers to various destinations in the CBD.
"I expect the service will be particularly popular during the busy Christmas period," Mr Rees said.
"The CBD Shuttle will make it easier for people to get from one end of the city to the other and everywhere in between.”
Mr Rees said it could sometimes be difficult to know exactly which bus to catch if you're only going a few blocks in the city, but the new service would make that much easier.
"The CBD Shuttle makes it simple - it's free, it has high visibility green paintwork, and it runs around a loop of the city in both directions,” he said.
"Furthermore, passengers on the shuttle won't need tickets, they can just hop on and off at any regular bus stop along the route."
Minister for Transport, David Campbell said the 555 route CBD Shuttle would run between Circular Quay and Central Railway Station, along George and Elizabeth streets.
He said the service would operate at a 10-minute frequency between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday, but finishing at 9pm on Thursday evenings.
He said weekend services would also run between 9.30am and 6pm, and a similar service would be launched in Wollongong next year.
Mr Rees said people could use the service to shuttle into the city, around town, down the road, out for a coffee, to the shops, or to their next meeting.
"If you're not already a regular bus passenger, then using this wheelchair accessible and air conditioned service is the best way to give it a go," Mr Rees said.
10 December, 2008
Penrith walkway walks away with award
A scenic walk over rugged bushland along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system has won the Minister for Planning’s Sydney Greenspace Award.Director-General of Planning, Sam Haddad presented the award to Penrith City Council for its innovative work on the first two stages of the Great River Walk at the NSW Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards.
Mr Haddad, who announced the award on behalf of the Minister, Kristina Keneally, said the Great River Walk had opened up beautiful views of the Nepean River and Blue Mountains across an otherwise inaccessible area.
He said the award recognised the design and construction of the first two stages of the walk, from Penrith Weir to Cassola Place.
“This 1.5 kilometre stretch includes a pedestrian and cycle path, a boardwalk and a bridge over a bushland creek section,” Mr Haddad said.
“Penrith City Council is to be commended for allowing Sydneysiders to experience the Nepean River’s beauty from such a spectacular vantage point.”
Mr Haddad said the landscape architects deserved praise for combining traditional engineering practices with bushland revegetation, and increasing access while respecting the river’s heritage, cultural features and environmental sensitivity.
He said the Government awarded the project because it implemented the Government’s Metropolitan Strategy and its associated actions from the Parks & Public Spaces Strategies.
“The Great River Walk highlights the importance of regional recreational space,” he said.
“Its connection to water and its opportunities to celebrate cultural, natural and Aboriginal heritage make this trail significant in Western Sydney.”
Mr Haddad said the project was also an example of successful State and Local Government, community and industry partnership.
He said stages 1 and 2 were the first of the Walk’s development in the Penrith area, but the Walk links with other regional trails in Sydney and was therefore part of a network of existing and proposed open spaces of regional significance.
10 December, 2008
Door slams on homeowner fraud
The Office of State Revenue has announced plans to crack down on fraudsters who rorted First Home Owner Grants.According to Treasurer Eric Roozendaal, the OSR investigated 1,829 First Home Owner Grant applications last year, of which 400 were found not to have fulfilled eligibility requirements.
He said these applicants were collectively forced to pay back $3.5 million in grant repayments and penalties.
“This is an important scheme to help get legitimate first home buyers into the property market – and if you abuse it, you’ll be caught,” Mr Roozendaal said.
He said the OSR also investigated 620 First Home Plus applications, which resulted in the cancellation of 378 concessions valued at $4.6 million including interest and penalties.
Mr Roozendaal said the OSR’s compliance program ensured first home benefits were only received by applicants.
“The overwhelming majority of first home owners do the right thing and abide by the eligibility criteria,” he said.
“However, there are a small number of people who try to abuse the system by applying for benefits they’re not entitled to.”
He said the more serious cases were prosecuted, and people caught abusing the scheme had included solicitors, real estate agents, a teacher, a Police Officer and a medical student.
Mr Roozendaal said investigations by OSR in the past two years had resulted in 15 successful prosecutions for serious breaches of the first home benefits schemes.
He said prosecutions resulted in a number of convictions, with fines, community service and even jail sentences.
“Those people who are no longer eligible should not wait to get caught by OSR,” Mr Roozendaal said.
“Not only will the recipients be required to pay back the benefits, they could be ordered to pay an additional penalty of up to100 per cent.”
He said examples where grants had been recouped included where applicants had previously owned property, where they failed to reveal a spouse who had previously owned property and where they failed to occupy the property within the specified time period.
10 December, 2008
Toll tags cash in on new account
A new electronic E-toll tag account option to make cash-free travel on Sydney’s motorways easier has been announced by the Minister for Roads, Michael Daley.Mr Daley said the Easy Toll account, which would be available from 15 December, had no deposit and a minimum top up fee of $10.
He said the new scheme would make travelling without cash on NSW roads more convenient and cost effective for families, pensioners, frequent and infrequent motorway users.
“The Easy Toll account allows motorists to get an E-toll tag at an RTA registry or over the internet for a one off set-up fee and a small monthly account fee of up to $1.25,” Mr Daley said.
“It’s designed to provide motorists with greater flexibility in terms of payment options as we move towards taking our entire motorway network cashless.”
He said the new accounts included:
- A $3.30 set-up fee when opened at an RTA registry or a $1.50 set-up fee when opened online
- A $1.25 monthly fee for both payment options and a minimum $10 top up
- A $1.50 set-up fee for pensioners and a monthly fee of 50 cents.
“There are a range of payment options for the Easy Toll account - motorists can pay using EFTPOS, credit card, money order, cheque and cash in registries,” he said.
“If you’re paying over the phone or online you have the choice of using your credit card or debit card.”
Mr Daley said toll passes for Sydney motorways were now interoperable, which meant the RTA’s existing E-toll Pass for casual users would work on the Sydney Harbour crossings and all Sydney motorways.
He said it was great news for motorists who did not have an electronic tag and only used toll roads occasionally.
“Motorists can register for the RTA’s interoperable pass online or over the phone using a credit card up to a month before the date they intend to travel and 48 hours after the trip,” he said.
“The RTA’s camera technology takes a photo of the vehicle’s license plate and matches it to the motorist’s account.”
Mr Daley said the Sydney Harbour Bridge would become a fully cashless motorway on Sunday 11 January 2009.
10 December, 2008
Organic wine plan labelled a corker
The Department of Primary Industries is leading the development of the State’s organic wine industry with a new vineyard at the Department’s Centre for Organic Horticulture in Bathurst.Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald said he looked forward with great anticipation to enjoying the first drop of wine from the grapes in the vineyard in either 2010 or 2011.
Mr Macdonald said the vineyard was the culmination of a $120,000 investment in infrastructure at the Bathurst Centre for Organic Horticulture which was designed to assist in the development of the organic industry in NSW.
"It will be used for both extension and research purposes and will capitalise on existing links to the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre and Charles Sturt University campuses at Wagga Wagga and Orange,” Mr Macdonald said.
He said the organics industry continued to grow at about 10-15% each year, and had a retail value of about $200M.
He said that with 31% of certified organic farms, and 26% of the national organic retail and wholesale sector located in NSW, the State was a key player in the industry’s growth.
He also announced a new wine industry award which was specifically designed to acknowledge the growing organic wine industry.
"The 2009 NSW Organic Wine Industry Award will be presented to a NSW organic vigneron who has made an outstanding contribution to the organic wine industry," Mr Macdonald said.
"This sector, while small, is growing - and there is a need to recognise the contribution made by those winemakers who have not only developed an organic production system, but also contributed to the growth of this category in the market place."
He said future activities at the Bathurst centre included research trials and training courses aimed at improving the consistency of wine makers’ skills and products.
Mr Macdonald said the Department would work closely with industry to develop necessary legislative mechanisms to ensure consumer confidence in organic products, develop production guidelines and training packages to assist producers, and develop initiatives to sustain potential growth.
10 December, 2008
Crime news is all good
New figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found more than half of NSW residents did not think there were crime or public nuisance problems in their neighbourhoods.The ABS report, Crime and Safety, New South Wales 2008 found the number of people with this opinion had risen from just 47 per cent in 1999 to 55 per cent this year.
The Bureau said in 2008, 4.2 per cent of people aged 15 years and over were victims of personal crime, steady with the 5.1 per cent recorded in 1999.
The report found seven per cent of households experienced household crime, three per cent less than in 1999.
The ABS said household crime rates had remained stable since 2004, after falling from their 1999 to 2003 rates of around 10 per cent.
The Bureau said the 2008 assault rate (3.6 per cent) had decreased from 2007 (4.4per cent) but was consistent with the rates recorded in 2006 (3.5 per cent) and 2004 (3.8 per cent).
The ABS said other results for 2008 included:
- 38,700 people (0.7% of people aged 15 years and over) were victims of robbery;
- 17,500 females aged 18 years and over (0.7%) were sexually assaulted;
- 104,000 households (3.8%) were victims of break and enter
- 90,900 households (3.4%) were victims of attempted break and enter;
- 18,800 households (0.7%) experienced the theft of a motor vehicle.
10 December, 2008
Missing youngsters find links on website
The Attorney General’s Department has launched a new online game featuring fast-paced animation, alternative music and slang to raise awareness of services available to help missing Australian teenagers.Coordinator of the Families and Friends Missing Persons Unit, Sarah Wayland, said 20,000 young Australians went missing each year.
Ms Wayland said the interactive Talking Works website was a valuable resource for teenagers who might want to reach out to a missing friend.
She said the game revolved around a skateboarding schoolgirl who met a police officer who told her going missing was not a crime.
“Young people may not report a friend missing because they don’t want to dob on them, but this game shows that talking to police is the smartest thing they can do,” Ms Wayland said.
“Police are primarily concerned for the wellbeing of missing teenagers and will not force a young person to go home if it is unsafe.”
Ms Wayland said the game explained the main reasons young people went missing, which included abuse, neglect, depression, drugs, alcohol and bullying.
She said year 10 students were consulted during the game’s development to ensure its messages were delivered in a way that would appeal to 14 to 17 year-olds.
“Young people who run away from home can find themselves in a lonely and vulnerable position, particularly if they are living on the streets,” Ms Wayland said.
“If this game prompts one young person to seek assistance or counselling, then it will have been a worthwhile project.”
She said Talking Works gave young people advice on the types of SMS messages they could send to a missing friend to find out where they were or to make sure they were ok.
Ms Wayland said the interactive website was funded by the NSW Missing Persons Committee with support from the Families and Friends of Missing Persons Unit of the Attorney General’s Department and the Australian Federal Police.
She said it would be promoted via MySpace, the Federal Police and the Families and Friends of Missing Persons Unit websites and could be accessed from www.talkingworks.com.au
10 December, 2008
Indigenous campaign is black and white
The Office of Fair Trading has launched a new program promising improved protection for Indigenous Australians by promoting consumer protection information and access in the State’s north.Assistant Commissioner for Fair Trading, Andrew Gavrielatos, said Aboriginal media, community organisations and service providers had signed up to help implement the program.
Mr Gavrielatos said Durri Aboriginal Medical Centre in Kempsey was the Fair Go Partnership Program’s first partner.
“Fair Trading celebrated 10 years of achievements in Aboriginal consumer protection in August this year and the Fair Go program complements a long list of policy and practical outcomes delivered for Aboriginal people in NSW,” he said.
“These include dedicated employment, sporting and community sponsorships, art competitions, education services, information sessions, publications, housing and tenancy initiatives and joint activities with a number of other Government, Community and Indigenous Agencies,”
Mr Gavrielatos said the program encouraged partnerships which would allow Fair Trading to improve service delivery and would benefit the Aboriginal community through increased understanding and awareness of consumers’ rights and responsibilities.
“We know Aboriginal people can get ripped off through some funeral plans and when purchasing mobile phone plans and cars,” he said.
“There is help there if they need it, so the Fair Go program will help get that message out.”
Mr Gavrielatos said the program was modelled on Fair Trading’s successful Think Smart Partnership Program for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
He said the Durri Aboriginal Medical Centre’s work with Fair Trading would primarily be supported through the Port Macquarie Fair Trading Centre and the Education and Information Services branch.
Chairperson of the Durri Medical Centre, Gerald Hoskins, welcomed the agreement saying the Centre was delighted to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people.
“Fair Trading provides essential services and support to the Aboriginal community and it’s critical that together we help improve local understanding of what help is available and how people can access that help,” Mr Hoskins said.
10 December, 2008
Waterwise website making a splash
Sydney residents can find out how often and how much water is needed to maintain an efficient and healthy garden, thanks to a new website hosted by Sydney Water.Minister for Water, Phil Costa said the new interactive web tool, WaterRight Gardens, calculated seasonal watering schedules specific to the householder’s garden, in-line with current water restrictions.
Mr Costa said the simple web-based tool could benefit gardeners all over Sydney.
“Anyone with access to the internet can use it, free of charge, and they don’t have to be a horticulturalist,” Mr Costa said.
“They can get good design advice to create the foundation of a water efficient garden.”
He said people had to enter the ground, wind exposure and sunlight characteristics of their garden into the website, and the optimal soil, plant and placement recommendations would be made based on this information.
Mr Costa said household gardens accounted for about 25 per cent of greater Sydney’s total residential water consumption.
“The customised seasonal watering schedule will guide gardeners on how often to water, how much water to apply and when to avoid watering because of rainfall and evaporation,” he said.
“Some people tend to water their gardens too frequently and often don’t consider rainfall.”
He said Sydney Water was the first Australian urban water utility to host the WaterRight Gardens interactive website.
Mr Costa said it would be rolled out in due course across Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.
He said the system complemented Sydney Water’s online Plant Selector and Love Your Garden program.
“There’s more than 1,000 plant species available in the online Plant Selector that are commonly found across Sydney,” he said.
“Over 10,200 residential customers have taken up the Love Your Garden offer which was launched in February 2007.”
More information and access to the site could be found at www.sydneywater.com.au
10 December, 2008
Parks get green light for ecotourism push
A report recommending NSW attract tourists from all over the world based on its national parks has been received by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt and the Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay.Ms Tebbutt and Ms McKay welcomed the report that would put NSW’s national parks at the centre of a campaign to make the State one of the world’s best ecotourism destinations.
They said they would accept the recommendations from the Government’s Tourism and National Parks Taskforce report
Ms Tebbutt said NSW’s national parks protected some of the most amazing natural places in Australia, which had enormous potential for promoting the importance of conservation and tapping into the growing global demand for nature based tourism.
“While protecting our parks remains the priority, this report presents a clear case for incorporating sustainable tourism so we are up there with other famous and successful destinations,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“We want NSW to have its own version of New Zealand’s Milford Track or Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park – places people travel from across the world especially to visit to experience their natural beauty.”
Ms McKay said the 10-member taskforce, headed by the former head of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Brian Gilligan, had considered hundreds of submissions in compiling the recommendations.
“The report has also found we need to improve tourism to Sydney Harbour and Royal National Parks and provide more opportunities for families to experience all they have to offer,” Ms McKay said.
“That could include more iconic walks, innovative low impact accommodation, more interesting tours and experiences and cutting edge visitor facilities such as boardwalks and lookouts. “
She said key recommendations of the report included:
- A focus on iconic experiences in key areas close to Sydney and within three hours drive of major airports in Newcastle, the Gold Coast, Ballina, Coffs Harbour and Canberra;
- Clarifying national parks legislation to make sustainable tourism a clear outcome;
- A review of accommodation and leasing policies in parks to provide a clear understanding of the range of acceptable accommodation options, including huts, standing camps and cabins;
- An online booking system for accommodation and campsites;
- A calendar of regular events suitable to parks and reserves, such as the recently announced ‘Island Hopping’ event in Sydney Harbour National Park.
10 December, 2008
Glasses raised to drinks campaign
An interactive website and booklets detailing the risks of binge drinking have been launched to raise awareness of the issue among young people and their parents.Minister for Health, John Della Bosca said the campaign was part of a strategy to promote responsible drinking and reduce the growing number of younger people abusing alcohol.
“Many young people are drinking at risky levels and at least a third put themselves in danger of alcohol-related harm,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“According to NSW Health data, since 2000 the biggest increase in alcohol-related Emergency Department admissions has been among 18 to 24 year-olds - up 130 per cent - while female admissions within that group had risen an alarming 200 per cent.”
The Minister said the Garling Report into acute health services across NSW, released last week, advised prevention was the best method of dealing with the health and well-being of children and youth.
Mr Della Bosca said preventative strategies aimed at avoiding a new generation of binge drinkers included web-based educational material and other mediums.
“The new booklets - Guides to dealing with alcohol for teenagers and parents - will educate young people about the risks associated with binge drinking and inform parents of the significant influence they have on their children's attitudes,” he said.
“They will be available through Area Health Services, Community Drug Action Teams who take part in community information events across NSW and youth services such as Police Community Youth Clubs.”
Mr Della Bosca said the NSW Chief Health Officer Report showed 37.2 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women surveyed in 2007 said they drank alcohol at “risky levels”.
He said these figures were down from 50.4 per cent and 36.3 per cent respectively from a decade ago.
“These trends are good news and demonstrate that we are on track to meet our reduction targets, but more still needs to be done to reduce the harm being caused by alcohol use among young people,” Mr Della Bosca said.
He said parents could influence their teenagers’ drinking behaviour by talking openly to them, setting boundaries and being role models by drinking responsibly.
Mr Della Bosca said the website - www.whatareyoudoingtoyourself.com - expanded on the key messages of the booklets and offered an interactive educational environment, a quiz and contact details for further information.
“The resources were developed in consultation with NSW Police, National Drug and Alcohol Research Council and City of Sydney Council,” he said.
Further information could be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au
10 December, 2008
Workplace safety meeting
Australian and New Zealand Workplace Safety Authorities met in Melbourne recently to discuss the progress of a range of initiatives to further Occupational Health and Safety across Australian workplaces.
Chair of the Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities, John Watson, said the group agreed to conduct follow up targeted audits in 2009, to measure the long term impacts of the manual handling in manufacturing intervention campaign.
Mr Watson said it was also agreed undertake a number of compliance visits in the hospitality industry in an effort to reduce the risk of injury and illness to new and young workers.
Computers on the way
The Government has called for tenders to deliver 200,000 laptop computers to the State’s senior students after securing an extra $180 million from the Commonwealth.
Premier Nathan Rees said the Government would waste no time in working to deliver the technology to students.
Mr Rees said Expressions of Interest for the delivery of the students’ laptops were on the Department of Commerce website and advertisements had appeared in the press.
He said the computers would be in a Department of Education encoded network to make them worthless if stolen and safe from inappropriate or harmful material over the internet.
Staff show off collections
Forty-five staff from the Botanic Gardens Trust in Sydney have put their personal collections on show at the Gardens’ Red Box Gallery.
The collections included Royal Botanic Gardens memorabilia, antique chocolate moulds, shopping bags, pop-up books, nautiluses and ammonites, pigs, jugs and earrings, shaving mugs and razors, waratahs, comics and figurines, owls and biscuit cutters.
Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, Dr Tim Entwisle said he was not surprised so many of the Trust staff were collectors because the Botanic Gardens has a collection of nearly 200,000 plants.
Railway station tested
The new Macquarie Park railway station has been put to the test as part of preparations for the opening of the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link.
Premier Nathan Rees watched a mass evacuation exercise that was part of a regular program of safety and security exercises conducted for public transport services.
Mr Rees said role playing passengers included a wheelchair user, a person on crutches, elderly persons and a six month-old baby in a pram.
Pay input invited
The Australian Fair Pay Commission has invited interested groups and individuals to make submissions to the 2009 Minimum Wage Review.
The Commission said submissions should address the capacity for the unemployed and low-paid to obtain and keep employment, employment competitiveness, safety nets for the low-paid and minimum wages.
Further information was available from www.fairpay.gov.au
Crackdown on cable theft
A high-tech surveillance and security crackdown has being rolled out across EnergyAustralia’s network to crackdown on cable theft, according to the Minister for Energy, Ian Macdonald.
Mr Macdonald said EnergyAustralia had invested more than $16 million to upgrade surveillance equipment and other security measures at substations and works depots, and was working with Police on a number of ongoing investigations into recent cable thefts.
Retirement villages protected
New laws to protect the rights of retirement village residents have been passed by Parliament.
Minister for Fair Trading, Virginia Judge said retirement villages had become an increasingly popular lifestyle choice for seniors and hundreds of villages across the State were home to tens of thousands of retirees.
She said the new laws included reducing the period that a former occupant was required to pay recurrent charges; introduction of a 90-day settling-in period for new residents; requiring operators to hold annual meetings; and ensuring operators make good any budget deficit at the end of each financial year.
Post Office reminder
Australia Post has reminded the community to post their Christmas cards early as record volumes of Christmas mail are expected again this year.
Australia Post’s Nadine Lyford said the service handled millions of extra items during the festive season and that early posting ensured mail would arrive in time.
“Generally, if people receive Christmas cards, they are more likely to then send a Christmas card back. That’s a good reason to send your cards now,” Ms Lyford said.
Special Olympics boost
Special Olympics NSW is to receive $400,000 in Government funding to expand its sporting programs for people with an intellectual disability.
The move was announced by Minister for Disability Services, Paul Lynch who said the one-off grant would be used by the volunteer organisation over the next four years to meet increasing demand.
He said the organisation expected to increase the number of people taking part from 750 to around 1,250.
Committee considers research station
A steering committee to discuss the future of the Department of Primary Industries’ Condobolin research station has been formed.
Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald said the committee included himself, Country Labor MLC Tony Catanzariti, farmers, representatives from Central West Farming Systems and the Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council, Des Manwaring.
Mr Macdonald said the committee would look to build on the relationships with the local farming community and funding partners in the coming months and a deadline of March 31 had been set to come up with new proposals for the station.
Poetry slam won
The National Grand Final of the State Library’s Australian Poetry Slam was won by a 23-year-old hip-hop artist in a dramatic ‘slam off’ in front of a sold out crowd at the Sydney Opera House and broadcast on ABC radio.
It was the first time ABC Local Radio had partnered with the State Library to promote the event nationally, enabling more people to participate than ever before
More than 600 emerging poets and spoken word artists competed via 40 heats held in regional areas and city Centres in every State and Territory.
3 December, 2008
HR future hangs on capability framework
A Public Sector Capability Framework has been produced for use by all Agencies to provide a consistent platform in Human Resource management across the NSW public sector.The Department of Premier and Cabinet expect all Agencies to adopt the Framework over the next 12 months, so that by this time next year there would be a whole-of-Government approach to Human Resource functions including recruitment, learning and development, career planning and managing performance.
The Framework was developed to provide a common and consistent language to describe the knowledge, skills and abilities (capabilities) required for the public sector, by mapping skills sets to jobs under three broad streams of organisational culture, direction and capacity to deliver.
According to DPC, the Framework will provide a platform for both sector wide and individual Agency workforce planning and human resources practices
“The initial focus will be on using the framework to facilitate job design and simplify selection criteria in position descriptions,” the Department said.
Agencies are expected to “own” the Framework by tailoring it to suit the specific/technical capabilities of the organisation and those with an existing Framework have been told to undertake a mapping process before adopting the new standardised version, to identify any gaps or capabilities that may not have been considered.
“The DPC recommends that all Agencies adopt the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework as far as possible.
“This is necessary to take full advantage of the e-Recruitment system, secure the full benefits of reforms negotiated with the Public Service Association (PSA) and assist agencies to streamline job evaluation processes.”
The Public Sector Workforce Office said they would support Agencies adopting the new system through guidance materials, briefing sessions and capability development workshops.
The Framework is expected to work with a new e-Recruitment system that is also expected to be rolled out in the next 12 months.
The e-Recruitment system was a major recommendation of the Cost and Quality of Government (CCQG) Review of Recruitment Practices and is expected to implement a sector wide system to manage the whole recruitment process from establishing jobs in Agencies, to appointing the preferred candidate.
According to information released by the DPC supporting the Framework, the new e-Recruitment system would provide:
- Recruitment tools, including standard sets of capability statements, position descriptions, and job advertisements, applicant tracking and recruitment process management and pre-screening, assessment and selection tools
- Advertising/Promotion tools to help with online job advertisements and applications and promote employment in the public sector.
- Talent pools so potential employees could register for employment opportunities and notified of suitable vacancies and employers could search the pool for potential candidates.
- Reporting tools to assess how an Agency’s recruitment works, give the Government the ability to see how recruitment across the whole sector works and provide an opportunity to make changes to make it work better.
3 December, 2008
Whistleblower law strikes blow for PS
Public Servants disclosing corrupt conduct should be in no doubt they are protected under amendments to the Protected Disclosures Act and new legislation increasing the powers of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.Premier Nathan Rees announced the law changes which also included harsher penalties for giving false evidence to the ICAC.
Mr Rees said the legislation should help return public confidence in the Government and highlighted his commitment to ensuring that the ICAC remained the most robust and effective integrity system.
"The ICAC helps to maintain and promote integrity and accountability across the public sector,” Mr Rees said.
"That’s why we are making changes to ensure the ICAC has all of the powers it needs to perform its important work."
He said the ICAC Amendment Bill would:
- Clarify the ICAC's power to make non-publication orders for written submissions, including submissions from Counsel Assisting.
- Extend the period within which proceedings could be commenced for providing false information to the ICAC and impersonating an ICAC officer from 6 months to 3 years
- Increase the penalty for giving false information to the ICAC from $2,200 or 6 months imprisonment to $5,500 or 12 months imprisonment.
- Clarify that the ICAC was to direct its attention to serious corrupt conduct and systemic corrupt conduct.
"The Protected Disclosures Act provides whistleblower protection for Public Officials who disclose corrupt conduct, maladministration and waste of public money," Mr Rees said.
"The Bill will also remove any doubt about who is covered and make it crystal clear that all Public Servants are protected by this Act."
He said most of the amendments in the Bill were recommended by the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Mr Rees said this year marked the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the ICAC, making it the oldest body of its kind in Australia.
3 December, 2008
New DG to do the business at Commerce
The Department of Commerce has a new leader with Graeme Head appointed Director General.Deputy Premier and Minister for Commerce, Carmel Tebbutt said that Mr Head, with almost 14 years experience in leadership roles in the Government, was well placed to lead the Department of Commerce.
“I am very pleased to have appointed a senior Officer of Graeme’s calibre to this important position,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“Graeme has a breadth of experience across a diverse range of service delivery areas from Public health to water and environmental regulation.”
Ms Tebbutt said it was Mr Head’s breadth of experience that would stand him in good stead to oversee the operations of the Department of Commerce.
She said the Department of Commerce played a critical role in supporting other Government Agencies so they could get on with the job of delivering vital frontline services.
She said the Department managed major Government building projects, procurement of goods and services and information technology policy.
Ms Tebbutt said Mr Head came to the Commerce Department from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, where he was Deputy Director General, leading the Department’s Performance Review Unit.
She said prior to this, Mr Head was CEO of the Sydney Catchment Authority and Deputy Director General of the Environment Protection Authority (now Department of Environment and Climate Change).
Ms Tebbutt said Mr Head took up his new position on 1 December.
3 December, 2008
Court abusers to be caught out
People who habitually use the Court system to pursue unreasonable law suits and intimidate others can now be thrown out of Court under new laws that came into effect this week.Attorney General John Hatzistergos said ‘vexatious litigants’ were a drain on court resources and the new Vexatious Proceedings Act 2008 aimed to weed them out of the system.
“From today, anyone who frequently and persistently takes legal action without reasonable grounds or for improper purposes can be declared a vexatious litigant,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“Their actions often result in the harassment of innocent parties and a waste of public resources.”
Mr Hatzistergos said the new laws aimed to stamp out the practice and gave Judges the power to banish anyone declared a vexatious litigant from their Courtrooms.
He said under the new law:
- It would be simpler to declare someone a vexatious litigant as the applicant need only prove the respondent frequently instituted or conducted vexatious proceedings.
- The range of people who may apply to declare someone a vexatious litigant had been expanded.
- Vexatious proceedings orders could be made against persons acting in concert with vexatious litigants.
- The Land and Environment Court and the Industrial Relations Commission, in addition to the Supreme Court, would be able to make vexatious litigant orders.
- Courts would have extensive powers to deal with vexatious litigants, including powers to stay proceedings and prohibit the institution of further proceedings.
“We have introduced these measures not only to free up the justice system, but to protect the good citizens of this state,” he said.
3 December, 2008
Moustache growers urged to face issue
Men who took part in the ’Movember’ moustache-growing challenge to raise funds for men’s health have been urged to practice what they preached.Assistant Health Minister Jodi McKay has told them to follow up their moustache shaving with a prostate examination and blood test and to set up an appointment with their GPs to discuss prostate health
“I encourage those men who have supported prostate cancer awareness by being part of ‘Movember’ to see their doctor and talk about a simple examination and blood test available for men over 55 which could make all the difference in diagnosing prostate cancer,” Ms McKay said.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second biggest cause of cancer death in men in NSW, with more than 1,000 deaths expected this year.”
She said one in five men would develop prostate cancer before their 85th birthday and the risk of prostate cancer increased with age.
She said 98 per cent of cases were in men over 50, while 64 per cent of cases were in men aged over 65.
Ms McKay said men with a father or brother who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer were also at higher risk.
“A doctor can examine the prostate during a regular check-up, or the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is also available,” she said.
“Global clinical trials are yet to prove if the PSA test works in reducing prostate cancer deaths. However preliminary research by the Cancer Institute NSW suggests the mortality of prostate cancer has fallen since the test became available.”
Ms McKay said the rate of prostate cancer had increased by 41 per cent in the last decade, while at the same time death rates from prostate cancer had fallen by 20 per cent and overall cancer deaths rates in men dropped 14 per cent.
She said the message for men over 55 was simple.
“Don’t make Movember the only time you think about your prostate health; talk to your doctor about prostate cancer, have an examination and consider the tests available to you,” she said.
3 December, 2008
Officers stand up for fallen comrades
Corrections Officers from across the State observed a minute’s silence at an annual memorial service for Officers murdered and injured in the course of duty held last week.The Corrections Officers’ Remembrance Day ceremony was held in Eastwood and attended by hundreds of officers, with a guard of honour, wreath laying ceremony and full pipe band.
Spokesman for the Public Service Association, Matt Bindley took the opportunity to remind the community that Prison Officers worked in a dangerous profession, and he believed it would become even more dangerous if the Government went ahead with its plan to sell the prisons to private companies.
“This will endanger workers as staff numbers, training, rehabilitation and health programs are cut,” Mr Bindley said.
“These companies have only one responsibility – to return a profit to their shareholders. They have no sense of responsibility to the community, to the workers or to the inmates.”
He said the PSA feared privatising Parklea and Cessnock prisons would be the first step to selling off the entire prison system.
Mr Bindley said privatising the prison system would put more of the Association’s members at risk
“Overseas and interstate experiences consistently show higher rates of violence, attacks on guards and other prisoners, escapes and recidivism,” he said.
“This is what happens when justice and the protection of the community becomes a business rather than a public responsibility.”
Mr Bindley said Prisons Officers were calling for an independent inquiry into the privatisation of the state’s prisons, including an urgent investigation into the role the privatisation of perimeter security had on the escape at Long Bay last week.
3 December, 2008
Helen means business at women’s awards
A senior Police Officer from the St George Local Area Command has been recognised at the Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards.Detective Superintendent Helen Begg was awarded the IBM Community and Government Award at the Award ceremony which recognised and rewarded NSW women for their contribution to business and the wider community.
Detective Superintendent Begg was among 4000 applicants for the State award, and was required to complete a comprehensive application and interview process to take part in the awards, which evaluated her business achievements, leadership, roles and responsibilities, work life balance and future goals
High on her list of achievements was the fact that she was the youngest person to achieve the rank of Superintendent when she was promoted in 1999.
Detective Superintendent Begg led the fight against illegal guns in NSW as Commander of the Firearms Trafficking Squad and her key achievements during that time included the introduction of new legislation specifically targeting illegal trafficking as well as bringing about a national focus on crime type which resulted in changes to Commonwealth importing legislation and deactivation legislation in other states.
Detective Superintendent Begg transferred to the Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad in 2005, where she oversaw all operations in the Joint Investigation Response Teams, Sex Crimes Teams, Child Protection Register and Child Exploitation Internet Unit.
In late July 2008 she was appointed as the Local Area Commander of the St George area in Sydney’s south.
The national finals for the awards are planned to take place in Melbourne on 8 and 9 December and more information, including the call to nominate outstanding women for the 2009 awards, could be found at www.businesswomensawards.telstra.com
3 December, 2008
Inquiry reports on health of hospitals
A Commission of Inquiry into acute care services in the State’s public hospitals has called for radical changes to the Public hospital system.The Commissioner who conducted the Inquiry, Peter Garling said there was also a need for change in hospital culture.
In his 1100-page report which covered 139 recommendations, Commissioner Garling said the State’s Health system was “on the brink,” with more people using public hospitals than ever before and an increasing number of elderly patients presenting with complex, chronic conditions.
Commissioner Garling said the make-up of the Health workforce also posed a problem, with 22% of the State’s nurses eligible for retirement over the next three years, while doctors were distributed unevenly around the State.
“If public hospitals are to survive as providers of free care for all, there will have to be some radical changes in the way they do business,” Commissioner Garling said.
“We are on the brink of seeing whether the Public system can survive and flourish or whether it will become a relic of better times.”
He said a new culture needed to take root, which would see patients’ needs as the paramount central concern of the system and not the convenience of the clinicians and administrators. He also called on doctors and nurses to work as a team.
“The rigid demarcation between what a doctor’s job is, and what a nurse’s
job is, needs to be consigned to history,” he said.
“Once the concept of teamwork is accepted as the norm in treating a patient, it is easier to see why a qualified nurse practitioner should be able to do many jobs once reserved for doctors.”
Commissioner Garling recommended four pillars of reform of the Public hospital system.
He recommended the establishment of a Clinical Innovation and Enhancement Agency, a Clinical Excellence Commission, an Institute of Clinical Education and Training, and a Bureau of Health Information, saying they were all needed to meet future challenges.
“The changes ahead are very far-reaching and will require managerial skills which may not be natural to a largely public policy body,” he said.
“In that regard, I think that it is likely that the changes which I have outlined to drive reform which should be implemented by NSW Health may require assistance from change managers in the private sector.”
Premier Nathan Rees said the Government would very carefully consider the report and provide a formal response by March 2009.
He said Commissioner Garling’s work was a major report and provided an action plan to deliver improvements in the delivery of acute care.
“I particularly note and welcome the Commissioner’s recommendation to improve and publish more information about hospital performance including patient care,” Mr Rees said.
“I am committed to a more open and transparent Government and this appears to be a sensible way to ensure the public has access to more detailed information about our hospitals,” he said.
3 December, 2008
DoCS wins case for extra caseworkers
The Department of Community Services has hired 1,000 new caseworkers in the past five years, doubling its team of workers to help in early intervention, child protection and out-of-home care.Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney said the Department had doubled its front line workers and there were now 2002 caseworkers across the State.
“Part of the Government’s reforms involved a major strategy to recruit caseworkers,” Ms Burney said.
“These reforms have borne fruit – the Department has seen a significant increase in the number of tertiary-qualified candidates applying in 2007/08 compared to previous years.”
She said that in 2007/08, the Department accepted over 6,000 applications, of which 1,323 were from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and 644 candidates accepted permanent positions.
Ms Burney said the biggest challenge for the Department continued to be recruiting qualified caseworkers to work in rural and remote regions of NSW.
“It is hard to fill vacancies when the nature of the work is so challenging and the geographic coverage is so broad,” she said.
“The Department is participating in the Government’s special scheme, the Remote Area Attraction and Retention Pilot program, to get services delivered in hard-to-fill locations in Western NSW.”
She said the Department was also seconding experienced staff in metropolitan offices, for periods of up to three months, to work in the bush.
Ms Burney said caseworkers were given little credit and were often blamed.
“I often hear people comment that they could never be a caseworker, child abuse is too depressing, the stories are too sad and it would all be too much to bear,” she said.
“I thank all caseworkers for their hard work, commitment, compassion and professionalism to helping children and families.”
Ms Burney said Justice Wood’s report from the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW, which was released last week, was a blue print for the future of child protection in NSW.
3 December, 2008
Ambulance alarmed at wasted calls
A campaign to inform the community better about the proper use of ambulances has been launched.The move was sparked by growing concerns that people were using them instead of taxis.
Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, said paramedics were becoming frustrated by the increasing number of people attempting to use ambulances as a taxi service for treatments of minor ailments.
“This type of behaviour prevents paramedics from attending life threatening emergencies and puts lives at risk,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“During 2006/07, Ambulance NSW responded to 22,000 incidents where patients refused any form of treatment.”
He said ambulance paramedics were highly trained health professionals who spent up to three years qualifying to provide out of hospital medical care to members of the community.
He said a significant number of triple zero calls requesting an ambulance, were not emergencies and did not require medical assistance.
“The Don’t use an ambulance as a taxi campaign will include two different radio commercials that feature re-enactments of inappropriate calls that will be distributed to FM and AM radio stations in metropolitan and regional areas,” he said.
“Posters will also be appearing in the offices of local GPs to reinforce the message.”
Mr Della Bosca said examples of inappropriate calls to the Ambulance Service included a person who asked paramedics to retrieve a pillow that fell off the bed; a person who thought she had cut her foot but just had a piece of beetroot in her slipper; and a person who requested his bed be adjusted.
He said the job of ambulance paramedics was to provide an emergency service for people needing urgent medical attention for conditions such as shortness of breath, unconsciousness, chest pain, broken bone(s), traumatic accident, head injury, suspected heart attack or stroke and excessive blood loss.
“Also, there has been a common misconception in the community that you can ‘jump the queue’ of a busy emergency department if you arrive by ambulance rather than using personal or public transport,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“This is simply not true - patients are treated at hospital according to the urgency of their medical need - regardless of how they made their way there.”
He said the purpose of the campaign was not to deter anyone with a genuine emergency from calling for an ambulance.
3 December, 2008
Public call to clock on to new timetable
The public has been invited to provide feedback on CityRail’s draft 2009 timetable, which adds the Epping to Chatswood rail link and Clearways projects into the rail network.Minister for Transport, David Campbell said the four week consultation period was an opportunity to make sure all the finer details of the timetable had been given proper consideration.
Mr Campbell said there were many changes commuters needed to be aware of when the new timetable was introduced, including changes made for the new services.
"The $2.35 billion rail link provides a new path for trains coming from the North into the CBD and importantly allows for more peak hour train services through the Western suburbs," Mr Campbell said.
He said timetable changes were being made to provide extra services and more direct services that were safe and reliable.
He said the new timetable aimed to provide improved rail service and put extra trains and carriages where they were needed most.
"RailCorp staff will be handing out brochures and other draft timetable literature at a number of stations across the network,” he said.
"The new timetable will not come into effect until the second half of next year, with the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link to run as a shuttle service when it first opens."
He said the 2009 timetable and Epping to Chatswood Rail Link included additional peak services for the Western, South and Airport and East Hills lines; additional morning services for Western, South, Northern and North Shore passengers; additional carriages on peak hour trains; and direct rail access to the Macquarie Park/North Ryde employment corridor.
Mr Campbell said people were catching trains in unprecedented numbers, with passenger journeys recently exceeding 300 million a year, an increase of 5.7% over the previous year.
He said record investment in the improvement and expansion of the CityRail network had been carried out to cope with the growth.
More information including the new draft timetable could be found at www.cityrail.info or by calling Transport Infoline on 131500.
3 December, 2008
Penalty scheme is fine solution
A new scheme allowing disadvantaged people to pay off fines by doing charity work or treatment programs has been announced by the Attorney General, John HatzistergosMr Hatzistergos said reforms to the State’s Fines Act were an Australian First and were supported by the State’s key charity groups, including The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society and Youth Off The Streets.
“Currently we have a system in which any unpaid penalty notices and Court fines are ultimately referred to the State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO) for enforcement action,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“This system works well for people who have an income and assets, however there are many disadvantaged members of the community who are simply unable to pay.”
He said the Government would conduct a two two-year trial to allow disadvantaged people such as the homeless, mentally ill and persons experiencing acute financial hardship to apply for a Work and Development Order from the SDRO.
“These Orders could require a person to undertake voluntary work for approved charities,” he said.
“Alternatively, they could be required to complete educational, vocational or life skills courses, counselling, drug and alcohol treatment, or a mentoring program if the person is under the age of 25.”
Mr Hatzistergos said the program aimed to address ‘secondary offending’, which occurred when disadvantaged people could not pay their fines and were dragged deeper into the criminal justice system because of their fine debt.
He said other changes to the Fines Act included easier and more flexible payment options for fines, giving guidelines to Officers so they know when they should issue an official caution instead of a penalty notice and clarifying that all Agencies could review penalty notices.
Chief Executive Officer of the NSW/ACT St Vincent de Paul, John Picot, said his organisation welcomed the opportunity to participate in the scheme.
“These are innovative measures that will ensure those people who can’t afford to pay their fines are able to give back to the community in a meaningful way,” Mr Picot said. Mr Hatzistergos said the changes were based on recommendations made by the Sentencing Council in its 2006 report on the effectiveness of fines as a sentencing option.
3 December, 2008
Children travellers fare game in summer
Children can travel interstate on CountryLink trains for only one dollar this summer under a new deal designed to ease the burden on families’ tight budgets.Premier Nathan Rees said the deal allowed up to four children under 16, who were accompanied by full-fare paying adult family member, to travel anywhere on the CountryLink network for just one dollar each.
Mr Rees said the deal made it affordable for families at a time when everyone was trying to keep to a tight budget.
“With fuel prices still hitting families hard in the hip pocket – this is a great alternative,” Mr Rees said.
“These $1 tickets will help families to get out there and have a great experience over the summer break.”
Mr Rees said there were many great places to visit in Country NSW but the deal also extended to CountryLink destinations in Queensland, the ACT and Victoria.
“Families can take CountryLink services in NSW to areas such as Queanbeyan, Bathurst, Katoomba, Moree, Dubbo and Broken Hill,” he said.
He said a Sydney to Dubbo trip normally cost $39.20 for a child, but the promotional fare would be just one dollar.
Minister for Transport, David Campbell said the deal would be available until the end of February on CountryLink.
“Up to four children under 16 will be able to travel to any of the 360 destinations in NSW, Queensland, the ACT and Victoria, for one dollar,” Mr Campbell said.
“This is a good opportunity to promote the important service CountryLink offers to those who want to travel across NSW and interstate.”
MP for Monaro, Steve Whan, said the deal was a fantastic opportunity for families to have an affordable holiday in regional and rural NSW.
He said overseas travel was not an option for many families, but there was now an affordable alternative.
“We have stunning beaches and the rugged natural beauty of regional NSW on our doorstep,” Mr Whan said.
“I encourage all families to take this opportunity to see what regional and rural NSW has to offer.”
Mr Rees said more information could be found at www.countrylink.info or by calling 13 22 32.
3 December, 2008
Return to school is first class idea
Two members of the Centrelink team at Tamworth in NSW have volunteered to go back to school to help local schoolchildren with their homework.Centrelink Indigenous Service Officer, Denise Merritt and her colleague, Jaymee Pyne, have taken part in the ‘Homework Centre’ program, which was designed to give kids up to year six additional guidance and support.
Ms Merritt said the program was initiated by the Smith Family, with the support of the Tamworth community, Centrelink and Tamworth West Public School, and had been a rewarding and worthwhile experience.
“I was initially approached by the Smith Family to find volunteers for a proposed Homework Centre for Tamworth West Primary School,” Ms Merritt said.
“I thought it sounded like a great program to get involved with, so I jumped at the chance.”
Ms Merritt said before she and her fellow Centrelink volunteer Jaymee Pyne could help the kids with their english and maths homework, they had to go back to school themselves.
“It had been a while since I had done maths homework, so Jaymee and I attended a workshop to help us update our addition, subtraction and division skills,” she said.
“Jaymee and I had to work very hard to get up-to-date with maths, because the methods are so different to the way we were taught.”
Ms Merritt said the more the pair learnt, the more their respect for the kids increased.
Since starting in September, the pair had been volunteering at the homework session on a weekly basis, and had helped 11 students.
"The children who attend the after-school workshops are very committed and happy to be there - they’re a great bunch to work with," she said.
"Both Jaymee and I highly recommend other people volunteer their time to help these students achieve the opportunities they deserve - remember they are our future," Ms Merritt said.
3 December, 2008
Red tape orphaned in adoption overhaul
Couples planning to adopt children will face a smaller burden of red tape following the passage of new legislation through Parliament last week.Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney said the adoption process had been simplified for step-parents, relatives or those who wished to adopt a child from overseas.
She said the changes were in the interest of the child and ensured their rights were protected.
“The changes will also ensure that foster carers who adopt a child who has been part of their family for at least two years will continue to receive the same financial assistance they received while fostering,” Ms Burney said.
“This will remove any financial hurdle for families who may otherwise not be able to adopt.”
Ms Burney said there had already been a marked increase in the number of foster carers inquiring about the adoption process since the proposed changes were announced.
She said research showed that living permanently within a secure family resulted in the best outcome for children in out-of-home care.
“Community Services has a policy of ‘permanency planning’ for children who cannot live safely at home with their parents, especially children entering care aged 0-2 years,” she said.
“These children are assessed and if they cannot go home and there are no other family members who can care for them, adoption is considered as a permanent placement option.”
Ms Burney said the legislation made it easier for children to be adopted by their carers and it simplified the procedure for future adoptive parents, birth parents and adopted persons to access their records before the adopted person turned 18.
She said this would allow adopted people to know details of their origins from the time they were adopted.
Ms Burney said changes to the Act also ensured greater involvement of local Aboriginal communities and Agencies in the adoption of Aboriginal children.
3 December, 2008
Child welfare probe not playing games
A specialist unit within the Department of Premier and Cabinet has been established to develop and coordinate a response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.Conducted by Justice James Wood, the Inquiry was a thorough investigation of the State’s child protection system and delivered a substantial report containing 111 recommendations.
Premier Nathan Rees welcomed the report and recommendations saying it provided a new direction for how Government and the community can work together to protect children and help families in need of support.
"This report is the catalyst for change," Mr Rees said.
He said the DPC’s new unit would respond by March next year and the next three months would be spent working in close consultation with the non-Government sector.
Mr Rees said the first meetings would include peak groups and non-Government agencies including the NSW Council of Social Service and the Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies.
"This will be followed by a meeting of senior Government officials,” he said.
"There is no more important issue for the community than the safety and wellbeing of our children and young people.”
Minister for Community Services Linda Burney said the Inquiry, which was initiated following the deaths of young children in tragic circumstances, would provide a way forward for the Department.
Ms Burney said NSW was dealing with complex underlying issues such as mental illness, substance abuse and domestic violence, which had become inter-generational problems.
“We are seeing parents who themselves received inadequate parenting and we are encountering communities where isolation and disadvantage are entrenched," Ms Burney said.
"We have also seen a dramatic growth in reports about children at risk.”
She said there were 303,121 reports to the Helpline in 07/08, which was over 50% more than those received in 2003/04. Ms Burney said the report was comprehensive, extensive and far-reaching and copies could be accessed at www.dpc.gov.au
3 December, 2008
Echidna alert issued
The National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) has issued an echidna alert following a number of echidnas being spotted in suburban backyards across Sydney.
Head of NSW NPWS, Sally Barnes said that while people were being asked to keep an eye out for these unique creatures, they are best left alone unless they are obviously distressed or injured.
Ms Barnes said echidnas had been encountered all over Sydney, from Epping to Avalon and out to Werombi.
She said echidnas were superb navigators and mothers were known to leave their puggles (babies) for several days while they travelled significant distances in search of food.
Licence change for senior drivers
Changes to the licensing system for older drivers came into effect this week, with the reforms aimed at ensuring over-85 drivers remained mobile for as long as possible, without compromising their own safety or that of other road users.
Minister for Roads, Michael Daley said over 24,000 community groups and individuals commented on how the licensing system and reforms had been made to address these concerns.
Mr Daley said changes included:
- Annual medical check-ups from the age of 75 to pick up issues like deteriorating eyesight and dementia.
- A new, more relevant driving test for over-85 drivers, to be taken every two years.
- The introduction of a voluntary driver assessment from home with an accredited driver training organisation or the choice of modified licence options for over-85 drivers.
Top toilet adorns mountain
Australia’s highest toilet has been built at the top of Mt Kosciuszko.
According to Deputy Premier, Carmel Tebbutt the National Parks and Wildlife Service had built a toilet between snow seasons at more than 2,000 metres and greened what used to be a car park at Rawsons Pass just below the summit of Mount Kosciuszko.
“With more than 100,000 walkers outside of winter each year, a better solution than portaloos was needed for such an iconic site,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“This unique block has been built into the side of the mountain and we have landscaped the outside with grass tussocks and native plant seedlings.”
Water scholarship honours professor
A postgraduate scholarship has been established in honour of the late Professor Peter Cullen who contributed significantly to a new way of thinking about managing water resources in Australia and in NSW.
The program is to be jointly funded by various NSW Government water Agencies and aims to improve understanding of how rivers, groundwater, wetlands and estuaries function and respond to enhanced management; improve the linkages between water science and water management in NSW; and provide research opportunities for water specialists in NSW.
More information could be found at www.dwe.nsw.gov.au
Moonlighting doubles
Official approval for work outside working hours has almost doubled in the past five years for NSW police officers according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
According to the newspaper, police were ‘moonlighting’ as firefighters, couriers, funeral directors, actors and masseurs, with 1,722 allowed to take a second job last year.
It said the number of police taking advantage of the arrangements had risen 45 per cent in five years, with the most popular second jobs being international couriers and firefighters.
Energy investment up
The Government has increased its investment in renewable energy projects, with funding assigned to kick-start investment in the State’s solar, wind, biogas and geothermal technologies.
Deputy Premier and Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt said the projects would include $9 million to expand the solar thermal plant at the Liddell Power Station, $10 million to progress geothermal ‘hot rock’ generation in the Hunter Valley and almost $3 million for biogas generation in Wagga Wagga.
Courthouse refurbished
The Dubbo Courthouse has been given a facelift that makes it bigger, safer, more technologically advanced and more accessible for people with disabilities.
Attorney General John Hatzistergos said the extensions allowed a portable X-ray machine and metal detector to be used to scan Court users when necessary and a new six-cell complex featuring separate facilities for juvenile prisoners would prevent them mixing with adult prisoners.
Medical recruitment
A recruitment drive, aimed at encouraging doctors to serve in rural areas, is underway in Wagga Wagga.
Minister for Health, John Della Bosca said the Area Health Service had been successful in recruiting a number of Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialists to provide essential services to the community on a locum basis.
"Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is currently employing an Australian-trained locum Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from London as part of a recruitment effort to attract him to the city in the role of Director of the hospital's obstetrics unit,” Mr Della Bosca said.
Seeds in space
A collection of Australian native seeds that spent six months on the International Space Station as part of an experiment to test their toughness are to be planted now that they’ve returned to Earth.
Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens Trust, Dr Tim Entwisle said the seeds sent off the planet for an extended time will be compared with a control group of identical seeds that were kept on the ground.
Dr Entwisle said some of the space travellers would be planted in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah Botanic Garden and Mount Annan Botanic Garden to mark their journey and the project.
Ethnic award to film
A 30-minute film made by a Sydney high school, in which students tackle, racism, prejudice and difference amongst their peers, has won a Department of Ethnic Affairs award and will now be included in a resource package distributed by the Department of Immigration to every school in Australia.
The film entitled we are all Australian, was made by the students of South Strathfield High School in collaboration with Windsor High School, to demonstrate the innate prejudices of students against others who were different.
Committee to guide sub-tropical industry
A steering committee has been established to represent the sub-tropical horticulture industry, which includes bananas and macadamias.
Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald said the steering committee would direct future DPI research and look at the possibility of further cross-industry investment.
Mr Macdonald said the committee would include the Chief Executive Officer of Australian Macadamia Society Ltd, Jolyon Burnett; the Chief Executive Officer of Bananas NSW, Bob Campbell; Director, Research and Commercialisation at Southern Cross University, Stephen Williams; and representatives from the Department of Primary Industries.
Grants waved at Flagship program
Direct grants and marketing support have been given to organisers of some rural and regional events as part of the 2009 Regional Flagship Event Program.
Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay said 21 regional events across the State would receive either a one-year $10,000 grant or $20,000 each year for three years.
Ms McKay said events being funded for the first time included the Big Joke Comedy Festival, Brunswick Heads Bikes and Kites Festival, Opera in the Paddock, Boggabri Drovers Campfire Weekend and the Corowa Festival of Dance.
