NSW GOVERNMENT WEEKLY UPDATE - 15 FEBRUARY 2021

12 February 2021
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS UPDATE
 
  • Restrictions have been eased and the 2sqm rule reintroduced across the Greater Sydney region following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.
  • The following measures have been effective since 12.01am Friday, 12 February for the Greater Sydney region including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains:
    • 1 person per 2sqm will apply at all venues, except for gyms. Weddings and funerals will still be subject to a 300 person cap.
    • Masks will only be mandatory on public transport, but will strongly be encouraged in other indoor venues where social distancing is not possible.
 
DINE & DISCOVER LAUNCHES IN THE ROCKS AND BROKEN HILL TO HELP BOOST NSW BUSINESSES
 
  • The commencement of the NSW Government’s $500 million Dine & Discover stimulus program is a step closer, with testing starting in The Rocks and Broken Hill.
  • Phase 2 is expected to start later this month with pilots in the Northern Beaches, Sydney CBD and Bega Valley Shire Council. The state wide rollout is expected to take place in March.
  • Following the state wide rollout, every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses.
  • Further information or to register for the program visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/dine-and-discover-nsw.
 
THOUSANDS OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY GRADUATES JOIN PUBLIC HOSPITALS
 
  • More than 2500 graduate nurses and midwives will start work at about 130 public hospitals and health services from this week, a quarter in rural and regional areas.
  • More than 54,000 nurses and midwives currently work in the NSW public health system, an increase of 24.7 per cent since 2011.
  • The NSW Government has invested in a record total 8,300 frontline health staff over four years, including an additional 5,000 nurses and midwives, including mental health and palliative care nurses.
 
LOCKOUT LAWS LIFTED FOR KINGS CROSS
 
  • Sydney’s nightlife will be revitalised and boosted, with the NSW Government set to remove the lockout laws in the Kings Cross entertainment precinct.
  • The changes, part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan, bring Kings Cross in line with the Sydney CBD precinct where the restrictions were lifted 12 months ago.
  • The following changes will take effect from 8 March 2021:
    • The 1.30am ‘lock out’ will be removed, so patrons can continue to enter venues like pubs, bars and nightclubs beyond that time;
    • The standard 3am ‘last drinks’ time will increase to 3.30am;
    • Blanket restrictions on certain drinks, shots, discounted cocktails and use of glass after midnight will be lifted; and
    • Requirements for RSA marshals and CCTV will no longer apply.
  • The NSW Government will closely monitor the changes and any impacts and conduct a review in 12 months.
 
NSW INTRODUCES AUSTRALIA’S TOUGHEST SUITE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY PENALTIES TO PARLIAMENT
 
  • The NSW Government has continued its crusade against cowards caught committing acts of cruelty to animals by introducing Australia’s toughest suite of animal cruelty penalties
  • The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Bill 2021 will dramatically increase penalties for animal welfare offences in NSW and the range of tools available to courts to better and more effectively deal with offenders.
  • The proposed increases would introduce the following penalties:
    • Failure to provide food and shelter: increase from $5,500 to $16,500 for individuals, per offence, with corporate penalties increasing from $27,500 to $82,500;
    • Cruelty: increase from $5,500 and/or 6 months’ imprisonment per offence, to $44,000 and/or 12 months’ imprisonment for individuals. The corporate penalty will increase from $27,500 to $220,000; and
    • Aggravated cruelty: the maximum penalty per offence will increase from $22,000 to $110,000 for an individual and from $110,000 to $550,000 for a corporation.
 
RESTORATION OF STOCKTON BEACH ONE STEP CLOSER AFTER EXPLORATION LICENCE APPROVED
 
  • A critical step towards tackling beach erosion at Stockton Beach has been given the green light with the NSW Government approving an exploration licence to identify sand suitable for renourishing the beach. 
  • The Geological Survey of NSW within the Department of Regional NSW applied for the offshore exploration licence in December to allow exploration work to begin.
  • The licence approval brings the NSW Government one step closer to replenishing Stockton Beach. The exploration work is funded from $1 million announced in March 2020.
  • For more information, visit www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/stockton.
 
HOUSING REFORMS A WIN FOR RENTERS
 
  • Renters will have more choice and the property industry will be transformed by a raft of planning and tax reforms that will make build-to-rent housing a reality in NSW.
  • The planning policy sets out new provisions for build-to-rent housing, and to be eligible for the tax concessions, a build-to-rent property must meet criteria set out in legislation and in the Treasurer’s Guidelines.
  • Eligibility criteria for the tax concessions include that a property has at least 50 dwellings used specifically for the purposes of build-to-rent, is held under unified ownership and is not subdivided in the first 15 years of receiving the concessions.
  • The build-to-rent planning changes are effective immediately and will be included in the new consolidated Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), which will be finalised in the coming months.
  • For more information on the planning policy visit: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/build-to-rent.
 
INNOVATIVE PROJECT TO TRANSFORM YOUNG LIVES
 
  • More than 50 young people leaving out-of-home care will soon move into a first-of-its-kind development in Sydney, providing secure housing and access to specialist services and support to help them break the cycle of disadvantage.
  • Foyer Central would give young people leaving care the best possible start to adulthood as they undertake work, study or training.
  • It is based on the globally successful foyer model and will be targeted at young people aged 18 to 22 who have left out-of-home care.
  • Services delivered through the project will be funded primarily through a Social Impact Bond. The bonds combine investment and expertise from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to achieve specific social goals. Partners with the NSW Government in the project include SGCH, Uniting, Social Ventures Australia and the City of Sydney.
 
NSW GOVERNMENT STARTS PROCESS TO REMOVE HIGH-RISK CLADDING
 
  • The NSW Government has announced further details of the project to facilitate the removal of high-risk combustible cladding from residential apartment buildings across the State.
  • Project Remediate would provide interest-free, 10-year loans, to Owners Corporations to enable and fast-track the safe removal of high-risk cladding.
  • Project Remediate will help drive the State’s economic recovery from COVID-19 by providing a pipeline of investment generating and supporting up to 3,500 jobs in the residential apartment construction sector.
  • For more information please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/customer-service/projects-and-initiatives/project-remediate.

Authorised by Chris Stone, Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division, Level 2, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

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