NSW GOVERNMENT WEEKLY UPDATE - 19 MARCH 2021

19 March 2021
WORLD-CLASS STANDARD FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
 
  • The NSW Government will embark on a new reform as part of accepting and implementing all five recommendations from the Gonski-Shergold Review of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
  • The NSW Government has committed to:
  1. Establishing Careers NSW
  2. Establishing a new form of tertiary education known as NSW Institute of Applied Technology (IAT)
  3. Advocating for VET student loans, similar to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), to be established. Work will continue with the Federal Government on the scheme
  4. Improving the quality of vocational education made available in high schools
  5. Consulting with industry experts on VET course curriculums.
 
DINE & DISCOVER NSW GOES LIVE STATEWIDE
 
  • Millions of customers will be able to take advantage of the State Government’s much anticipated Dine & Discover NSW program, thanks to the program going live state wide.
  • NSW residents will be able to easily apply online to receive their vouchers through the latest version of the Service NSW app and website, and a non-digital solution will be made available to customers who don’t have a smartphone or compatible device.
  • Every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses.
  • Dine & Discover NSW vouchers will be divided into two categories:
    1. Two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs 7 days a week, excluding public holidays.
    2. Two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, available 7 days a week, excluding public holidays.
  • Businesses can register to participate in the program at any time and vouchers are valid until 30 June 2021.
  • For more information on Dine & Discover NSW, visit www.nsw.gov.au.
 
NEW CITY AT AEROTROPOLIS TO BE NAMED ‘BRADFIELD’
 
  • The NSW Government plans to call Sydney’s new ‘hi-tech’ city at Bringelly ‘Bradfield’, in honour of the engineer who helped shape Sydney.
  • The city centre will be built on the doorstep of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. It will grow into Sydney’s third city, to take its place alongside the other great city centres of Sydney and Parramatta.
  • Bradfield was selected after the community was asked to have a say, with a panel settling on the final decision to honour John Bradfield’s enduring city-shaping impact on Sydney, including his major contribution the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
  • The name Bradfield was a popular community suggestion in the ‘Name the Place’ process and will now be put to the Geographical Names Board of NSW.
 
SYRIAN PRIEST AWARDED TOP HONOURS BY NSW PREMIER
 
  • Syrian Australian priest, Father Fadi Nemme, who has dedicated his life to serving Arabic speaking communities, has been awarded top honours at the 2021 Premier’s Harmony Dinner.
  • This annual event is a celebration of the diverse cultures, languages and religions of all citizens in NSW. A highlight of the evening is the awarding of the Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals that recognise outstanding achievements.
  • For more information about the Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals and Multicultural Honour Roll see: http://multicultural.nsw.gov.au.
 
NEW WORLD CLASS CHECK-IN ASSESSMENTS FOR YEAR 4, 6 AND 8
 
  • Following the success of the initial Check-In assessments for years 3, 5, and 9, the NSW Government is delivering new assessments for years 4, 6, and 8, which will roll out next term.
  • The take up has been extraordinary, with more than 90 per cent of primary schools opting in for the new year 4 and 6 assessments and almost 70 per cent of secondary schools running the year 8 check-in.
  • In 2021 more than 350,000 students are expected to undertake the Check-in Assessments, which were first introduced in 2020 following NAPLAN’s cancellation due to COVID-19.
  • Students in Year 4, 6 and 8 will undertake the online check-in during Term 2, while the year 3, 5 and 9 assessments will be scheduled for Term 4.
 
SCHOOLS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY NOW FOR CROSSING SUPERVISORS
 
  • Schools across NSW are encouraged to apply now for a crossing supervisor with the latest round of the NSW Government’s $18.5 million program closing soon.
  • Thousands of students are now safer when making their way to and from school every day after the first two years of the program provided 275 new crossing supervisor locations across NSW.
  • To find out more about the program or to apply for a school crossing supervisor visit, https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/schoolcrossingsupervisorprogram.html.
 
AUSTRALIA’S TOUGHEST SET OF ANIMAL CRUELTY PENALTIES PASSES THROUGH PARLIAMENT
 
  • The NSW Government will soon enshrine the country’s toughest suite of animal cruelty penalties into law, after the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Amendment Bill 2021 has passed through the Legislative Council.
  • Key changes to animal cruelty penalties include:
    1. Cruelty – increased from $5,500 fine (current) to $44,000 and/or 12 months’ imprisonment for individuals and $220,000 for corporations for each individual act of cruelty;
    2. Aggravated Cruelty –  increased from $22,000 fine (current) to $110,000 and/or 2 years’ imprisonment for individuals and $550,000 for corporations for each individual act; and,
    3. Fail to Provide Food & Shelter – Increased from $5,500 fine (current) to $16,500 and/or six months’ imprisonment for individuals and $82,500 for corporations for each individual act.
  • The new penalties modernise our legislation and brings it into line with community expectations.
 
TRADIES WITHOUT BORDERS
 
  • The NSW Government is slashing red tape and removing barriers for tradies to work across state and territory borders, delivering a major boost for jobs and the economy.
  • The Government has introduced legislation to enable a new national Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme to take effect from 1 July 2021, as agreed by National Cabinet, making it simpler and easier for tradies and other licensed professionals to carry out their work in multiple states and territories.
  • The changes have the potential to inject more than $2.4 billion into the national economy over 10 years and are a huge step forward in slashing burdensome registration rules and licensing fees.
  • AMR will apply until the end of the duration of a valid registration held in the home jurisdiction. A registered person will need to apply for a new home state registration should their home state change.
 
GREEN LIGHTS FOR SYDNEY METRO WEST
 
  • The Sydney Metro West project has received two major planning approvals, creating thousands of jobs and paving the way for mega tunnel boring machines to be in the ground by the end of next year.
  • Planning approval has been granted for the Sydney Metro West Project Concept, from Westmead to the Sydney CBD, as well as station excavation and tunnelling between Westmead and The Bays.
  • Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct jobs and around 70,000 indirect jobs, while delivering a vital boost to the local economy.
  • Construction started on the Sydney Metro West project in late 2020, with tens of billions of dollars being invested by the NSW Government to deliver a new Metro network across Greater Sydney. 

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

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