NSW GOVERNMENT WEEKLY UPDATE - 7 MAY 2021

7 May 2021
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS UPDATE
 
  • Given the latest cases of community transmission and updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, COVID-19 restrictions will be temporarily tightened across Greater Sydney.
  • The following measures are effective until 12.01am Monday, 10 May for the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains):
    • Visitors to households will be limited to 20 guests – including children;
    • Masks will be compulsory on public transport and in all public indoor venues, such as retail, theatres, hospitals, aged care facilities and for front-of-house hospitality staff (except in a hospitality venue when eating or drinking);
    • Drinking while standing up at indoor venues will not be allowed;
    • Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;
    • Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings with a strong recommendation that no more than 20 people should be on the dancefloor at any one time; and
    • Visitors to aged care facilities will be limited to two people.
  • It is also strongly recommended the community avoids mingling in large groups over the coming days, and is careful not to put our most vulnerable at risk.
  • For the latest information and COVID-19 testing sites please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
 
NSW LOOKS TO LEAD THE WAY WITH mRNA VACCINES
 
  • Premier Gladys Berejiklian has brought together the State’s leading experts in mRNA technology as NSW looks to create a new medical manufacturing and research industry.
  • Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA technology. However, Australia currently has no long-form RNA manufacturing capacity.
  • NSW is home to nationally and globally significant programs of genomic medicine development, particularly in the fields of gene therapy, gene-modified cell therapy and RNA therapy. These therapies treat a wide range of conditions including genetic diseases, cancers, infectious diseases and cardiac conditions.
  • NSW already has capabilities in the advanced manufacture of viral vectors, plasmids and short-form RNA, which are key technologies used for these therapies. The addition of mRNA capacity to this manufacturing network would significantly strengthen local research and development programs.
 
FASTSTREAM OPEN FOR TEACHERS AND GRADUATES
 
  • The first teaching career fast track program in NSW has opened for applications for aspiring graduates and current teachers who want to turbocharge their careers to become a principal within 10 years.
  • The FASTstream program, beginning in Term 1 2022, aims to attract high-quality teaching staff to regional NSW and other hard-to-staff parts of the state.
  • The FASTstream program will incentivise up-and-coming teachers and graduates by preparing participants for principal roles in up to 10 years, fast tracking the existing average of 20 years.
  • In the program’s inaugural year, 30 current teachers and 20 teaching graduates will be selected to participate.
  • For more information or to apply, visit: https://teach.nsw.edu.au/enhance-your-career/faststream-recruitment.
 
FIVE PROJECTS SET TO ACCELERATE BASIN PLAN
 
  • Implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has shifted up a gear, following agreement between the Commonwealth and Basin states.
  • Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey has announced details of the five accelerated key Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) projects agreed to at last week’s Murray Darling Ministerial Council meeting.
  • In addition to agreement being reached last week to accelerate a suite of projects to enable delivery by 2024, Ministers have recognised the unique sensitives around Menindee and Yanco and have agreed that NSW will spend the next two months re-working these projects.
  • For details on the SDLAM Acceleration Program including full details of the five accelerated projects, please visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/sdlam.
 
AUSTRALIA’S LONGEST ROAD TUNNEL PROPOSED FOR GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY UPGRADE
   
FLYING KANGAROO TO STAY IN THE PREMIER STATE
 
  • Qantas will continue to call NSW home with its global headquarters to remain in Sydney following an in principle agreement with the NSW Government.
  • The announcement secures thousands of existing and future jobs for NSW and includes several other benefits including Sydney being the exclusive launch city for Qantas’ ultra-long-haul non-stop flights to cities such as London and New York.
  • The commitment also confirmed:
    • The construction of a new Flight Training Centre with aircraft simulators to be based in NSW from 2023;
    • Plans for expansion of Qantas Loyalty team in Mascot;
    • Qantas working with the NSW Government to develop a comprehensive indigenous and diversity employment program.
  • The final binding agreement will be subject to ongoing detailed negotiations.
 
FEMALE CHANGEROOMS ARE TOP PRIORITY IN $100 MILLION FUND FOR REGIONAL NSW
 
  • Female sporting teams across regional NSW will benefit from new and improved facilities and regional towns will soon see even more investment in community infrastructure and programs that will make a big difference to everyday life in the bush, thanks to the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund.
  • Applications are now open for Round Four and communities are encouraged to apply.
  • Getting facilities up to date, particularly women’s change rooms, will ensure all female athletes are supported to take part in a wide range of sports, including once male dominated codes.
  • The Stronger Country Communities fund is part of the NSW Government’s $2 billion Regional Growth Fund. Applications for Round Four open 1 May 2021 and close on 25 June 2021. For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/SCCF.
 
$135 MILLION TO HELP SAVE LIVES ON OUR ROADS
 
  • Road users across the state are set to benefit from a $135 million investment in road safety projects under the latest round of the $822 million Safer Roads Program.
  • 78 lifesaving projects will be financed this year through the Community Road Safety Fund.
  • The Safer Roads program is estimated to prevent the loss of more than 1500 lives and serious injuries on our roads over 15 years. That’s 1500 people making it home safely to their families because of these projects.
 
LOCALLY EXTINCT FISH RETURN TO MACQUARIE RIVER AFTER 70 YEARS
 
  • More than 70 years after the species were last recorded in the catchment, 7,500 juvenile Macquarie Perch have been released back into the Macquarie River catchment at Winburndale Dam.
  • The project was funded under the Government’s $10 million 2019/20 NSW Native Fish Rescue Program.
  • Conditions are now ideal for these fish to flourish in and it’s expected their populations will be able to thrive over the coming years.

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

Donations by individuals to registered political parties of between $2 and $1,500 in a financial year are tax deductible. Phone: 02 8356 0300.

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