NSW Sustainability Awards | Entries CLOSING SOON

The NSW Sustainability Awards celebrates and honours trailblazers and innovators who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable future for NSW. It is an opportunity to showcase your remarkable efforts and contributions towards sustainability. Submit your entry before September 8th to contribute to the broader sustainability discourse in NSW and receive the recognition you truly deserve.

Online Information Sessions – recordings now available

Whether you have participated before or are considering entering for the first time, these information sessions are a valuable opportunity for you to learn how to make your entry stand out. Gain insights from two experts: Robin Mellon, Head of NSW Judges, and Lars Ljung, the Sustainability Manager at Planet Protector Packaging, who won the 2021 NSW Circular Economy Award.

In the second session, SDG Align guides you through the SDGs and their free self-assessment tool that evaluates your organisation’s current sustainability practices. Recognising which SDGs your organisation is making progress towards assists you in integrating the SDGs into your entry.

For more information, or to make a nomination, click LEARN MORE

Australian METS: Accelerating Sustainable Mining - Company Participation Questionnaire

Austmine and Austrade have partnered to promote the sustainability leadership and expertise of Australian METS companies to the global mining industry through an e-publication. This will be a publicly available document and may be showcased on Austmine and Austrade websites. It is envisaged that this publication would be used by Austrade’s overseas posts and Austmine at various international trade exhibitions and conferences to actively promote the green credentials of Australian METS companies to global markets. 

To nominate to be included in this 'Australian METS: Accelerating Sustainable Mining' e-publication, click LEARN MORE. 

Submissions close: 7 September 2023

Bizness Dreaming

HumeLink Environmental Impact Statement now on public exhibition.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has placed the HumeLink Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on public exhibition. The EIS describes the potential environmental, economic and social impacts from HumeLink, and proposes measures to reduce, minimise or mitigate those impacts. 

Have your say  

The purpose of the exhibition is to provide landowners, the community, government agencies and other interested stakeholders with an opportunity to make a formal submission about the EIS.

The HumeLink EIS is available on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal.

Submissions must be made to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment through this platform. 

Transgrid has developed a suite of information tools and materials to assist you to navigate the document and to have your say. These materials and tools are outlined below.

Digital EIS 

Transgrid’s user-friendly and interactive digital platform is now available. This platform will present key EIS findings and include interactive mapping, multi-media and links to the full EIS on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal. 

Click here to visit the HumeLink Digital EIS.

Attend an in-person or online event 

Transgrid would like to invite you to our online and in-person events, which will be held at key locations across the project footprint. A range of project resources, including the full EIS and associated specialist studies, will be available to view at these sessions. 

The Transgrid team will be in Wagga Wagga, Tumut, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Adelong, Gunning, Yass, Gundagai, Tarcutta, Taralga and Crookwell. To find out detailed times and locations on where we will be during the exhibition period please visit the HumeLink website.

Click here to RSVP your preferred event. 

Online Events 

For those who are not able to attend an in-person event, the HumeLink project team will also hold a series of webinars focused on the EIS. The webinars will be held during the following days and times: 

• Thursday 7 September 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM 

• Thursday 14 September 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

• Tuesday 19 September 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 

• Wednesday 20 September 12:00 PM -1:30 PM 

Please click on each of the sessions to register to attend. 

Fact sheets videos and other tools 

The HumeLink team has also developed a suite of short sharp documents that summarise the key findings from the EIS. You can access these tools and other documents related to the project on the project website.

If you have any questions about HumeLink or the EIS contact the project team via email humelink@transgrid.com.au or phone 1800 317 367.

Albanese Government publishes eSafety's Roadmap for Age Verification

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Thursday 31 August 2023

The Albanese Government has today published the eSafety Commissioner’s Roadmap for age verification and complementary measures to prevent and mitigate harms to children from online pornography, along with the Government’s response.
 
Delivered to Government for consideration in March 2023 following extensive consultation, the Roadmap is a key recommendation of the 2020 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Report, Protecting the Age of Innocence.
 
The Roadmap considers the feasibility of implementing a regime of mandatory age verification to address risks and harms associated with children’s encounters with online pornography.
 
The Roadmap does not recommend the Government legislate to mandate age assurance technology for access to online pornography and notes that technological developments in this space are still new and evolving. Stakeholders have also raised concerns about the effectiveness, privacy and security of these technologies.
 
The Roadmap details work to implement the Online Safety Act 2021 including the development of industry codes to deal with children’s access to online pornography. It also describes powers available to the Commissioner to require the online industry to report on their compliance with a set of Basic Online Safety Expectations, which include taking reasonable steps to make sure technological or other measures are in effect to prevent children accessing pornography.
 
The Government supports this approach, with the forthcoming industry codes requiring the digital sector to do more to protect children from exposure to online pornography.
 
The eSafety Commissioner is well placed to assist industry develop these codes and assess their codes, having already successfully registered new industry codes that deliver enhanced protections against child sexual exploitation and terrorism material.
 
The Government will seek further information on consideration of a pilot as recommended by the eSafety Commissioner – following the conclusion of the industry codes process, which is a critical step in keeping children safe online.
 
The Government is continuing its comprehensive approach to addressing the harms that can result from children’s exposure to pornography through the delivery of a variety of initiatives.
 
The Roadmap calls out the importance of respectful relationships education, and that the related topics of online safety, sexuality and consent are integral to addressing the harms associated with online pornography. The Government is delivering on these by providing:
 

• $83.5 million over 6 years to support the delivery of age-appropriate, evidence-based, and expert-developed respectful relationships education, aligned to the Australian Curriculum.

• $39.9 million under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 (the National Plan) to develop a prevention campaign on consent and respectful relationships.

• $100.4 million over 5 years to support Our Watch to deliver on priorities of the National Plan, and continue successful initiatives for the primary prevention of violence against women and children.

• $23.3 million over 5 years for the ANROWS National Priority Research Fund, which will continue to build the evidence base that supports ending violence against women and children in Australia.

The Albanese Government is committed to supporting eSafety to improve online safety for Australians. The 2023-24 Federal Budget quadrupled ongoing base funding to the regulator, addressing funding uncertainty resulting from a failure of the former Coalition Government to fund terminating measures into the future.
 
The eSafety Commissioner’s Age Verification Roadmap is available at: www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/consultation-cooperation/age-verification
 
The Government’s response is available at: www.infrastructure.gov.au/response-age-verification

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Survey - Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy

On behalf of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, you are invited to participate in draft Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy.

The purpose of this survey is to understand suppliers’ views on the draft Policy and its requirements with to feedback to be considered in future stages of the draft Policy development. 

Who Should Respond

The survey is open and there is no restriction on who can respond. Completion time is estimated to be 5-10 minutes.

If you are a supplier of goods and / or services to the Australian Government and you supply in any of the following categories, then you are likely to be covered by the requirements of the draft Policy and are encouraged to participate in the survey.

Construction Services

• Including but not limited to general building construction, roads and landscaping, building materials and products such as insulation, steel, wood, concrete, cement, plaster, carpentry and paint.

ICT

• Including notebook computers, desktop computers, mainframe computers and computer servers, mobile phones, computer and office equipment including printers, scanners, other ICT hardware and accessories.

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

• Including but not limited to office furniture, workstations and office packages, office and desk accessories, domestic appliances, office lighting and electrical equipment and interior finishing materials including floor and ceiling coverings.

Textiles

• Uniforms such as shirts, trousers, skirts, dresses, jackets, footwear, and hats

Survey Details

• Complete: https://bit.ly/3E94H45

• Closes: 5.00PM (AEST) Wednesday 20 September 2023.

• Help: Jordan.Cooper@aurecongroup.com on behalf of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Putting words into action to safeguard Indigenous languages

Joint Media Release from the Hon Tony Burke, Minister for the Arts and The Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday 23 August 2023

The Albanese Labor Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving and promoting First Nations languages with the release today of Australia’s Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032.

The Plan was jointly launched by First Nations leaders on the Directions Group for the International Decade and Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, at the PULiiMA Indigenous Language and Technology Conference on Larrakia Country in Darwin.

Titled Voices of Country, the Plan was developed in partnership between the Directions Group and the Australian Government, and will guide Australia’s participation in the International Decade.

It acknowledges the critical and precarious state of First Nations languages across Australia and the coordinated effort needed to safeguard them for the future.

The Plan is guided by the UNESCO Global Action Plan of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and aligns with the National Cultural Policy, Revive, which recognises and respects the critical place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture – putting First Nations First.

Voices of Country also supports the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap by listening to First Nations people and communities and being led by them to strengthen languages.

The Government will outline and report on measurable commitments to support the priorities set out in Voices of Country.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said support for First Nations culture, stories and languages is crucial.

“At its heart there’s no such thing as true translation. Every language contains words, ideas, concepts and emotions that only live within that language.

“It’s up to us to provide the support to make sure that those words and concepts — that describe stories going back to the first sunrise — will always be preserved and cherished on this land.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, said Indigenous languages are integral to the identity and connection with culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This Plan sets out the framework for us to maintain and strengthen First Nations languages for future generations,” Minister Burney said.

“We look forward to working with communities to put the Plan into action.”

The Plan builds on the Government’s existing efforts to support First Nations languages in partnership with communities, including investing more than $27 million each year to support First Nations cultural expression through the Indigenous Languages and Arts program.

The Government is also investing $14.1 million over four years in community-led partnerships to support the learning and teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in local primary schools. 

The United Nations General Assembly declared the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to draw attention to the critical status of many indigenous languages across the world and encourage action for their preservation, revitalisation and promotion.

Read Voices of Country – Australia’s Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 here.

For more information on the International Decade, visit International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032 | Office for the Arts.

For more information on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, visit: https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/

Cyber Wardens Pilot event held in Wagga Wagga

Cyber Wardens pilot event was held in Wagga Wagga in 4 August 2023.

Cyber Wardens helps small business owners improve their cyber security skills and provides training to defend against digital break-ins and keep cyber criminals out of their business. With cyber-crime on the rise, it is essential that small business review their current cyber security. This program provides free training and a simple education tool to build a cyber-smart small business workforce.

Find out more about the program below.

Murray Region Forestry Hub celebrates National Forestry Day

National Forestry Day 2023 ( photo from Murray Region Forestry Hub )

Media Release | 22 August 2023

This year’s National Forestry Day was celebrated at National Foresters’ Grove, Lavington, today Tuesday 22 August.

The day was hosted by the Murray Region Forestry Hub (MRFH) and Softwoods Working Group (SWG) and marked by a tree-planting ceremony followed by morning tea at National Foresters’ Grove, Wagga Road, Lavington.

A dinner was held at Huon Hill, Wodonga, last night (Monday), which the chair of MRFH and SWG Peter Crowe OAM, said provided a great opportunity for the forestry industry to engage in insightful conversations and foster connections within the industry.

“Both gatherings bring together like-minded professionals to discuss ways to ensure the growth and advancement of an industry that can not only help solve the national housing shortage by supporting the industry which supplies the materials, but also fight climate change through carbon storage,” Mr Crowe said.

Albury Mayor Kylie King also attended the National Foresters’ Grove celebrations.

Mr Crowe said National Foresters’ Grove, a bicentennial project where more than 300 native trees have been planted in honour of past and present foresters, was the ideal place to celebrate the timber industries’ achievements.

“National Forestry Day celebrates the forest industries’ great work fighting climate change, providing jobs, and creating sought-after products such as house frames, cardboard boxes, and even paper straws, from a renewable source,” he said.

Mr Crowe said Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) figures show Australia’s forest industries contribute $24 billion annually to the economy and support around 80,000 direct jobs nationally and another 100,000 indirectly, many of which underpin rural and regional communities.

“The trees that make up Australia’s total plantation forestry estate store vast amounts of carbon, which AFPA figures show equates to the same amount of carbon created by more than 56 million cars being driven for a year,” he said.

“Australia has a $2 billion trade deficit in wood products. The Albanese Government aims to plant one billion more production trees by 2030 to help make our nation far less dependent on timber imports.”

High Speed Rail Authority Board meets in Newcastle

Joint Media Release from the Hon Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Local Development and Sharon Claydon MP, Federal Member for Newcastle

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 25 August 2023

The Australian Government’s vision for an east coast high-speed rail network has taken another important step forward today, with the Board of the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) meeting in Newcastle for the first time. 

The Board’s meeting in Newcastle follows on from its detailed briefing with New South Wales transport officials yesterday regarding the existing rail corridor between Sydney and Newcastle.

HSRA commenced operations on 13 June 2023 to lead, plan, develop, coordinate, oversee and monitor the construction and operation of a high-speed rail network in Australia.

High-speed rail will revolutionise interstate travel on the east coast, providing a fast alternative for people to move between cities and regional centres, promoting sustainable settlement patterns, and generating and spreading economic benefits beyond the outskirts of major capitals.

HSRA Board is committed to working transparently within a framework of high standards of governance and accountability.

The Board is enthusiastic about the important foundational and planning activities currently underway, and is working to build the HSRA with a strong leadership team, organisational capability, positive culture and transparent processes and decision making. 

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“High-speed rail will be instrumental in improving the lives of Australians by supporting shifts in population settlement, better connecting skilled workers with major job centres and be a key enabler of achieving our ambitious carbon reduction targets.

"It is essential the HSRA takes the time now to establish a robust foundation on which to build and this means the planning has to be done properly and in detail.

“Given the size and scale of building an east coast high-speed rail network, it must be based on meticulous planning, good governance and highly effective project management.

“High-speed rail is still in its early days and we acknowledge this project will take time.

"We have a vision about how we want to see Australia develop, not just next year or next decade but decades from now.”

Hyne Timber Partners to Support Ngarigo Culture Reserve

MEDIA RELEASE | 24 August 2023

Hyne Timber is pleased to announce, a 12-month partnership with the Ngarigo Toomaroombah Kunama Namadgi Indigenous Corporation to support the development of the Ngarigo Culture Reserve in Tumbarumba.

The Ngarigo Culture Reserve is the first of its kind for the town and is already attracting busses of visitors despite the development being in early stages.

Ngarigo Elders, Uncle Craig Wilesmith, Aunty Sandra Casey and Uncle John Casey, supported by many other Ngarigo people and volunteers are proudly informing the Reserve development in respect of their ancestors.

Ngarigo Elder, Uncle Craig said the Reserve is located at an area of spiritual, cultural significance,

“This Reserve at Murrays Crossing Road ‘5 ways’ is traditionally where the five main song lines of the regional Indigenous people met. In other words, the most accessible ways across our landscape which more recently informed the road network. Each year in November, around 600 Indigenous people congregated at this very place.

“Our people met here for Corroboree’s, yarning and trade.

“It was also the site of our Message Tree where message sticks were exchanged. The Message Tree was sadly destroyed in the bushfires and had to be removed but has since been replaced with a rock monument.

“We still have more work to do but have been overwhelmed with the community and business support we are already receiving, including most recently, from Hyne Timber coming on board as a partner,” Uncle Craig said.

There are many volunteers and contributing businesses helping to develop the Culture Reserve including both yarning and Burra circles, a scar tree, and the Message Tree monument. The two circles are joined by a rainbow serpent walkway, lined with painted rocks by the local primary school as part of their cultural learning and engagement.

The Burra circle also has a striking ‘centre piece’ which wouldn’t have traditionally featured but represents traditionally favoured food. This is a hand carved, wooden, long neck turtle carved by Ngarigo man, Justin McCulland.

Hyne Timber’s General Manager Stakeholder Engagement, Katie Fowden visited the site with Ngarigo Elders Uncle Craig and Aunty Sandra Casey to understand first-hand, the scale and plans for the development,

“People want to understand and engage with our Indigenous heritage. This includes here in Tumbarumba with the visitors already flocking to this Culture Reserve still under development.

“We can’t tell the stories of our Indigenous heritage but we can help fund the logistics so their story can be shared more widely, educating people in an appropriately respectful, engaging and informative way for all ages and abilities.

“In addition to the cultural elements, a carpark is being installed along with BBQ facilities, bathroom amenities, educational signage and a bituminised Culture Trail to connect with the ever-popular Rail Trail.

“Anyone can visit the site now and sit amongst the yarning circle, surrounded by the trees and sounds of the kookaburras and nature. It is already an immersive experience despite the project being in its infancy. 

“We entered into a longer-term partnership as opposed to simply supplying one-off funding so we can continue to support the Elders and volunteers with this historically significant project through to fruition.” Ms Fowden said.

The project continues to raise funds from the community and local businesses with bituminisation of the Culture Trail yet to receive funding and get underway.

Supporting businesses and organisations include Hyne Timber, a Snowy Hydro grant, Aboriginal Affairs, Warren Hulm and Sons and Bald Hill Quarries with the Snowy Valleys Council also supporting the development as a preserved area of spiritual significance.

If you would like to support the project in some way, you can contact the Ngarigo Toomaroombah Kunama Namadgi Indigenous Corporation by emailing tknic8520@gmail.com

Guidelines release for transformative regional partnerships program

Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

MEDIA RELEASE | Thursday 24 August 2023

The Australian Government’s $400 million regional Precincts and Partnerships grants program is now open for applications.

The regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) will provide grant funding for precincts that seek to deliver transformative investment in regional, rural and remote Australia based on the aims of unifying regional places, growing their economies and serving their communities.

The program will focus on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision for how that precinct connects to the region.

Regional precincts or ‘places of purpose’ are areas with a specific shared need or theme. They support better land-use integration and ensure infrastructure investment considers and complements the broader region, its surrounding communities, spaces, transport and activities.

The Government has allocated $400 million to the rPPP over three years, with $100 million available for 2023-24, and $150 million for each of 2024-25 and 2025-26.

The program will be delivered through two streams supporting both the development of precincts and delivery of construction-ready precinct projects:

• Stream One: Precinct development and planning. Grants of between $500,000 to $5 million will be available for master planning, consultation, design, business cases and partnership establishment.
   

• Stream Two: Precinct delivery. Grants of between $5 million and $50 million will be available to help deliver one or more elements of a precinct. This could be enabling public infrastructure (roads, pathways, underground infrastructure), open spaces between elements, or a building that catalyses or complements other investment within the precinct.

Applications are open to state, territory and local government agencies or bodies, regional universities (which may be for-profit), and incorporated not-for-profit organisations.

With the program now open for applications, the first tranche of successful applicants will be announced later in the year.

The program design for the urban Precincts and Partnership Program (uPPP) is currently underway and will be available to applicants who are not in the statistical boundary for the rPPP. Together, these two programs will work to deliver precincts across the nation.

Further information on the program, including the Grant Opportunity Guidelines for streams one and two, is available on the GrantConnect website.

Commonwealth Changing Places Initiative

The Department of Social Services is offering up to one-third of the cost to build Changing Places facilities in Local Government Areas (LGAs) that currently do not have one.

Changing Places are accessible toilets with extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with disability and their carers.

This funding offer can supplement other sources of funding, including from various levels of government, community grants and private enterprises.

Applicants are encouraged to consider including a Changing Places facility in upcoming community infrastructure plans.

Learn more: Changing Places and fact sheet (below)

Contact: Changing.Places@dss.gov.au

Industry projects to drive heavy vehicle safety with $5.5 million investment

Joint Media Release from Senator the Hon Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Sal Petroccitto, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Chief Executive Office

MEDIA RELEASE | Tuesday 22 August 2023

Twenty-one new industry-led projects will receive vital funding from the Australian Government through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).

$3.8 million will be invested into 12 heavy vehicle safety initiatives through Round 8 of the HVSI program, including for roadside health and wellness screening, driver training and increasing vulnerable road user safety.

A further nine projects have been selected to receive funding as part of $1.7 million in once-off funding to Chain of Responsibility (CoR) training and education projects.

The new projects under Round 8 address key issues in the transport and logistic sector and provide workable solutions, to reduce road trauma and save lives.

The CoR projects will help organisations develop training content and resources that will help participants improve the safety of their heavy vehicle transport activities and meet their obligations under the law.

Successful projects include the development of CoR training targeting executives and managers, training tailored for international freight forwarding and logistics, and training aimed at businesses that are not transport companies, but that send and receive goods using heavy vehicles.

The Government has invested in 132 other HVSI projects since the program began in 2016, delivering safety benefits to the heavy vehicle industry and other road users.

• For more information on the HVSI program, visit www.nhvr.gov.au/hvsi

• For more information on CoR, visit www.nhvr.gov.au/cor

Public release of submissions to postal services modernisation consultation

Joint Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications and Senator The Hon Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance, Women, and Public Service.

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 11 August 2023

The Albanese Government has today released submissions received as part of its public consultation on modernising of postal services and supporting the long-term financial stability of Australia Post.
 
Over 1,000 submissions – including from individuals, community organisations, charities, businesses, and all levels of government – outlined views and opinions on how postal services are currently used and what is needed for the postal service in the future.
 
The Government launched its discussion paper and consultation process earlier this year to ensure Australia Post continues to provide quality services for small businesses, is well-adapted to changing consumer trends, supports its workforce, and meets the needs of both metropolitan and regional communities.
 
Australia Post is a cherished national and publicly-owned institution that provides essential services and supports stable employment for tens of thousands of Australians.
 
The consultation highlighted that the way many Australians use postal services continues to evolve, and change is needed ensure that a high quality and sustainable letters service is maintained.
 
The responses indicated broad support for a package of reforms that continue to support the delivery of traditional postal services, supports growing the business and providing new products and services in the competitive parcels business, and underpins the long-term financial sustainability of Australia Post.
 
These submissions will help inform the Government’s next steps in considering options to modernise postal services in Australia, which will include further consultation with stakeholders.
 
For more information about the submissions to the consultation visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/postal-services-modernisation
 

The Barrel is back! | McWilliam’s Wines reopens the doors of its newly refurbished Hanwood Cellar Door

Media Release | 21 August 2023

One of Australia’s most recognised wine names, McWilliam’s Wines, has just announced the grand reopening of its newly refreshed Hanwood Cellar Door, with doors of the iconic ‘barrel’ opening on August 11. As one of an exclusive few oversized tourist landmarks around Australia, McWilliam’s expansive barrel-shaped cellar door was first opened in 1973, and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The ambitious project breathes new life into the much-loved wine destination with extensive upgrades to its interiors and exciting new wine experiences for guests to enjoy.

McWilliam’s Wines Cellar Door was designed by Glen McWilliam 50 years ago to the precise scale of a wine barrel and a fig tree was planted at the front of the building. Whilst these two features remain today, its new owners, the Calabria family, have worked with a team of local designers and suppliers during the past 12 months to oversee the extensive renovations that were completed by Bill Calabria.
For over a century, McWilliam's Wines has played an integral role in Australia's winemaking legacy, particularly in the craft of fortified wines. The Hanwood Estate, where vines were first planted in 1913, and was the pioneering force in establishing the Riverina wine region.

“Many people associate the name McWilliam’s with the Barrel and the many fond memories of rich fortified tastings inside it. The building has become a landmark in the Riverina and was a hub for much of the great history behind the McWilliam’s name. This reopening feels like a new era for us and a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and visitors with some incredible new wine experiences,” second generation Winemaker & Managing Director Bill Calabria, AM said.

Elevated interiors inside the barrel

While maintaining the iconic barrel-stave shell, extensive upgrades have transformed the interiors into a modern, lodge-style haven which the McWilliam’s team deems its ‘fortified house’ style. Generous seating, including cozy deluxe leather lounges and a long 16-seater table, allows the space to accommodate up to 35 guests comfortably. The centrepiece of the sophisticated fit-out is the 360° Cheminee Cast Iron Fireplace from Sculpt Fireplaces, perfect for warming up and unwinding with a glass of Shiraz.

The space also includes an exclusive private tasting room; the ‘Friar Room' pays homage to the winery's retro novelty Friar mascot, offering groups an intimate setting for private tasting experiences. The new custom tasting bar allows visitors to engage with their knowledgeable hosts while sampling McWilliam’s diverse selection of premium wines.

An extended menu of premium drops

The newly curated cellar door wine menu allows visitors to indulge in an extensive array of top-tier offerings from the family winery, including its 660, Alternis, Single Vineyard,  and 1877  collections, as well as the winery’s pinnacle release Eliza Jane Shiraz. The menu also boasts an impressive range of aged fortified, and limited cellar door releases like Topaque, Apera and Ruby Reserve.

For those after a light bite to complement their wines, an assortment of snacks and shareable food items, including dips and cheese platters, are available.

Unforgettable new experiences

The new cellar door experiences reflect McWilliam’s Wines’ wealth of fortified winemaking expertise and give visitors a taste of Australian wine history.

 The ‘Fortified Discovery Tasting Experience’ is a new winemaker-led vertical tasting showcasing a line up of aged tawny to include, 5, 10, 20 & 30 year old.

For cocktail connoisseurs, the ‘Fortified Cocktail Made to Mix Experience’ explores cocktail-ready tawny paired with various tonics to create the ideal flavour combinations.

Finally, guests looking for something a little sweet can indulge in the self-guided  ‘Fortified & Cuvee Chocolate Flight’ exploring a four fortified styles paired with Cuvee chocolates.

Booking information

The newly renovated McWilliam's barrel is located on Jack McWilliam Road, Hanwood, NSW, and will officially be reponed from August 11 and will be open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Wine enthusiasts are encouraged to secure their tasting experiences in advance by booking online at mcwilliams.com.au.

For more information about McWilliam’s Wines, visit www.mcwilliams.com.au.

Follow McWilliam’s on Instagram at @mcwilliamswines.

Thousands take up new uncapped satellite broadband in rural and regional Australia

Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Tuesday 22 August 2023

Almost half of all Sky Muster Plus customers in rural and regional areas have taken up new uncapped satellite broadband made possible by the Albanese Government’s investments to deliver a better NBN.
 
Since its launch on 1 June, more than 21,000 homes and businesses have signed up to the new Sky Muster Plus Premium service which offers customers uncapped data 24 hours a day and faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
 
The service responds to increasing demand for more data and faster speeds from satellite users caused by the growing use of video streaming, and people working and studying from home.
 
The uncapped service has been enabled by the Albanese Government’s $480 million investment to upgrade the NBN Fixed Wireless network. The upgrades are moving around 120,000 premises from satellite to fixed wireless, freeing up capacity on Sky Muster.
 
The Sky Muster Premium product complements the Albanese Government’s commitments to improving NBN technologies in regional areas, including by investing $2.4 billion to expand full-fibre NBN to an additional 1.5 million premises – over 660,000 of which will be in regional areas.
 
The product was launched following a trial over 10,000 Sky Muster Plus customers earlier this year that reported greater user satisfaction when customers could access increased evening speeds and uncapped data.
 
NBN Co is now consulting with industry on the introduction of more uncapped data plans at lower price points and further improvements to speeds.

Further information about Sky Muster Plus Premium product is available at www.nbn.com.au/skymusterplus

National Housing and Homelessness Plan | Issues Paper

The Australian Government, in collaboration with state and territory governments, is developing the  National Housing and Homelessness Plan (the Plan) to help more Australians access safe and affordable housing.

The Plan will set out a shared national vision to improve housing outcomes and help address homelessness  in Australia, and identify reforms needed across the responsibilities of different levels of government to achieve this vision.

A consultation process has started, as the Government works with stakeholders to identify areas of focus for the Plan. An Issues Paper has been also released as part of this process.

Read: National Housing and Homelessness Plan Issues Paper

Have your say: Make a submission

Submissions close: 11:59PM AEST Friday 22 September 2023

Help: HousingandHomelessnessPlan@dss.gov.au  

Innovate with NBN back for another year

Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 21 August 2023

Applications are now open for the latest round of the Innovate with NBN grants program, which supports individuals, businesses and organisations across regional and remote Australia to take their technology-led ideas to the next level.
 
Delivered by NBN Co in partnership with the Regional Australia Institute, the grants will support innovators and entrepreneurs deliver game-changing projects that enhance the digital capabilities of communities and businesses.
 
Successful grant recipients will receive up to $15,000 to support their innovative projects, with the overall champion to receive $20,000. The total prize pool for this round is $125,000.

Grant categories include Health, Agriculture, Tourism, Arts, Education, Indigenous Business and Women in Business – with winners to demonstrate the outstanding digital creativity and vision.

Previous rounds have supported projects like regional Victoria’s TerraLab who developed the STA Logger, an innovative system to digitally manage invasive weeds on farms.

Applications open on 21 August, and close at midnight on Friday 29 September 2023.
 
The Albanese Government is committed to improving the digital capability of individuals and businesses in regional and remote Australia. The Government has invested $2.4 billion to expand full-fibre NBN access to an additional 1.5 million premises – including over 660,000 in regional areas.
 
For more information on the program and to apply for a grant: www.nbnco.com.au/campaigns/innovate-with-nbn-grants-program. 

Albanese Government officially launches BetStop

Joint Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications and The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 21 August 2023

Australians at risk of experiencing gambling harm will now be able to self-exclude from all licensed interactive wagering services following the launch today of BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register.
 
BetStop covers all Australian licensed interactive wagering service providers, – both online and telephone-based – and will mean they are not allowed to open an account or accept a bet from self-excluded individuals, or send them marketing material.
 
Australians will be able to self-exclude from a minimum of 3 months to a lifetime, by registering free-of-charge and in a single interaction.
 
Wagering service providers must promote BetStop, including on their websites and apps, and via marketing material to customers. A public awareness campaign will be run by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to promote BetStop.
 
BetStop is the final measure of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering. Two other measures – consistent gambling messaging and training for wagering staff – came into effect on 30 March of this year.
 
The Commonwealth will continue to work with states and territories on what comes next to reduce harm caused by online wagering.
 
The ACMA will be responsible for regulating BetStop, which is operated by IXUP Limited. BetStop has been subject to extensive testing and trialling to ensure it provides a secure and trusted environment for users.
 
Complementing the launch of BetStop, the Government will also introduce mandatory customer pre-verification, requiring wagering service providers to verify a customer’s identity when they register for a new account and before they can place a bet.
 
This will replace the existing requirement to verify a customer’s identity within 72 hours, and enhances protection for citizens, including underage or newly registered individuals who have self-excluded through BetStop.
 
This requirement is expected to be in place by the end of September 2023.
 
The two measures – BetStop and customer pre-verification – form part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to harm minimisation, and were recommended in the final report from Parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm handed down in June.
   
The launch of BetStop and introduction of customer pre-verification build on the Albanese Government’s commitment to ban the use of credit cards for online wagering, and strengthen classification of gambling-like features in video games, including loot boxes and simulated gambling.
 
The Government has also already implemented mandatory monthly activity statements so those engaging in online wagering can easily see their wins and losses, nationally consistent staff training and new evidence-based taglines to replace ‘Gamble Responsibly’.

For more information or to register, visit www.betstop.gov.au