Illabo Motorsport Park and Junee Tourist Attractions to be featured on Blokeworld TV show

Photo Credit: Ben O'Malley

MEDIA RELEASE | November 7, 2023

The television show “Blokesworld” were in Junee and Illabo over the “weekend” of August 10–13, 2023 to highlight Illabo Motorsport Park and other tourist attractions in Junee.

Blokesworld is a lifestyle show for the real aussie bloke. It is feel good light entertainment which traverses the world of “Blokedom” and rediscovers the joys of a roaring V8 engine, a good Bar-B–Q, a punt on the dogs and a bit of a perve along the way. Plus handy hints on how a bloke can re-immerse himself into a culture more reminiscent of the sporting 70’s than the snag infested 90’s. Oh, and don’t forget the lovely pole dancers!

Blokesworld Season 13, Episodes 01 thru 04 will feature Illabo Motorsport Park and other tourist attractions in Junee.

Initial airings of the Illabo/Junee focussed episodes will be on the Free-to-Air TV Channel 7Mate at 1:00pm AEDT on the following dates:

Season 13, Episode 01: Saturday, November 11, 2023 (This Saturday)
Season 13, Episode 02: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Season 13, Episode 03: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Season 13, Episode 04: Saturday, December 2, 2023

They will then be repeated the next evening after the Sunday Night Movie, and then again at 10:00am on the following Friday. All episodes will also be up on 7Plus streaming service to (re)watch straight after the episode airs on the Saturday afternoon.

Gasworks Motorsport Secretary, and Illabo Motorsport Park Promotor, Mr Kerry Phelan said,

"It was an honour and privilege to host Ado and 'Camera 3' from Blokesworld at Illabo Motorsport Park back in August and we are excited to see that they obtained enough footage of our own events and from local businesses and tourism attractions in Junee and Illabo that they've managed to go from the original arrangement of a single episode to having a massive run of four episodes featuring us!"

"We appreciate that Blokesworld have highlighted not only our own Motorsport Park at Illabo, but the other attractions that make Junee Shire an unique destination to visit with your family and to stay for a couple of nights"

Bringing Blokesworld to Junee and Illabo Motorsport Park would not have been possible without the generous support of following local businesses and organisations sponsoring the event! Our sponsors included: Brew at 102, Broadway Museum, Building & Environmental Services Today, Gasworks Classic Car Garage, JMA Legal, Junee District Co-operative, Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club, Junee Hotel, Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory, Junee Motor Inn, Junee Roundhouse Museum, Junee Shire Council, Layton Electrical, plus two “private investors”

About Gasworks Motorsport Inc and Illabo Motorsport Park

Gasworks Motorsport Inc is the incorporated administration entity for the Gasworks Kart, Buggy & Motorbike Club, Illabo Motorsport Park (located with the Illabo Showground Precinct), and the Gasworks Vehicle Club.

Illabo Motorsport Park is a speedway, licensed venue through the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation, and conducts events on a permit basis issued by the Australian Auto-sport Alliance (AASA). It is a 390m oval dirt track known as the "SHEATHER CIRCUIT" on which Vintage Speedway Vehicle Demonstration events are held.

With the entrants and participants being members of clubs sanctioned by Australian Vintage Classic Speedway National Body (AVCSNB). Entries in the events held at Illabo Motorsport Park are open to all Open Wheel Vintage Vehicles as defined by the AVCSNB. The AVCSNB Constitution and Bi-Laws will apply to these events.

Gasworks Motorsport usually conduct four Combined Vintage Speedway and Speedway Karts events between March 1st and October 31st each year.

Drivers (along with their pit crew/families) come from all over South-Eastern Australia, and beyond, to participate in our Speedway events. Most stay at local accomodation venues across Junee Shire for two or three nights. These visitors have invested in excess of $1.25 million into the local tourism, accommodation, food and retail sectors within Junee Shire over the last eight years of operations at Illabo Motorsport Park.

The next Vintage Speedway event to be held at Illabo Motorsport will be on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

For more information about this, and other upcoming events at Illabo Motorsport Park, please visit

https://www.gw.org.au/event-calendar/

"Behind the Scenes" Photo Galleries
Gasworks Motorsport had five photographers (Two on Friday and five on Saturday) on-site at Illabo Motorsport Park each capturing the some behind the scenes photos and other highlights of our Vintage Speedway and Karts event!

Check out the photo galleries we’ve posted covering August 11, 2023 (Engine starts, interviews) and August 12th (main event and behind the scenes):

https://www.gw.org.au/blog/air-dates-for-blokesworld-illabo-motorsport-park/

Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program ready for take-off

Australia’s airstrip network provides a vital service to people living in rural and remote areas.

The Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program (Round 10) will improve network safety, while enabling better access to important supplies and emergency care for all Australian communities.

Australia’s remote airstrip network provides vital access between remote communities and major regional centres, by delivering urgent supplies and the coordination of life-saving flights for those in need. Many eligible airstrips also service remote First Nations communities, aiding their access to vital services and supplies.

Eligible airstrip owners or operators can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $3 million for works to improve remote airstrip safety and access.

• Learn more: Remote Airstrip Program ready for take-off

• Apply: Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program: Round 10 | business.gov.au

• Applications close: 5:00PM (AEDT) 15 December 2023

• Help: 13 28 46 / Contact us | business.gov.au

New projects to boost heavy vehicles safety and productivity

Media Release from Senator the Hon Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

MEDIA RELEASE | Tuesday 07 November 2023

Regional roads across the country will benefit from new Australian Government-funded projects aimed at improving heavy vehicle safety and productivity.

Seven new projects have been approved under the latest round of funding applications for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP); two each in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria and one in New South Wales.

The Australian Government is investing over $18 million towards these seven projects under the HVSPP. This funding is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment of at least $65 million per year for the program.

The program gives funding to state, territory and local governments for projects to increase safety and productivity along heavy vehicle freight routes.

These projects include widening and upgrading roads used along heavy vehicle freight routes.

A full list of funded projects can be found below.

For more information, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives/heavy-vehicle-safety-and-productivity-program.

Turn the beat around: first live music audit is part of venue revival

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy

MEDIA RELEASE | 6 November 2023

NSW has lost half its live music venues over the past decade, with just 137 remaining, according to current Liquor and Gaming data.

As part of the music revival, the government will seek to ensure the survival of these venues as the recently established Sound NSW begins its work with the live music industry.

Launching during Australian Music Month, participants will be asked to assess the strengths of the industry as well as the factors that might be holding the industry back, from noise restrictions, venue closures, COVID-19 and cost of living pressures.

The survey forms part of a wider research project that will combine economic analysis, venue mapping data and audience research to inform the NSW Government’s first ever strategic policy for contemporary music and create a vision for a vibrant arts and cultural scene in NSW.

The survey is completely anonymous, with no personal information collected.

The data will lead the decision-making process to revolutionise the live music industry in the state and spearhead new policy that centres on supporting and invigorating NSW’s music scene.

People working in the industry are strongly encouraged to provide insights, including artists, managers, promoters, venue operators, roadies, audio engineers, lighting and technical teams, ticket and merchandise retailers and more. This feedback will shape policy decisions and have a direct impact on the future of the sector.

Participate in State of the Scene – Live Music Surveylaunch. The survey will be open until 15 January 2024.

Bringing Junee Correctional Centre into public hands

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Corrections

MEDIA RELEASE | 3 November 2023

The NSW Government has taken the first steps to bring the management of Junee Correctional Centre into public hands, for the first time.

US multi-national GEO Group currently holds the contract.

The decision to move the management of this crucial service to the public sector will lock in around 340 well-paid public-sector jobs for the region. 

Following the expiry of the existing contract with GEO Group in March 2025, centre management will be taken over by Corrective Services NSW.  Junee Correctional Centre will remain a crucial part of the NSW prison network.

Corrective Services NSW operates Australia’s largest prison system, responsible for approximately 9,200 inmates across 31 correctional centres.

Corrective Services and Justice Health will work with employees, the community and GEO Group through this period. 

Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program ready for takeoff

Media Release from Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 06 November 2023

The Australian Government has today opened applications for Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program to enhance the safety and accessibility of airstrips in remote and very remote areas of Australia.

The tenth round of the program will provide up to $12 million in grant funding for sites in remote areas nationwide, with projects set to be delivered between 2024 and 2026.

Australia’s remote airstrip network provides vital access between remote communities and major regional centres, while also enabling the delivery of urgent supplies and the coordination of life-saving flights for those in need.

Many eligible airstrips also service remote First Nations communities, aiding their access to vital services and supplies.

Eligible airstrip owners or operators can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $3 million for works to improve remote airstrip safety and access.

The grant guidelines are now available online and applications for the program open 6 November 2023 and close on 15 December 2023.

Additional details about the program, including the guidelines for Round 10, can be found here.

Driving EV charging into regional tourism hot spots

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Energy and Climate Change and the Minister for Regional NSW

MEDIA RELEASE | 3 November 2023

Residents and tourists in regional NSW can now drive their electric vehicles with greater confidence as the Minns government delivers more EV chargers through the Destination Charging Program.

Applications are now open for small to medium regional tourism businesses and councils to install EV charging infrastructure.

Successful applicants will receive 75 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing up to four charge points at each site.

The $10 million allocated for round two of the Destination Charging Program is expected to support the installation at least 1,500 EV charge ports at tourism destinations. Destinations could include motels, wineries, cafes, restaurants, natural attractions, visitor information centres, museums, zoos and local government facilities.

Following the successful rollout of the chargers, a series of EV tourist drives will be developed to promote EV travel across NSW.

The Destination Charging Program is part of a $209 million investment in charging infrastructure which also includes $10 million in grants to retrofit apartments with EV chargers, $10 million for more kerbside charging and $149 million for ultra-fast charging infrastructure.

The NSW Government has also committed an additional $260 million in the 2023–24 Budget to underpin the rollout of a new NSW EV Strategy being delivered in partnership with industry stakeholders which is a key driver to achieving our state’s Net Zero emissions targets.

Find out more about EV destination grantslaunch

Major changes to small business procurement

Media Release from the NSW Premier, the NSW Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement and the NSW Minister for Small Business

MEDIA RELEASE | 5 November 2023

The NSW Government has delivered on its commitment to boost government procurement of goods and services from small and medium businesses with a major change to government procurement.

A direction has been signed today, increasing the level at which government departments and agencies can purchase goods and services directly from small and medium businesses from $150,000 to $250,000.

The state’s 840,000 small businesses make up 98% of all NSW businesses, employing 1.6 million people in NSW – it’s these businesses and jobs that will be turbocharged by this change.

Each year, the NSW Government spends over $9 billion on goods and services obtained directly from 46,000 small and medium businesses in NSW and this change to procurement will deliver more government contracts going to these businesses and a bigger slice of government procurement spend.

This Ministerial Direction was issued to the NSW Procurement Board and requires agencies to implement this policy change no later than 31 December 2023.

It also serves as an important signal to government agencies to directly engage small businesses when procuring goods and services, including for:

• catering, food and beverage services at state-owned museums, galleries, venues and sites

• office supplies and furniture for government offices and buildings

• maintenance and repairs, including ground maintenance and landscaping at government facilities

• the development of training resources, including for health and wellness support.

The Government has also eased procurement requirements for small businesses which will no longer be required to submit proof of insurance when they tender. Instead, proof of insurance will only be required when a contract is awarded.

This is in addition to the NSW Government making a number of other significant changes to support small businesses in NSW, including:

• Launched the Service NSW Business Bureaulaunch, which will give small business owners a seat at the table with a commitment to tackling unproductive red tape, helping businesses navigate government and boosting growth opportunities.

• Delivered major upgrades to the Service NSW Business Bureau App.

• Successfully delivered Small Business Month with over 600 events across the state.

• Delivered energy bill relief for more than 300,000 businesses and toll relief for more than 700,000 Western Sydney families and businesses.

• Launched the Service NSW Business Grants and Funding Finder, bringing more than 500 grants across 46 agencies into one place, to make accessing financial support easier for businesses across the state.

These changes do not apply to construction businesses.

The NSW Government has extensive fraud and compliance checks in place to maintain the integrity of government procurement.

For more information visit buy.nswlaunch

Apply now for RDA Committee Chair Positions

Applications are now open for 6 RDA Committee Chair positions commencing 1 January 2024.

RDA Committee Chair positions are currently available for:

1. RDA Southern NSW and ACT (NSW)

2. RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven (NSW)

3. RDA Barwon South West (VIC)

4. RDA Gippsland (VIC)

5. RDA Greater Whitsundays (QLD)

6. RDA Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast (QLD).

Applications close at 5pm AEDT on Monday 13 November 2023. 

• Share:  LinkedIn

• Learn more: RDA Chair information pack  

• Need information: RDA@infrastructure.gov.au

ANZSCO comprehensive review - consultation round 3

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) continues its comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) with a third round of public consultation. This is an opportunity for you to make a significant impact by providing feedback on selected occupations, helping shape the quality of Australia’s future occupation and labour market information.

ANZSCO describes all occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. Your feedback will help inform and reshape educational pathways, skilled migration programs and strategies that support our workforce to remain adaptable and equipped with the right skills.

ANZSCO are particularly interested in understanding what occupations have evolved, been replaced, or changed? Have skill requirements shifted over time? Are there any emerging fields or unique jobs that you believe will shape the future?

This round of consultation will close 5 December 2023.

Telstra announces new support initiatives ahead of disaster season

Image source: More data, better payphones, less stress: how we’re supporting you this disaster season (telstra.com.au)

From today, you may see Telstra’s Disaster Response campaign in-market which will include a range of new initiatives to support Australians ahead of what is predicted to be a challenging season.  
 
Initiatives include:  

• Extra data automatically granted for postpaid mobile customers in a disaster affected area.  

• The upgrade of 1000 payphones in disaster-prone areas, with free Wi-Fi, USB charging and backup power. 

• Reaffirming our commitment to emergency roaming, and our intent to conduct a simulation within our own network as a first step to demonstrate it’s possible. 

• Launch of the Telstra Response Team – a new way to identify our teams on the ground or at the end of our dedicated disaster assistance line. 

• Trialling portable satellite technology that can help local communities connect when mobile and fixed connections are down in a disaster area.  

• This is in addition to the temporary infrastructure, generators and disaster recovery experts we deploy to help keep our customers and the community connected to Australia’s largest mobile network.  

 
More information about these initiatives and how communities can prepare themselves for disasters can be found on Telstra Exchange

Federal Government's first NBN Fixed Wireless upgrades now complete

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 01 November 2023

The Federal Government is delivering on its plan for a better National Broadband Network (NBN), with the completion of the first NBN Fixed Wireless upgrades made possible through its $480 million investment in the network.
 
Following local upgrades, around 16,000 homes and businesses on the NSW South Coast and the Queensland Sunshine Coast are the first to benefit from access to faster speeds, including typical wholesale busy-hour speeds of at least 50 Megabits per second (Mbps).
 
Across the two regions, 3,200 premises originally receiving NBN satellite services are now eligible for NBN Fixed Wireless. This is in addition to more than 1,000 premises relocated from the satellite footprint to the fixed wireless footprint in March 2023 under the investment.
 
The Government’s investment, combined with funding from NBN, will see more than 2,300 fixed wireless sites upgraded across the country, along with greater data limits on Sky Muster satellite services, including uncapped date usage plans – helping to deliver a more connected Australia.
 
Following the program’s commencement in July 2022, the upgrades to the NBN fixed wireless network will have increased total network capacity by 100 per cent by the end of November this year, and current capacity is expected to double again by the time upgrades are complete in December 2024.
 
These are the first of many areas across Australia to receive upgrades under the program. By the end of 2024, one million premises in regional and remote Australia and in peri-urban areas will benefit from improvements to fixed wireless services or greater data limits on Sky Muster services.
 
As well as delivering better busy hour speeds and allowing more homes and business to access the NBN fixed wireless network, the upgrade program includes significant improvements to the wholesale speed plans.
 
In the coming weeks, NBN Co will start to consult with industry on proposed enhancements to these speeds. This includes two new higher-speed plans that would deliver speeds close to double those originally planned.

For more information on NBN Fixed Wireless, visit: www.nbnco.com.au/residential/upgrades/more-fixed-wireless.

Future Drought Fund public consultation sessions coming to your region

On 26 October 2023, the Australian Government announced $17.7 million from the Future Drought Fund (FDF) will be used to progress essential activities in line with key recommendations from the recent Productivity Commission Inquiry into the effectiveness of the FDF. A full response to the Inquiry Report will be informed by public consultation.

On 20 October 2023, government commenced public consultation to help inform the next phase of Future Drought Fund investments. To support consultation, an updated Draft Investment Strategy has been released which sets out Government’s interim response to the Productivity Commission’s recommendations and proposed options for implementation.Stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback on these options.

Stakeholders are invited to register their interest to attend a public meeting in the following locations via haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/future-drought-fund

Future Drought Fund public consultation is coming to a location near you

Launceston, Tasmania - Thursday 2 November 9:00am (local time)

• Hobart, Tasmania - Thursday 2 November 3:30pm (local time)

• Melbourne, Victoria - Friday 3 November 10:00am (local time)

• Townsville, Queensland – Tuesday 7 November 10am (local time)

• Townsville, Queensland – Tuesday 7 November 2:00pm (local time)

• Roseworthy, South Australia – Tuesday 7 November 9:00am (local time)

• Roseworthy, South Australia – Tuesday 7 November 1:00pm (local time)

• Loxton, South Australia – Wednesday 8 November 9:00am (local time)

• Canberra, ACT – Wednesday 8 November 3:00pm (local time)

• Toowoomba, Queensland – Friday 17 November 9:00am (local time)

• Toowoomba, Queensland – Friday 17 November 1:00pm (local time)

• Darwin, Northern Territory – Friday 24 November 9:00am (local time)

• Darwin, Northern Territory – Friday 24 November 1:30pm (local time)

• Wagga Wagga, New South Wales – Thursday 30 November 9:00am (local time)

Registrations and venue details coming soon for these locations:

• Armidale, New South Wales – Monday 13 November 11:00am (local time)

• Perth, Western Australia – Tuesday 21 November 3:00pm (local time)

• Geraldton, Western Australia – Wednesday 22 November 10:30am (local time)

• Traralgon, Victoria – Thursday 23 November 9:00am (local time)

• Dubbo, New South Wales – Wednesday 29 November 10:30am (local time)

• Shepparton, Victoria Friday 1 December 9:00am (local time)

If you’re unable to attend a session, you can:

• Learn more draft Funding Plan and consultation draft Investment Strategy

• Submit  feedback

• Contact: droughtreslilience@dff.gov.au

Consultation will conclude on Wednesday, 6 December 2023, at 5pm AEDT.

Next steps to beat plastic pollution in NSW

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage

MEDIA RELEASE | 29 October 2023

The NSW Government is ramping up efforts to tackle plastic pollution by inviting the public to have its say on helping to prevent 800,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced each year from causing harm to the environment and human health.

Industry, businesses and the community are encouraged to share their feedback on the ‘NSW Plastics: Next Steps’ discussion paper as we move to reduce plastic litter by 30% by 2025, curb the impact of microplastics and align with other states and territories. 

Plastics are an important part of many products we rely on, but not all plastics are essential. Often, they are produced in unsustainable ways to be used only once and then discarded.

Only 12% of plastic waste is recycled and once thrown away, these products don’t disappear. Instead, they pollute the environment, harm wildlife, pose a risk to human health and contribute to climate change.

‘NSW Plastics: Next Steps’ identifies and addresses items and materials that:

• are frequently littered or release microplastics into the environmentNSW

• contain harmful chemical additives

• are regulated or proposed to be in other states and territories.

Items containing plastic such as lollipop sticks, cigarette butts, bread tags and heavyweight plastic shopping bags are some of the problematic products that could be redesigned or phased out.

Consultation is open for 14 weeks from 29 October 2023 to 4 February 2024.

To participate in the future of plastics, visit NSW Environment Protection Authoritylaunch

All feedback will inform further actions to tackle problematic and unnecessary plastics.

Federal Government launches consultation to modernise the Universal Service Obligation

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 30 October 2023

The Federal Government has opened a broad consultation with industry and the community on the delivery of a modern and more fit-for-purpose Universal Service Obligation (USO).
 
The USO is a longstanding telecommunications safeguard that ensures all Australians can access fixed phone services and payphones, regardless of where they live. The USO is currently delivered by Telstra, and relies on ageing copper wire that is increasingly expensive to maintain.
 
New and emerging technologies present new opportunities to deliver voice services in Australia.
 
By the end of next year, more than 97 per cent of Australian premises will be able to access to high-speed, fixed line or fixed-wireless broadband over the NBN network that can support quality voice services. Commercial mobile networks now reach up to 99.6% of the population.
 
The continued deployment of satellites and other technologies also shows promise for providing people in the most remote areas of Australia greater options for accessing voice services.
 
The consultation process will explore options to deliver better communications outcomes – particularly for rural and regional, and First Nations communities who currently rely on fixed phone services to stay connected.
 
The Government has yet to make a decision on how best to modernise the USO, and feedback from communities, industry and interested parties will help inform next steps.
 
A discussion paper has been developed to inform the consultation process.
 
Alongside this initial consultation, the Government will commence work to establish a clear, independent and transparent body of evidence to help inform whether emerging technologies are capable of delivering suitable levels of service for the USO, with trials expected to commence in 2024.
 
Further consultation will also start next year to seek views on sustainable, long-term funding of services in rural and remote areas, incorporating a review of the Regional Broadband Scheme legislated to commence by mid-2024.
 
Submissions close 1 March 2024. To make a submission, or to view the discussion paper, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say

$30 million On Farm Connectivity Program now open for applications

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Commuications and Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

MEDIA RELEASE | 27 October 2023

Applications are now open for Round 1 of the Albanese Government’s new On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP) to increase the uptake of agtech to boost productivity, growth and sustainability of Australia’s primary producers.
 
The $30 million OFCP – funded through the October 2022-23 Federal Budget – will enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to extend connectivity further onto their properties and take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology.
 
The program will provide 50 per cent rebates for the cost of smart farming technology that can help to optimise soil quality and nutrient levels, monitor livestock, improve efficiency of water use, streamline farm logistics and boost customer connections throughout the world.
 
Following an expression of interest process earlier this year, 79 equipment suppliers have signed on to the program and will be able to apply for rebates of between $3,000 and $30,000 for eligible equipment purchased by primary producers.
 
Rebates will be available for a wide range of technology including external antennas, repeaters, boosters, sensors, automated tank systems and pump controllers, animal movement tags and relevant installation and training costs.
 
Rebates to fund connected machinery upgrades will provide a significant boost to these producers and will help drive growth in the sector.

The OFCP is part of the Albanese Government’s $656 million Better Connectivity Plan which is improving mobile and broadband connectivity and resilience in communities across the country.

For more information on the OFCP, visit: www.infrastructure.gov.au/ofcp

New password technology making online transactions more secure

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government

MEDIA RELEASE | 26 October 2023

The NSW Government is taking even more steps to help residents stay protected against cyber breaches with a new feature that informs people if their login credentials may have been compromised. 

With new enhancements to credential technology, holders of a MyServiceNSW account will be automatically notified if their email address and password are found in a third-party breach. They will then be encouraged to update their password and enable multifactor authentication.

Service NSW is working closely with trusted global technology and security vendors to identify if a customer’s account login information may have previously been disclosed in a third-party data breach or leak.

Customer information remains secure and protected during the scan and customers do not need to sign-up or opt-in to the service. 

This is one of several initiatives the NSW Government has undertaken to help protect NSW residents online and build cyber security awareness.

This complements the new Password Strength Tester, launched earlier this month, which helps people create strong passwords and check whether their password has previously been disclosed in a data breach or leak. The Password Strength Tester can also test how long it would take a hacker to crack the password and provides a rating based on the strength of the password.

There are more than 2.7 million logins to MyServiceNSW accounts every month to complete thousands of NSW Government transactions including driver licence renewals and vehicle registrations, as well as access disaster recovery or cost of living support. Customers must also have an active MyServiceNSW account to use the Service NSW app and access popular voucher programs.

Security breaches and cybercrimes can cost Australians both financially and in time taken to recover their identity. If anyone believes their identity may have been stolen, Service NSW and ID Support NSW can help people restore their documents and improve security of their personal information.

$500,000 investment boosts engineering training at TAFE NSW Griffith

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

MEDIA RELEASE | 26 October 2023

The Riverina’s welding and metal fabrication sector has received a boost with the completion of the $500,000 upgrades to training facilities at TAFE NSW Griffith.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said the investment comes amid strong demand for qualified metal fabricators and welders in the region, with several major infrastructure projects – including the $250 million Griffith Base Hospital redevelopment.

“Skilled engineers play a critical role in building the future of communities like Griffith, and it’s great to see TAFE NSW creating a pipeline of homegrown welders and metal fabricators,” Mr Whan said.

“The investment in these engineering facilities, which includes new welders and a hydraulic press, will ensure graduates continue to have the job-ready skills and experience to support local industry, the economy, and the community.

“Additionally, communities like Griffith will be the beneficiaries of the recently signed landmark National Skills Agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW Government.

“The five-year agreement places TAFE NSW at the heart of the vocational education and training sector, providing up to $3.81 billion in funding for NSW to help expand access to skills training in communities across New South Wales, including the Riverina.

TAFE NSW Griffith Head Teacher of Metal Fabrication and Welding Franc Prestia said Griffith’s manufacturing sector supported around 3000 jobs, while TAFE NSW engineering graduates were also highly sought after in the local agriculture and food processing industries.

“We are in constant contact with local industry to ensure we meet their training needs,” Mr Prestia said.

“TAFE NSW Griffith has seen solid growth in engineering apprentice numbers in recent years, and the upgrade to our workshop will ensure we continue delivering the job-ready skills employers expect and deserve.”

Funding for low-cost innovative safety solutions for regional Australia's level crossings

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 25 October 2023

Six projects will share in $2.8 million under Round 1 of the Research and Innovation Grants component of the Regional Australia Level Crossing Safety Program (RALCSP).

Currently most level crossings in regional Australia are passively controlled with either Give Way or Stop signs, particularly where there is no reliable electricity source.

To address this, I’m pleased to announce the successful projects will trial a range of technologies including rumble strips and flashing posts, solar powered wireless technology and data monitoring.

One of the projects will also deliver research into improving how reflective, bright and colourful signage is at level crossings as well as how to bolster the visibility of trains.

The results of the trials will be shared with the National Level Crossing Safety Committee to inform ongoing activities under the National Level Crossing Safety Strategy.

The Research and Innovation Grants will deliver a total of $4.7 million over two rounds to support research and trials of low-cost, innovative level crossing safety technology and improvements.

It is a component of the $180.1 million RALCSP, which aims to improve level crossing safety in regional areas. To do this, the RALCSP is also providing funding to deliver infrastructure upgrades such as rumble strips or boom gates, improve data, and promote safe behaviours around level crossings.

I look forward to seeing these innovative grant projects get underway to deliver much-needed trials and research to advance level crossing safety in regional Australia.

ENGIE’s Community Information Hub Opens

ENGIE has opened a new community information centre for The Plains Renewable Energy Park project, located at 165 Lachlan Street, Hay.

ENGIE is excited to launch its new Community Hub in Hay - a central space for people meet with the team and learn more about the project with displays, factsheets, photo-montages, and a new interactive map. There’s also an educational hub for kids and local school groups to learn more about renewable energy.

A member of the team will be at the Community Hub from 9am – 2.30pm on:

Thursday, 26 October

Friday, 17 November

Tuesday, 28 November

Tuesday, 19 December

If you can’t make it or would prefer to meet outside these times, please reach out to the team on:

phone: 1800 845 067  email: theplainsenergypark.au@engie.com