Digital Agrifood Summit: Paddock to Profit | October 2023

Every session from DAS23 is now available to re-watch online!

Enjoy program highlights including keynote addresses from Professor Jacquie McGlade, Su McCluskey, Richard Heath, and Laura Kilcrease, themed sessions, and innovation showcases featuring 40+ local and international experts.

It's all available to stream now via Food Agility’s YouTube channel.

Hiring through the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot Program

Is your business/industry experiencing a skills shortage? Are you interested in accessing a source of skilled labour that also offers a skilled refugee and their family the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Australia?

The Department of Home Affairs invites you to attend their free webinar on how Australian employers can use the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot Program (the Pilot) to:

• access the talent that exists in refugee and displaced populations to address workforce skills shortages; and

• offer a skilled refugee and their family the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Australia.

The Pilot, delivered in partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), enables Australian businesses endorsed by TBB to enter into a labour agreement with the Australian Government to sponsor an approved skilled refugee or displaced person on a permanent or temporary basis through existing employer sponsored visa programs.

Concessions to standard visa eligibility requirements available under a Pilot labour agreement are designed to reduce barriers for businesses and skilled refugees/displaced persons accessing these employer sponsored skilled visa pathways.

Together, the Department and Talent Beyond Boundaries will cover:

1.               How the Pilot works;

2.               Concessions available under the Pilot;

3.               How TBB can support you to find, hire and welcome a candidate;

4.               TBB’s endorsement process; and

5.               Outcomes so far, including first-hand candidate and business testimonials.

Register for the free webinar on 12 December to learn how you can use the Pilot to help your business.

Industry Growth Program NOW OPEN

On Monday 27 November 2023, the Hon Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science, launched the Industry Growth Program.

The Industry Growth Program is now open, with startups and innovative small and medium businesses able to apply for expert advice on their commercialisation and growth projects. The Industry Growth Program enables eligible SMEs to receive advice from industry experts, with a particular focus on the early stages when businesses often have difficulty turning innovative ideas into profitable products, processes and services. A national network of advisers is being established to provide guidance on seeking investment, market testing, business models and networking.

When will the grants launch?

The Industry Growth Program’s advice service is complemented by two grant opportunities, expected to launch in early 2024:

• matched grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects

• matched grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.

Businesses will need to go through the advice service prior to applying for a grant.

Important information

Important links for the Industry Growth Program can be found via:

• Industry Growth Program - https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/industry-growth-program

• Industry Growth Program guidelines - https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/industry-growth-program#key-documents

TAFE NSW - Food Safety Supervisor Certificate - Online course option

Recently there have been changes made to the Food Safety Regulations. From Wednesday 8th December 2023, this may mean that food and beverage service activities that have been exempt from needing a certified Food Safety Supervisor present, may no longer be exempt.

If this impacts on you and you are looking for a way to have your employees quickly trained as Food Safety Supervisors, TAFE NSW offers a 100% online option that can be completed with a day, and which you can enrol in anytime of the year. You can also call 131 601 for assistance with enrolling, or pop into any TAFE NSW campus during business hours.

To find out more, or to enrol to train as a Food Safety Supervisor, visit : https://www.tafensw.edu.au/course-areas/food-and-hospitality/courses/statement-of-attainment-in-food-safety-supervision-skill-set--SITSS00069-V01/offerings/SITSS00069-V01-23OTE-018

Below is some general information about the Food Safety Regulations changes. You can also read even more detail on the Food Authority website: https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/

Food Safety Supervisor (FSS)

• All existing business that require a FSS will remain.

• New businesses that where previously exempt (before 08.12.23) and will now require a FSS:

• coffee vendors that only heat milk

• not-for-profit community and charitable causes

• school canteens (primary or secondary)

• boarding schools

• children’s services

• out of school hours care services

• correctional centres

• supermarkets (where heated food was not sold)

• food businesses premises that only do one or more of the following activities only:

• slice fermented meats or smallgoods, or both

• slice or portion cheese, or both

• process raw seafood

• slice or portion fruit or vegetables, or both.

• Business that will remain exempt

• The handling of food for or at a fundraising event. Fundraising event means an event that raises funds solely for a community or charitable cause and not for personal financial gain.

• Businesses that only manufacture or wholesale food (such as a manufacturer of bulk ham that is sold packaged to supermarkets) with no direct sale to consumers (other food safety arrangements will apply to these businesses).

• Food businesses that are not serving or retailing unpackaged food that is potentially hazardous and ready to eat (such as service stations selling food that remains in its original sealed packaging, a coffee van that only sells food that is not potentially hazardous).

Food Handlers

• Ensure all food handlers are trained in food safety and hygiene, or can demonstrate adequate skills and knowledge.

•  It is important to note that a certificate is not a proof of skills under the Food Standards Code and food handlers must also be able to demonstrate they know how to handle food safely in the food business.

It can be safe to say any business that requires a FSS classifies the fellow staff members as ‘Food Handlers’. General examples of affected businesses include:

• restaurants, cafés, pubs and hotels

• takeaway shops, mobile food vendors, juice bars and coffee vendors

• caterers that serve food directly to consumers

• supermarkets and delis

• childcare services that provide food.

• charities and not-for-profit organisations

• school canteens

• childcare services, including out of school hours care

• correctional centres

• delicatessens

• supermarkets

NSW Food Handler basic training

The NSW Food Authority Website has created a Basic Training. For more information please click HERE

Save with Solar – SunSPOT Education Webinar

Wagga Wagga City Council has recently opted into SunSPOT, a solar calculator built by University of NSW and the Australian PV Institute that helps households understand the possibilities, requirements, and benefits of transitioning to solar.

SunSPOT is a not-for-profit initiative that is free and private to use without being locked into sales or continuing promotion.

You can use the calculator to get tailored estimates on suitable system sizes, how many panels will fit on your roof, batteries and potential savings.

To assist with community understanding and use of the calculator, the APVI is inviting public to attend a free, educational webinar on Tuesday 12 December.

The webinar will also include details on the costs of solar, location requirements, how solar works, and how to manage your energy and increase savings.

SunSPOT’s development has been supported by the NSW and ACT governments, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP).

Increase in class time for executive teachers to deliver the equivalent of 500 additional teachers for our classrooms

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning

MEDIA RELEASE | 8 December 2023

Up to 2500 executive teachers will spend more time in the classroom under a plan by the NSW state government to address the teacher shortage and the proliferation of cancelled and merged classes – a move that could add the equivalent of more than 500 full-time teaching roles.

With a survey revealing in October that more than 10,000 merged and cancelled classes were occurring in NSW public schools every day, the government has moved swiftly to review the hours of existing school leaders spend teaching to maximise class coverage for students in public schools. 

The Department of Education review into executive teachers found almost two thirds of the 2500 teachers were not teaching timetabled classes at all, while the remainder were teaching fewer hours than the proposed minimum hours needed.

More than half of the deputy principals in NSW public schools are not currently teaching timetabled classes.

To plug the teacher shortage, from next term executive teachers in an average school will be expected to teach at least 1 day a week, rising to 2-and-a-half days a week for deputy principals and 4 days a week for head teachers and assistant principals, as allowed under the existing industrial agreement.

The addition of minimum teaching hours for teachers in executive roles across the state is expected to add the equivalent of more than 500 full-time teaching roles from the cohort of experienced and effective teachers.

The review found many were teaching below industrial agreements, a legacy of the Local Schools, Local Decisions policy.

The policy allowed schools to use their flexible funding to release teachers from face-to-face teaching with little oversight. While many schools can justify this on a case-by-case basis, seen overall, the system lost many experienced teachers from the classroom and it created too many vacancies.

To free up some of the most experienced teachers, the Department of Education will help schools redeploy work to skilled school staff members in administrative and other support roles.

With timetables already being written for next year, principals have been asked to apply the new minimum teaching hours initially where possible. The department will consult with the NSW Teachers Federation, the Public Service Association, principals and staff from Term 1, 2024, with full implementation expected by early 2025.

The review also recommended that a freeze on new additional executive positions funded by schools remain in place until the review, which will also examine the proliferation of other executive teacher positions, concludes in mid-2024.

179 new police officers to start across NSW

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism

MEDIA RELEASE | 8 December 2023

179 new probationary constables have been sworn into the NSW Police Force today and will start at their new home stations next week.

Class 360 attested at the Goulburn Police Academy following 8 months of training in the Constable Education Program (CEP). Four months by distance, 4 months at the academy. 
 
They will now have 12 months on the job training as a probationary constable.
 
Communities across NSW will see the new boots on the ground on Monday:

• Central Metropolitan Region – 53

• Northwest Metropolitan Region – 39

• Southwest Metropolitan Region – 33

• Northern Region – 24

• Southern Region – 17

• Western Region – 13.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley welcomed the new officers to the force and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rebuild and support our frontline services.
 
Minister Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb officially opened 3 new accommodation blocks which provide modern, clean and comfortable facilities for the student police officers. 
 
In October, the Minns Labor Government made the historic announcement that student police officers will be paid to study at the Goulburn Police Academy. 
 
Class 360 is the first cohort to receive a one-off payment, the amount of which was pro-rated to the date of the announcement. 
 
From March 2024, student police officers will be employed as clerk grade 1/2 administrative employees on a temporary fixed term contact. 
 
They’ll receive a total salary of approximately $30,984 over the 16-week study period, including super and award-based allowances. 
 
Apply online to become a police officerlaunch

A Shared Responsibility: The plan to begin addressing the housing crisis in NSW

Joint Media Release from the NSW Premier, and the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

MEDIA RELEASE | 7 December 2023

The NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to address the housing crisis by rebalancing housing growth across the state with a focus on well-located homes close to transport, jobs and existing infrastructure.

The Housing Crisis

Housing is the biggest single cost of living pressure people are dealing with right now, with mortgage payments or rent the largest expense for most households.

But housing supply isn’t keeping up with demand.

 Last year NSW recorded fewer overall completions than Victoria – despite NSW’s higher population, producing about 6 homes for every 1000 people each year, compared to 8 in Victoria and 9 in Queensland.

Despite NSW having the largest population, the largest expected increase in population, the highest rents and the highest medium house prices, NSW is last on the east coast when it comes to housing completions.

NSW completed 48,000 new buildings in 2022. This was behind Victoria with 59,000 completions – despite our state’s higher population.

The NSW Labor Government also inherited development application processing times that had slowed to an average of 116 days in March 2023.

The housing supply shortfall is behind Sydney unit rents increasing by 24% over the year to the end of September 2023, along with house rents lifting by 11%.

Back in the early 1980s, the average house in Sydney cost $78,900, or about 5 times a full-time average wage. Now, the price of a typical Sydney house is 17 times more expensive and is 14 times the average income.

The NSW Government believes if we are going to tackle this crisis, to create more housing supply that will drive down the cost of renting or make buying a home more affordable, we need more homes, our city will have to change.

Transport Orientated Development Program

Tier One – Accelerated Precincts

The Minns Labor Government has identified eight Sydney transport hubs for accelerated rezoning for the delivery of up to 47,800 new, well located, high and mid-rise homes over the next 15 years.

Bankstown, Bays West, Bella Vista, Crows Nest, Homebush, Hornsby, Kellyville and Macquarie Park will all undergo rezoning by November 2024 to provide significant uplift and support new homes within 1200m of these Metro and rail stations.

To speed up the delivery of homes over the next 5 years, developers will be able to access a new State Significant Development pathway for proposals of $60m or more, and construction will be required to start within two years of approval.

Affordable housing held in perpetuity will make up to 15% of homes in these locations to make sure essential workers like health workers, teachers and hospitality workers can live closer to work.

Tier Two – Rezonings

The Minns Labor Government is also announcing it will snap rezone 31 locations across NSW allowing for 138,000 new homes to be created within 400m of Metro or suburban rail stations and town centres to make residential flat building permissible in all residential zonings.

The stations are: Adamstown, Ashfield, Banksia, Berala, Booragul, Canterbury, Corrimal, Croydon, Dapto, Dulwich Hill, Gordon, Gosford, Hamilton, Killara, Kogarah, Kotara, Lidcombe, Lindfield, Marrickville, Morisset, Newcastle Interchange, North Strathfield Metro, North Wollongong, Rockdale, Roseville, St Marys Metro, Teralba, Tuggerah, Turrella, Wiley Park and Wyong.

These locations have been identified as being capable of accommodating new homes within existing enabling infrastructure.

Low and Mid Rise Reforms

Today’s announcements build on the changes the government announced last week that will also allow for different housing types like residential flat buildings, manor houses, terraces, and duplexes in these locations.

Currently, each local council has its own rules for what kind of homes can be built in their area.

Mostly, these rules don’t allow the types of homes that can add density to local town centres and transport hubs.

As a result, the State government is setting the expectation for councils so that more homes of different types are built in areas close to transport.

This will also mean that councils can't say no to certain types of buildings, like terraces, residential flat buildings, manor houses, duplexes, and semi-detached houses in locations that are zoned for them.

If a council changes its rules to match the new state rules, then the state government's rules won't apply to them anymore. 

But if a council doesn't change its rules, then the State government's rules will continue to apply to confront the housing crisis.

These changes are in addition to the recently announced pattern book approach which will provide planning certainty through agreed housing designs.

Pre-approved designs, selected through the pattern book will access an accelerated pathway allowing for faster delivery of much needed housing and greater certainty for developers.

Building well connected communities

The NSW Government knows that growing communities deserve well-designed suburbs close to schools, healthcare, shops, transport, parks and jobs.

To make sure that homes are built in places where people want to live, the NSW Government is providing $520 million within the Tier One Accelerated Precincts for community infrastructure, such as critical road upgrades, active transport links and good quality public open spaces.

Developing new entertainment hubs including restaurants and cafes, including outdoor dining, and live entertainment venues will also help create vibrant and active precincts with great amenity.

The Government will use the already legislated Housing and Productivity Contributions system to ensure some of the value created by Government investments will fund future infrastructure.

Government’s response to the ACCC’s major competition and consumer recommendations for digital platforms

Joint Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications and The Hon Stephen Jones MP, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

MEDIA RELEASE | 7 December 2023

Today, the Government has published its response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s September 2022 Digital Platform Services Inquiry interim report.

The Government recognises the extensive work by the ACCC throughout the Digital Inquiry, and agrees that stronger measures are warranted to protect consumers and businesses from harms on digital platforms. 

In the report, the ACCC observed that “Australian consumers and small businesses often find it hard to achieve quick and easy resolution of complaints and disputes with digital platforms.” They highlighted the suspension or termination of a user’s accounts, and scam content, harmful apps and fake reviews as areas where disputes can arise.

As a result, further work will be undertaken by Treasury and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, to consider options to improve the dispute resolution processes available to users of digital platforms. As a first step, the Government is calling on members of the digital platforms industry to develop voluntary internal dispute resolution standards by July 2024.

The ACCC also presented a strong case for the development of a new ex ante digital competition regime to address anti-competitive behaviours of certain digital platforms. Treasury will consult on the design of a potential ex ante digital competition framework in 2024.

This response complements other major consumer-first work the Albanese Government has underway.

The Government is fighting back against scammers through the new, world-leading National Anti-Scam Centre, and is currently consulting on mandatory industry anti-scam codes.

In 2022, the Government passed laws to ban unfair contract terms, and is considering options to address unfair trading practices.

The Albanese Government is on the side of Australian consumers, and is committed to ensuring Australia has the right regulations to be a leading digital economy.

The full response is on Treasury’s website.

Major new investment to boost digital connectivity in regional Australia

Joint Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications and Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator for the Northern Territory

MEDIA RELEASE | 11 December 2023

More than one hundred communities and locations across rural and regional Australia will benefit from significant communications upgrades made possible by $170.2 million in Commonwealth investment through the Albanese Government’s Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) and Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).
 
These programs – funded in the October 2022 Budget – aim to narrow the digital divide in rural and regional communities, providing investment to improve mobile coverage issues, fund public Wi-Fi, and deliver fibre upgrades.
 
The latest program rounds attracted $106.25 million in co-investment to deliver 136 projects across both streams.

Importantly, this combined opportunity will deliver $54.8 million in funding for 44 projects for improved telecommunications services in First Nations communities. 

These projects will support progress towards achieving Target 17 of the Closing the Gap initiative, which commits to First Nations people having equal levels of digital inclusion by 2026.
 
RCP Round 3 is awarding $115.23 million for 74 connectivity projects across Australia, through three separate funding streams:

• $7.1 million for 7 projects that target First Nations communities in Central Australia;

• $16. million for 6 projects that target First Nations communities across the rest of Australia; and

• $91.7 million for 61 projects targeting connectivity across Australia including 12 projects in First Nations communities, valued at $17.6 million.

The overall MBSP Round 7 is awarding Telstra, OneWifi and Optus:

• $41.3 million for 43 new mobile base stations across Australia; and

• $13.6 million for 19 new mobile base stations specifically targeting First Nations communities.

These new mobile base stations will deliver new and improved mobile coverage to these communities and improve highway coverage. It will also fund 25 new OneWiFi neutral host base stations that support multi-carrier outcomes, with Optus confirmed to offer services from the base stations.

All successful applications were assessed and recommended for funding by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, in accordance with the Program Guidelines. 

This funding was delivered as part of the Albanese Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan. The Plan commits $400 million to expand mobile coverage and improve communications resilience, and $200 million to fund place-based communications solutions through the RCP.

Full lists of funded projects under RCP Round 3 and MBSP Round 7 are available at www.infrastructure.gov.au/rcp and www.infrastructure.gov.au/mbsp.
 
The rollout schedule will be published on the carriers’ websites once the contracts have been executed.

Next step for an empowered Infrastructure Australia

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 7 December 2023

The Australian Government has delivered on its election commitment to restore Infrastructure Australia (IA) as the Commonwealth’s adviser on major infrastructure investment, with the Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 now having passed both Houses of Parliament.

IA is an independent statutory body that was created under the previous Labor Government to provide expert research and advice to the Australian Government on projects and reforms relating to infrastructure priorities across Australia.

Under the Liberals and Nationals, the organisation lost direction, was full of political appointments and its advice on infrastructure matters was often not considered.

The legislative changes define IA’s mandate, improve the evaluation of infrastructure proposals, and refine the products IA delivers to better support government investment objectives – including ensuring a more targeted Infrastructure Priority List (IPL).

A more focused and targeted IPL will mean that proposals considered for inclusion will need to be aligned to the Government's policy objectives, and within IA's remit of transport, water, energy and communications infrastructure.

IA’s functions have been redefined and a stronger governance structure has been set up, comprising three expert commissioners to be supported by an expert advisory council.

The legislation delivers on a critical part of the Government’s response to the recommendations handed down by the Independent Review of Infrastructure Australia, which was undertaken in 2022.

Other recommendations from the Independent Review of Infrastructure Australia will be implemented through a revised Statement of Expectations, which will be issued by the Government in early 2024 to IA.

Despite months of the Liberals and Nationals refusing to engage constructively and obstructing the passing of this critical legislation, the Government has worked to ensure the successful passage of the Bill this week.

We will also move quickly to appoint commissioners through a merit-based and publicly advertised process, which will be undertaken as soon as possible.

By underpinning sound infrastructure investment decisions, a revitalised, respected and trusted IA will support the Government in achieving productivity, economic growth and sustainability outcomes.

It will also continue to identify opportunities to streamline work with the states and territories, allowing resources to be better invested in infrastructure priorities moving forward.

This legislation is part of a broader suite of reforms the Government is implementing to ensure the Commonwealth invests in properly planned and targeted infrastructure, including the recent release of the Infrastructure Policy Statement and our response to the Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program.

New telco consumer safeguards bill introduced to Parliament

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 7 December 2023

The Albanese Government will move to improve safeguards for Australian consumer and small businesses through new legislation introduced to Parliament today.
 
The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards and Other Measures) Bill will improve the statutory infrastructure provider (SIP) regime in a number of ways. The SIP regime ensures Australians can access high-speed broadband wherever they live or carry on business, and provides appropriate protections.
 
The Bill will deliver greater certainty to customers where their current SIP chooses to stop offering services. The SIP will be required to provide sufficient notice to NBN Co. As the default SIP, NBN Co will have sufficient time to provide alternative infrastructure before the incumbent provider vacates the premises.
 
The Bill also includes measures to bring private networks that service new developments, such as retirement villages, into the SIP regime. This will ensure that all consumers, no matter where they live have access to quality broadband services on request.
 
The Bill will give the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman a clearer role in resolving disputes about service connections. Under the new laws, the Ombudsman will be able to work with customers and providers to resolve problems.
 
The Bill also sets out important new powers for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The ACMA will be able to require developers to remediate defective infrastructure that supports telecommunications services in their new developments. This means that the cost of any remediation will fall on developers – rather than on home owners or telecommunications providers.
 
The ACMA will also be able to publish telecommunications providers’ performance metrics in its public reports, providing consumers to make more informed choices about the telecommunications provider best suited to them.

Murray-Darling Basin Plan rescued

Media Release from the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and water

MEDIA RELEASE | 30 November 2023

The Albanese Labor Government’s bill to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has passed the Senate, and is now set to pass the Parliament.

This is a historic day for the Murray-Darling Basin and the communities, industries, farmers, First Nations groups and environment that rely on it.

For almost a decade, the Liberal and National parties undermined and sabotaged the Plan. They stood in the way of water recovery programs, blocking efforts to keep enough water aside for drinking water and the environment. In fact, of the 450 gigalitres of environmental water in the Plan, the Liberals and Nationals delivered just two in nine years. 

As a result of their mismanagement, the Plan was off track and unable to be achieved.

This was a disaster for the 3 million Australians who rely on the rivers for their drinking water, the 2.5 million Australians who live in the Basin, and the threatened plants on animals who depend on it for their survival.

Before the election, Labor promised to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full. Passing this legislation means we will keep that promise.

Our Restoring our Rivers Bill offers more time, more options, more accountability, and more transparency. It guarantees the 450GL of water for the environment and gives communities confidence that we’ll deliver on our commitments.

This legislation builds on the work we’ve already done to deliver water saving infrastructure and purchase water from willing sellers to help meet the Plan's targets.

This new law comes at a critical time. With another drought around the corner, and the deadlines of the original plan about to expire, we know we had act now.

By passing this Bill, we are ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for Australia’s largest river system.

Report | Australian Jobs 2023

Jobs and Skills Australia and National Careers Institute have recently released their report, Australian Jobs 2023 .

Australian Jobs 2023, is designed to give people an insight into the Australian labour market to help guide their decisions at any point in their career.

You can read the report, by clicking the button below.

Report | Regional News Media 2023

Image source: Report | Regional News Media 2023 | University of Technology Sydney (uts.edu.au)

University of Technology Sydney (UTS) recently released their second regional media report.

The UTS Centre for Media Transition (CMT) examines the flow of narratives between metro and regional news media on important policy discussions. The two policy areas examined by the CMT were the Murray-Darling Water Plan and the legislated alcohol bans on Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory – both policy areas which impact metro audiences. 

UTS have also repeated their survey of the levels of coverage of regional issues in metro media outlets and examined regional media start-ups to enquire about the challenges and opportunities.

Albanese Government delivers credit card ban for online wagering

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 7 December 2023

Australians will soon not be able to use credit cards, credit-related products and digital currency to gamble online, as a result of the Albanese Government’s new laws designed to minimise gambling harm which passed the Parliament last night.
 
This legislation to amend the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 will bring online wagering into line with land‑based gambling regulations – where credit card use is banned – and meaningfully improve protections for vulnerable and at-risk Australians and their families.
 
Industry will be provided with a six-month transition period to prepare for the ban.
 
Companies who fail to enforce the ban on credit cards, credit related products and digital currencies may be liable for fines of up to $234,750. 
 
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has also been granted greater powers to enforce the new and existing provisions of the Interactive Gambling Act, with immediate effect. The new laws will be reviewed two years after their implementation.
 
Banning the use of credit cards for online wagering continues the Government’s work on gambling reform and complements measures that have already been implemented, including:

• Launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register, through which over 13,000 Australians have self-excluded from online wagering and promotions;

• Mandating customer pre-verification for all new online wagering accounts to prevent children from gambling and strengthen protections for Australians who have registered for BetStop;

• Agreeing with the States and Territories new minimum classifications for video games with gambling-like content;

• Implementing new evidence-based tagines to replace ‘Gamble Responsibly’;

• Introducing nationally consistent staff training; and

• Requiring online wagering companies to send their customers monthly activity statements outlining wins and losses.

The Government is committed to creating a safe online gambling environment underpinned by a robust legislative framework with strong consumer protections.
 
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs – expertly led by the late Peta Murphy MP – recently conducted an inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.
 
The Government acknowledges the work of Ms Murphy and the rest of the Committee in advocating for Australians experiencing gambling harms, and providing a platform for Australians to share their experiences. The Committee recommendations will underpin the next tranche of reforms to protect Australians from gambling harms, and the Government will make announcements about its next steps in due course.

Minns Labor Government establishes taskforce to tackle emergency department wait times

Media Release from the NSW Minister for Health

MEDIA RELEASE | 6 December 2023

The NSW State government will establish a new taskforce to tackle emergency department (ED) wait times.

The ED Taskforce comes off the back of the success of the Surgical Care Taskforce – established on the Health Minister’s first day in office – which has seen overdue surgeries more than halved.

The ED Taskforce will comprise health workers and NSW Health officials, from across the state’s various local health districts and specialty networks, including from regional communities.

It will be tasked with identifying and implementing efficiencies, including:

• initiatives to reduce unnecessary presentations

• addressing bed block and improve patient flow

• safely discharging patients more quickly

• improving the experience of patients and staff in the ED

• moving patients to parts of the system with more capacity, where clinically appropriate.

The Minister for Health Ryan Park has instructed NSW Health to draft terms of reference, appoint membership of the taskforce, and set a first meeting date.

It comes after the release of 2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports and the latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) quarterly results.

The 2 AIHW reports show that over 2022-23, NSW reported:

• the highest number of ED presentations of any state or territory in Australia (3 million)

• the highest proportion of presentations seen on time in Australia (74%)

• the second-highest proportion of planned surgeries completed within clinically recommended timeframes (77.3%).

The latest BHI data for the September quarter shows:

• a record number of triage 2 category (emergency) presentations (118,772)

• a 61% reduction in the number of overdue surgeries compared to September 2022.

A significant factor in the record demand on hospitals is the proportion of cases that could be treated in primary or aged care settings.

Almost half of all presentations to EDs were either category 4 (such as sprained ankle, earache) or category 5 (such as small cuts or abrasions).

A further BHI report on patient experiences in small rural hospitals shows that 45% of patients felt they could have been treated by a general practitioner (GP) or other health professional.

This will remain a focus of the ED Taskforce.

The NSW Government is also embracing a suite of innovative initiatives to divert unnecessary presentations to hospitals and relieve pressure on GPs.

This includes:

• rolling out 25 urgent care services across the state

• empowering pharmacists to prescribe certain medications

• increasing the use of virtual care

• making it easier for doctors in regional health districts to work in both GP and hospital settings.

Ensuring Australia Post can deliver more for Australians

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 6 December 2023

The Albanese Government will undertake reforms to enable Australia Post to boost productivity, increase its focus on parcels, and improve long-term financial sustainability.

Following public consultation, and co-designed workforce trials, new regulations will be introduced to support more efficient letter delivery, while supporting the jobs of postal workers.

Australia Post connects millions of consumers and businesses. It is a key enabler of e-commerce and brings Australians together – particularly in regional and rural communities.

However, changing consumer needs and growing digitisation means Australia Post needs to modernise to keep pace with what Australians need and expect from their postal service.

Letter volumes have reduced by two thirds since their peak in 2008, while parcel volumes have boomed.

Australia Post delivered around half a billion parcels in 2022-23 and the average Australian household now receives just over two addressed letters per week.

In light of these challenges, Australia Post has worked cooperatively with its workforce and the Communication Workers Union to trial a new model for mail delivery at selected sites nationally.

The trials decreased the frequency of letter delivery, and in the initial trials have expanded delivery points by more than 10% per round, and enabled postal workers to carry up to 20% more parcels, achieving real productivity improvements, and demonstrating it is possible to modernise while supporting secure, well-paying jobs.

Australia Post intends to refine the model for a national roll out over the next twelve months. 
This national expansion requires amendment to the current Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Regulations 2019.

Informed by the public consultation and feedback from a discussion paper launched in March, the Government plans to amend the existing delivery standards so that:

1. Letter delivery frequency will be reduced to every second business day for 98 per cent of locations, whilst parcels will still be delivered daily;

2. To reflect the new delivery frequency, Australia Post will have an extra day to deliver regular letters across Australia; and

3. Australia Post can change the way it manages priority mail, which now accounts for around 8 per cent of addressed letters, so it can deliver services at a more commercial rate and work with customers to set appropriate terms and conditions.

The current geographic classification for Australia Post retail outlets will also be updated to reflect the modern Australian Statistical Standards Geography Standard Remoteness Areas, rather than the 1991 Census currently used. This is expected to have the net effect of reclassifying approximately 70 outlets to Remoteness Areas other than ‘Major Cities’. This will not impact the services provided at these outlets or the prescribed minimum numbers of post offices that Australia Post must retain, including in regional Australia.

Separate to the performance regulations, the Government will also work with Australia Post to develop a pricing oversight mechanism that will give Australia Post and its customers more certainty over a longer-term price path for basic postage.  The ACCC is currently assessing Australia Post’s draft notification to increase the basic postage rate from $1.20 to $1.50 in early 2024. Prices for concession card holders will remain at 60 cents, and the price of Christmas stamps will remain unchanged at 65 cents.

These reforms follow extensive consultation with businesses, unions, Post Office licensees and agents, and the Australian public.

The reforms will support Australia Post's financial sustainability, allowing it to invest in products and services for the future, and boost the productivity of its workforce by freeing its up delivery and processing resources to support parcel delivery.

Australia Post’s modernisation plans also include adding even more parcel posting and collection places that are open at more convenient times – such as parcel lockers.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will consult on the amended delivery standards regulations early in 2024 before their implementation next year.

The Government will continue to monitor how it can work with Australia Post to build on these reforms and modernise operations to ensure the service remains competitive and delivers more for Australians.

Infrastructure Australia legislation passes Senate

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

MEDIA RELEASE | 5 December 2023

The Australian Government is getting on with the job of restoring Infrastructure Australia (IA) as the Commonwealth’s premier adviser on major infrastructure investment, with the Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023 passed by the Senate today.

Passage of this Bill by the Senate is an important step in delivering the Albanese Labor Government’s election commitment to restore IA’s crucial role as the Government’s independent infrastructure adviser.

Despite months of the Liberals and Nationals refusing to engage constructively and obstructing the passing of this critical legislation, the Government worked with minor parties in the Senate to ensure the Bill’s passage.

After being ignored and diminished under the Liberals and Nationals, the Government is empowering IA to deliver quality independent advice on infrastructure that supports the economy, builds the nation, and addresses the challenges and opportunities of the future.

The legislative changes define IA’s mandate, improve the evaluation of investment proposals, and refine the products IA delivers to better support government investment objectives, including ensuring a well targeted Infrastructure Priority List.

They also set up a new governance structure comprised of three expert commissioners, which replaces the existing board structure. The commissioners will be supported by an advisory council.

The legislation delivers on a critical part of the Government’s response to the recommendations handed down by the Independent Review of Infrastructure Australia, which was undertaken in 2022.

This legislation is part of a broader suite of reforms the Government is implementing to ensure the Commonwealth invests in properly planned and targeted infrastructure, including the recent release of the Infrastructure Policy Statement and the Government’s response to the Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program.

Other recommendations from the Independent Review of Infrastructure Australia will be implemented through a revised Statement of Expectations issued by the Government to IA.

By underpinning sound infrastructure investment decisions, a revitalised, respected and trusted IA will support productivity, economic growth and opportunity.

With the Bill having passed the Senate, it will report back to the House of Representatives prior to passage.

Beat the Heat this summer

Image source: beat-the-heat-hot-weather-can-be-dangerous-english.jpg (800×800) (nsw.gov.au)

Summer is upon us once again, and while the warmer weather is an enjoyable, welcome change, there is also the risk of heatstroke, especially for the more vulnerable members of the community.

In preparation for what is expected to be a very hot summer, NSW Health has released public health resources to educate the community on how to beat the heat and stay healthy during periods of increasingly hot weather and heatwaves.