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24-HOUR ECONOMY REFORMS SUPPORT NIGHTLIFE REVIVAL POST COVID-19
The NSW Government is inviting community feedback on the second stage of its 24-hour economy liquor law reforms, which propose a host of changes to kick start Sydney’s night time economy post COVID-19.
The draft Liquor Amendment (24-hour Economy) Bill 2020 aims to create a vibrant and safe 24-hour economy, with risk-based liquor laws that support business.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the hospitality sector was a significant employer and lifeblood for many communities.
“COVID-19 has hit the hospitality industry hard and fast. We recognise the importance of streamlining the previously complicated legislation to make it easier for industry to get back on their feet as social distancing restrictions ease,” Mr Ayres said.
“There is now clearly a light at the end of the tunnel for our hospitality sector and this will give them hope for the future.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the proposals follow on from the Government’s response to NSW Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Sydney’s night time economy.
“The proposals will help boost the state’s night time economy by removing outdated laws, simplifying licensing processes and creating a new incentives and sanctions system that rewards licence holders with a clear record,” Mr Dominello said.
“We want pubs, bars and hotels to hit the ground running on the other side, but we are mindful of how rules such as social distancing may need to be accommodated.”
Key proposals include:
- A new incentives and sanctions system with ongoing fee discounts for licensed venues that maintain a clear record;
- Removal of outdated live music restrictions;
- Allow small bars to offer more family friendly services to customers, by permitting minors in certain circumstances;
- Reducing red tape by aligning liquor licensing and planning processes; and
- Enhancing same day alcohol delivery regulations.
Feedback must be submitted by 14 June through the NSW Government Customer Service website. A Bill is expected to be introduced to Parliament in the second half of 2020.
SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES HUB OF COVID-19 GUIDELINES FOR INDUSTRY
Safe Work Australia has developed specialised industry guidelines and information across 23 sectors to assist businesses return to work in a COVID-19-safe environment.
National Cabinet yesterday encouraged businesses to be prepared for reopening, to protect their workers and protect their business. It advised that Safe Work Australia would be the single source of information, allowing businesses to plan future operations with confidence and consistency.
Safe Work Australia’s specialised COVID-19 website provides important information for industries including hospitality, retail, taxi and rideshare and public transport that addresses:
- Duties under WHS laws
- Risk assessment
- COVID-19 in your workplace
- Health monitoring
- Physical distancing
- Hygiene and cleaning
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and more.
There is also a Resource Kit featuring downloadable fact sheets, posters, infographics and guidance materials for businesses to use in the workplace such as a social distancing checklist, incident notification processes and ‘5 things to do in your workplace’.
As the Australian and NSW Governments review current restrictions, businesses are encouraged to review the Safe Work Australia guidelines that apply to their own operations and consider any new measures that should be adopted ahead of reopening.
CATCH THE BEST OF NSW ONLINE —
TOURISM EXPERIENCES TO ENJOY FROM HOME
NSW tourism businesses continue to cure #iso-induced culture, sport and food and wine cravings among housebound travel enthusiasts. Today’s showcase of NSW’s finest online tourism-related offerings includes something special for sporting fans, culture vultures, wine connoisseurs and budding photographers:
Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame: Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum can now be experienced online. Cricket-lovers can enjoy more from the Bradman Museum in Bowral via Google Arts and Culture. The online feature includes more than 28 exhibitions and over 550 objects ready to explore.
Ryan Fowler Photography: Now is the ideal time to practice and perfect a new skill. Tweed photographer Ryan Fowler is offering private digital photography workshops to help amateur snappers improve their shots or refine their editing style. The workshops help participants to understand post-processing tools and techniques, learn how to organise files or go back to the basics of composition. See more online Tweed products and experiences at VisitNSW.com
See Saw Wine: Orange’s See Saw Wine has embraced the virtual cellar door by offering an at-home tasting experience as well as a deep dive into sustainable, organic wine production. The first experience is ‘Pinot Virtual Picnic’ in which winemaker Justin Jarret takes participants through three pinot wines made from the creek area of the See Saw site in Orange. Buy the bottles online and then enjoy the guided tasting and extended learning video about See Saw’s sustainability initiatives.
Opera Australia: The country’s premier opera company has launched a free online streaming service — OA | TV: Opera Australia on Demand — that features productions from Opera Australia’s back catalogue alongside interviews by Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini and behind-the-scenes footage of performances. New films will be added each week, starting with La Traviata which was the debut Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour performance in 2012.
Destination NSW features innovative businesses and attractions like these in each edition of Insights with the aim of inspiring other tourism operators to develop new and different ways to promote their products and experiences to audiences worldwide.
If your business has a virtual tour or online experience you’d like to share with the thousands of Insights readers please email product@dnsw.com.au.
Alternatively, if you know of other experiences not promoted here, please join the movement and share them on social media using the hashtag #LoveNSW.
Please follow VisitNSW (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and Sydney (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) for holiday inspiration and a showcase of NSW’s best attractions and experiences.
MOTORSPORT TO LIGHT UP SYDNEY
Sydney Motorsport Park has begun a major upgrade to cement its status as Australia’s number one motorsport venue.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said it is a new era of racing and the 2020 Lighting Project at Western Sydney Motorsport Precinct could not have come at a better time.
“We know that COVID-19 is taking its toll on this State, and racing is a real morale boost for those isolating at home, and so it will be fantastic when motorsport gets back on track,” Mr Barilaro said.
There are 134 lighting poles being installed with world-class LED technology used on tracks like Daytona in the United States and Sepang in Malaysia.
The $33 million upgrade of Sydney Motorsport Park also includes $11 million in enhancements for Sydney International Dragway, $6.4 million to construct a Motor Sports Centre of Excellence and work to find an operations site for Motorcycling NSW.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the upgrades would provide a tourism and economic boost for Western Sydney.
“The upgrade of Sydney Motorsport Park will enable the site to host some of the biggest motor racing events in Australia, providing a tourism and economic shot in the arm for Western Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.
“It will also give NSW motorsport fans what they have been craving with more world-class motor racing events on their doorstep.”
MOTHER'S DAY MADE SPECIAL BY LOCAL BUSINESSES
Businesses across regional NSW are making Mother’s Day extra special by promoting locally produced gifts and goods to spoil mums, and give communities a much-needed boost at the same time.
Artisans, producers, restaurants, cafes and beverage purveyors across NSW are offering an outstanding range of home-delivered feasts, products made in regional NSW and vouchers for NSW experiences to be enjoyed with mum in future.
There are multiple campaigns promoting locally made gifts, meal packs from local eateries or gift vouchers that give customers the chance to support businesses and communities that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19.
The NSW Government’s Buy Regional page continues to showcase items made in regional NSW across categories including gifts and homewares, food and wine, arts and crafts and sustainable products. The website drives purchases directly from the maker so businesses benefit directly.
Other platforms and social media campaigns supporting regional makers and creators include Buy From The Bush and Spend With Them. Browse the listings for NSW artists and businesses that are involved.
NSW regional communities such as the Riverina, The Tweed, Upper Lachlan and Shoalhaven are also promoting Mother’s Day offers and products collectively.
And for mums who are dreaming of a holiday with the family in the future, VisitNSW.com and Sydney.com are providing inspiration and direct links to the state’s tourism operators so planning can start now.
COVID-19 RESULTS NOW AVAILABLE IN 60 MINUTES
High risk patients will now receive their COVID-19 test results within the hour as the NSW Government deploys new rapid testing kits statewide.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits have been in use in priority regional areas where clusters of concern were identified and will now be rolled out to 29 additional labs.
“The faster we can isolate higher risk patients and quarantine their contacts, the less likely they can unknowingly spread it to others,” Mr Hazzard said.
“On average, test results are being processed in less than 48 hours from the far corners of this vast state which is an achievement in itself, given the issues with flights and logistics.
“Now we will have even more vital hours up our sleeve, which will allow us to speed up our contract tracing efforts to map and isolate known contacts of cases.”
The new rapid PCR testing kits are presently in use in NSW Health Pathology laboratories in Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Orange, Coffs Harbour and Tamworth, and 29 more labs across the State will commence rapid testing from this week.
NSW has among the highest testing rates in Australia and the world. Mass testing is critical to identifying cases and implementing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
NSW Health Pathology can perform more than 8,000 tests per day within its specialist laboratories, which continue to exceed current demand.
TOURISM AND EVENTS INDUSTRY SUPPORTS COVIDSAFE APP
The tourism and events industry has encouraged even more Australians to download and use the COVIDSafe app saying it was the next step in the containment of COVID-19 and would help to hasten the easing of current restrictions and social distancing measures. The industry — represented by the Tourism and Transport Forum, the Accommodation Association, Cruise Lines International Australasia, the Australian Federation of Travel Agent, the Restaurant and Catering Association and the Business Events Council of Australia — said the rapid take-up of the COVIDSafe app shows how seriously Australians are treating the response to this challenge, both in terms of their health and also a desire for a return to some form of normality as soon as possible. “We welcome this initiative from the Federal Government to use the power of technology for contact tracing to ensure they can quickly identify the origins of new cases of COVID-19. The more widely this app is used, the quicker the Australian and State and Territory Governments will be able to ease restrictions as we enter the economic recovery phase.”
ROYAL NATIONAL PARK PADDLE-CRAFT EOI NOW OPEN
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is offering the opportunity to operate paddle-craft visitor experiences in Royal National Park, Australia’s oldest national park and the second most visited park in NSW. NPWS is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the provision of guided paddle-craft experiences and dry hire of paddle-craft at Bonnie Vale precinct within Royal National Park on an exclusive basis. Royal National Park is situated adjacent to the southern fringe of metropolitan Sydney and about 30 km north of Wollongong. Royal National Park and the coast track are both popular attractions for domestic and international visitors wishing to experience the area’s unique landscape. Recreational pursuits within the park include bushwalking, picnicking, cycling, swimming, fishing, camping, photography and boating/canoeing. Information related to the tender is available on the NSW Government eTender site (EOI number: SR2339380764) and submissions must be lodged by 10am, 1 June 2020. For assistance contact the NSW Procurement Service Centre.
INDUSTRY LEADERS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS WITH TTF
Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) Australia has launched a new series of virtual interviews – TTF Talks – to share the insights and opinions of industry leaders across the sector. The series, hosted by TTF Chief Executive Officer Margy Osmond, highlights thoughts around business survival, industry adaptation and the road to recovery post COVID-19 and bushfires. Participants to date include host of ABC’s Insiders David Speers, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow, IHG Managing Director Australasia and Japan Leanne Harwood, The Star Entertainment Group CEO and Managing Director Matt Bekier and Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia CEO Grant Hunt. The interviews are available to view on demand via the TTF website, or TTF’s YouTube channel.
