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NEW FREEDOMS FOR VACCINATED FIRST STEP ON STATE ROADMAP OUT OF COVID
People across NSW who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed more freedoms next month after NSW hit the target of six million jabs.
This is the first step in the roadmap, and further freedoms will follow for those who have had the jab when the state hits new vaccination targets of 70 and 80 per cent.
Following consultation with Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and her team, as well as the NSW Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright, the following individual freedoms will be allowed for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
From 12.01am, Monday, 13 September:
- For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, outdoor gatherings of up to five people (including children, all adults must be vaccinated) will be allowed in a person’s LGA or within 5km of home
- For those who live in the LGAs of concern, households with all adults vaccinated will be able to gather outdoors for recreation (including picnics) within the existing rules (for one hour only, outside curfew hours and within 5km of home). This is in addition to the one hour allowed for exercise.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian thanked the millions of people across NSW who have come forward to receive their vaccine, helping hit the six million doses target.
“We are so grateful for every person who comes forward to get vaccinated because the more jabs we get into arms, the sooner we can lift restrictions,” Ms Berejiklian said.
As part of the roadmap when the following targets are hit, freedoms will be as follows:
- 70 per cent full vaccination: a range of family, industry, community and economic restrictions to be lifted for those who are vaccinated
- 80 per cent full vaccination: further easing of restrictions on industry, community and the economy.
The government is also investigating trials of certain industries in coming months, as a proof-of-concept measure to prepare the businesses to open up and operate in a COVID-safe way.
Further, a staggered return of students to face-to-face learning will begin on Monday 25 October with NSW Health approved COVID-safe settings. For more information on the return to school plan, read the full media release.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said this roadmap was the State’s path to freedom and the biggest incentive yet to get vaccinated so residents could return to a level of normality.
“Having a meal with loved ones, or having a drink with friends is just around the corner, but to get there, we need to keep up momentum in the vaccination rollout.”
Healthcare workers in NSW will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to help ensure the safety of colleagues and patients in all public and private hospitals. Health staff must have a first dose of the vaccine by 30 September and be fully vaccinated, or have the second appointment booked, by 30 November.
The NSW Government encourages all eligible residents to book in for a COVID-19 vaccine or to discuss available options with a healthcare professional including GPs and pharmacists. For information on accessing COVID-19 vaccines in NSW, go to NSW.gov.au.
NSW Health advises there are several ways to demonstrate ‘proof of COVID-19 vaccination’ including downloading a digital certificate via the Express Plus Medicare app or online, adding the certificate to Apple Wallet or Google Play, via Services Australia or via hardcopy from the vaccination provider.
For full details and advice, visit NSW Health.
Meanwhile, the Australian producers of blockbuster musical Hamilton have released a new video encouraging the public to get vaccinated and "change the story".
SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE 2023 REVEALS FESTIVAL DATES, NEW LOGO AND OFFICIAL THEME
Sydney WorldPride organisers have unveiled the dates, logo and theme for the 2023 event – the first to be held outside the northern hemisphere since the creation of the event 23 years ago.
WorldPride 2023 will celebrate the theme GATHER DREAM AMPLIFY, and will be one of the largest global events in NSW since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Sydney WorldPride spans 17 February – 5 Marchar 2023, during the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras season. Mardi Gras Festival events will be held within the overall Sydney WorldPride program, including Fair Day, Parade, Party, Laneway and more.
Among the landmark events being produced by Sydney WorldPride are the Opening and Closing Ceremonies (currently slated to take place in The Domain with 25,000+ attendees), First Nations Gala Concert, a world class Human Rights Conference, and the festival closing party at Bondi Beach. All events will feature local and international headline artists.
There will also be a Pride March across Sydney Harbour Bridge with over 50,000 participants – the largest pride march to ever be held in Australia.
Sydney WorldPride Creative Director Daniel Clarke said the theme for the festival, GATHER DREAM AMPLIFY, was a call to action. “It was developed with our extraordinary LGBTIQ+ community and represents our commitment to global equality and inclusion,” Mr Clarke said.
Sydney WorldPride Creative Director, First Nations, Ben Graetz said: “We want people to gather here, on the lands of the oldest surviving culture on the planet, to listen deeply. We want people to dream of the future they want and work together to make those dreams a reality. We want to ensure that new voices and perspectives are amplified.”
Sydney WorldPride’s new logo and festival artwork was directed by First Nations artist Jessica Johnson, also known as Nungala Creative. “Creation of the new logo and artworks for Sydney WorldPride was inspired by my belonging to a big, multigenerational queer First Nations community and our extended family. We embody intersectionality and I wanted the design to express that through the vibrancy, colours and textures,” she said.
Sydney WorldPride CEO Kate Wickett said: “Sydney WorldPride 2023 will bring together the world’s leading LGBTIQ+ artist and creatives, creating a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate. Sydney will shine in all its glory.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “Sydney WorldPride 2023 will attract tens of thousands of visitors from around the world to our Harbour City to enjoy our rich history, art, culture and celebrate diversity and inclusion. It will showcase Sydney’s strengths to the world, from the 500,000 attendees to millions of supporters following from all corners of the globe, and create a wonderful legacy that aligns with our ambition to be the events capital of the Asia Pacific.”
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (SGLMG) CEO Albert Kruger said: “The event will also take place on the 45th Anniversary of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, giving us a much-needed cause for momentous celebration. We look forward to hosting a program of fantastic events with Sydney WorldPride in 2023 and look forward to everyone joining us as we unite in pride.”
Deloitte has also been named as a major sponsor of the event in a multi-year arrangement that extends beyond WorldPride 2023 to include Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras from 2021-24. Deloitte will provide support through the creation of a landmark digital platform that will give both organisations the ability to connect with the community for generations to come.
For more information visit www.sydneyworldpride.com/events.
QANTAS UNVEILS VACCINE REWARD CAMPAIGN AND STRATEGY TO RESTART INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
The Qantas Group has launched a reward campaign for COVID-19 vaccinated Australians to recognise their role in helping the country get out of lockdown.
Fully vaccinated Australian-based Frequent Flyers who are 18 and over are able to claim one of three rewards through the Qantas App:
- 1000 Qantas points
- 15 status credits (which help Frequent Flyers move up between Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers)
- $20 flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar
Members will then be automatically entered into a mega prize draw to win a year’s worth of flights, accommodation and fuel.
Ten mega prizes are also up for grabs (minimum one from each state and territory), which include a year’s worth of flights to more than 60 destinations around Australia, with free accommodation across 345 Accor hotels, resorts and apartments, and free fuel from bp across the country.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the vaccine rollout was critical for protecting public health and key to breaking the cycle of lockdowns.
“This is one of the biggest giveaways we’ve ever done. The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry and our own Qantas Group team members means we have a clear vested interest in the success of the vaccine rollout.
“Our crews can’t wait to get back to reuniting family and friends, taking people on holiday and putting some energy back into the whole tourism industry. For us, getting the vaccine rate up to 70 and 80 per cent means thousands of people can go back to work.”
This week Qantas also outlined the Group’s preparations for restarting its international flights, with plans linked to the vaccine rollout in Australia and key overseas markets.
Qantas said that on current projections Australia was expected to reach National Cabinet’s ‘Phase C’ vaccination threshold of 80 per cent in December 2021, which would trigger the gradual reopening of international borders. Assuming the 80 per cent vaccine threshold is met in December, Qantas and Jetstar plan to trigger a gradual restart (subject to change) including:
- From mid-December 2021, flights would start from Australia to COVID-safe destinations, which are likely to include Singapore, the United States, Japan, United Kingdom and Canada using Boeing 787s, Airbus A330s, and 737s and A320s for services to Fiji
- Flights between Australia and New Zealand will be on sale for travel from mid-December 2021 on the assumption some or all parts of the two-way bubble will restart
- Qantas’ ability to fly non-stop between Australia and London is expected to be in even higher demand post-COVID. The airline is investigating using Darwin as a transit point
- Five A380s will return to service ahead of schedule. These would fly between Sydney and LA from July 2022, and between Sydney and London (via Singapore) from November 2022
- Qantas will extend the range of its A330-200 aircraft to operate some trans-Pacific routes such as Brisbane-Los Angeles and Brisbane-San Francisco
“The prospect of flying overseas might feel a long way off, but the current pace of the vaccine rollout means we should have a lot more freedom in a few months’ time,” Mr Joyce said.
“It’s obviously up to government exactly how and when our international borders re-open, but with Australia on track to meet the 80 per cent trigger agreed by National Cabinet by the end of the year, we need to plan ahead for what is a complex restart process.”
Qantas has recently extended its Fly Flexible policy, offering customers who book international flights before 28 February 2022 with unlimited ‘fee free’ date changes when travelling before 31 December 2022. (A fare difference may apply).
Meanwhile Qantas Group posted a substantial full year loss as a result of the COVID crisis. Total revenue loss from COVID reached $16 billion as the full year impact of minimal international travel and multiple waves of domestic border restrictions continued to hit travel demand.
For more information visit the Qantas Newsroom.
SUPPORTING MORE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES TO ACCESS FUNDING
The Commonwealth Government is providing additional support to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) that continue to deal with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis by expanding eligibility for the SME Recovery Loan Scheme.
In recognition of the continued economic impacts of COVID-19, the Commonwealth Government will remove requirements for SMEs to have received JobKeeper during the March quarter of 2021 or to have been a flood affected business in order to be eligible under the SME Recovery Loan Scheme.
As with the existing scheme, SMEs who are dealing with the economic impacts of the coronavirus with a turnover of less than $250 million will be able to access loans of up to $5 million over a term of up to 10 years. Other key features of the SME Recovery Loan Scheme include:
- The Government guarantee will be 80 per cent of the loan amount
- Lenders are allowed to offer borrowers a repayment holiday of up to 24 months
- Loans can be used for a broad range of business purposes, including to support investment
- Loans may be used to refinance any pre-existing debt of an eligible borrower, including those from the SME Guarantee Scheme
- Loans can be either unsecured or secured (excluding residential property).
The expanded Scheme will enable lenders to continue supporting Australian small businesses when they need it most.
The SME Recovery Loan Scheme builds on earlier loan schemes introduced during COVID-19, under which around 74,000 loans totalling around $6.2 billion were written.
The loans will be available through participating lenders until 31 December 2021. The expansion complements other financial support the Commonwealth is offering to businesses impacted by the current COVID-19 health restrictions.
For more information visit the Australian Treasury website.
OVER $388K TO FUND SIX PRIORITY SERVICES FOR NSW ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR
Six peak arts organisations will share in over $388,000 to deliver professional development and capacity building projects over the next three years through Create NSW’s Service Needs Strategic Fund.
Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said the successful recipients would use the funding to deliver projects that will build skills-based programs to directly benefit NSW’s creative community.
“This targeted funding is a win-win for NSW’s arts and culture sector. It provides a leg-up to the successful organisations to deliver priority service needs for the state’s creative community,” Mr Harwin said.
“This funding is all about upskilling opportunities, both big and small, and will ensure budding artists can hone their craft, seek opportunities, learn their rights, attend workshops, and develop career pipelines and ambitions across the state.”
A total of $388,354 will be delivered through the 2020/21 round and the successful organisations are:
- Australian Theatre for Young People to ensure that youth arts representatives from across the country can attend the Youth Arts Sector National Connections Summit in 2022
- Dance Makers Collective Incorporated for Make It Happen, a skills development program for freelance dancers delivered in partnership with councils across Western Sydney
- Diversity Arts Australia to deliver Culture Change, a capacity building program to support organisations in their diversity, equity and inclusion
- Studio A Limited for Rights Animated, to address the gap in legal rights information accessible to artists with intellectual disability or literacy challenges via graphic animations
- The Cad Factory for the CASE Incubator, to employ mid-career artists to undertake mentorships, create online resources and deliver public programs in NSW to explore socially engaged practices
- WestWords Ltd for the Western Sydney Academy of Writers, a career development program for emerging writers from Western Sydney, remote and regional NSW to provide mentorship to create work and provide participants with networking and pitch opportunities to improve career pathways.
There will be two further rounds open annually for organisations to apply under the Service Needs Strategic Fund, and details will be available on the Create NSW website in the next few months.
More information on the Service Needs Strategic Fund recipients is available via Create NSW.
MANDATORY RISK MANAGEMENT A STEP CLOSER FOR NSW COUNCILS
Communities across the state can have their say on new draft guidelines for local councils, aimed at protecting ratepayers and improving service delivery.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the draft Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Councils in NSW provided the strongest framework in Australia for minimising financial risk and preventing fraud and corruption in the sector.
“The state’s 128 local councils would be required to establish a risk management framework and internal audit function to help improve overall organisation performance and operations," Mrs Hancock said.
“Under the reforms, every council in NSW will be required to appoint and operate an Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee made up of independent experts by June 2022 to ensure continuous improvement in governance and financial management, as well as accountability and transparency to local communities.
“These measures will help councils make better decisions and use of their resources, and improve the delivery of infrastructure, facilities and services communities need and expect.”
The draft guidelines include a tiered model for Audit, Risk and Improvement Committees to reflect the different needs of metropolitan, regional and rural councils according to resourcing, risk profile, population and location.
Seventy per cent of NSW councils already conduct some form of risk management and 103 councils have an internal audit function.
The guidelines will ensure consistency across the state in accordance with international standards and NSW Government practice, tailored to the unique structure and needs of local government.
Councils, members of existing Audit, Risk and Improvement Committees and internal audit practitioners are invited to make a submission on the draft guidelines, which were developed following extensive consultation with the local government sector, government agencies and other experts.
The draft Guidelines for Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Councils in NSW and information on how to make a submission can be found on the Office of Local Government website.
NEW RESEARCH EVALUATES IMPACT OF COVID-19 TRAVEL BANS
Australian scientists have modelled a way to determine how many cases of COVID-19 could be travelling on any international flight, based on data from the first six months of the pandemic, which could help Australian authorities make decisions about incoming international travel.
Developed by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, and Queensland University of Technology, the tool can forecast the number of potential infections on each flight using the number of incoming travellers and the rate of disease in the countries they are arriving from.
Researchers evaluated the travel bans implemented by the Australian Government at the start of the pandemic showing they lowered the number of COVID-19 cases brought into the country by 88 per cent.
CSIRO research scientist Dr Jess Liebig said the model gave governments another tool to aid complex decisions on travel restrictions and the opening of borders.
“The model is a flexible framework that can be used to quantify the effects of travel restrictions and to evaluate proposed relaxations,” Dr Liebig said.
“It also enables us to pinpoint the groups of travellers most likely to be carrying the virus, so authorities can more efficiently direct healthcare and biosecurity control strategies.”
The scientists applied the model to two scenarios; one with open borders and another which reflects the actual travel restrictions implemented by Australia between January and June 2020.
During this period Australia introduced travel bans on China, Iran, South Korea and Italy due to their high rates of COVID-19 disease before a full travel ban on all foreign nationals commenced on 20 March 2020 to curb the spread of the virus.
“Our modelling shows that without travel restrictions, over 48,000 COVID-19 cases were likely to have been imported to Australia from January to May 2020,” Dr Liebig said.
“However, all of Australia’s travel bans successfully lowered imported cases into Australia by 88 per cent, to an estimated 6,000 cases over the studied period.”
Read the research paper online.
$200 MILLION SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR NOT-FOR-PROFITS
The NSW Government has announced a $200 million support package for the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector to help organisations faced with the financial impacts of the current restrictions.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government recognised many NFPs were in need of more support themselves in this lockdown.
“NFPs in the social support and animal welfare sectors are in more demand than ever as we battle this Delta outbreak and this package will support those doing so much of the heavy lifting to help vulnerable communities in this pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.
The funding initiative comes on top of the more than $5.1 billion, including $1 billion in Commonwealth support, announced by the NSW Government since the end of June.
“We’re continuously monitoring the impacts of this outbreak to see what adjustments or additional measures are needed,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Some NFPs did not meet the 30 per cent turnover threshold required for JobSaver so we've reduced that to 15 per cent for social support and animal welfare sectors, to ensure they can continue delivering the same level of service to those most in need.”
“We’ve also set up a $50 million Social Sector Support Fund to support vulnerable people and provide these NFPs with another avenue for financial assistance where they are experiencing increased demand for their services.”
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the targeted support package included measures designed to provide direct relief to organisations financially impacted by the pandemic.
“This support package is multilayered in recognition of the diversity of our social services organisations which are working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable people in our community during this challenging time,” Mr Henskens said.
Further details will become available in the coming weeks.
COMMUNITY AT HEART OF AEROTROPOLIS
The NSW Government has welcomed a report from the Independent Community Commissioner for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis which outlines 40 recommendations to better support local landowners.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes appointed Professor Roberta Ryan to the role of Independent Community Commissioner in May to address the concerns of landowners in the area.
“The planning and delivery of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis is one of the biggest projects in the state’s history and as a result is incredibly complex,” Mr Stokes said.
“We wanted to ensure that all voices were heard and Professor Ryan has done an outstanding job over the last few months by meeting with more than 100 landowners potentially affected by the rezoning plans.”
Some recommendations require changes to planning controls and these will be considered as the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment finalises the planning framework, due to be completed by the end of this year.
Key recommendations supported by the Government include:
- Establishing the Independent Community Commissioner as an ongoing role to improve communication with landowners
- Creating a Community Consultative Committee to provide an engagement forum for the community and improve communication with landowners
- Investigating adjustment of zoning boundaries and other changes as recommended in the report.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was critical for the Government to listen to the community and respond to their concerns.
“We’re also developing a Community Participation Plan and implementing other measures to provide a better pathway for the people of Western Sydney to participate in planning this new, world-class city,” Mr Ayres said.
More information about the Independent Community Commissioner’s report, and the preliminary responses from the NSW Government is available online.
MEA HOSTS COVID WEBINAR
Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) is hosting a webinar on 8 September to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Hosted by Holly Ransom, the session will feature insights from Deakin's Chair in Epidemiology, Professor Catherine Bennett. The Q&A session will help answer questions about the COVID virus, vaccines and their impact, and the vaccine rollout. The session aims to provide more certainty to help the sector back on its feet despite the cancellations, restrictions and postponements of face-to-face events that have limited the activity of the industry over the past 18 months. During the pandemic Professor Bennett has become a trusted voice in the media, presenting the facts around the daily case numbers and reducing anxiety and uncertainty by stripping away the misinformation and speculation surrounding the virus. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance by email to MEA.
FREE TAFE SHORT COURSES AVAILABLE
TAFE NSW continues to offer a range of fee-free online short courses for businesses or individuals looking to upskill during lockdown. Courses are a mix of self-paced online or teacher-led virtual classrooms which can be a pathway into a variety of full TAFE NSW qualifications. Key business support and growth skills on offer through the program include course on building a website, business administration, small business management, social media engagement and more. Further, TAFE NSW Ryde is offering a CAD planning for events course that focuses on the creation of flexible and COVID-safe venue and event or festival site plans. The course is fully funded for eligible NSW learners and delivered live online so would suit city or regional venue and event operators. Participants will receive access to free CAD software. The September course is now accruing a waitlist, but is expected to run again next semester. For information and to enrol, go to TAFE NSW.
BIG SAVINGS ON NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL BE BACKDATED
Purchasers of new electric vehicles (EV) will be able to claim rebates worth $3,000 and refunds on stamp duty retrospectively if legislation underpinning the NSW Government’s $490 million Electric Vehicle Strategy passes in its entirety when NSW Parliament resumes. Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, NSW Parliament has not been able to sit – with legislation, including the Electric Vehicles (Revenue Arrangements) Bill 2021, delayed. If legislation passes, retrospectively from 1 September 2021, EV purchasers will be able to apply for a refund for stamp duty on eligible EVs (battery and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) priced up to $78,000, and a rebate of $3,000 for the first 25,000 eligible EVs under $68,750. The Electric Vehicle Strategy will cut taxes, incentivise uptake and reduce barriers for electric vehicle purchases over the next four years. Find out more about the NSW Government’s Electric Vehicle strategy online.
