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$3.5 MILLION BOOST WITH 20 NEW ADVISORS TO HELP BUSINESSES AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO COVID-19 CHECK IN SYSTEM
Small businesses will have additional support from business advisory service Business Connect with 20 new advisors providing free advice and a range of new resources, as the NSW Government ramps up its support for COVID-19 impacted businesses.
An additional $3.5 million has been allocated to Business Connect to meet the demand from small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said some of the new advisors were expected to be on board from mid-August.
“The funding will go toward a range of support measures including new advisors, more hours for existing part-time advisors and more events and resources,” Mr Tudehope said.
“The right advice at the right time can be the difference between success and failure for mum-and-dad businesses and entrepreneurs. If we keep businesses in business, we keep people in jobs.
“Business Connect advisors and resources can help you to develop a recovery plan, consider your options, manage change and cashflow and market your business to reach new customers.”
Many of the advisors have run their own businesses in industries dramatically impacted by COVID-19 including retail, hospitality, tourism and the arts and creative industries. Multicultural advisors and translation services are available for businesses from non-English speaking backgrounds.
For more information on the support measures for businesses visit NSW.gov.au and for more on Business Connect visit www.nsw.gov.au/businessconnect.
Meanwhile, a new COVID-19 check-in card and updates to the Service NSW app will make it easier for the community to check into venues and access a check in history.
Customers without a smartphone will soon be able to register for a COVID-19 check-in card to present for scanning at supermarkets and other essential retail businesses as a faster and safer way to complete the self-service webform or paper sign-in.
Service NSW is also rolling out two further enhancements to the Service NSW app to allow customers to review their check out history, add check out times, and make it easier for customers to sign into the Service NSW app while wearing a mask.
Customers will be able to opt to extend their login-period for the Service NSW app to up to four hours, enabling check-in without having to reenter a PIN or remove a facemask to activate Face ID each time.
The additional features will be available inside the Service NSW app from mid-August.
Customers will be able to register for their COVID-19 check-in card via the Service NSW website or by calling 13 77 88.
MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE APPROVED FOR USE IN AUSTRALIA
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provided provisional approval of the Moderna vaccine for use in Australian adults.
The provisional approval of Moderna’s vaccine means it has met all the TGA’s strict standards of safety, quality and efficacy for use in people aged 18 years and over to prevent symptomatic and severe COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the TGA approval would provide another shot in the arm for Australia’s vaccination rollout.
“Our world-class regulator, the TGA, has given the green light to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, finding it safe, effective and the best way to stop severe illness and hospitalisation," Mr Morrison said.
“Every vaccination saves lives and gets us one step closer to reaching 70 per cent of Australians, aged over 16, vaccinated before the end of the year.
“Our National Plan is working with the vaccination rollout ramping up, with more than 1.3 million vaccines administered in just one week. Now we have Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca available as well as more doctors, more nurses and more pharmacists to help get jabs in arms.”
The TGA approval notes the Moderna vaccine will require two doses to be administered 28 days apart.
The Commonwealth Government has already secured 25 million Moderna doses, with the first million expected to arrive in September. Planning is underway for these vaccines to rollout through approved pharmacies and other providers.
A total of 10 million doses will be dispatched to Australia in 2021, and a further 15 million booster doses in the first half of 2022.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) COVID-19 Working Group will factor the provisional approval and supplies of the Moderna vaccine into their future advice regarding the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Government supports guidance from the Fair Work Ombudsman this week regarding workplace vaccination.
Minister for Industrial Relations Michaelia Cash said: “It is important that both employers and employees continue to work together to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This will benefit not only our workplaces, but help our nation return to normal as soon as possible.”
For information about vaccination and to book an appointment in NSW, visit NSW.gov.au.
HAYDEN QUINN UNEARTHS AUSTRALIA’S GLOBAL CITY IN TASTE OF AUSTRALIA: SYDNEY EDITION
Sydney’s rich and multicultural mosaic of people, places and experiences will be showcased like never before, when Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn returns with a dedicated Sydney Edition on Network Ten from this Sunday 15 August.
Produced in partnership with Destination NSW, Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn: Sydney Edition features 10 of Sydney’s neighbourhoods as seen by locals, where Hayden teams up with chefs, entertainers, social influencers and media personalities to explore their pockets of the city and gain personal and local insights across the food and drink, entertainment and culture space.
The Sydney Edition will broaden the scope of the food and travel TV series and see Hayden try his hand at pottery in Marrickville with author and podcaster Flex Mami; taste Persian goods at the Bahar Persian Food in Ryde; explore Sydney’s rich Aboriginal history and cultural significance with Dreamtime SouthernX; discover the hidden laneways, architectural history of Sydney’s CBD and more.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Sydney Edition would uncover some of Sydney’s most culturally diverse neighbourhoods and showcase the lesser-known experiences that make the city so unique and appealing for visitors.
“Sydney has a vibrant energy and a rich tapestry of experiences, from famous beaches and award-winning waterfront restaurants to its thriving multicultural neighbourhoods offering global flavours at your fingertips, as well as world-class arts, culture and entertainment after dark,” Mr Ayres said.
“These diverse stories help to reinforce Sydney’s standing as Australia’s truly global city, and a place to visit for unbeatable, authentic experiences for all tastes and demographics.”
Host Hayden Quinn said he was excited to rediscover Sydney’s diverse neighbourhoods through the eyes of locals.
“You don’t need to travel far and wide to discover some of the world’s best cuisines and experiences – you will find a diverse offering on our doorstep right here in Sydney,” Hayden said.
“Our city is the flavour capital of Australia where you can go from picking your own produce in an urban underground farm in the heart of the CBD, to sampling some of the Philippines’ famous suckling pig in Western Sydney and enjoying traditional Cantonese food in Haymarket all in one day.”
Taste of Australia with Hayden Quinn: Sydney Edition will broadcast on Network Ten from Sunday 15 August to Sunday October 17 at 4.30pm.
GET TO KNOW THE TEAM BEHIND GET CONNECTED
NSW tourism businesses are being reminded to sign up for the NSW Government’s free Get Connected program to reach millions of potential visitors through the state’s primary consumer travel websites.
Get Connected, the website membership program managed by Destination NSW, is free, easy to use and open to all tourism operators within NSW.
Get Connected allows NSW businesses to list their products and experiences on Destination NSW’s consumer websites – visitnsw.com and sydney.com – to reach more than 1.3 million potential visitors each month – over 16 million people a year.
In the past 12 months Get Connected contributed to more than 5.4 million leads to industry.
Get Connected is powered by the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW), which was established in 2001 by eight official Australian State and Territory Tourism Organisations (STOs) and Tourism Australia, to market, assist and support tourism operators and the Australian tourism industry as a whole.
ATDW has launched a new YouTube series, #askATDW, to provide more information about the platform, answer questions from industry and highlight new developments.
In the first edition, ATDW CEO Jan Hutton provides an overview of ATDW and discusses new tourism data insights and introduces two new features regarding Google my business integration and business intelligence.
Watch the video above to find out more.
$35 MILLION ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ARTS WORKERS AND COMPANIES
The Commonwealth Government will provide an additional $20 million to Support Act and $15 million to the Sustainability Fund to support the country’s arts workers and companies.
This additional funding will enable Support Act to broaden beyond its current support of the music sector. It will now offer support to artists, creatives, production and technical crew across the arts sector.
A further $15 million for the Sustainability Fund will assist in supporting significant Australian arts organisations to continue operating during this period of severe disruption. It takes the total size of the Fund to $50 million, with just over $20 million already allocated.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cites and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the funding came during a particularly difficult period for the sector.
“The challenges faced by those in the arts and entertainment sector are affecting the mental health of many in the industry. That’s why charities like Support Act are crucial at this time,” Mr Fletcher said.
“This latest commitment brings our total funding provided to Support Act to $40 million, to allow them to respond quickly and effectively to the continuing needs of live performance artists, crew and music workers including sound and lighting technicians, managers, booking agents, promoters, venue workers and roadies still affected by COVID-19.”
To the start of August, Support Act had provided 4,506 grants totalling $10.939 million. It has also supported the sector through more than 1,700 counselling hours through the Wellbeing Helpline and provided other mental health support programs to industry.
To date, the Sustainability Fund has delivered support to 10 leading arts organisations including Opera Australia and NIDA to continue their activities and provide a pathway to their ongoing viability.
With this additional lifeline, the Creative Economy COVID support package has increased to $475 million, from an original $250 million in 2020. The Commonwealth Government is investing more than $1 billion into the arts and creative sector in 2021-22.
APRA AMCOS welcomed the announcement and said funding would be critical to support music industry and performing arts workers struggling due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Support Act has been at the coalface, providing critical support to artists and industry workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will be vital for them to bring much-needed relief to those who have lost work, gigs and their livelihoods,” APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said.
LAND TAX RELIEF TO HELP LANDOWNERS AND TENANTS AFFECTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Applications are open for eligible commercial and residential landowners who provide rental reductions to tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 to claim land tax relief or a tenancy support payment through the NSW Government.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the land tax relief and tenancy support payments were designed to make it easier for landowners to support their tenants during this challenging time.
“Many renters, commercial and residential, are doing it tough right now, with reduced turnover or work hours due to the COVID-19 restrictions,” Mr Tudehope said.
“We’ve heard from landowners that they would like to help their tenants, but they also have bills to pay. Providing financial relief will enable them to work with their tenants to offer rent reductions and to alleviate some of the cost-burden during restrictions.
“This new package follows a similar land tax relief program which ran from May 2020 to May 2021, which saw more than 17,200 applications received and $186 million of relief provided to date.
“This land tax relief program is demand driven; there is no limit to the number of landowners that can receive support from the Government.”
Residential landlords can choose between applying for land tax relief or a payment of up to $1,500 per tenancy if they agree to reduce the rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants from 14 July 2021 to 31 December 2021.
Extra staff have been engaged to assist with the high volume of applications.
To be eligible for land tax relief, landowners must be leasing to a commercial tenant who has an annual turnover up to $50 million and is eligible for either the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant, JobSaver or the COVID-19 Micro-business Grant, or leasing to a residential tenant who has lost 25 per cent or more of household income due to COVID-19.
For information and to apply for land tax relief go to Service NSW, and residential tenancy claimants should visit the residential tenancy support payment page.
VIVID SYDNEY 2021 CANCELLED, PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR 2022
The NSW Government has made the difficult decision to cancel Vivid Sydney 2021 – but the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas will shine brightly again in May-June 2022.
Given the ongoing uncertainty, the decision has been made to cancel Vivid Sydney 2021 to minimise the impact on event attendees, partners, artists, sponsors and suppliers.
Planning is now underway for next year, with Vivid Sydney to return from 27 May to 18 June 2022.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Vivid Sydney would be a shining light for the community to look forward to next year.
“As we work together to contain the current outbreak and get our community vaccinated, we can all look forward to the return of major events like Vivid Sydney that bring us together in celebration,” Mr Ayres said.
“Vivid Sydney 2022 will shine brighter than ever – our artists and creative industries are so eager to put on a show and we can’t wait to see the Harbour City shining brightly again.
“We thank everyone who has contributed to the planning for Vivid Sydney 2021. Of course, it’s incredibly disappointing to cancel for the second year but the most responsible decision was to cancel early, giving everyone certainty and minimising impacts where possible.
“The health and safety of our community is our highest priority, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to get vaccinated so we can get back to enjoying COVID-safe events again soon.”
Expressions of interest for Vivid Sydney 2022 Light, Music and Ideas programs are open. For more information go to www.vividsydney.com.
TRANSPORT PLAN TO TRANSFORM ILLAWARRA-SHOALHAVEN TRAVEL
The final Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan has been released, providing a blueprint for how people will travel across the region both now and into the future.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the plan outlined how Transport for NSW would respond to changes in land use, population and travel demand in the region over the next 20 years.
“An extra 100,000 people are expected to call the Illawarra-Shoalhaven home within 20 years, so it is important that we have the right transport services and infrastructure in place to support the region’s growth,” Mr Constance said.
“There are 71 initiatives in the updated Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan, including promoting more journeys by walking, cycling and public transport, and improving connectivity between the Illawarra and Greater Sydney.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said community feedback had helped shape the plan for a stronger public transport and road network across the region.
“The number of initiatives has increased from 58 in the draft plan to 71 in the final plan as a result of feedback received from the community, including the Transport Connected Bus Program for Nowra and Bomaderry which is rolling out real-time tracking on the region’s bus services," Mr Toole said.
“The plan aims to reduce the number of crashes on local roads and better use technology to support a safer, more sustainable and accessible transport network, delivering infrastructure and services that will move the local community for generations to come.”
The plan has been developed together with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041.
Transport for NSW will report on initiatives progress annually and undertake a review of the plan every five years.
For more information about the plan visit the Future Transport webpage.
DECADE FIRST EVENT FOR MENINDEE LAKES
The Menindee lakes system could reach capacity for the first time in a decade as multiple flow surges along the Barwon-Darling network continue to deliver the best inflows since 2016.
Ongoing rainfall over the past six months has generated a series of flow events, lifting the lakes’ total storage to 68 per cent of capacity at approximately 1200 gigalitres.
Recent rain has generated additional inflows with around 600GL expected to make its way into the lakes over August and September, more than the water in the Sydney Harbour.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said these latest estimates did not include further large flows in the upper reaches of the Border Rivers system, which would add substantially to total inflow projections, and potentially fill the Menindee lakes system for the first time since 2011-12.
“This is extraordinarily good news for the iconic Menindee lakes and surrounding communities, and a welcome continuation of the very favourable water security enjoyed by communities along the Barwon-Darling for many months,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Lake Menindee, in and of itself is an important environmental and cultural asset, and has not received water since 2016. The Menindee community, including the traditional owners, are celebrating the long-awaited arrival of water.
As well as inflows from the Border Rivers, the substantial Barwon-Darling flows are also being driven by tributaries from the Namoi system, as well as the Gwydir and Macquarie systems.
“These continual flows along the Barwon-Darling are not restricted to that river system but are also being generated by wet conditions elsewhere across the northern basin,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Pindari Dam in the Border Rivers and, Chaffey Dam (Peel River) continue to spill, and Keepit Dam (Namoi River) is also nearing capacity, while Copeton Dam (Gwydir River) is approaching 70 per cent of capacity, with inflows continuing to rise. Wyangala Dam is at 95 per cent.
“With the drought never far from our minds, the challenge for water authorities now is to prolong the availability of water and maximise the benefit of this most favourable of seasons, for the years to come.”
OPERA AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES NEW CEO
Opera Australia has announced that eminent international performing arts leader Fiona Allan has been appointed as the Company’s next Chief Executive Officer.
Ms Allan will return to Australia following a stellar career in the United Kingdom, where she has led multiple performing arts organisations including the UK’s busiest single theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, and chaired the country’s leading theatre and performing arts membership organisation.
She will lead Opera Australia as it continues its recovery from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 and re-enforce the Company’s position in a post-pandemic world, as an industry leading, twenty-first century performing arts organisation.
“We are thrilled that such an accomplished cultural and business leader has agreed to return home to Australia,” Opera Australia Chair David Mortimer AO said.
“This is a critical appointment because Opera Australia is the nation’s largest and most significant performing arts company, and our successful recovery from COVID-19 will help drive the entire arts sector by rebuilding jobs and activity.
Ms Allan said she looked forward to the new role with great enthusiasm.
“I am hugely excited to be joining the team at Opera Australia. My career has always been about connecting new audiences with great art, so to do this with such an extraordinary company is an opportunity I relish,” Ms Allan said.
“Australia has always been home to me. I look forward to rekindling connections with friends and colleagues around the country and working with other arts and cultural leaders to promote the value of a thriving Australian cultural sector.”
Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini AM is also looking forward to this next phase of the Company’s evolution.
“I’m looking forward to working with Fiona to consolidate all the hard work that’s been done to keep the Company going through this pandemic and emerge as a stronger entity on the other side,” Mr Terracini said.
Ms Allan will commence in the role by the end of 2021. Mr Jeffes will continue as CEO until that time to ensure a seamless transition.
LAST CALL FOR COASTAL AND ESTUARY FUNDING AND COUNCIL JOBS PRESERVED
Councils still have time to apply for grants to assist in managing local coastlines and estuaries through the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grants Program implementation round, which closes on Tuesday 17 August. Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said councils still had time to submit their applications as this was the last year to apply for implementation actions in certified Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs). Ms Hancock said: “These grants will help councils plan for the future and protect these unique natural assets which contain native flora and fauna and are popular places for recreation across NSW.” For more details, visit the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Ms Hancock also announced this week the NSW Government would provide $1,500 fortnightly payments in support to local government employees whose jobs have been impacted by the current COVID-19 outbreak. The NSW Local Government Job Retention Allowance will help councils minimise job and skill losses.
NSW THE STATE OF VOLUNTEERING
More than 4.8 million NSW residents volunteered in 2020, contributing a combined $127 billion in social and economic benefits, a first-of-its-kind report has found. Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the NSW Centre for Volunteering’s State of Volunteering report provided an in-depth look into the value of community service. “Volunteers are everyday people, putting their community above themselves. During what has been an incredibly difficult period in our state’s history, the valuable work volunteers do has never been more important,” Mr Henskens said. More than 1,100 volunteers and more than 1,000 organisations were surveyed as part of the report, which was produced by the Institute of Project Management. Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said: “The report shows us that the way people volunteer is changing and that people are looking for flexible ways to volunteer, including the use of digital and online tools.” Read a full copy of the report online.
ICC SYDNEY MAINTAINS CONNECTIONS THROUGH VIRTUAL EVENT DELIVERY
International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) successfully delivered a further three virtual events last week, bringing the total number of in-house virtual or hybrid events to 156 over the past year. Connect Media’s Healthcare Leaders Forum, Landcare Australia’s National Landcare Conference and The Law Society of New South Wales’ Specialist Accreditation Conference all utilised the venue’s studio spaces and innovative ICC Sydney Connect platform. ICC Sydney delivered Connect Media’s Healthcare Leaders Forum for a third time, and in a virtual format for the second year running. The event attracted 200 online medical and healthcare professionals. ICC Sydney Director of Audio Visual Services Brian Nash said the venue was proud to offer an expansive audio visual product suite to support a range of clients with their requirements. "Under the extremely challenging circumstances created by the pandemic, supporting event organisers to deliver essential, flexible and high quality hybrid and virtual event solutions has been central to our service over the last year,” he said.
