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AFL'S BIG FREEZE IN SYDNEY THIS QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY
The NSW Government is partnering with the AFL to host the blockbuster Queen’s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The significant match will be played in COVID-safe conditions at the SCG on Monday 14 June, while the incredibly popular Big Freeze fundraising platform for Motor Neurone Disease will also take on a distinct Sydney style.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Sydney would be a perfect backdrop for this important AFL fixture.
“The NSW Government is excited to partner with the AFL to host the Queen’s Birthday clash at the SCG so the game can go on and Sydney can shine as part of this prominent football moment,” Mr Ayres said.
“For AFL fans visiting Sydney, or for Sydneysiders who are sports and events enthusiasts, this is the perfect excuse to spend a long weekend enjoying and exploring our city as it is buzzing with energy.
“There will be so much to do in Sydney over the long weekend – from the big game to Sydney Solstice events, the offerings of our cultural institutions and our city’s world-class hospitality, there’s truly something for everyone.”
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the SCG has a proud history of hosting fixtures which bring sports fans together for an important cause.
“The SCG is an historic and much-loved sporting venue, and tens of thousands of spectators will thrive on the emotion and adrenaline that comes with a contest between two fierce rivals," Ms Ward said.
“We have demonstrated our ability to deliver COVID-safe major events in Sydney, and we look forward to welcoming AFL fans to the Harbour City to enjoy a long weekend of football and festivities.”
NSW Members of Parliament gathered this week in support of the cause, to promote the Big Freeze in Sydney and raise awareness for FightMND.
AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said it was great to be able to take a marquee match of the AFL fixture to NSW.
“Queen’s Birthday Monday on the AFL fixture has quickly become one of the competition’s marquee matches, with big crowds and a big broadcast audience, and we are excited to be able take the game to the SCG this year,” Mr McLachlan said.
“This is a great opportunity for not only the AFL to showcase a marquee game in the Sydney market, but for the FightMND organisation to further shine a light on the inspirational Neale Daniher and his fight against motor neurone disease.”
The game and activation are being delivered by the AFL in partnership with the NSW Government, through Destination NSW and Venues NSW.
Fundraising activity for the Big Freeze – driving awareness and collecting funds for the FightMND charity - will take place at an iconic Sydney location.
Tickets for the Collingwood versus Melbourne game at the SCG are now available online.
Photo: Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres; Minister for Sport, Multiculturalism, Seniors and Veterans Natalie Ward; Premier Gladys Berejiklian; and Parliamentary Friends of AFL co-chair Mark Coure.
NSW TO WELCOME BACK INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNDER PILOT PLAN
International students are expected to be welcomed back under a NSW Government pilot plan for their safe return over the second half of the year, to help kick-start the billion-dollar industry.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said international students were a vital missing piece in the State’s economic recovery, with the sector worth $14.6 billion in 2019.
“International education is our second most valuable export and we need to do what we can to help students return and revive this sector as quickly as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Typically, we have more than 250,000 international students studying in NSW each year and they directly supported over 95,000 local jobs prior to the pandemic. If we don’t act fast, students will turn to other overseas destinations and it could take the sector decades to recover.
“That’s why we’ve developed a pilot plan supported by NSW Health and NSW Police that enables 250 international students to come to Sydney per fortnight from mid-year, in a gradual approach that will enable us to closely manage the process and ensure community health is not compromised.”
This will benefit tens of thousands of NSW residents whose jobs rely on this industry across retail, hospitality and many other fields.
The pilot plan will initially see a limited number of students from a range of countries in purpose-built student accommodation adhering to the same quarantine requirements as all incoming travellers.
The international student allocation will be in addition to the current number of returning Australians allowed into NSW each week.
NSW Health would triage arriving students and direct them to quarantine at specially approved student accommodation at no cost to taxpayers. The NSW plan has been submitted to the Federal Government for final review.
Industry has welcomed the proposal, commending the NSW Government for leading the way by supporting the return of international students to NSW.
Business NSW Chief Executive Daniel Hunter said: “Commencing with a pilot is a prudent approach to safely reopening our international borders and we commend the NSW Government for taking these first steps. A Mitchell Institute study estimated that the Australian economy could lose between $30 billion and $60 billion by 2023 due to flow-on benefits such as tourism spending, accommodation and living expenses that international students bring.”
Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott said: “International education is one of our biggest exports and is responsible for creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across Australia’s economy. The common sense initiative from the NSW Government will help ensure Australia maintains its reputation as a world class international education destination.”
Tourism & Transport Forum Chief Executive Margy Osmond said: “This decision to welcome back international students strikes the right balance between the health requirements and our economic recovery needs, as we continue to rebuild out of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot scheme will provide a real kickstart for both NSW and Australia to open up further categories of travellers in a responsible manner as soon as circumstances allow.”
SYDNEY SOLSTICE BRINGS A NEW DAWN TO HARBOUR CITY
The new winter event series Sydney Solstice launched this week and will bring thousands of people into the Harbour City through to 20 June.
Created by the NSW Government and managed by Destination NSW, Sydney Solstice will continue to revitalise Sydney’s CBD and surrounding precincts through the staging of 200-plus events in more than 150 venues.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was committed to the revitalisation of Sydney CBD.
“The CBD revitalisation program, one outcome of our two CBD summits, is proving to be a turning point for many local businesses, venues and creatives, giving them new opportunities, a reason to re-open their doors and see a boost in revenue while bringing Sydney back to life,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This new series aligns with our other initiatives such as Culture Up Late and Winter in the Domain, as well as with our statewide stimulus program Dine & Discover. Sydney is really shining right now and there’s so much on offer – there’s nowhere better to be than right here.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said tickets for Sydney Solstice events were selling fast, proving there is a real appetite among Sydneysiders and visitors to explore and enjoy the city.
“The winter solstice is a great time of year - we know it’s winter, but winter in Sydney is just better than winter in every other city in terms of weather and our great line-up of events from Sydney Solstice to Vivid Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.
“The solstice period is such an important time; it’s the longest night but every day after the solstice is full of more light. It’s a time to renew and refresh and Sydney really needs that right now, so it’s about getting out and enjoying our city at its absolute best.
“The NSW Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the recovery of the CBD from the impact of COVID-19, and we are revitalising our night-time economy through reform.
“Sydney Solstice is a shining example of all this work, creating a fantastic program of events and experiences for the public to enjoy, giving them a compelling reason to return to the CBD for a night or more and see why Sydney is truly the greatest city in the world.”
It is anticipated that Sydney Solstice will provide work for more than 800 people across the duration of the event.
To see the full program, go to www.sydneysolstice.com.
EVENT MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS UP FOR GRABS
Up and coming event managers living across the State will have the opportunity to benefit from one of 18 scholarships funded by the NSW Government and delivered in partnership with Meetings and Events Australia.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the scholarships were a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to upskill and achieve their career goals within the events industry.
“The scholarships directly support and encourage job creation by helping aspiring event managers to obtain the tools needed to succeed in the industry,” Mr Ayres said.
“Whether you are already working in tourism or events, or looking to jumpstart your career, this program provides a platform to further develop your skills in a field that injects big dollars into our economy.”
Chair of Meetings and Events Australia Nigel Collin said maintaining and building excellence in the meetings and events space was critical as more and more event organisers choose to do business in regional NSW.
“This a wonderful opportunity for students to further their career while contributing to the growth of their local economy, and I encourage those living in regional areas to apply soon,” Mr Collin said.
The Diploma of Event Management will be delivered by Meetings and Events Australia via an online learning tool. Scholarship applications close on Sunday 4 July 2021. For more information, go to meetinnsw.com.au/scholarships.
ALFESCO DINING A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME, AND DINE AND DISCOVER EXTENDED
People across NSW are one step closer to enjoying their food and drink outdoors with the successful NSW alfresco dining trial to become permanent.
Planning is underway to make outdoor eating and drinking a permanent feature of the State’s hospitality scene with the current six-month trial due to end on 30 October 2021.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the feedback and results from the trial had been overwhelmingly positive.
“Over 200 venues, more than 130 of them licensed, have taken part in the trial which has created capacity for 3,350 additional patrons,” Mr Dominello said.
“During the first eight weeks of the trial, Darling Harbour businesses reported an average increase of 33 per cent in business turnover and a 27 per cent increase in patrons.”
The trial began last year in The Rocks and Darling Harbour before expanding to seven council areas including the City of Sydney, Randwick City Council, City of Parramatta, Narrabri Council, Inner West Council, Northern Beaches Council and Byron Shire Council.
Meanwhile, the NSW Government has also extended the Dine & Discover initiative by a month to give NSW residents more time to use their four $25 vouchers. The latest data shows more than 4.23 million people have downloaded the vouchers since they were launched in March spending a combined total of more than $357 million with registered businesses when adding in the additional spend on top of the voucher amount.
NEW OUTBACK RESERVE TO PROTECT DIVERSE WESTERN WILDERNESS
Environment Minister Matt Kean has announced the second largest land acquisition for national parks in the last 10 years with the purchase of the neighbouring Langidoon and Metford stations, 65km east of Broken Hill.
The plan for the two properties, totaling 60,468 hectares, is to create a new outback reserve conserving significant biodiversity and Aboriginal heritage in the region.
“Land to the west of the Great Dividing Range supports a great diversity of wildlife, unique natural heritage and culturally important places, worthy of protection,” Mr Kean said.
“This new park will be an important refuge for wildlife including at least 14 threatened animal species including habitat for the Australian bustard, white fronted chat and the pink cockatoo.”
Once this addition is formally reserved, the national parks system will have increased by more 350,000 hectares since August 2019, well on the way to meet the target of an additional 400,000 hectares by the end of 2022.
The purchase follows on from the recent creation of another outback reserve - Narriearra Caryapundy Swamp National Park - which was the largest purchase of private land for the national parks estate.
In time, it is expected visitors will be able to explore sandplains and stony desert, gibber chenopod shrublands, floodplain woodland along watercourses and a lake system that provides habitat for a range of migratory bird species.
The properties contain important Aboriginal heritage including artefacts such as grinding plates and stones.
HILMA AF KLINT: THE SECRET PAINTINGS OPENS IN NSW
A landmark exhibition of works by Swedish abstract painter Hilma af Klint opens tomorrow at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
The first survey of its kind to be shown in Australia, the works by visionary Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862–1944), bring new perspectives to the narratives of modern art and have become an international sensation.
Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings is supported by the NSW Government through Destination NSW and presented with the cooperation of The Hilma af Klint Foundation, Stockholm in association with Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the opening of the Australian exclusive was an important milestone and an exciting feature of the state’s cultural calendar.
“We are very proud to be supporting the Art Gallery of New South Wales to host the state’s very first international art exhibition at a State gallery since the onset of the pandemic, and it is a sign that Sydney and NSW is moving forward, we’re open for business and welcoming visitors to enjoy our city’s cultural offerings and hospitality,” Mr Ayres said.
The exhibition presents over 120 works, from early drawings to the artist’s monumental paintings, late watercolours and notebooks. Spanning more than four decades of the artist’s practice, this comprehensive exhibition includes works ranging from the 1890s to 1941. Many of her most renowned paintings are featured, as well as others that are little known.
Art Gallery of New South Wales director Dr Michael Brand said: “This exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the extraordinary artistic achievements of an artist whose re-discovered work is now captivating audiences around the world and prompting museums to question art history narratives.”
Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings is on display at the Art Galley of New South Wales from 12 June to 19 September 2021. To purchase tickets, visit the Art Gallery.
NSW TOURISM AWARDS RETURN IN 2021
The State’s peak tourism organisation, NSW Tourism Industry Council has announced nominations for the NSW Tourism Awards for 2021, are officially open.
“The return of the NSW Tourism Awards provides a clear signal that NSW is on the road to recovery,” NSW Tourism Industry Council Executive Manager Greg Binskin said.
“It offers all businesses operating in the NSW visitor economy the opportunity to unite in celebration of the outstanding innovation and resilience they have shown to overcome the multiple challenges faced over the past two years.
“Award categories capture a range of tourism services across the broader Visitor Economy, with two new awards introduced for 2021 to recognise emerging talent in the sector via the Young Achiever in Tourism Award and the important role of local government with the introduction of the Local Government Award for Excellence in Tourism.
“With no Awards last year, this is our chance to showcase NSW’s ‘visitor first’ approach and our strengths in digital innovation, high-quality product and collaborative efforts.”
Potential entrants in the NSW Tourism Awards are invited to join an interactive live webinar with Travel Journalist and Sydney Weekender presenter, Rose Jacobs, leading an industry panel featuring:
- Hall of Fame winner 2018, Brenda Miley, Lets Go Surfing
- Gold winner 2018, 2019 Cameron D’Arcy, Sierra Escape Mudgee
- Chair of Judges NSW Tourism Awards Natalie Bramble
- Chair of Judges, Canberra Region Tourism Awards Phillip Jones.
“You’ll hear about the direct impact a tourism award can have on your business and team, the judging process, what you can expect from your awards journey and keeping your eye on the national prize,” Mr Binskin said.
The NSW Tourism Awards are presented in partnership with the NSW Government via Destination NSW. The final date for submissions is Wednesday 8 September 2021. Winners will be announced at a gala function to be held in Sydney in November, with winners in select categories representing NSW at the Australian Tourism Awards in early 2022.
To register for the webinar and nominate for the NSW Tourism Awards, visit Business NSW.
MORE CASH FOR LOCAL ROAD UPGRADES IN THE BUSH
A new round of funding to help regional councils fix local roads is set to drive safer, smoother journeys and support thousands of jobs in the bush.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said applications were now open for round three of the NSW Government’s $500 million Fixing Local Roads Program which is helping regional councils repair, maintain and seal priority local roads in their communities.
“Our councils in the bush have a mammoth task in providing for their communities and maintaining infrastructure,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This funding will make a real difference to regional communities, supporting about 3500 jobs statewide, and helps us to build a safer, stronger regional NSW.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the NSW Government had turbocharged the rollout of the program with an additional $191 million of funding from the Australian Government.
“Together, we’ve delivered more than $393 million for 361 Fixing Local Road projects across 91 regional Local Government Areas in rounds one and two from Cobar to Coffs Harbour,” Mr Toole said.
All successful projects will commence construction within six months of receiving funding and be completed within two years to ensure local communities see the benefits as quickly as possible.
Information for councils about how to apply for funding, and Program Guidelines for round three of the Fixing Local Roads Program, can be found at NSW Roads.
FUTURE OF FASHION ON TREND FOR INVESTMENT NSW
The NSW Government presented an industry seminar at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) last Friday examining the future of fashion, in particular with regards to technology.
The Future of Fashion is Intelligent was delivered by Investment NSW, chaired by Chief Executive Officer Amy Brown, and included a panel of experts who represented different areas of the industry.
Joining Ms Brown at the Carriageworks' event last week was Erica Berchtold, CEO of The Iconic, Zoltan Csaki, co-founder of Citizen Wolf, Jie Lu, Director of the UTS Artificial Intelligence Institute, designer Daniel Avakian and Leila Naja Hibri, CEO of the Australian Fashion Council
The panel celebrated industry leaders who embrace technology and innovation to ensure the future growth and sustainability of their businesses, while also discussing the potential for NSW's Tech Central to become the #fashtech capital of Australia.
This was one of three industry seminars held during AAFW. The other two were Fashion as a Force for Change presented by IMG, the Australian Fashion Council and City of Sydney, and Camilla and Marc Driving Social Change Through Fashion.
AAFW became the first international fashion week in the world where live runway shows were held following the onset of the pandemic.
To see all of the highlights go to Australian Fashion Week.
NEW TASKFORCE TO SUPPORT COUNCILS WITH DISASTER RECOVERY
A new Disaster Response Taskforce has been established to help local councils respond to natural disasters and manage the recovery process. Deputy Premier and the Minister responsible for disaster recovery John Barilaro said five new roles have been created to help council staff develop and deliver disaster recovery projects across NSW. “The scale of the recent floods across NSW have put local councils under immense pressure as they work hard to restore safe access and rebuild – a job that they sometimes do not have the in-house capability or capacity to deliver quickly. That’s why we have established this specialised taskforce to work with councils across the State to help their communities get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Mr Barilaro said. Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said: “This will help councils on the ground where it’s needed most, easing pressure on the local government sector and helping to get our road network back on track after several years of unprecedented natural disasters."
PANDEMIC EFFECT COULD TIP SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INTENT
Consumer website Booking.com has released their 2021 Sustainable Travel Report, revealing the pandemic might have been the tipping point for travellers to finally commit to their own sustainable journey. The research found that Australians are increasingly committed to travelling mindfully, with 61 per cent of travellers believing people need to act now to save the planet for future generations. 72 per cent of surveyed respondents think sustainable travel is a vital part of achieving this, with 51 per cent stating the pandemic has influenced them to want to travel more sustainably. Booking.com Regional Manager Oceania Tracey Foxall said: “Our research uncovers how the travel hiatus has opened Australians' eyes to the impact, both positive and negative, their trips can have on local ecosystems and communities around the world. At Booking.com we believe travel is a force for good, but it has to be done in the right way to ensure we're protecting the planet for future generations." Booking.com is currently rolling out a program for properties to support them in becoming more sustainable. Find out more about by downloading the Sustainability Handbook.
FREE DIPLOMA OF GOVERNANCE COURSE FOR CROWN LAND MANAGER VOLUNTEERS
The NSW Government is offering 100 free places in a Diploma of Governance course for volunteers who assist in the management of Crown land reserves. Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said applications are now open for the course which is being sponsored by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Crown Lands. “The NSW Government is indebted to the many community volunteers who help manage Crown land reserves in communities right across the state. Diploma participants will gain a valuable qualification and management skills and join a growing alumni network of community volunteers and workers. It will provide the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence to effectively manage local reserves and help deliver social, environmental and economic benefits," Ms Pavey said. The course will be provided through the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) and can be completed full-time over six months, or part-time over 12 months. Applications are now open and close on 4 August 2021. Successful applicants will be advised on a rolling basis until mid-September. There are already three course intakes scheduled in August, October or November, with more dates to be released depending on demand. For information and to apply, visit Smarty Grants.
