State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 2 December 2024

FINALLY, CBP NEWS! – THE NEXT ROUND of the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership (CBP) grant program will now open early next year.

NSW Nationals and Liberals MPs used the final sitting days of State Parliament for this year to call on the Minns Labor Government to immediately open the 2024-25 CBP grant round.

Each state electorate will receive a maximum of $450,000 in funding with applications assessed against other proposed projects within the same electorate.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are eligible to apply for grants of between $10,000 and $100,000.

Grants can be for building, refurbishing or repairing community infrastructure, or for buying freestanding equipment or vehicles.

Applications open online Tuesday 28 January 2025 until Friday 21 February with Program Guidelines available soon at: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/community-building-partnership

SCRUTINY WELCOMED – The Auditor General will conduct a compliance audit into NSW Labor’s Local Small Commitment Allocation (LSCA) grants.

The program gave every Labor candidate for the NSW Legislative Assembly $400,000 to commit to local community projects prior to last year’s state election.

The $37 million in funding was originally set aside by the former Liberals and Nationals NSW Government for the Community Building Partnership Program.

The Nationals and Liberals welcome the Auditor General’s review because community groups in almost every electorate across the state missed out on vital support.

In the Upper Hunter Electorate, grants of $200,000 were made to two organisations for programs to assist young people.

BE A SAVVY SHOPPER! – As the Christmas-New Year shopping season shifts into full swing shoppers are urged to know their rights and to shop smart.

NSW Fair Trading’s online shopping complaints surged by 70 per cent last financial year to 18,232 with retail complaints about clothing, footwear, accessories and jewellery recording a notable  jump year on year.

Complaints also rose in categories such as electrical goods and furnishings indicating ongoing consumer concerns with product quality and delivery delays.

Key tips to protect yourself include knowing your rights under Australian Consumer Law during sales and to research before you purchase by comparing prices and confirming that a sale really is a bargain.

Also, check delivery and returns policies particularly for sale items and beware of scams involving fake websites or advertisements.

For more information on your rights and tips for staying safe visit: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-services

DRIVERS ON NOTICE – Tougher penalties for taxi drivers caught ripping off passengers are being introduced by the NSW Government with ‘two strikes and you’re out’ laws.

The new  benchmark is a part of an ongoing crackdown on the minority of taxi drivers doing the wrong thing.

From Friday 6 December, drivers caught committing a fare related offence will be disqualified from driving a taxi, rideshare or any other point to point transport vehicle if they are found guilty on two separate occasions.

Examples of offences include not using the meter, refusing a passenger if only going a short distance, demanding or trying to negotiate a fare other than the one displayed on the meter, adding an extra surcharge or using the maxi-taxi tariff when transporting less than five passengers.

The Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s Taxi Fare Hotline (1800 500 410) continues to play an important role in allowing passengers to easily report fare-related complaints.

EV CHARGING GRANTS – Round 3 of the EV Destination Charging grant program is now open for applications targeting Electric Vehicle charging gaps along established regional NSW road  trip routes.

The $20 million program is rolling out over 1,300 EV charge ports at more than 500 sites to ensure convenient charging options for both visitors and locals.

These chargers complement the 189 fast charging stations that the NSW Government has allocated funding to under the NSW EV Strategy. 

There will be a fast-charging station funded every 100 kilometres along all major regional routes statewide.

The program has seen a diverse range of applications from tourism businesses and councils, with accommodation operators leading the way in securing funding.

Applications close Friday 31 January 2025 with more information on funding or hosting an EV charger in regional NSW available at: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry/programs-grants-and-schemes/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-destination

RENEWABLES FRAMEWORK – A Renewable Energy Planning Framework has been released to guide the planning and assessment of state-significant renewable energy developments.

It includes new and updated guidelines for wind, solar, transmission, hydrogen, community benefit sharing and private agreements between landowners and renewable energy developers.

The Department for Planning, Housing and Infrastructure developed the new framework to support the NSW Government’s legislated Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and emissions reduction  targets.

The new and updated guidelines cover Wind Energy visual impacts, site selection and decommissioning, Transmission Route selection and community consultation expectations as well as  additional advice on Solar Energy decommissioning.

The new Framework was developed after extensive consultation and incorporates feedback received during the public exhibition period from 14 November 2023 to 29 January 2024. 

For more information: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-planning-framework

DEAL SEALED – NSW Police officers have voted to accept the NSW Government’s four-year pay agreement to recruit and retain officers.

The vote was to run for two weeks but the Police Association of NSW (PANSW) called the result when a majority of members had voted ‘yes.’

Voting opened on Monday 18 November with 70 per cent of PANSW members having participated when the result was declared including a 96 per cent majority in favour of accepting the offer.

The payrise is funded by reforming the Police Blue Ribbon Insurance (PBRI) scheme and bringing it into NSW Government ownership to return money to front-line police. 

The new Enhanced Police Officer Support Scheme will support injured officers with wraparound services and is intensively focussed on helping them get back to work wherever possible.

BATTERY WARNING – Consumers are being warned by the NSW Government about the potential dangers of buying poor quality lithium-ion battery powered products which may pose a fire risk.

Recent data reveals a record 275 battery-related incidents so far this year, surpassing last year’s record of 272, with small portable devices accounting for most incidents closely followed by e-micromobility devices.

The latest warning follows the Government’s announcement in August of mandatory safety standards for lithium-ion battery-powered e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards and e-skateboards which  must meet new testing, certification and marking requirements. 

Fire and Rescue NSW has developed a video to demonstrate how a lithium-ion battery overheats uncontrollably and shows power tool batteries catching fire in a living room.

The community is encouraged to view a new consumer warning video and visit a central website with information on disposal options such as the Community Recycling Centres in Scone,  Muswellbrook, Singleton, Cessnock, Maitland and Gloucester. 

Check for the latest advice at: www.fire.nsw.gov.au and www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/safety-home/electrical-safety/lithium-ion-battery-safety

LOST MONEY? – Revenue NSW has launched a new system to help reduce the barriers required to recoup unclaimed money.

It’s free to search the NSW Government’s register for overpayments, refunds, dividends, uncashed cheques, NSW Public Sector superannuation and other money owed to individuals who can’t be tracked down.

The system has been updated and streamlined to make it easier to claim a share of the $638 million currently in the fund.

By allowing for streamlined identification checks through a Service NSW account, a new system to easily upload any required documentation, and a new feature which tracks application status, it’s hoped that even more money can be returned.

Revenue NSW does not charge any commission on successful claims and once the necessary documentation has been provided and confirmed, funds are sent within 28 days.

For more information on unclaimed money and to search the new register, visit the Revenue NSW website: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/unclaimed-money.

HELP FOR KIDS – A $17.1 million investment by the NSW Government will improve access to essential mental health support for young people.

Community organisation yourtown which runs Kids Helpline will use the funding to recruit up to 28 additional full time equivalent (FTE) counsellors based in NSW to provide greater access to the service in response to increasing demand.

Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) operates 24/7 and provides age-appropriate online and phone counselling and support for young people aged 5 to 25.

Kids Helpline helps young people express their feelings and feel listened to, while providing ideas and support and often connecting them to local mental health services.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing remain the number one reason that children and young people contact Kids Helpline.

For more about Kids Helpline got to: https://kidshelpline.com.au

CULTURAL GRANTS – Aboriginal community organisations and groups across NSW are invited to apply for grantsto support events and activities that celebrate and promote Aboriginal cultures.

Funding of between $500 to $20,000 is being offered by the NSW Government to support, strengthen, protect and maintain traditional and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal culture.

The Cultural Grants Program 2024-25 is a rolling program where Aboriginal organisations can apply until the $800,000 in funding is exhausted or the round closes on 21 March 2025 – whichever comes first.

To register and for more information on how to apply including a recording of a recent Community Information Session visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/cultural-grants-2025

HELP, STUMPS UP! – The 2024 Community Cricket Club Grants Program has been launched by NRMA Insurance to help local clubs build community connection and resilience.

Partnering with Cricket Australia, 12 grants of $5,000 each are available to give away to Community Cricket Clubs.

Recipients are encouraged to use the funds to further bring their community together, and to foster and strengthen connection, such as through events, gala days or family days.

Applications will be accepted until 31 January 2025 with more details available by visiting: www.nrma.com.au/cricket/community-grant