13 May 2017 – NSW Parliament Wrap Up
Despite all eyes being on Canberra this week, the NSW Government didn’t sit back and relax. In fact, so many announcements were made that the Government almost looked as if it were releasing a budget of its own. It wasn't, of course. That will have to wait until June 20.
The most significant announcement of the week was the finalisation of the Government’s poles and wires asset recycling agenda. On Thursday, Endeavour Energy was leased to a majority Australian-owned consortium for $7.6 billion. This brings the total sum generated from the policy to $23 billion, all of which has been placed in the Government’s Rebuilding NSW fund. An overview of the projects that are being funded by the sale can be found here.
Here’s how the week panned out…
Sydney Metro Northwest skytrain completed
Hard hats and high-vis. What more could Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport & Infrastructure Andrew Constance need? The pair were almost certainly feeling pleased with themselves on Monday when they inspected the Sydney Metro ‘skytrain bridge’ at Rouse Hill. Who could blame them? The 270 metre long structure is Australia’s first curved cable-stayed railway bridge, built from 88 concrete segments weighing between 70 and 140 tonnes. The project forms part of the first stage of the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest project, due to open in 2019.
Record housing approvals in NSW (again)
On the day she was appointed Premier, Gladys Berejiklian committed to increasing housing supply in NSW. On Monday, Minister for Planning & Housing Anthony Roberts revealed that more than 74,000 approvals have been granted in the past 12 months, and that more than 35,800 new homes were built in the year to February 2017, a new record for the state. It will be interesting to see whether the Government adopts any other housing affordability policies in the State Budget next month.
Government welcomes feedback on housing policy
Later in the day, Minister Roberts put forward several ideas about medium-density housing. This was particularly interesting because of the medium that he chose, an online forum that allows members of the community to directly respond. How modern!
Domestic and family violence program expanded
Finally, Monday saw Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Pru Goward announce an expansion of the Government’s anti-domestic violence program, ‘Safer Pathway’. GPs who receive victims are now authorised to make referrals to specialist support services directly on the victim’s behalf, saving the victim from having to make an official report.
North coast shark net trial to end
On Tuesday morning, Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair announced that the Government's shark net trial on the state’s far north coast will conclude on June 13. In January, the Government erected five nets on the north coast. So far, these have caught six sharks (including two Great Whites, one Bull and three Tiger sharks) and 244 ‘non-target’ animals. By way of comparison, SMART drumlines have caught 29 sharks in the same period. The Government will now work with scientists and local communities to determine next steps.
Government invests $200 million in new justice package
Attorney General Mark Speakman announced a series of reforms on Tuesday aimed at easing the backlog of criminal matters before courts in NSW. The reforms comprise of five pillars, including:
Encouraging early guilty pleas with a new system of sentence discounts (ranging from a 25 per cent discount for early pleas to a five per cent discount for pleas made on the day of trial)
Increasing the number of prisons and prison beds in NSW
Strengthening the scope of Continuing Detention Orders and Extended Supervision Orders
Expanding the powers of parole officers and introducing more community safety considerations into the decision making process for whether parole should be granted
Funding an additional 200 corrections officers to supervise offenders on suspended sentences.
Minister for Police Troy Grant and Minister for Corrections David Elliott also provided input to the reforms.
NSW Treasurer responds to 2017-18 Federal Budget
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet staked his ground against federal counterpart Scott Morrison on Tuesday, releasing the NSW Government’s statement on the 2017-18 federal budget. The Treasurer welcomed the Commonwealth’s investment in the Western Sydney Airport, as well as its commitment to provide bonus funding equivalent to 15 per cent of NSW’s asset sales. However, he also said that the Government has “significant concerns about the funding implications” of Gonski 2.0. Touché.
Deputy Premier responds to 2017-18 Federal Budget
On Wednesday, it was Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s turn to respond to the budget in his capacity as Minister for Regional NSW. The Deputy Premier welcomed the $10 billion Brisbane to Melbourne Inland Rail project, which will pass through seven locations in country NSW. He also endorsed the Federal Government’s plans for Snowy 2.0, and the establishment of a $4 billion Regional Investment Corporation.
Opal fares to rise with inflation
Also on Wednesday, Minister Constance announced that Opal fares will rise by 2.4 per cent from July 3, in line with inflation. The rise is 1.8 per cent less than the 4.2 per cent increase recommended the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal earlier this year. According to Transport for NSW, the CPI rise means public transport users will pay an average of 50 cents per week more for their commute.
Poles and wires privatisations complete
Thursday marked the official conclusion of the Government’s poles and wires asset recycling agenda, with the last of the state’s three distributors, Endeavour Energy, being leased to a majority Australian consortium for $7.6 billion. Under the terms of the lease, Advance Energy—comprised of the Macquarie Group, REST Super, the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and the Qatar Investment Authority—will acquire a 50.4 per cent stake in the network for 99 years.
The Government’s poles and wires leases have netted $34 billion in gross proceeds since 2015, about $23 billion once debt and costs are factored in. The other two leases, of Ausgrid and Transgrid, generated $16 billion and $10 billion respectively.
In question time, the Premier noted that a number of trade unions have not only supported the privatisations, but were actually involved in winning consortiums. For example, the Australian Council of Trade Unions has a 50 per cent share in AustralianSuper, part of the consortium that acquired Ausgrid. The Australian Workers Union also invested in the same transaction. Perhaps that explains why some Labor MPs were quieter in their opposition to the policy than others…
Government expands medicinal cannabis trials
Would you have guessed that NSW is Australia’s most progressive state when it comes to the use of medicinal cannabis? On Thursday, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard announced that seven more hospitals will participate in a trial of the substance for patients with chronic nausea. This brings the total number of hospitals participating in the trial to eight, with a hospital in Orange having already signed up in December last year.
Abortion Law Reform (Miscellaneous Acts Amendment) Bill 2016
It’s not often that matters such as abortion are discussed in parliament. Thursday was notable, then, for debate on Greens MLC Mehreen Faruqi’s Abortion Law Reform (Miscellaneous Acts Amendment) Bill. The Bill sought to abolish common law rules that create offences against abortion, prevent medical practitioners from refusing to provide advice about abortions, and create safe access zones around clinics. It was defeated 25 votes to 14.
Laws simplified to make it easier to purchase Crown land
The Government ended Thursday, and thus its second sitting week for May, with some good old fashioned deregulation. Minister for Lands & Forestry Paul Toole merged seven separate pieces of legislation into one, simplifying the process for parties interested in acquiring land owned by the state. How very liberal.
Home owners compensated for incorrect information about road projects
The Government ended the week by having to compensate 582 property owners after it provided inaccurate information about the new M5 and proposed F6 projects. Minister for Finance, Services & Property Victor Dominello followed independent advice recommending that the Government pay $5,000 plus costs to 377 properties that received incorrect information about the M5, and $30,000 plus costs to 205 properties that received incorrect information about the F6. People that purchased properties affected by the F6 error will also be entitled to sell their property back to the Government for the original purchase price plus an additional $75,000.