GRANTS FOR DISABILITY SUPPORT SECTOR
I urge organisations working in the disability support sector in Barwon to consider applying for new Business Acceleration grants being offered by the NSW Government. The new $19 million Disability Sector Scale-Up (DSSU) program will help NSW businesses prepare for and make the most of the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS has the potential to double the size of the disability support sector in NSW from around $3.4 billion to $6.8 billion over the next two years. This creates huge and exciting opportunities for businesses and other organisations working in Barwon’s disability sector to scale-up and expand their offering. Also on offer is the Business Acceleration grants up to a maximum of $2 million to assist businesses scale-up and bring innovative and effective solutions to our disability support sector in time for the rollout of the NDIS. Applications for the first small, medium and large Business Acceleration grants are now open, and businesses, non-government organisations, peak bodies and consortiums are all able to apply through www.tenders.nsw.gov.au. This includes organisations already operating under the NDIS as well as others in adjacent sectors that want to expand into the disability support service market.
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$50 MILLION TO BOOST COVERAGE
I am encouraged with today’s announcement that the NSW Government will invest at least $50 million to improve phone and data connectivity in rural and regional NSW. The Connecting Country Communities fund is part of the NSW Government’s $1.3 billion Regional Growth Fund announced in the 2017/18 NSW Budget. For many people living in regional and remote NSW, poor mobile and slow internet coverage are two of the biggest issues being faced on a daily basis.
Whether you need to stay in touch with your family or run a business, if your internet isn’t fast or affordable, or your phone coverage isn’t up to speed it is simply crippling. There is no doubt that coverage in regional areas, particularly across the electorate of Barwon, is not good enough. The NSW Government has already committed $39 million in a co-investment with the Commonwealth Mobile Blackspots Program supporting over 174 towers under the program and delivering 36 new or upgraded mobile base stations in regional NSW since 2015.
NSW BOXING DAY TRADING
NSW Parliament have passed legislation to permanently give retailers, employees and consumers the freedom to trade, work and shop on Boxing Day. The legislation also provides strict safeguards to protect workers, with retailers who force staff to work on December 26 facing fines of up to $11,000 per employee. The reform is about providing retailers, retail employees and consumers with more choice. If people want to trade, work or shop on Boxing Day, it makes sense that they can choose to do so irrespective of their location, keeping retail dollars in their local communities.
APPRENTICESHIP MAKEOVER
I welcome changes to the Apprenticeship and Trainee Act 2011 that modernise training outcomes for workers to support NSW’s growing economy and strengthen our apprentice and traineeship system. The Apprenticeship and Amendment Bill 2017 is about making sure we underpin quality in the training system and we put the student first. The amendments will support young workers to become better skilled, improve completion rates and ensure apprentices and trainees receive qualifications that directly meet the needs of their job. The new Act will help employers meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce and ensure that we are setting up our young workers to fill the jobs of the future that will continue to drive the NSW economy,” he said.