Latest news with #NSWgovernment
ABC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Kathleen Folbigg still fighting for compensation after being exonerated of killing her children
A woman exonerated of killing her four children after spending two decades in jail for their deaths says her "life is still on hold" as she seeks compensation from the New South Wales government. Once labelled Australia's worst serial killer, Kathleen Folbigg had her convictions quashed in 2023 and was released from prison. In 2003 she was convicted over the deaths of her children, Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura, who were toddlers or babies when they died between 1989 and 1999 in the Hunter region. Ms Folbigg said she wanted the compensation matter resolved as soon as possible. "I'm not asking to be treated any differently than anyone else who's been put through what I have," she said in statement. "I just need this to be resolved so I can begin to rebuild and move forward. "Adjusting to 2025 prices has been confronting. "Even basics like groceries, bills and public transport are so much higher than they were in 2003. Ms Folbigg's lawyer Rhanee Rego told ABC Radio Newcastle an application for an ex gratia payment was made in July last year but there had not been any progress. "During that whole time I've been asking them, 'What are you doing?' When can we expect an answer?' And all they tell me is that it's 'under active consideration'," Ms Rego said. Ms Rego said Ms Folbigg had recently secured a rental home after two years. "She was struggling a bit there, and every time she feels hopeful that something will be done she's shut down," Ms Rego said. "It's just really, really disheartening." Ms Rego said she and Ms Folbigg had asked to meet with Premier Chris Minns, but on Monday morning he publicly denied that request and said the matter was before Attorney-General Michael Daley. "They're in the process of demanding money from the NSW government," Mr Minns said. "That's being independently assessed by the attorney-general and I don't think it's appropriate that I have meetings before he makes a decision. "I respect his call in relation to her commutation … but he's got another decision to make. A spokesperson for Mr Daley said the application for the ex gratia payment was being considered. "The NSW government acknowledges concerns about the time taken to consider Ms Folbigg's application, which contains complex material," they said in a statement. "It is important this material is thoroughly considered before a decision is made." The spokesperson said there had been extensive communication between the Department of Communities and Justice and Ms Folbigg's team. "Ms Folbigg's legal representation has been advised it would not be appropriate for the attorney-general to meet her while the ex gratia payment remains under consideration," they said.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Rail workers FINALLY end bitter pay dispute - what it means for the commute of millions of Aussies
A year of travel chaos across Australia's biggest train network caused by staff strikes is finally over. Rail workers have agreed to a new pay deal with the NSW government following months of industrial action, which caused many headaches for millions of Sydney commuters. The Electrical Trades and the Rail, Tram and Bus unions initially sought a 32 per cent pay rise over four years, and a 35-hour working week. Their negotiations with the NSW government stalled in January, sparking a mass strike which brought the Sydney rail network to its knees after 2,500 rail services were cancelled or significantly impacted over a two day-period. More than 90 per cent of RTBU members on Saturday voted to accept a 12 per cent wage increase over three years plus back pay. The deal will now progress to the Fair Work Commission for final approval. 'We want to acknowledge the period of protected industrial action was drawn-out and took its toll on rail passengers,' NSW Transport Minister John Graham said. 'Resolution of the matter will now allow Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink to focus solely on improving reliability and services for those more than a million passengers who use the network each day. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland added: 'With this certainty, Sydney Trains can resume its focus on delivering a safe, reliable, and disruption-free service, and passengers can have renewed confidence that the trains they rely on will be there when they need them.' The RTBU also welcomed the move after a 'tough process'. 'It's fantastic that this long, and often bitter, dispute can finally be put behind us and that workers can get back to doing what they do best – moving commuters safely around the state,' union secretary Toby Warnes said.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
$130 million cash boost waiting to be claimed by thousands of Aussie drivers: 'Critical support'
Thousands of drivers in Sydney only have a few days left to claim their share of a substantial cash pile. The NSW government has a $60 weekly cap for road tolls, and anything you spend over that amount is eligible to be reclaimed. Drivers can receive upwards of $340 per week back through this initiative, however, the deadline to submit your claim for 2024 is June 30. The government estimates there are around $130 million worth of claims between January 1 last year and March this year that are up for grabs. "The positive difference this is making to peoples' lives is something we, as a government, are proud of," Jihad Dib, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, said. Centrelink issues urgent deadline warning for lump sum payment ATO superannuation warning as deadline for $30,000 deduction fast approaches Aussie mum's $1,200 electricity bill shock sparks warning for millions More than $139 million has already been distributed to drivers for 2024 alone. Blacktown, Baulkham Hills and Auburn were the first three Sydney suburbs where driver have received $2 million in rebates. There are 10 other suburbs where claims have exceeded $1 NSW government said the $60 cap, which was introduced in 2023, has been most beneficial to people in the western suburbs who have to commute into the city every day. 'The $60 toll cap is a critical cost-of-living support, and I am pleased to see it has been laser-like in getting to where it is needed most, suburbs like Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Marsden Park and Bankstown," Transport Minister John Graham said. 'June 30 is the last day to claim toll relief that was accrued in calendar year 2024, and we want to remind people that the claims process is a simple, online process." Drivers who have spent more than $60 a week on toll trips can claim the refunds via the Service NSW website. The rebate is calculated and claimed each quarter. Claims are currently open for the first quarter from January 1 to March 31, and the second quarter from April 1 to June 30. Applications for the second quarter of 2025 will open on July 9. The deadline for 2025 rebates has been set for June 30, 2026. The government also offers a toll relief rebate, with drivers able to claim a 40 per cent rebate if they spent more than $402 on tolls between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Those claims also close on June 30 this in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
NSW government failing to measure or reduce gambling harm, damning audit finds
The New South Wales government has not set targets to reduce the harm caused by about 90,000 poker machines in the state and does not know if it is protecting people, according to a damning audit. The state's auditor general has also said the NSW government is doing 'relatively little' to assess whether pubs and clubs are identifying and preventing gambling harm at their venues. The report assesses government conduct from 2019 to mid-2024 across Labor and Coalition governments, but is likely to add to political pressure on the Minns government. Last week, a leading charity accused it of not doing enough to prevent serious harm caused by pokies. The Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport's 'strategy for regulating gaming machines is not based on a clear understanding of current levels of gambling harm and it does not set any targets for reducing harm associated with gaming machines,' the audit report said. 'The department does not have benchmarks, targets or other performance measures in place to assess outcomes against key measures of harm minimisation. 'There have been no evaluations of its compliance programs to measure their impact on harm minimisation outcomes. As a result, the department does not know whether its regulatory strategy is effective in minimising gambling harm.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The audit report said gambling harm appears to have increased despite the government's efforts. 'Calls to the GambleAware helpline increased by 8.5% in 2023–24 and gaming machine losses have increased in each of the last three years,' the report said. 'The results of the 2024 NSW Gambling Survey did not indicate a reduction in the level of gambling harm in NSW.' The report confirmed revenue from gambling taxes would increase from $2.47bn this financial year to $2.91bn in 2027-28. 'The forecast increase in gaming machine profits is due to expected increases in the use of gaming machines,' the report said. The chair of the state's independent liquor and gaming authority, Caroline Lamb, supported all recommendations from the audit. 'We propose to take a more structured approach to stakeholder engagement and acknowledge our responsibility, in conjunction with hospitality and racing, to ensure licensees meet their statutory obligations,' Lamb said. The state's gaming minister, David Harris, said the government 'takes harm minimisation seriously and has implemented a number of initiatives'. These initiatives include reducing the cash limit on new machines from $5,000 to $500, banning external signage at venues, putting more responsible gaming officers in venues and investing $100m in a gambling harm minimisation fund. But Wesley Mission's chief executive, Stu Cameron, believes these 'limited reforms' are 'clearly not having an impact'. 'While we didn't need an audit to know the system is broken, as frontline services have been saying this for years, now it is in black and white: the NSW government has done next to nothing to reduce gambling harm while clubs and hotels pocket billions.' In November last year, an independent panel advising the government on gambling reform wrote a 'roadmap' for overhauling the state's regulation of poker machines and limiting harm. The Minns government is yet to formally respond to the report's recommendations, which were contested by some panel members. Labor had promised to force poker machines to be made cashless by 2028, but a pilot of a gaming scheme attracted only 32 participants. The project was subsequently criticised by the Australian Hotels Association – whose members operate poker machines – which questioned the evidence base for further action. 'The research findings of the cashless gaming trial are embarrassing and not credible,' an AHA spokesperson said after preliminary results of the trial were released. ClubsNSW said the cashless gaming trial had a 'significantly low uptake' and said calls for it to become mandatory were based on 'no economic modelling' about its potential impacts. 'With only 14 genuine and active users participating in the trial, such a low adoption should necessitate a cautious, measured, voluntary approach to implementation of account-based gaming, rather than a short timeframe for a statewide, mandatory rollout,' ClubsNSW said in December last year. The shadow minister for gaming, Kevin Anderson, said 'gambling losses continue to skyrocket in NSW while the independent panel's report gathers dust on the desks of the premier and minister'. 'The Minns government must urgently respond to the recommendations in that report to give the community and the industry certainty of the path forward.' In Australia, Gambling Help online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt helpline is at 1800 007 007.
ABC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
NSW Government and rail union reach pay agreement
Skip to main content 7m ago 7 minutes ago Sat 31 May 2025 at 1:52am Rail unions have secured a 12 per cent pay rise over three years, plus back pay, in a deal with the NSW government.
