Pathetically low fines for non-compliance with rules enforced by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) leaves Murray-Darling Basin irrigators in NSW laughing all the way to the bank with those dollars earned from what is essentially water theft

 

https://www.mdba.gov.au/importance-murray-darling-basin/where-basin

The State of New South Wales is currently not in drought. However, its rivers often have highly variable water flows so it was not surprising to find the morning of Tuesday 13 July 2021 revealing that WaterNSW State Overview real time data record showed that 14 of the state's rivers were flowing at less than 20%. While 15 of the state's principal dams registered volume levels at between 31.4% and 95.9% of capacity, with another 3 registering over 100% of recommended capacity.

Some of those rivers and dams fall within Murray Darling Basin boundaries.

Apparently - even in time of relative water plenty - healthy rivers, environmental water flows and intergenerational equity are not part of the business plan for many of the irrigators growing cotton, almonds, rice, fruit, vegetables, grape vines and other food & pasture crops - how else does one explain this?

The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 July 2021:

Nearly half of the biggest irrigators in NSW have made no effort to install meters that comply with new water laws more than six months after they became mandatory, an audit has found.

The NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator found that 45 per cent of large pumps that draw from rivers and creeks were not using compliant meters to measure how much water was taken, contrary to new laws designed to prevent water theft.

Only 23 per cent were fully compliant with a further third on their way to compliance based on evidence provided by way of invoices, product orders and emails confirming validation appointments.

NRAR’s chief regulatory officer Grant Barnes said there had been “a positive shift” in compliance rates since its desktop audit in April, which found two-thirds of irrigators were non-compliant, but there was still more work to be done with those water users who had neither installed the meters nor made an effort to do so.

“For us, this is about ensuring those water users who have done the right thing and have complied with the regulations get a fair go, and so these results will be disappointing to those people,” Mr Barnes said. “[Compliance] is also important to those who recognise the importance of a social licence for irrigators.”

Individuals who have shown no effort to comply face fines of up to $750 and irrigation companies face $1500 fines.

“The pumps in question here are gigantic, half-meter diameter straws that have the capacity to suck the lifeblood out of our rivers.”

Independent MP Justin Field

The meters were a central recommendation from the 2017 Murray Darling Basin Compliance Review, which found irrigator compliance in NSW and Queensland was “bedevilled by patchy metering, the challenges of measuring unmetered take and the lack of real-time, accurate water accounts”…...

Read the full article here.

News Corp's The Daily Examiner continues to die the death of a thousand cuts

The Clarence Valley had a resident population of est. 51,730 souls in 2020.

Up until mid 2020 it was home to three print newspapers, The Daily Examiner, Coastal Views and the Clarence Valley Independent. 

Only the 'Independent' remains as a print newspaper with a dedicated website, as the other two were part of a media purchase made by foreign-owned News Corp Inc. and these print mastheads have been allowed to wither and die.

In July 2021 News Corp boasts The Daily Examiner has a digital Facebook following of est. 20,747 people (presumably worldwide), an Instagram following of 1,806 and, a Twitter account showing one published tweet from 2009 with a following of only 105.

There is of course no longer a print circulation or a presence on Press Reader because Rupert Murdoch quickly killed off this newspaper which had been the purveyor of news from 1859 to mid 2020. Even its dedicated web address now redirects to a section of The Daily Telegraph website called “Grafton News”. 

One is left to wonder when the ghost of The Daily Examiner masthead will fade from the Internet completely. 

The corporate planned lingering death of a news outlet is sad to witness.

COVID-19 State of Play: Progression of NSW Delta Variant Outbreak up to 12 July 2021

NSW Health, media release, 12 July 2021

Sometime between 17-18 June 2021 it is highly likely that it became obvious to state authorities that the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 which causes a highly infectious form of COVID-19 was now loose in New South Wales.

At that point the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the state stood at 5,442 people, including interstate residents in NSW health facilities.

On 26 June 2021 the Berejiklian Government issued public health orders - eventually locking down Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shell Harbour and the Central Coast.

By 8pm on Sunday 11 July 2021 the percentage of COVID-19 infections acquired in the community had grown to est. 92% of all confirmed new cases from all infection sources recorded since the Delta variant outbreak began in the state.

"NORMAN SWAN: This graph tells the story. The number of people who have been infectious while in the community keeps rising - day in, day out." [ABC “7.30” program, 12 July 2021]

To date there has only been one confirmed death in New South Wales due to COVID-19 infection since the new outbreak began on 17 June 2021.

NOTE:

See "2021 media releases from NSW Health" at

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/2021-nsw-health.aspx 

UPDATE

NSW Health, media release, 13 July 2021

 

Australian Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison's inept handling of the COVID-19 vaccine supply contracts revealed, as business turns to former Labor prime minister Rudd for assistance

 

Letter dated 30 June 2021 concerning Pfizer vaccine supply - from former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Ru... by clarencegirl on Scribd

The New Daily, 12 July 2021:

The ABC, which obtained a copy of the letter, reports that Mr Rudd stepped in after a senior Australian business figure living in the USA held two meetings with Pfizer because he was despairing of the Coalition government’s vaccine supplies.

The ABC reports that senior Pfizer executives had been astonished that Mr Morrison had not directly spoken to the Pfizer chairman and suggested that Mr Rudd — who was known to them because of his work in the United States — may have some influence.

If it was possible for Pfizer to accelerate the doses, Mr Bourla indicated they would need a contractual request from the Australian government, Mr Rudd’s letter states…..

Nine days after Mr Rudd’s Zoom meeting [with Mr. Bourla], Mr Morrison announced on Friday [9 July 2021] that Australia’s Pfizer doses would be brought forward, with 1 million jabs per week starting in July......

Immediately after the media reports began to circulate on 12 July 2021 Australian Minister for Health and Aged Care & Liberal MP for Flinders Greg Hunt began issuing denials that Mr. Rudd had any involvement in the contractual delivery schedule of Pfizer COMIRNATY BNT162b2 (mRNA) doses to Australia being accelerated.

However the letter of 30 June clearly indicates that Rudd had earlier proactively contacted Pfizer and that Pfizer would be amenable to being contacted further in relation to the supply schedule by the Morrison Government, its contractual partner.

The letter also indicates that prior to the 30 June letter being sent Rudd personally contacted Prime Minister Morrison informing him of the initial contact with Pfizer.

In my opinion the contents of Rudd's letter are more credible than deflective statements made by Minister Hunt.

Statement from Kevin Rudd’s office just now on the Pfizer stuff. pic.twitter.com/DaSYR5I85p

— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) July 12, 2021

State and territory disability ministers have shot down Morrison Government's controversial reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme

ABC News, 9 July 2021:

State and territory disability ministers have shot down controversial reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), in what advocates say is a huge win for the disability community.

For months, disability advocates have been warning against the changes, which would have forced all NDIS participants and people wanting to access the scheme to undergo independent assessments.

The federal government announced its plan to introduce the functional assessments in August last year, and the NDIS has trialled the program.

But after a meeting between disability ministers today, NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed the federal government would not push ahead with the proposal.

"I can absolutely confirm that we agreed with the Independent Advisory Council's recommendation that the independent assessments in their current form will not proceed," she told the ABC.

"So are independent assessments as we currently understand them dead? Yes, they are."

Do you know more about this story? Email Specialist.Team@abc.net.au.

The move has been welcomed by disability advocates, who had argued the independent assessments plan was not fair.

"We are glad that the state and territory disability ministers have listened to the thousands of people with disability and their families who have contacted them this week to ask them to say no to the NDIS independent assessments," said El Gibbs, from campaign group Every Australian Counts.

"We have worked together for months to raise our voices and say that these changes were wrong."

'Back to the drawing board' for NDIS assessments

The independent assessments program would have involved an allied health professional, unknown to the person with disability, either meeting with the prospective participant face-to-face or holding a teleconference assessment.

That assessment would have determined someone's eligibility for an NDIS funding plan.

Currently, a person's usual doctors, specialists and allied health professionals provide reports to determine if someone is eligible for an NDIS plan.

The federal government had always maintained that independent assessments were an original part of the NDIS and would make it fair and equitable for everyone.

But many in the disability community said it was a box-ticking exercise designed to cut costs.

Opposition to independent assessments grew steadily last year within the sector, and in February more than 20 organisations, led by Every Australian Counts, called on the government to abandon the plan.

One of the architects of the NDIS had also criticised the independent assessments model…...

New South Wales - keeping on top of the pandemic one month, right back where we started from the next

9News, 10 July 2021:

New South Wales has recorded 50 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday, breaking yesterday's record for the highest number of daily cases since April last year.

Of these locally acquired cases, 37 are linked to a known case or cluster, 14 are household contacts and 23 are close contacts. The source of infection for 13 cases remains under investigation.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has called on more people to come forward for testing after 42,000 people were tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

The number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 has grown again overnight with a teenager also now being treated in ICU.

Of today's 50 cases, more than half were in the community while infectious.

"That is the number we need to get down to as close to zero as possible," Ms Berejiklian said.....

UPDATE

Sadly, a woman in her 90s from south west Sydney died yesterday at Liverpool Hospital. She was a close contact of a locally acquired case and was tested for COVID-19 on Friday, returning a positive result early yesterday morning.

9News, 11 July 2021:

New South Wales reported 77 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, including 55 linked to previously confirmed cases, and one death on Sunday in the 24 hours to 8 pm on Saturday. This is the highest single-day increase of cases in the state since Bondi's cluster outbreak began in June. All of Greater Sydney, including Wollongong, Central Coast and the Blue Mountains entered a two-week lockdown on June 26 that will remain until 12:01 am on July 17..... 

Ms Berejiklian and Dr Chant again urged people not to mix with other family members from separate households. More than 50 of today's new infections close family members of previous cases. "When you get COVID, unfortunately those most impacted are those closest to you," she said. Dr Chant said that the "vast majority" of the new reported cases live in the south-west Sydney region - a number that is "extraordinarily high". "We know transmission is going through households, from household to household. And it's impacting on other close friends and work colleagues," she said.....

Is NSW Berejiklian Government walking back its 2019 election pledge to fix traffic congestion on the Bruxner Highway - at the Dawson St intersection - in favour of a short-term fix elsewhere?

 

In the lead up to the 2019 state election, the NSW Berejiklian Government committed $6 million to upgrade Ballina Road (Bruxner Highway) at Dawson Street in Lismore.

Echo NetDaily, 19 February 2019, excerpt from article:

L to R: RMS regional manager John Alexander, Nationals Lismore candidate Austin Curtin, roads minister Melinda Pavey and Nationals Lismore MP Thomas George at the roundabout.

Ms Pavey then moved on to Lismore where, together with retiring member Thomas George and Nationals candidate Austin Curtin she announced $6 million for the Dawson Street, Bruxner Highway intersection, replacing the existing roundabout with traffic lights.

Mrs Pavey said a concept plan for the new traffic signals had already been completed, which meant design work on the new traffic lights would start immediately.

‘Traffic lights will be coordinated with other signal sites in Lismore, providing the greatest level of efficiency and safety for all road users,’ Mrs Pavey said.

She added that, if returned, the government would start work on concept designs for the intersection immediately and community consultation would occur in the second half of 2019…..

Now, having lost the seat of Lismore to Labor at that 2019 state election, the Berejiklian Government appears to be walking away from its specific election promise:

Based on these investigations and the level of funding currently available, installing traffic signals at Molesworth Street intersection is considered the best short term solution to ease congestion and improve local access, connectivity and safety for pedestrians and cyclists. [my yellow highlighting]

This "solution" reduces parking availability for residents in the area, along with the removal of some mature trees within the road reserve. It does add traffic lights and new footpaths at this Molesworth Street intersection.

However, it is unclear just how enthusiastic the Lismore community is about this site change.

From the Office of  NSW Labor MLA for Lismore Janelle Saffin, media release, 9 July 2021:

Government changes tack on congestion-busting pledge

STATE MP Janelle Saffin is urging locals to give feedback to the NSW Government on significant changes it is making to its February 2019 election pledge to fix traffic congestion and improve safety on the Bruxner Highway in downtown Lismore.

Ms Saffin, who has been pressing the Government to release its plans for public comment, said people remember the election commitment to spend $6 million on traffic lights and improvements to the Bruxner Highway-Dawson Street intersection.

“Transport for NSW and Lismore City Council have carried out investigations and traffic modelling, and now the Transport recommendation is that this upgrade should occur at the Bruxner Highway-Molesworth Street intersection,” Ms Saffin said.

“I have been in a continued conversation with NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole’s office and Transport for NSW on this issue, and while it’s good that there is finally some movement, we, as a community of stakeholders, still need to be persuaded.

“All those residents living on the southern side of the highway, in the Girards Hill area, were very keen on the Dawson Street project, so they have to be convinced that Molesworth Street will provide the best long-term solution.”

Ms Saffin said she had lodged Questions on Notices to hold the Government to account on delivering its election commitment, and to highlight the congestion of this ‘gateway’ roundabout which copes with 25,000 motorists every day.

Minister Toole’s latest response from March 25 this year read: “Transport for NSW is developing a number of traffic, walking and cycling improvements within Lismore to improve safety and traffic efficiency, and walkability on the Bruxner Highway within the town centre.

“Transport for NSW will invite the community to comment on the proposed improvements shortly. The improvements include new traffic signals in the town centre, which are currently underway and due to be completed by the end of 2021,” Mr Toole answered.

Further information about the proposal, including a design layout, go to

https://nswroads.work/molesworthstreet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~