NSW workers can access $1500 COVID-19 payment 20/9/2020 (See translation in Arabic section) Sydney - M E Times Int'l: Workers in NSW can now access the same $1500 coronavirus disaster payment available in Victoria if they need to self-isolate for 14 days. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed Prime Minister Scott Morrison had given the lump sum payment the green light, telling reporters she wanted people to feel supported if they have to stop working and isolate because they have come into contact with a COVID-19 case. “Our first and foremost priority is to keep the community safe. If you have been asked to isolate whether you have been a close contact or whether you have symptoms or for any other reason, please follow those instructions and the government is here to support you.” The $1500 payment is available to workers who have exhausted their sick leave or don‘t have sick leave available and have been directed to self-isolate for 14 days by health authorities.
Wild weather expected to hit outback NSW and country Qld Sydney: Severe thunderstorms with the possibility of wind gusts in excess of 90km/h and large hail have been forecast for south-western Queensland and central NSW. After rain battered parts of Queensland and NSW on Saturday and a lull on Sunday, wild weather is forecast to hit parts of the two states on Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe thunderstorms for large sections of south-west Queensland including Quilpie, Windora, Cunnamulla and Thargomindah. BOM meteorologist Rosa Hoff said severe thunderstorms were forecast to bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall and large hail.
Mother of three-year-old James O'Reilly speaks of relief after Yallingup bushland ordeal W.A: The mother of three-year-old James O'Reilly, who spent almost 12 hours missing in the bush near the Western Australian surf town of Yallingup on Saturday, has described her desperation and then relief after he was found alive and well. Michelle Buckley said she "really started to panic" at sunset — with James having been missing since 7:30am — knowing he was dressed only in pyjamas in wet and cold weather. "I was losing hope. I honestly thought that we were going to find him dead," she said. Despite a huge police and volunteer search, Ms Buckley said it was relatives who eventually found James. "Chris's granddad got here and literally five minutes after he arrived, Chris's mum came running up the stairs and said they found him. "It was his Uncle John and Poppy Paul that found him. "We brought him inside and just took off his pyjamas, wrapped him up in a blanket and he was smiling, talking to Lux and he said, 'I went out in the bush,' and it was just the most beautiful moment. I'm so thankful."
Morrison defends welfare payment cuts, expects hundreds of thousands of jobs by Christmas Canberra: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed the controversial decision to cut its coronavirus welfare payments next week, saying he expects “hundreds of thousands” of jobs to return before Christmas. The Prime Minister said Victoria moving out of strict lockdown measures could help drive jobs growth, adding that 60 per cent of JobKeeper payments would be going to that state by the end of the month. This week both JobKeeper (September 28) and JobSeeker (September 25) will be slashed by $300 per fortnight – to $1200 and $800 respectively – despite calls to keep them at current levels after the coronavirus pandemic led Australia into its first recession since 1990. Those on JobSeeker will be able to earn an extra $300 per fortnight through work to “top up” their income. Mr Morrison said the government had always made it clear the boosted payments wouldn’t be around forever.
Community urged to ‘get ready’ for bushfire season
Sydney: Residents across NSW are being encouraged to get ready for the upcoming bushfire season and ensure their home is prepared and their bushfire plan is up to date. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government has worked closely with the RFS and Resilience NSW to ensure the State is as prepared as it can be for the upcoming bushfire season. “In May, we announced $45 million in additional funding for the RFS to fast-track hazard reduction, employ 100 new paid State Mitigation Crew positions and upgrade the firefighting fleet,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We are as prepared as we can be, but it’s also important the community understands the important role they play in having a well-prepared property and fire plan. “It takes five minutes to make or improve a plan that will give your property and your family the best chance of survival should you be threatened by a bushfire.”
Time to explore nsw – rebooting tourism in 2020 Sydney: The NSW Government is calling on all Sydneysiders and NSW residents to be a COVID safe tourist in their own backyard and support local businesses by booking tours and visiting attractions. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said NSW residents could help reboot the state’s visitor economy by hitting the road for a short-break, taking a Sydney ‘playcation’, or even making the most of a day trip. “There’s something special about being a tourist and giving yourself permission to enjoy experiences that we usually reserve for holidays,” Minister Ayres said. “Treat yourself to a ‘playcation’ around Sydney and NSW - take a guided tour, book a hotel stay, dine at a special restaurant, or visit a local attraction. The NSW Government is releasing two new tools to inspire holidaymakers and help them ‘value-add’ to their stay: • An interactive ‘Love NSW’ map that allows travellers to search for and identify tourism experiences based on theme. Users can also find experiences within three hours’ drive of a selected location, or zoom in to street level to see links to even more tourism businesses (www.lovensw.com.au) • A series of new Sydney ‘playcation’ itineraries highlighting the luxury, family, outdoor adventure, foodie, culture, romance and wellness experiences on offer across the CBD and Greater Sydney (www.sydney.com) For more information www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
Domestic violence training for community and religious leaders Sydney: Community and religious leaders will be empowered to respond to domestic and family violence through a new training program to begin next month. Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said the accredited course, run by TAFE NSW, will give participants the tools and resources to help people who seek their guidance. Mr Speakman said the training aimed to strengthen victim support while encouraging increased reporting across the state. “Multicultural communities and those who’ve recently emigrated to NSW will often look to local community or religious leaders as a first point of contact about a range of issues, including potential domestic abuse,” Mr Speakman said. “It’s hoped this training will make a significant difference for those who face many barriers to reporting violence in the home, or may even struggle to identify it in the first place. |