New sentencing proposal for child killers
Source: NSW. Attorney General. Media release.
"NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos has invited public comment on a radical new sentencing proposal for children aged 10 to 14 who are convicted of murder.Mr Hatzistergos said that a report released today by the NSW Sentencing Council had reviewed laws surrounding the sentencing of child murderers and recommended the introduction of a new ‘provisional sentencing’ option for courts."

Panel set up to review domestic violence deaths
Source: NSW. Minister for Women. Media Release.
"Minister for Women Linda Burney and Attorney General John Hatzistergos announced the establishment of a domestic violence homicide review panel in NSW to coincide with White Ribbon Day and the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.“This new model will help us find out how we can improve the system to help prevent domestic violence-related deaths,” Ms Burney said."

Report of the Domestic Violence Homicide Advisory Panel
Source: NSW. Attorney General.Media release.
"The Domestic Violence Homicide Advisory Panel (the Advisory Panel) was established by the
Premier to review domestic violence related homicides in NSW."

Writing on the wall for Graffiti vandals
Source: NSW. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced a crack down on graffiti vandals across NSW. Mr Rees said that the Government will take a hardline approach to graffiti and has developed a number of tough initiatives aimed squarely at tackling this crime. The Premier made the announcement in Blacktown , a suburb that topped the State with the highest number graffiti incidents last year with 737 incidents. “The community is fed up with their streets being defaced by senseless vandals who think they can operate above the law,” Mr Rees said."

CRACKDOWN ON TAXI TOUTING BEGINS
Source: NSW. Minister for Transport. Media Release.
"Minister for Transport David Campbell said compliance officers would be out in force to crackdown on taxi touting during the holiday season. Mr Campbell said summer was the busiest time of year for taxis but that was no excuse for illegal behaviour.
"Taxi touting is when a taxi driver demands an illegally high fare, or when one is offered by a passenger," Mr Campbell said. "Taxi touting is illegal and it won’t be tolerated."

ICAC TO REVIEW NEW LOBBYIST GUIDELINES
Source: NSW. Minister for Planning. Media Release.
"New rules to regulate contact between the Department of Planning and registered lobbyists, developers, community groups and opponents will come into effect on Tuesday 1 December.
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said the rules, announced by the Premier 10 days ago, will add a new level of transparency and accountability to the NSW Planning system."

NEW PLANNING TOOL TO DRIVE GREENER SUBURBS
Source: NSW. Minister for Planning. Media Release.
"The NSW Government released a new tool designed to guide development of not just greener homes and buildings, but entire suburbs.
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, said PRECINXTM is the next step in green development - a tool that analyses and guides sustainability performance in the planning of neighbourhoods."

NSW GOVERNMENT LEADS THE WAY IN PLANNING FOR SEA LEVEL RISE
Source: NSW. Minister for Planning. Media Release.
"The NSW Government today announced the next steps in our plan to respond to the future challenges of sea level rise, and how to protect coast communities.
“The best available research indicates sea levels along the NSW coastline will rise 40cm by the year 2050, and 90cm by 2100,” said Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, John Robertson.
“In February, we released the Sea Level Rise Policy Statement for consultation with councils and other stakeholders, which has since been amended, finalised and adopted."

NEW DVD BUSTS MYTHS ABOUT THE POKIES
Source: NS. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The NSW Government released a new DVD today that attacks commonly-held poker machine
superstitions and myths in an effort to reduce problem gambling. Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene met with problem gambling staff at Mission Australia in Campsie to launch the free DVD, which shows how poker machines work and outlines the remote chances of winning a jackpot."

ALCOHOL RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON VIOLENT PUBS AND CLUBS
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The NSW Government named the 66 licensed venues that will face new restrictions
aimed at driving down alcohol-related assaults and anti-social behaviour. Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said 19 Level 1 and 47 Level 2 venues will be subject to the new system of special conditions from December 1."

Minister launches material for Aboriginal teenagers and their parents
Source: NSW. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"Premier and Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbutt, launched a new resource for young Aboriginal people and their parents which talks about the risks of dangerous drinking.
“In NSW, one in every six hospitalisations for alcohol related injury is for a young person aged 15 to 24 years,” Ms Tebbutt said."

NSW Government releases report on health reforms
Source: NSW. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"The Government today released the first six month report of the independent panel set up to report on the implementation of the Caring Together reforms. The report also includes an audit on the progress of the reforms."

New consumer guide for international students
Source: NSW. Minister for Fair Trading. Media Release.
"Fair Trading Minister, Virginia Judge, today launched a new publication to help boost consumer protection for international students.
Ms Judge said the Consumer Guide For International Students is a passport size booklet that will help international students feel more secure about their rights and responsibilities in the marketplace."

Beat the Heat with Green Street.
Source: Minister for Housing. Media Release.
"Social Housing in New South Wales is set to go greener and cooler under a $30-million tree planting and landscaping program designed to improve quality of life for thousands of tenants across the State. Officially launching the "Green Street" program today at Bidwill, in Sydney’s West, NSW Housing Minister Mr David Borger said there’s been a need to green up social housing estates, especially those inland where the Summer heat often makes local streets unbearable. "

Bold New Affordable Housing Initiative
Source: NSW. Minister for Housing. Media Release.
"This new program will see the sale of up to 20 vacant Housing NSW blocks of land per year over the next 10 years, each with a 20-thousand dollar discount. “The properties for sale will be vacant land and this will include where homes have been demolished because of fire damage.” said Mr Borger said. “In return, those organisations would be expected to build a home for struggling families using approaches such as corporate sponsorship, discounted building materials and the use of volunteer labour."

Up to $100,000 in prizes on the line for creative thinkers
Source: NSW. Minister for Commerce and Science and Medical Research. Media Release.
"Web developers, school students and members of the public are being encouraged to come up with innovative ways to help people use NSW Government information and services with the ‘apps4nsw’ competition. Minister for Commerce and Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay declared the‘apps4nsw’ competition officially open.
More than 400 government data sets are now available at www.data.nsw.gov.au including health, crime and road accident statistics, threatened species data and storm tracking information."

The Climate Group partners with NSW Government to launch new business guide
Source: NSW. Minister for Climate Change and the Environment. Media Release.
"One of the world’s leading international NGO’s on climate change The Climate Group has joined
forces with the NSW Government to launch a guide to the low carbon economy.
The Business Guide to the Low Carbon Economy: New South Wales provides practical steps for businesses to get on top of measuring and curbing greenhouse gas emissions from their operations."

First batch of Neighbourhood Safer Places announced
Source: NSW. Minister for Emergency Services. Media release.
"Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan has announced the locations of the first set of new Neighbourhood Safer Places, bush fire safety refuges.Mr Whan said the Neighbourhood Safer Places concept was identified as an additional safety measure for bush fire prone communities following the Victorian bush fires in February"Neighbourhood Safer Places are community refuges where people can go at short notice if a major fire is threatens, or if they had decided to stay and defend their home but then find this is too dangerous in the fire conditions," Mr Whan said. "

Public comment sought on new lifejacket laws
Source: NSW. Minister for Ports and Waterways. Media Release.
"Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi today called for public comment on proposals that would see the most sweeping reforms to lifejacket rules in more than 30 years."

Keeping kids safe in the back seat
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced new safety regulations to target the high rate of injuries from children traveling in cars.Mr Rees said the rules to be in place next year will see children up to the age of seven required to travel in approved seats or wear restraints."

New laws target $1 billion identity crime industry
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced new laws to fight the billion dollar identity theft syndicates ripping off NSW families through card fraud and internet scams.“Thieves using sophisticated technology are costing Australians almost $1 billion a year,” said Premier Rees."

Stronger democracy on it's way for NSW
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees pledged to make democracy stronger in NSW by revolutionising how citizens are registered to vote.“We will create a ‘smart’ electoral roll which automatically registers new voters and updates changes for those already on the roll,” said Mr Rees.“The right to have your say is a fundamental right and the foundation of modern democracies."

Donation reform starts
Source: New South Wales.Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced an immediate ban on donations from developers to the NSW Labor Party.The Premier also announced sweeping reforms to campaign funding and further reforms for lobbyists.“The Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) will not accept another dollar from developers,” said Mr Rees."

Treasurer given responsibility for power reform
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced Treasurer Eric Roozendaal will take responsibility for delivering the state’s electricity reform.“I want to ensure a smooth transition and that we maintain the momentum for one of the biggest financial transactions of the year,” Mr Rees said.“The Government remains committed to securing the State’s electricity supply and maximising the value for the families and business of NSW."

First time in 100 years ethics classes will be taught in NSW
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees has approved ethics classes to be taught in NSW schools from next year, offering an alternative to religious education for the first time in more than 100 years.“Parents have said they want their children to be fully engaged when they are at school,” said Mr Rees.“The current system however does not allow for educational classes for children who do not participate in scripture."