
More job cuts to state's public service
Almost 1000 roles were put on the chopping block last week at Transport for NSW, and another 165 at the state's only dedicated regional department.
The cuts to TAFE will not affect teaching roles, and instead reportedly include administrative staff at the digital, and product and quality divisions.
A spokesperson for TAFE NSW said the teaching organisation was 'changing its model to better align' with the needs of students, industry and the community.
That would include 'consolidating some roles across the organisation', the spokesperson said. The job cuts at TAFE NSW will not include teaching roles. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
'Last week, TAFE NSW employees were invited to participate in consultation on additional changes to the operating model, which includes the identification of approximately 100 (net) roles that may no longer be required. None of these roles will be teaching positions,' the spokesperson said.
'These proposed changes are in line with the recommendations from the 2024 NSW VET Review, and support delivery commitments in the 2025 TAFE NSW Charter.
'Until the consultation, review and placement process is complete, final positions and their locations will not be known. TAFE NSW will continue to keep all stakeholders informed as this process continues.' NSW Premier Chris Minns pledged to cut senior public servant roles by 15 per cent. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
The spokesperson said about 500 new positions had been added since 2023, 'bringing more teachers to TAFE NSW'.
Internal documents seen by The Daily Telegraph reportedly state the cuts would predominantly be focused on middle management positions.
Premier Chris Minns campaigned on slashing senior public servant roles by 15 per cent.
The cuts to TfNSW and the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development are understood to be part of these cuts.
Addressing the media last week, Mr Minns said the cuts were not a 'nasty' surprise, and that they were not reducing the overall headcount.
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Perilous': largest-ever Gaza protest packs bridge
An unprecedented throng of protesters turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a sea of Palestinian flags and the centrepoint of public resistance to Israel's military action in Gaza. About 90,000 turned out on a wet and windy Sunday to spotlight suffering in Gaza after a police order to prohibit the protest was rejected by a court. Organiser Palestine Action Group said it aimed to draw attention to what the United Nations has described as worsening famine conditions in Gaza. Several Labor MPs including former NSW Labor premier and former federal foreign minister Bob Carr joined the march in defiance of Premier Chris Minns alongside multiple Greens and independent colleagues. The premier previously warned the city would "descend into chaos" if the protest went ahead. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange joined Mr Carr at the rally with the pair seen leading the crowd and clutching a giant "Save Gaza" placard. Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former boxer and rugby league star Anthony Mundine added to the list of prominent attendees. Australians have been watching "an avalanche of atrocities that cannot be denied or erased", Foster told the crowd. "As a country we've said much but not acted as we must," he said. About an hour into the march and with increasing concerns for public safety, police urged protesters on the bridge to turn around "to avoid a crowd crush" and "risk of injury due to the huge number of people taking part". The force permitted protesters to return southbound across the bridge to the Sydney CBD after the march was initially proposed to end in North Sydney. By 5pm, bridge lanes had reopened in both directions. NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna estimated attendance at about 90,000 people and described the crowd as the largest he had seen in Sydney. "We were really overwhelmed with numbers," he told reporters on Sunday evening, noting attendees were well behaved and thanking them for complying with police orders. Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson described the situation as "perilous" and worried police were going to have a "major incident with potential loss of life". "I can honestly say in my 35 years of policing, that was a perilous situation ... I've never seen a more perilous situation," he said. Rally speaker and independent Jewish journalist and author Antony Loewenstein said he saw "no evidence" the huge number of people who attended were in any physical danger due to the crowd's size. "Police are trying to create a fiction around an event they maybe weren't prepared for," he said. Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley questioned the shutting down of a "critical piece of infrastructure" in Sydney. "I respect the right of free speech and protest, but this is taking it to another level ... the protest could happen elsewhere," Ms Ley told Sky News. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who has been more outspoken on ending the war in Gaza, emphasised unity. First time protesters and friends Ian Robertson, 74, and Greg Mullins, 66, said they hoped their attendance could make a difference. "The world's gone mad," Mr Mullins told AAP. "I came today because I don't want my kids telling me what were you doing when this mass murder and genocide was going on," Mr Robertson said. About 25,000 protesters also marched through Melbourne to block a major CBD thoroughfare but were stopped by a wall of riot police at the entrance to the King Street Bridge. Many in the crowd banged pots and pans in a nod to mounting concerns about mass starvation in Gaza. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. An unprecedented throng of protesters turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a sea of Palestinian flags and the centrepoint of public resistance to Israel's military action in Gaza. About 90,000 turned out on a wet and windy Sunday to spotlight suffering in Gaza after a police order to prohibit the protest was rejected by a court. Organiser Palestine Action Group said it aimed to draw attention to what the United Nations has described as worsening famine conditions in Gaza. Several Labor MPs including former NSW Labor premier and former federal foreign minister Bob Carr joined the march in defiance of Premier Chris Minns alongside multiple Greens and independent colleagues. The premier previously warned the city would "descend into chaos" if the protest went ahead. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange joined Mr Carr at the rally with the pair seen leading the crowd and clutching a giant "Save Gaza" placard. Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former boxer and rugby league star Anthony Mundine added to the list of prominent attendees. Australians have been watching "an avalanche of atrocities that cannot be denied or erased", Foster told the crowd. "As a country we've said much but not acted as we must," he said. About an hour into the march and with increasing concerns for public safety, police urged protesters on the bridge to turn around "to avoid a crowd crush" and "risk of injury due to the huge number of people taking part". The force permitted protesters to return southbound across the bridge to the Sydney CBD after the march was initially proposed to end in North Sydney. By 5pm, bridge lanes had reopened in both directions. NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna estimated attendance at about 90,000 people and described the crowd as the largest he had seen in Sydney. "We were really overwhelmed with numbers," he told reporters on Sunday evening, noting attendees were well behaved and thanking them for complying with police orders. Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson described the situation as "perilous" and worried police were going to have a "major incident with potential loss of life". "I can honestly say in my 35 years of policing, that was a perilous situation ... I've never seen a more perilous situation," he said. Rally speaker and independent Jewish journalist and author Antony Loewenstein said he saw "no evidence" the huge number of people who attended were in any physical danger due to the crowd's size. "Police are trying to create a fiction around an event they maybe weren't prepared for," he said. Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley questioned the shutting down of a "critical piece of infrastructure" in Sydney. "I respect the right of free speech and protest, but this is taking it to another level ... the protest could happen elsewhere," Ms Ley told Sky News. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who has been more outspoken on ending the war in Gaza, emphasised unity. First time protesters and friends Ian Robertson, 74, and Greg Mullins, 66, said they hoped their attendance could make a difference. "The world's gone mad," Mr Mullins told AAP. "I came today because I don't want my kids telling me what were you doing when this mass murder and genocide was going on," Mr Robertson said. About 25,000 protesters also marched through Melbourne to block a major CBD thoroughfare but were stopped by a wall of riot police at the entrance to the King Street Bridge. Many in the crowd banged pots and pans in a nod to mounting concerns about mass starvation in Gaza. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. An unprecedented throng of protesters turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a sea of Palestinian flags and the centrepoint of public resistance to Israel's military action in Gaza. About 90,000 turned out on a wet and windy Sunday to spotlight suffering in Gaza after a police order to prohibit the protest was rejected by a court. Organiser Palestine Action Group said it aimed to draw attention to what the United Nations has described as worsening famine conditions in Gaza. Several Labor MPs including former NSW Labor premier and former federal foreign minister Bob Carr joined the march in defiance of Premier Chris Minns alongside multiple Greens and independent colleagues. The premier previously warned the city would "descend into chaos" if the protest went ahead. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange joined Mr Carr at the rally with the pair seen leading the crowd and clutching a giant "Save Gaza" placard. Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former boxer and rugby league star Anthony Mundine added to the list of prominent attendees. Australians have been watching "an avalanche of atrocities that cannot be denied or erased", Foster told the crowd. "As a country we've said much but not acted as we must," he said. About an hour into the march and with increasing concerns for public safety, police urged protesters on the bridge to turn around "to avoid a crowd crush" and "risk of injury due to the huge number of people taking part". The force permitted protesters to return southbound across the bridge to the Sydney CBD after the march was initially proposed to end in North Sydney. By 5pm, bridge lanes had reopened in both directions. NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna estimated attendance at about 90,000 people and described the crowd as the largest he had seen in Sydney. "We were really overwhelmed with numbers," he told reporters on Sunday evening, noting attendees were well behaved and thanking them for complying with police orders. Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson described the situation as "perilous" and worried police were going to have a "major incident with potential loss of life". "I can honestly say in my 35 years of policing, that was a perilous situation ... I've never seen a more perilous situation," he said. Rally speaker and independent Jewish journalist and author Antony Loewenstein said he saw "no evidence" the huge number of people who attended were in any physical danger due to the crowd's size. "Police are trying to create a fiction around an event they maybe weren't prepared for," he said. Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley questioned the shutting down of a "critical piece of infrastructure" in Sydney. "I respect the right of free speech and protest, but this is taking it to another level ... the protest could happen elsewhere," Ms Ley told Sky News. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who has been more outspoken on ending the war in Gaza, emphasised unity. First time protesters and friends Ian Robertson, 74, and Greg Mullins, 66, said they hoped their attendance could make a difference. "The world's gone mad," Mr Mullins told AAP. "I came today because I don't want my kids telling me what were you doing when this mass murder and genocide was going on," Mr Robertson said. About 25,000 protesters also marched through Melbourne to block a major CBD thoroughfare but were stopped by a wall of riot police at the entrance to the King Street Bridge. Many in the crowd banged pots and pans in a nod to mounting concerns about mass starvation in Gaza. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. An unprecedented throng of protesters turned the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a sea of Palestinian flags and the centrepoint of public resistance to Israel's military action in Gaza. About 90,000 turned out on a wet and windy Sunday to spotlight suffering in Gaza after a police order to prohibit the protest was rejected by a court. Organiser Palestine Action Group said it aimed to draw attention to what the United Nations has described as worsening famine conditions in Gaza. Several Labor MPs including former NSW Labor premier and former federal foreign minister Bob Carr joined the march in defiance of Premier Chris Minns alongside multiple Greens and independent colleagues. The premier previously warned the city would "descend into chaos" if the protest went ahead. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange joined Mr Carr at the rally with the pair seen leading the crowd and clutching a giant "Save Gaza" placard. Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former boxer and rugby league star Anthony Mundine added to the list of prominent attendees. Australians have been watching "an avalanche of atrocities that cannot be denied or erased", Foster told the crowd. "As a country we've said much but not acted as we must," he said. About an hour into the march and with increasing concerns for public safety, police urged protesters on the bridge to turn around "to avoid a crowd crush" and "risk of injury due to the huge number of people taking part". The force permitted protesters to return southbound across the bridge to the Sydney CBD after the march was initially proposed to end in North Sydney. By 5pm, bridge lanes had reopened in both directions. NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter McKenna estimated attendance at about 90,000 people and described the crowd as the largest he had seen in Sydney. "We were really overwhelmed with numbers," he told reporters on Sunday evening, noting attendees were well behaved and thanking them for complying with police orders. Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson described the situation as "perilous" and worried police were going to have a "major incident with potential loss of life". "I can honestly say in my 35 years of policing, that was a perilous situation ... I've never seen a more perilous situation," he said. Rally speaker and independent Jewish journalist and author Antony Loewenstein said he saw "no evidence" the huge number of people who attended were in any physical danger due to the crowd's size. "Police are trying to create a fiction around an event they maybe weren't prepared for," he said. Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley questioned the shutting down of a "critical piece of infrastructure" in Sydney. "I respect the right of free speech and protest, but this is taking it to another level ... the protest could happen elsewhere," Ms Ley told Sky News. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who has been more outspoken on ending the war in Gaza, emphasised unity. First time protesters and friends Ian Robertson, 74, and Greg Mullins, 66, said they hoped their attendance could make a difference. "The world's gone mad," Mr Mullins told AAP. "I came today because I don't want my kids telling me what were you doing when this mass murder and genocide was going on," Mr Robertson said. About 25,000 protesters also marched through Melbourne to block a major CBD thoroughfare but were stopped by a wall of riot police at the entrance to the King Street Bridge. Many in the crowd banged pots and pans in a nod to mounting concerns about mass starvation in Gaza. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war in Gaza, according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages.


Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Must end:' Aus' $20m move amid Gaza crisis
Australia will commit a further $20m to assist the delivery of critical food and aid to starving Gazans, as health authorities confirmed reporting that 163 people had died of starvation, including 93 children. The move comes amid growing international pressure for Australia to join the UK, France and Canada in committing to recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September, which will be attended by Anthony Albanese. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the additional $20m aid package on Sunday night, which brings Australia's total contribution to $130m. The assistance will be delivered through key partners and humanitarian organisations will be broken into five different components. The announcement comes after the Israeli government relented to the establishment of humanitarian corridors, following intense global condemnation it was purposefully starving civilians in Gaza – claims Israeli Prime Minister Israeli Netanyahu have denied and labelled a 'bold-faced lie'. $2m has been earmarked for relief support alongside the UK though the existing partnership arrangement, $6m will be spent through the UN World Food Programme for the distribution for critical food supplies. The government's $20m commitment comes as huge pro-Palestine rallies hit Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday. NewsWire / Brendan Read Credit: News Corp Australia $5m have also been committed both to UNICEF to target children at risk of starvation, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide essential needs, like healthcare. Another $2m will be delivered through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation to bolster the operations of field hospitals in the war zone. Senator Wong reiterated her demands of a ceasefire, with the US and Israel restarting negotiations for a peace deal. The move also comes after more than 50,000 anti-war protesters shut down Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, demanding more action, with similar large-scale demonstrations happening in Melbourne's CBD. 'Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice,' she said. 'The suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end. 'Australia will continue to work with the international community to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and a two-state solution – the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated calls for a ceasefire and said the 'suffering and starvation of civilians in Gaza must end'. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia International Development Minister Dr Anne Aly said the government was working with partners to provide the 'immediate and sustained lifesaving assistance' and urged the Israeli government to allow teams to 'do their vital work and deliver aid at scale'. 'Australia's additional funding will bolster international efforts to address urgent needs in Gaza. It will provide urgently needed food and healthcare,' she said. 'We continue to call on Israel to allow immediate and unimpeded aid access into Gaza.' The announcements come as Anthony Albanese seeks a call with Mr Netanyahu, following sustained speculation around whether Australia will join its Western Allies in recognising Palestinian statehood at the international summit next month. Mr Albanese has repeatedly said the act cannot just be a 'gesture' but must go towards achieving a two-state solution and peace in Gaza. The Coalition has said peace needs to be resolved before they support the recognition of statehood, which would require Hamas to surrender and release the Israeli hostages taken during the October 7 attacks.

Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Despite worst fears and weather, this was the day Sydney took a stand for humanity
Despite the worst fears of NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns, Sunday's pro-Palestine protest on the Harbour Bridge will be remembered as the day Sydney turned out en masse to plead for humanity. Protesting against a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has entered the mainstream. There is no other way to explain the reported 90,000 people who braved horrendous wet weather to walk – or, for a large part, stand – to demand an end to a worsening famine in the occupied territory. No one should suggest that the city had turned its back on our Jewish community. Rather, many ordinary Sydneysiders felt strongly enough about the crisis in Gaza that they saw it necessary to join the masses and cross the city's most iconic landmark. Undoubtedly, there would have been bad-faith actors who joined the massive crowd. Equally, the Palestine Action Group, led by serial protester Josh Lees, cannot take all the credit for luring tens of thousands of people into the city, although it could not have happened without them. But the weekly PAG protests through the CBD, which Minns has previously said were a 'huge drain on the public purse' and that police should have the power to shut down, morphed into a show of mass solidarity against the deteriorating disaster in Gaza. Minns did (and will continue to) maintain that despite his earlier comments, which have been viewed by some of his own Labor MPs as anti-protest, he was worried only about the safety of the thousands of people who would descend on the city. He stressed, belatedly, that he was not against people protesting. But he was against shutting down the 'central artery' of Sydney. He stamped his foot and said it could not happen, the police echoing his protestations. Loading The NSW Police Commissioner asked the Supreme Court for a prohibition order to block PAG's application to protest on the bridge. At that stage, 10,000 people were expected to turn up. The police were unsuccessful.