Latest news with #ChrisMinns'
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Sky News AU
New Sydney buses assembled in China months after Premier Chris Minns' government said fleet will be built in NSW
A fleet of new electric buses set for Greater Sydney have been built in China and not locally, months after NSW Premier Chris Minns' government said the state's South Coast would become a 'manufacturing hub'. The NSW government announced in January that it had awarded vehicle manufacturer Foton a contract to build 126 electric buses at a new manufacturing facility in Nowra. A statement by the government outlined a plan for the buses, which would be added to Greater Sydney's transport network, to be built at the 6,000 square metre bus factory from late 2025. 'The South Coast is set to become a new manufacturing hub for the next generation of public transport,' the statement said. However, pictures posted on Foton Motor's Facebook page, which now appear to have been deleted, have showed over a dozen buses lined up at a Chinese facility before they were shipped to NSW, the Saturday Telegraph has reported. Photos of the buses showed ribbons attached to the front of them, as it appeared a ceremony for the newly completed fleet was held, and another picture showed the unfinished interior of one of the vehicles. It is understood some features such as Opal card reading devices will be added to the buses in NSW. Mr Minns has defended the buses being built overseas, according to the masthead. In January, when the Nowra facility was announced, the Premier said that under his government, bus builders in NSW were 'building them here again.' 'The offshoring of public transport by the former government was a complete disaster, which is why we're building these buses here in NSW – creating local jobs and public transport that works,' Mr Minns said. 'This state of the art facility in Nowra will create ongoing skilled jobs in regional NSW while also delivering emissions free world class public transport for the people of our state." NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen had said 100 jobs would be created once the new facility in Nowra was completed. 'We want our local manufacturers and suppliers to have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need. That's why we have structured our zero-emissions bus program in a way that builds our bus manufacturing capacity for the long term,' Ms Haylen said. The Nowra factory site is yet to be developed and features such as seats will be installed on the newly built buses at a temporary site on the South Coast, according to The Saturday Telegraph.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victoria, NSW frustrated by federal funding cuts to domestic violence partnership
Sources in the NSW and Victorian governments have expressed frustration over the diversion of federal cash from a national partnership on domestic violence that will cut funding to the states by millions after a spate of femicides. The $365.9 million National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses was part of a bigger package announced in September in response to what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a national crisis of gendered violence. It provides operational funding for the states and territories to direct to local services. Analysis by this masthead found that although the Commonwealth has increased funding to other domestic violence initiatives, it will put on average $5.4 million less per year into the next five-year partnership – equivalent to a 7 per cent drop, despite indexation – when it takes effect on July 1. Despite federal funding increasing with indexation over the coming five years, the annual average investment over the life of the partnership is still $1.7 million lower for NSW and $1.25 million lower for Victoria compared to the former two-year deal. For the first year of the new deal, this amounts to a $3 million drop for NSW and a $2 million drop for Victoria compared to the annual average under the previous two-year deal that wraps up on June 30. Loading Federal commitments are matched by each state and territory. Negotiations for the new partnership began back in September. But NSW and Victoria only signed up in late March, days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the federal election and the Commonwealth entered caretaker mode. All other jurisdictions had signed up weeks earlier, in February and early March. NSW Premier Chris Minns' office declined to comment. But sources with knowledge of the negotiations said that although the NSW government was frustrated by the decision, there would be no cuts to services as a result of the shortfall.
The Age
02-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Victoria, NSW frustrated by federal funding cuts to domestic violence partnership
Sources in the NSW and Victorian governments have expressed frustration over the diversion of federal cash from a national partnership on domestic violence that will cut funding to the states by millions after a spate of femicides. The $365.9 million National Partnership Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses was part of a bigger package announced in September in response to what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called a national crisis of gendered violence. It provides operational funding for the states and territories to direct to local services. Analysis by this masthead found that although the Commonwealth has increased funding to other domestic violence initiatives, it will put on average $5.4 million less per year into the next five-year partnership – equivalent to a 7 per cent drop, despite indexation – when it takes effect on July 1. Despite federal funding increasing with indexation over the coming five years, the annual average investment over the life of the partnership is still $1.7 million lower for NSW and $1.25 million lower for Victoria compared to the former two-year deal. For the first year of the new deal, this amounts to a $3 million drop for NSW and a $2 million drop for Victoria compared to the annual average under the previous two-year deal that wraps up on June 30. Loading Federal commitments are matched by each state and territory. Negotiations for the new partnership began back in September. But NSW and Victoria only signed up in late March, days before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the federal election and the Commonwealth entered caretaker mode. All other jurisdictions had signed up weeks earlier, in February and early March. NSW Premier Chris Minns' office declined to comment. But sources with knowledge of the negotiations said that although the NSW government was frustrated by the decision, there would be no cuts to services as a result of the shortfall.
