December 2019 - Michael Johnsen MP
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December 2019
NATIONALS MEMBER FOR UPPER HUNTER
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE
AND RESOURCES
Dear Friends,
2019 has been a big year. A year of elections, of
hard work and challenges.
As I have stated before, our electorate, despite the
dry conditions, contains many of the most envied
places to live and to work in NSW, with world
class industries, those of wines, mines, equines
and bovines, all of which provide the economic
diversity and opportunity which in turn allows us
the lifestyle we enjoy.
In this Christmas-New Year newsletter you will
find important information regarding how your
NSW Government is providing assistance during
the fire season, including information on financial
assistance and modern innovations such as the
‘Fires Near Me’ app for smart phones.
During this time when our farming communities
are doing it tough in this unrelenting drought, I
would encourage our Upper Hunter Electorate
communities to buy locally whenever possible
and support the NSW Government’s ‘Buy
Regional’ program. Also in this newsletter you will
find an update on the newly dedicated Office of
Drought Response.
As ever, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas
and a safe, happy and healthy 2020.
My job is to represent you, so please, should you
wish to contact me regarding any concerns or
views you might have, email me directly to this
address: upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au.
Kind regards,
Michael Johnsen MP
Member for Upper Hunter
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture
and Resources Sign up for the newsletter at
www.michaeljohnsen.com.au
NATIONALS DELIVER OFFICE OF
DROUGHT RESPONSE TO PROVIDE
BETTER SUPPORT TO REGIONAL NSW
There is a new, dedicated Office of Drought Response
which has been formed to better coordinate support
delivered by all NSW Government agencies for
farmers, communities, businesses and towns affected
by drought.
The formation of this new Office which will work to
ensure water security across regional NSW, as well
as address the impact of drought on businesses and
communities and provide ongoing support to farmers.
The Office will be staffed by 10 dedicated people
and will continue to address the impacts of this
devastating drought.
Anyone requiring drought assistance is encouraged
to visit www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au or
call 1800 678 593.
THE FIRES NEAR ME APP
With the state of emergency declared in NSW I would
strongly encourage those in our community with smart
phones to download the ‘Fires Near Me’ app.
This mobile application on iOS and Android will help
you stay up to date on bush fires in your area during this
emergency.
You can now set up a ‘watch zone’ to be notified about
incidents in your area and beyond.
Further information on ‘Fires Near Me’ can be
found here:
www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/stay-up-to-date
www.michaeljohnsen.com.au
NEW LEGISLATION TO PROTECT
FARMERS’ RIGHT TO FARM
Farm trespassers will face the toughest penalties in Importantly, for the first time, this legislation
Australia including up to three years jail time, while recognises a farmer’s inherent right to farm and provide
farmers will enjoy the State’s first legislated ‘right to safeguards against nonsense nuisance claims.
farm’, under a historic piece of legislation set to be
These changes would ensure NSW has the toughest
introduced by the Nationals in Government, and which
penalties in Australia for farm trespass, including new
was passed.
offences that exist in no other State or Territory.
This ground-breaking piece of legislation creates a
This legislation goes further, recognising a farmer’s
clear deterrent to any would-be vigilantes considering
inherent right to farm and providing protections for
unlawfully trespassing on farming properties in our
those facing costly legal action for simply going about
Upper Hunter Electorate.
their business.
The legislation introduces:
The legislation comes on top of regulatory changes
✓ The toughest penalties in Australia for farm recently introduced under the Biosecurity Act 2015,
trespass, including three years jail time and up to which impose further offences and large financial
$22,000 in fines. Currently there is no jail time for penalties for farm trespass that breaches on-farm
trespass. biosecurity plans.
✓ New offences and aggravating factors for activities
such as trespassing as a group, damaging
property and releasing livestock.
✓ Legal recognition of a farmer’s right to farm,
shielding them from nuisance claims.
KEY POINTS
Penalties
✓ Penalties for farm trespass will be increased from ✓ ecognising for the very first time a farmer’s
R
fines of up to $5, 500, to three years jail time and inherent right to farm.
up to $22,000 in fines. Trespassers may also face
additional biosecurity fines introduced by the
✓ stablishing a new defence in law for farmers
E
going about legal farming practices, shielding
NSW Liberal & Nationals Government in July.1
them from neighbours suing them for ‘nuisance
✓ new offence will be created for inciting or
A claims’.
causing a trespass.
✓ his will mean a court won’t be able to order an
T
✓ ew aggravating factors for trespassing in
N injunction against an activity that is allegedly
a group, damaging property and willfully or causing a nuisance such as trucks moving chickens,
negligently releasing stock. No other State or spray rigs, spraying crops etc.
Territory has an offence for group trespass.
This includes $1,000 on-the-spot fines and up to $220,000 in fines through Court.
1
FIRE SEASON INFORMATION
As the fire season is upon us, I wanted to let our FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BUSHFIRE CLEAN UP
Upper Hunter Electorate Community know the myriad
The $25 million in NSW Government funding will help
of ways how the NSW Government is here to help.
pay for the clean-up of hazardous materials including
the removal of asbestos-contaminated material
ASSISTANCE FOR FIRE AFFECTED LANDHOLDERS released as a result of the bushfires, concrete slabs,
Landholders with concerns about their animals and and all dangerous debris including destroyed homes
livestock can reach out for assistance through the and trees.
NSW Government’s Agricultural Services Hotline
The Government will also waive waste levy fees for
on 1800 814 647.
residents disposing of bushfire-generated waste at
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Local nominated facilities.
Land Services officers are assisting landholders in:
The exemption of waste levy fees applies until 29
• Animal assessment and veterinary assistance February 2020 on debris and waste created by these
• Emergency fodder and stock water bushfires.
• Stock euthanasia and burial For a full list of all Councils please visit:
• Livestock feeding and management advice www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/news/2019/waste-levy-
• Care of animals in evacuation centres waived-in-bushfire-natural-disaster-areas
Landholders are being encouraged to prepare $1 MILLION BLAZEAID FUNDING
before an emergency by: The State Government has delivered a $1 million cash
injection for volunteer organisation BlazeAid, allowing
• Know the risk to you, your animals and property
it to continue rebuilding vital farm fences destroyed in
• Know where to go devastating bushfires.
• Know who to call
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/
• Know your plan releases/2019/$1-million-blazeaid-funding-takes-the-
• Have an emergency kit for you and your animals strain-off-bushfire-recovery
EMERGENCY CHECKLIST LEGAL SUPPORT FOR BUSHFIRE VICTIMS
During an emergency, landholders should: Victims of the bushfires will be eligible for free legal
advice and support thanks to the NSW Nationals in
• Act early
Government.
• Relocate animals and assets to a safer place on/off
property These lawyers will be specialists in areas of law such
as insurance, debt, tenancy, social security and financial
• If you are required to evacuate and if possible take
hardship.
your animals with you
• Never drive, ride or walk through an active fire Free legal advice is available with victims of natural
zone disasters considered priority clients. The LawAccess
NSW Disaster Response Hotline is 1800 801 529 or visit
• Report wildlife injuries
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au.
LAUNCHING SOON
REGIONAL SENIORS TRAVEL CARD
250 PLE
The card will make it more affordable for seniors
living in rural and regional areas to travel to access
$ Regional Seniors
Transport Card
essential services, do their shopping or visit family
and friends.
M
To be eligible, you must be an age pensioner
A
with a valid Pensioner Concession Card or hold a
0000 0000 0000 0000
S
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by
either the Department of Human Services or
MR JOHN A CITIZEN
Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Seniors must live in regional NSW outside
My colleagues and I want to ease the pressure of Wollongong and Newcastle City Council boundaries.
travel costs for seniors living in the bush and help
We all appreciate the importance of staying
them stay connected with family and friends and
connected – this is about helping seniors living in
access services.
regional communities stay connected with family
That’s why the NSW Government is launching the and friends and the services they need.
new $250 regional seniors travel card.
Eligible seniors will be able to register for their
Preloaded with $250, the card is valid for 12 months card through Service NSW in late January, but
and can be used for pre-booked NSW TrainLink please do not hesitate to contact my office for
Regional train and coach services, fuel and taxi trips. further information in that period.
Notice of Electorate Office
Christmas closure times
The Upper Hunter Electorate Office will be closed from COB Friday 20th December 2019, and will reopen on
Monday January 6th 2020. There will be an answering service for the Office during this time, so should you
need to, please call 0265431065 and leave a message.
Below is a series of numbers for emergency services that may be of assistance to you during the holiday period.
Triple Zero (000)
In a life threatening emergency call Triple Zero (000).
TTY: 106 – Hearing / speech impaired
NSW State Emergency Service - 132 500
For general help in a flood or storm, call the SES on 132 500.
NSW SES – 132 500 | Twitter – @NSWSES | Facebook – www.facebook.com/NSW.SES
NSW Rural Fire Service – 1800 679 737
Bush fire information line – 1800 679 737 | App: Fires Near Me ( Android / iPhone)
NSW Police Force
Police Assistance Line – 131 444 | Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000 – report crimes that
are not in progress and/or have no known offender
NSW Fire & Rescue
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000)
Out and About Delivering
For Our Communities
$4,500 funding for Gresford RFS $5,876.25 for Merriwa Men’s Shed
$100,000 for Gloucester Public School playground
$125,000 for Dungog Showground Delivering funding information to Muswellbrook Preschool
Authorised by Michael Johnsen MP
Phone 02 6543 1065 | Fax 02 6543 1416 Printed by Hunter Valley Printing,
Email upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au 90 Kelly St, Scone NSW 2337
Address 20 Bridge Street,Muswellbrook NSW 2333 using parliamentary entitlements, December 2019.
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