Sydney News: Former NSW Deputy Premier John Barillaro to face inquiry into US trade role

Here’s what you need to know this morning.

Barilara must testify

Former NSW Deputy Premier John Barillaro will appear today before an inquiry set up to investigate his appointment as NSW’s Trade Commissioner to America.

Mr Barillaro resigned from his $500,000-a-year job in New York after the public outcry, but is expected to answer “many questions” at his first appearance at the inquest.

“You want to understand his role in creating these positions, his role in changing the nature of appointments to these positions,” Upper House Opposition Leader Penny Sharp said yesterday.

“And any discussions he had with any of the ministers [Stuart] Ayres or… [NSW Premier Dominic] Perot, or anyone else in the government, because he applied and ended up being offered the job.”

Ms Sharpe also said Labor would push for the inquiry’s remit to be widened to include all international senior trade posts after reports claimed the Prime Minister had proposed a parliamentary post for Transport Minister David Elliott and had also spoken to them about the agent. general position in London.

In the afternoon, the inquiry will hear from Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown again in her third appearance before the committee.

Plan to deal with high suicide rates

The New South Wales opposition has announced a plan to help reduce the high suicide rate.

The proposed law includes a dedicated suicide prevention council and mandatory suicide prevention plans for state government departments.

Opposition mental health spokesman Ryan Park said the legislation would be based on successful government programs in other countries.

“This is above politics,” Mr. Park said.

“This is an issue that we all, as legislators, need to work on with health, education and community experts, as well as those who have experience, those who have loved ones who have taken their own lives, about what we can do in this area.’

The NRL is weighing heavily on the oval upgrade debate following the collapse of the railings

Tigers legend Benny Elias says the railing collapse at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Saturday shows why the ground needs an urgent upgrade.

Dozens of spectators fell several meters onto the concrete at a schoolboy rugby match when the railings on the old pitch gave way.

Leichhardt is one of several suburban ovals the NRL wants the State Government to pay for upgrades, threatening to host the grand final elsewhere if it doesn’t happen.

Mr Elias, who has watched and played many NRL games at the spiritual home of the Tigers, said it was not just for rugby league.

In a statement, Sports Minister Alistair Henskens said the government is committed to modernizing suburban stadiums.

“However, following recent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is appropriate that further investment … be initiated,” he said.

The council is investigating the accident.

Foster children feel left out, report finds

A report has found that children and young people in out-of-home care in New South Wales feel deprived of the power to make important decisions that affect their lives.

The NSW Advocate for Children and Young People’s report surveyed around 100 people aged six to 24.

Spokeswoman Zoe Robinson said the organization had made 19 recommendations to the government to help young people feel heard in the foster care system.

Deploying a monkeypox vaccine

A monkeypox vaccine program in New South Wales starts today, with authorities targeting those most at risk of contracting the virus.

NSW Health deliver 5,500 doses smallpox vaccine Jynneos for target groups.

There have been 33 confirmed cases in NSW, with the majority having been contracted overseas.

Men who have sex with men are considered to be most at risk of contracting monkeypox, which is spread through skin-to-skin contact.

Gay and bisexual men, as well as men who have sex with the homeless, sex workers or have serious drug problems that impair their judgement, are among the groups receiving the first doses.

Crown Casino Sydney opens today

Sydney’s Crown Casino will open its doors today, less than two years after it was deemed ineligible for a gaming licence.

The casino will be officially opened at an invitation-only event in Barangaroo tonight and members and guests will be able to use it on Tuesday.

A Crown public inquiry revealed allegations of criminal activity and money laundering, and the company was found ineligible to hold a gambling licence.

However, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority of New South Wales granted Crown a conditional license in June, saying it would closely monitor initial operations.

The Newmarch investigation is now in its third week

An inquest into 19 deaths from COVID-19 at a Sydney nursing home is entering its third week.

Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee is investigating a two-month outbreak that led to 19 deaths at Newmarch House, Kingswood, in 2020.

The inquest heard that some workers refused to attend to residents who tested positive and at one point there were no staff serving food.

Staff were heard to be under intense pressure and some external staff replacements were so unqualified as to be of no use.

Families and friends expressed concern as to why residents with COVID-19 were not transferred to hospital.