Premier Announces Regional Funding

THE Premier of New South Wales has announced $140 million for primary industry in New South Wales and the Deputy Premier John Barilaro flagged the NRL playing in regional areas of the state.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian did not clarify if the money to regional New South Wales would be in the form of loans and said “we don’t want to foreshadow what we are considering.”

“We know the agriculture and primary industries sector isn’t as impacted as others when it comes to the virus,” said Premier Berejiklian.

“They’re able to keep growing, they’re able to employ people and they’re able to be supportive, especially given the huge hit they took over summer with the bushfires,” she said.

“And that is good news because not only does it mean jobs in the bush for those communities that have been impacted by the bushfire season, but it also means jobs in the cities when those supply chains, those distribution networks, freight and logistics come to the city, so it is good news all round,” Premier Gladys Berekjiklian said.

The Premier also flagged the date for changes at schools will be May 11, with details still being discussed.

“It does not mean every student will go back on the same day, it does not mean full classrooms, it does not mean all teachers at the same time in the staff room,” said Premier Berejiklian.

“Hope to be able to communicate what May 11 looks like very soon,” said Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro fielded questions about a proposal by the NRL to play games in regional New South Wales, explaining while they were encouraging people not to travel to regional areas, the NRL was classified as work related.

“You already are allowed to travel to the regions for work,” said Mr Barilaro.

“Of course the message right now to everybody is not to travel to regional New South Wales, that is to protect community,” he said.

“But in a contained environment using enclosed environments like our rec centres you have an ability actually to manage the risk and that is what we are talking about again,” he said.

“There are a lot of naysayers, a lot of obstacles, but as the deputy premier I’m helping and working with the NRL to find solutions and I think everybody would be keen to find solutions to all of the industry issues we are facing,” said Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

Health Update:

• 6 new confirmed cases overnight
• 1 death in the past 24 hours
• 249 cases being treated by NSW Health
• 22 people in ICU
• 15 ventilators

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kerry Chant also confirmed there was another death at the Anglicare facility, bringing the total deaths to two people. There have been 41 people test positive to the virus including 14 staff and 27 residents.