December 2019NATIONALS MEMBER FOR UPPER HUNTERPARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE AND RESOURCES

Sign up for the newsletter atwww.michaeljohnsen.com.au

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 MPMember for Upper HunterParliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Resources

NATIONALS DELIVER OFFICE OF DROUGHT RESPONSE TO PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT TO REGIONAL NSW

www.michaeljohnsen.com.au

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.

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

THE FIRES NEAR ME APP

NEW LEGISLATION TO PROTECT FARMERS’ RIGHT TO FARM

Farm trespassers will face the toughest penalties in Australia including up to three years jail time, while farmers will enjoy the State’s first legislated ‘right to farm’, under a historic piece of legislation set to be introduced by the Nationals in Government, and which was passed.

This ground-breaking piece of legislation creates a clear deterrent to any would-be vigilantes considering unlawfully trespassing on farming properties in our Upper Hunter Electorate.

The legislation introduces:

✓ The toughest penalties in Australia for farm trespass, including three years jail time and up to $22,000 in fines. Currently there is no jail time for trespass.

✓ 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.

Penalties✓ Penalties for farm trespass will be increased from

fines of up to $5, 500, to three years jail time and up to $22,000 in fines. Trespassers may also face additional biosecurity fines introduced by the NSW Liberal & Nationals Government in July.1

✓ A new offence will be created for inciting or causing a trespass.

✓ New aggravating factors for trespassing in a group, damaging property and willfully or negligently releasing stock. No other State or Territory has an offence for group trespass.

KEY POINTS

Importantly, for the first time, this legislation recognises a farmer’s inherent right to farm and provide safeguards against nonsense nuisance claims.

These changes would ensure NSW has the toughest penalties in Australia for farm trespass, including new offences that exist in no other State or Territory.

This legislation goes further, recognising a farmer’s inherent right to farm and providing protections for those facing costly legal action for simply going about their business.

The legislation comes on top of regulatory changes recently introduced under the Biosecurity Act 2015, which impose further offences and large financial penalties for farm trespass that breaches on-farm biosecurity plans.

✓ Recognising for the very first time a farmer’s inherent right to farm.

✓ Establishing a new defence in law for farmers going about legal farming practices, shielding them from neighbours suing them for ‘nuisance claims’.

✓ This will mean a court won’t be able to order an injunction against an activity that is allegedly causing a nuisance such as trucks moving chickens, spray rigs, spraying crops etc.

1This includes $1,000 on-the-spot fines and up to $220,000 in fines through Court.

As the fire season is upon us, I wanted to let our Upper Hunter Electorate Community know the myriad of ways how the NSW Government is here to help.

ASSISTANCE FOR FIRE AFFECTED LANDHOLDERSLandholders with concerns about their animals and livestock can reach out for assistance through the NSW Government’s Agricultural Services Hotline on 1800 814 647.

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Local Land Services officers are assisting landholders in:

• Animal assessment and veterinary assistance • Emergency fodder and stock water• Stock euthanasia and burial • Livestock feeding and management advice • Care of animals in evacuation centres

Landholders are being encouraged to prepare before an emergency by:

• Know the risk to you, your animals and property• Know where to go• Know who to call• Know your plan• Have an emergency kit for you and your animals

EMERGENCY CHECKLISTDuring an emergency, landholders should:

• Act early• Relocate animals and assets to a safer place on/off

property• If you are required to evacuate and if possible take

your animals with you• Never drive, ride or walk through an active fire

zone• Report wildlife injuries

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BUSHFIRE CLEAN UP

The $25 million in NSW Government funding will help pay for the clean-up of hazardous materials including the removal of asbestos-contaminated material released as a result of the bushfires, concrete slabs, and all dangerous debris including destroyed homes and trees.

The Government will also waive waste levy fees for residents disposing of bushfire-generated waste at nominated facilities.

The exemption of waste levy fees applies until 29 February 2020 on debris and waste created by these bushfires.

For a full list of all Councils please visit: www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/news/2019/waste-levy-waived-in-bushfire-natural-disaster-areas

$1 MILLION BLAZEAID FUNDING The State Government has delivered a $1 million cash injection for volunteer organisation BlazeAid, allowing it to continue rebuilding vital farm fences destroyed in devastating bushfires.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/media-centre/releases/2019/$1-million-blazeaid-funding-takes-the-strain-off-bushfire-recovery

LEGAL SUPPORT FOR BUSHFIRE VICTIMSVictims of the bushfires will be eligible for free legal advice and support thanks to the NSW Nationals in Government.

These lawyers will be specialists in areas of law such as insurance, debt, tenancy, social security and financial hardship.

Free legal advice is available with victims of natural disasters considered priority clients. The LawAccess NSW Disaster Response Hotline is 1800 801 529 or visit www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au.

FIRE SEASON INFORMATION

Regional Seniors Transport Card$250

MR JOHN A CITIZENSAMPLE0000 0000 0000 0000

REGIONAL SENIORS TRAVEL CARDLAUNCHING SOON

My colleagues and I want to ease the pressure of travel costs for seniors living in the bush and help them stay connected with family and friends and access services.

That’s why the NSW Government is launching the new $250 regional seniors travel card.

Preloaded with $250, the card is valid for 12 months and can be used for pre-booked NSW TrainLink Regional train and coach services, fuel and taxi trips.

The card will make it more affordable for seniors living in rural and regional areas to travel to access essential services, do their shopping or visit family and friends.

To be eligible, you must be an age pensioner with a valid Pensioner Concession Card or hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card issued by either the Department of Human Services or Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Seniors must live in regional NSW outside Wollongong and Newcastle City Council boundaries.

We all appreciate the importance of staying connected – this is about helping seniors living in regional communities stay connected with family and friends and the services they need.

Eligible seniors will be able to register for their card through Service NSW in late January, but please do not hesitate to contact my office for further information in that period.

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)

Notice of Electorate Office Christmas closure times

Phone 02 6543 1065 | Fax 02 6543 1416 Email upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.auAddress 20 Bridge Street,Muswellbrook NSW 2333

Authorised by Michael Johnsen MP Printed by Hunter Valley Printing,

90 Kelly St, Scone NSW 2337 using parliamentary entitlements, December 2019.

Out and About Delivering For Our Communities

$4,500 funding for Gresford RFS $5,876.25 for Merriwa Men’s Shed

$125,000 for Dungog Showground

$100,000 for Gloucester Public School playground

Delivering funding information to Muswellbrook Preschool