Here’s what you need to know this morning.
Barilaro due to give evidence
Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro will appear today before the inquiry created to investigate his appointment as NSW’s trade commissioner to the Americas.
Mr Barilaro has withdrawn from the $500.00-a-year job based in New York after a public outcry but he will be expected to answer “many questions” in his first appearance at the inquiry.
“You want to understand his role in the creation of these positions, his role in the changing nature of the way in which these positions were appointed,” leader of the opposition in the upper house, Penny Sharpe, said yesterday.
“And any of the discussions that he had with either Minister [Stuart] Ayres or… [NSW Premier Dominic] Perrottet, or indeed anyone else in the government, as he applied for and was eventually offered that job.”
Ms Sharpe also said Labor would seek to expand the inquiry’s terms of reference to include all international senior trade appointments after alleged reports the Premier had offered to create a parliamentary trade role for Transport Minister David Elliott, and had also spoken to him about the agent- general position in London.
In the afternoon, the inquiry will again hear from Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown in her third appearance before the committee.
Plan to tackle high suicide rate
The NSW opposition has announced a plan to help reduce high rates of suicide.
The proposed legislation includes a specialized suicide-prevention council and mandatory suicide-prevention plans in 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 all of us as legislators have got to work with health experts, education experts, and community experts, as well as those with lived experience, from those with loved ones who have taken their own life, about what we can do in this area.”
NRL great weighs into oval upgrade debate after railing collapses
Tigers legend Benny Elias says the collapse of a railing at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval on Saturday shows why the ground needs an urgent upgrade.
Dozens of spectators fell several meters onto concrete at a schoolboys’ rugby match when a railing at the aging ground gave way.
Leichhardt is one of several suburban ovals the NRL wants the state government to pay to upgrade, threatening to take the grand finale elsewhere if it does not happen.
Mr Elias, who has watched and played many NRL games at the Tigers’ spiritual home, said it was for more than just rugby league.
In a statement, Sport Minister Alister Henskens said the government was committed to upgrading suburban stadiums.
“However, following recent natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is appropriate that further investment … is staged,” he said.
The council is investigating the accident.
Foster children feel excluded, report finds
A report has found children and young people in out-of-home care in NSW feel excluded from critical decisions affecting their lives.
The NSW Advocate for Children and Young People report surveyed about 100 people aged from six to 24 years.
Spokesperson Zoe Robinson said the organization had made 19 recommendations to the government to ensure young people felt heard in the foster care system.
Monkeypox vaccine rollout
NSW’s monkeypox vaccine program starts today, with authorities targeting those deemed to be at the highest risk of contracting the virus.
NSW Health will supply 5,500 doses of the Jynneos smallpox vaccine to targeted groups.
There have been 33 confirmed cases in NSW, with the majority of those picked up overseas.
Men who have sex with men are considered most at risk of contracting monkeypox, which spreads through skin-to-skin contact.
Gay and bisexual men and men who have sex with men who are homeless, sex workers or have significant drug issues which impair their judgment are among the specific groups to receive the first doses.
Crown Sydney casino opens today
Crown Sydney casino will open its doors today, less than two years after it was deemed unfit to hold a gaming license.
The casino will be officially opened at an invitation-only event at Barangaroo tonight, with members and guests able to use the facilities on Tuesday.
A public inquiry into Crown revealed allegations of criminal activity and money laundering, and the company was deemed unfit to hold a gaming license.
However, in June the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority granted Crown a conditional licence, saying it would closely monitor initial operations.
Newmarch inquest entering third week
An inquest into 19 COVID-19 deaths in a Sydney aged care facility is entering its third week.
Deputy state coroner Derek Lee is investigating a two-month outbreak that resulted in 19 deaths at Newmarch House, Kingswood, in 2020.
The inquest has heard some workers refused to look after residents who had tested positive, and at one point there were no staff to serve meals.
It has heard there was intense pressure on staff, and some external staff replacements were so unskilled they were of no benefit.
Families and friends have raised concerns about why residents with COVID-19 were not transferred to hospital.
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