Sydney

Source (paywall).

Another of the recommendations advises “the University prohibit any student from addressing those present in a lecture, seminar or tutorial prior to the commencement of the lecture, seminar or tutorial on any subject matter. A breach of the prohibition may be considered misconduct.”

It also recommended: “The University should approach both the NSW Police and the Federal Police with a view to entering into with them formal protocols which set out how they can assist the University if the need arises” and that “attaching banners to the footbridges be prohibited”.

David Brophy, a senior history lecturer at the University of Sydney, said the review’s proposals banned “basic forms of political expression on campus”.

He said the new civility rule caused particular concern, appearing “utterly bizarre and unworkable”.

“Are academics really expected to explain the context of every word and phrase they use?” he said. “A vague rule like this will most likely be wielded selectively against those who speak up for Palestine.” see

In short:

Those in Sydney and eastern NSW have been advised to take precaution as this week's heatwave is tipped to continue.

According to forecasts, a maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius is predicted for Sydney's coast, while up to 39C is on the cards for pockets of Greater Western Sydney.

What's next?

A cool change is expected for the state later this week, bringing temperatures down.

Source (paywall).

The regional arm of NSW’s railways is set to be folded into a single passenger train ...

Following two days of intense negotiations, rail unions said the government had agreed to abolish NSW TrainLink and bring all passenger services within one railway agency, which would help fast-track ways to find savings amid pay talks by removing duplication.

NSW TrainLink runs regional train and coach services including the diesel-powered Xplorer and XPT fleets, which operate as far afield as Melbourne, Brisbane and Broken Hill.

Following a government-commissioned review, the oversight of intercity trains, which operate from Sydney to Newcastle, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, has been transferred to Sydney Trains.

According to the unions, the government also gave the nod on Thursday to one of their key claims for a multi-enterprise agreement, which is a protection for workers if parts of the state’s transport assets are outsourced or privatised.

Workers would be entitled to the same pay and conditions as they had in the public sector if their jobs were outsourced to a private company.

An application for a multi-enterprise agreement is already before the industrial umpire, and now needs the government to consent to it. The Fair Work Commission will then consider the merits of the application and whether the two sides can legally negotiate it.

Warnes said the government had also agreed to insert a redundancy deed into a new enterprise agreement, instead of it being separate. It would mean the 64-week cap on redundancy payments would roll over in future agreements.

The next two weeks of intensive bargaining will involve a Treasury official assessing the savings and productivity gains the union had identified as part of the wages deal.

The government’s opening offer has been for wage rises of 9.5 per cent over three years, as well as a further 0.5 per cent in the first if a deal is reached in a “timely manner”. It is substantially lower than demands from the RTBU and five other unions for a 32 per cent pay rise over four years.

A chaotic two-day shutdown of Sydney’s train network has been averted at the 11th hour after the state government caved to rail union demands to run 24-hour services to prevent workers striking>

...

Some train lines will still partially close for trackwork in the city’s west, with buses replacing trains on Saturday and Sunday on parts of the T2, T3, T5, T6, T8 and southern highlands lines. Part of the metro will still close for unrelated maintenance on Saturday and Sunday.

However, metro services will run more often on Friday, while extra light rail services and additional special event trains and buses to Olympic Park for Pearl Jam’s concert will run on Saturday.

...

The government has agreed to run 24-hour services in exchange for the unions dropping 109 various industrial bans from Monday for a period of two weeks, with both parties agreeing to use the fortnight as an “intensive bargaining” period.

...

The rail unions have taken hundreds of industrial actions since September as they negotiate with the government over pay and conditions for about 14,000 train workers.

The RTBU has demanded a 32% pay rise over four years, or 8% a year, while the government has offered a three-year agreement totalling 9.5% plus super.

Doesn't seem like the union has backed down at all, rather that they have been able to manoeuvre around the state government's plan to cause as much disruption as possible.

lmfao the language "discharged a replica firearm" certainly sounds scarier than squirted a waterpistol at the ground.

Given rideshare driver (is this relevant?) this smacks of driving while black type discrimination.

Obviously the toy looks a bit real, but it seems to me all this needed was "hey we had a complaint, that looked real, why not hand it over and go home for a bit?" Although even so Queensland allows very realistic toy guns and AFAIK it's not some lawless hellscape of fake holdups.

BTW bonus fact. A spud gun, like fires a fragment of potato via a spring, is almost certainly an illegal firearm in nsw. Heaps cool.

Cool and Good.

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/15185451

• 11:00am Tuesday 12 November
• Belmore Park near Central Station

Join us to rally for the rights of the CFMEU and defend our democratic rights.

The new legislation targeting the CFMEU, stripping away its democratic processes based on unproven rumours is still standing. This is a dangerous precedent, threatening every union member’s right to organise and be heard. This precedent is undemocratic and anti-union! Let’s show up and demand these unjust laws be repealed!

It's important to understand the administration as a precedent, rather than specifically looking at the CFMEU. This has already had a chilling effect on other unions wanting to avoid similar repression, and just like many times before, sets up an attack for the Liberal Party to extend when next elected. That's why it's critical for other workers like us to stand together in solidarity, before there's no strong unions left to stand for ours. I urge those who can to come and bring friends, and those who can't to donate to the campaign - since the administration has seized the union's funds, they are relying on the generosity of other unions and political parties for printing fliers, buying flags, providing spaces and other basic organising needs.

See also this excellent article shared by @zero_gravitas recently: https://aussie.zone/post/14941033

:( NSW once again demonstrating it's place as the most conservative state.

It's a hat. It shouldn't cost hundreds of dollars. I just want something like a semi-fashionable floppy sunhat and a straw hat. I've only seen them in bougie a.f. places or the straw hats from bunnings that don't fit my comically large head.

Please, save me from melanoma or bankruptcy. Where can I find nice hats without leather/animal glues in sydney? Ideally western sydney.

In short:

There are potential delays on trains across NSW this morning, due to industrial action.

Transport for NSW has asked passengers to plan ahead, leave extra travel time and keep updated about any changes to services via their website.

What's next?

Despite the strike having ended, it's expected to have flow-on effects throughout the morning.

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/the-new-way-of-building-housing-that-could-lower-construction-costs-by-20-per-cent-20241018-p5kje8.html

The article barely mentions the 'new way of building', it's mainly about cheaply leasing government land for housing dedicated to essential workers.

They really will do gymnastics to avoid just building public housing.

Transport is making changes to the public transport network to connect the new Sydney Metro City & Southwest with Sydney’s public transport network.