Replacement of Cakile edentula with Cakile maritima in New South Wales and on Lord Howe Island

Two species of Cakile (Brassicaceae) have been introduced to Australia and the genus has been a common feature on the beaches of NSW for over 130 years; Cakile edentula has been present for at least 148 years (in NSW since about 1870), while Cakile maritima arrived approximately 114 years ago, (in NSW since about 1969). Collections at CANB and NSW confirm that since around 1970 plants more like Cakile maritima have almost entirely replaced Cakile edentula along the NSW coast. A similar phenomenon is reported for Lord Howe Island

An Evaluation of the Economic, Environmental and Social Impacts of NSW DPI Investments in IPM Research in Invertebrate Rice Pests

Research into IPM technologies has been conducted by NSW DPI for over 20 years. Evaluating the returns from investment in specific research and development projects is an important component of the NSW DPI science and research program. An economic evaluation has been conducted of IPM in managing invertebrate pests in rice in NSW. We found that there has been widespread adoption of many IPM practices amongst NSW rice growers leading to a flow of economic benefits to the rice industry and the community. Important environmental and human health benefits were also identified. A benefit-cost ratio of 9.05 was calculated for the return to NSW DPI investment in rice invertebrate pests IPM research. The net present value of the benefits of this research to 2020 was $67.9 million. Important environmental and human health benefits were not valued nor were ‘spillover’ benefits to other States.benefit cost analysis, rice, IPM, invertebrate pests, evaluation, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Production Economics, Q160,

Predictors of guilty pleas in the NSW District Court

Examines factors associated with early, late, and not guilty pleas in the District Court of NSW. Introduction There are well established practical, financial and emotional benefits of obtaining guilty pleas early in criminal proceedings. While criminal proceedings in NSW are most commonly resolved by a guilty plea (e.g., in 2012, 82% of criminal matters proved in the District Court of NSW were resolved via a guilty plea), approximately one third of guilty pleas are not submitted until after the matter has been committed for trial (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research, 2012). These late guilty pleas typically involve at least three Local Court appearances prior to committal (including the committal hearing itself) and two appearances in the District Court (including the arraignment and sentence hearing) before being finalised. When a guilty plea is received late (e.g., on the first day of trial), it is likely that many hours of victim, witness, juror, court, police, and legal practitioner time will have gone to waste. The issue of late guilty pleas has been an ongoing concern for government, legal practitioners and courts for many years in NSW. In 2013, at the direction of the Attorney General, the NSW Law Reform Commission commenced a review into encouraging appropriate early guilty pleas. A consultation paper was released in November 2013 with the purpose of generating discussion on what models could be adopted by NSW to improve the rate of appropriate early guilty pleas

Illawarra labour force trends

This e-brief, which is part of a series relating to all NSW regions, sets out key labour force trends for the residents of the Illawarra region. Data has been sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey. The ABS divides NSW into 28 regions; 15 in Greater Sydney and 13 in Regional NSW. Covered are four key labour force indicators: Employment (full-time and part-time); The participation rate; The unemployment rate; and The youth unemployment rate. A map of the Illawarra region is included at the end of the e-brief. The map also shows the NSW electorates located wholly or partly within the region. The e-brief finishes with a short section on labour force definitions and methodological notes

EVALUATIONS IN 2003 OF FIVE AREAS OF INVESTMENT IN R&D BY NSW AGRICULTURE: SUMMARY

In 2003 the economic, social and environmental impacts of five areas of research and extension where NSW Agriculture has made significant investments were evaluated. These investment areas included net feed efficiency in beef cattle; the management of temperate weeds in temperate pastures; conservation farming in the northern NSW cropping zone; wheat breeding in NSW; and extension in water use efficient technologies. The benefit cost analyses were conducted over the period from 1980 to 2020. For these five project areas NSW Agriculture invested $114m, including some support from industry. The industry returns totalled$1311m giving an average benefit-cost ratio of 11.5, ranging from 4.5 to 22.2.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Returns to investment in IPM research in lettuce by NSW DPI

Research into IPM technologies has been conducted by NSW DPI for over 20 years. Evaluating the returns from investment in specific research and development projects is an important component of the NSW DPI science and research program. An economic evaluation has been conducted of IPM in managing invertebrate pests in lettuce in NSW. We found that there has been widespread adoption of IPM practices amongst NSW lettuce growers leading to a flow of economic benefits to the lettuce industry and the community. Important environmental and human health benefits were also identified. A benefit-cost ratio of 2 was calculated for the return to NSW DPI investment in lettuce IPM research which while satisfactory, is lower than returns calculated for other agricultural R&D evaluations. It does not include ‘spillover’ benefits to other States nor have human health or environmental benefits been valued.research, benefit-cost, evaluation, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), lettuce, Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

An Evaluation of the Economic, Environmental and Social Impacts of NSW DPI Investments in IPM Research in Lettuce

Research into IPM technologies has been conducted by NSW DPI for over 20 years. Evaluating the returns from investment in specific research and development projects is an important component of the NSW DPI science and research program. An economic evaluation has been conducted of IPM in managing invertebrate pests in lettuce in NSW. We found that there has been widespread adoption of IPM practices amongst NSW lettuce growers leading to a flow of economic benefits to the lettuce industry and the community. Important environmental and human health benefits were also identified. A benefit-cost ratio of 2 was calculated for the return to NSW DPI investment in lettuce IPM research which while satisfactory, is lower than returns calculated for other agricultural R&D. It does not include ‘spillover’ benefits to other States nor have human health or environmental benefits been valued.research, benefit-cost, evaluation, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), lettuce, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Production Economics, Q160,

Trends in Pulse and Oilseed Crops in Winter Cereal Rotations in NSW

The key aims in this study are to assess the current level of importance of pulse and oilseed (broadleaf) crops in winter cereal rotations in NSW, and to identify recent trends. The production of broadleaf crops has increased in each region of NSW, but different crops have been favoured. Canola has played a key role in southern regions, and chickpea in the northern regions. In many areas, pulse crops have been grown more because of rotational benefits than their direct gross margins. If recent trends continue, the role of broadleaf crops will increase to 25% of the area sown to field crops in NSW by 2020. However, that will only be achieved with a focussed effort in both research and extension activities.broadleaf crop, oilseed, pulse, production, rotation, NSW, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Production Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Q160,

The NDIS one year in: experiences of carers in the Hunter trial site

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) presents an unprecedented opportunity for Australians with permanent and significant disability to receive the lifelong support they need to pursue their goals and participate in their communities. The greater choice and control offered by the NDIS promises not only to benefit people with disability but also the family members and friends that provide informal support to people with disability, their carers. The first year of the four initial NDIS trials has produced significant achievements, but has also highlighted a range of key challenges. The National Disability Agency (NDIA) has been responsive to the challenges identified and has clearly stated its intention to continuously improve the Scheme based on stakeholder feedback during the trial period. Carers NSW has been closely following the rollout of the NDIS in the NSW trial site in order to identify any issues emerging for carers. While people with disability, not carers, are the focus of the NDIS, sustainable informal care arrangements will be critical for the Scheme to succeed. This paper draws on Carers NSW research, consultation and policy analysis from throughout the first year of the NSW trial. It summarises key issues arising for carers and intends to contribute to the ongoing refinement of NDIS design and implementation. Benefits for carers in NSW Carers NSW supports the introduction of the NDIS in NSW and acknowledges that it is already changing the lives of many people with disability and their carers for the better. Benefits experienced by carers in NSW include: • Significant improvements in the amount, quality, value and flexibility of support received by the NDIS participant since entering the Scheme; • Flow on benefits for carers, including the ability to return to work, reduced stress and less financial pressure; • Some funded supports directly supporting the caring role, including domestic assistance, respite and family therapy; and • Positive working relationships with NDIS planners. Challenges for carers in NSW While many carers in NSW have had positive experiences of the NDIS, a number of key issues have come to our attention. Understanding the NDIS Many carers in NSW – within and outside the trial site – are struggling to understand, and therefore to embrace, the NDIS. This is largely due to: • limited and inconsistent information; • unclear language; • uncertainty about the Scheme rollout at national level; and • inadequate communication with carers about what to expect. Carer recognition and assessment The NDIS policy framework recognises that: • The role of carers in the life of the person they care for should be acknowledged and respected; • Planners should determine whether the informal support provided by carers is sustainable and reasonable; and • Where appropriate, a plan should build the capacity of carers to provide support. While Carers NSW welcomes these key values, we have identified the following issues: • Treatment of carers by NDIS planners has varied and some carers feel their perspective has not been adequately taken into account; and • A separate conversation between the planner and the carer is only a possibility, not a formal entitlement for carers. Carer supports and services Carers of NDIS participants are likely to benefit from the funded supports provided to the participant, and the NDIS policy framework also allows for some supports to be funded especially to sustain informal care arrangements. However: • A large number of people with disability will not be eligible for the NDIS, and therefore they and their carers will not receive funded supports; • It is clear that the NDIS is not about carers, and that carers of NDIS participants are not entitled to referral or funded support in their own right through an NDIS package; • Carers of people with disability may no longer have access to Commonwealth funded carer supports outside the NDIS, since funding is being redistributed into the NDIS and Commonwealth Home Support Program; and • In NSW, people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS, and all carers of people with disability, may no longer have access to State funded disability and carer supports in future, as the NSW Government will withdraw from providing disability services once the NDIS is fully rolled out. Carers NSW is highly concerned about the major gap in carer support that will result from current model and urgently calls upon the Commonwealth and NSW Governments to address this. Preparing and implementing the plan A number of capacity building initiatives are underway in NSW to prepare people with disability and their carers for the NDIS. However: • Not all carers are able to access these opportunities, and many carers still feel underprepared when they attend planning sessions; • Many carers feel that the NDIS has created more work for them, leaving them overwhelmed; • Many carers are finding NDIS plans difficult to read, understand and implement

Hunter Valley labour force trends

This e-brief, which is part of a series relating to all NSW regions, sets out key labour force trends for the residents of the Hunter Valley region. Data has been sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey. The ABS divides NSW into 28 regions; 15 in Greater Sydney and 13 in Regional NSW. Covered are four key labour force indicators: Employment (full-time and part-time); The participation rate; The unemployment rate; and The youth unemployment rate. A map of the Hunter Valley region is included at the end of the ebrief. The map also shows the NSW electorates located wholly or partly within the region. The e-brief finishes with a short section on labour force definitions and methodological notes.&nbsp