The NSW Government is committed to ensuring we continue to look for new ways to support people with a disability in relation to independence, care and employment.

In 2010, the Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to recommend options for a national disability scheme that would “enhance the quality of life and increase economic and social participation for people with disability and their carers” – this was the birth of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NDIS will fund long-term high-quality care and support for people with significant disabilities, better link the community and people with disabilities, provide information to people, help break down stereotypes, and ensure quality assurance and best practice among service providers.

The scheme will also give people with disability choice and control over the support services they receive, help them to achieve their goals and better participate in the community.

When the NDIS is fully operational, an estimated 140,000 people with disability in New South Wales will be able to access supports, including an additional 50,000 people who do not currently receive any disability supports.

New South Wales was the first Australian state to sign up to the NDIS and is currently preparing for the full rollout of the scheme, which will be completed by 30 June 2018.

For more information on the NDIS visit http://ndis.nsw.gov.au/

In the latest sign of the strength of the NSW economy, official ABS data has confirmed annual spending on construction has passed $50 billion for the first time.

The data showed construction spending (which includes residential, non-residential and engineering work) in NSW had risen by 12 per cent over the year.

The NSW economy is powering ahead and much of this strength is due to the State Government’s unprecedented spending on infrastructure, totalling more than $73 billion over the next four years.

The infrastructure spend is in turn encouraging private investment.

All of this unrivalled activity is creating more jobs and spurring more confidence in our economy.

Building construction (including residential) hit an all-time high, with $32.9 billion of construction in the last year.

NSW has been a stand-out road safety performer for many years, but the recent spike in road fatalities is concerning.

Driver education and training is often seen as only relevant to the young, however it is time to examine the role of education and training for people of all ages, wherever they live, and however they use their vehicles.

A new parliamentary inquiry will examine the role of whole-of-life driver education and training to support improved road safety.

It will examine the effectiveness of refresher training and educate drivers about changing vehicle technology.

The inquiry will also look at the needs of driver trainers –those who work for driving schools, private operators, parents and friends who train drivers and currently have limited support.

Submissions to the inquiry close on Monday 20 February 2017.

More information is available on the Staysafe committee website at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/staysafe