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All Pacific Islands Forum members now connected by undersea cables

Australia has helped achieve a major milestone for the region, with all Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members now connected to undersea telecommunications cables for the first time.

Working alongside Pacific governments and development partners, Australia has helped deliver more than 10,300 kilometres of new undersea cables, ensuring every PIF member is connected to the global cable network.

A more connected Pacific advances our shared interests by strengthening regional resilience, supporting economic development and deepening connections between our countries and peoples.

Australia has committed more than $500 million since 2018 to support undersea cable connectivity across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

This investment has helped deliver cable projects across nine countries, including primary cable connections for Naoero, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Tarawa in Kiribati, and Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Australia is also working with partners to strengthen the reliability and resilience of telecommunications infrastructure through support for second international cable connections in Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Palau and Solomon Islands.

These investments are being delivered in partnership with Japan, New Zealand, and the United States, as well as Taiwan. They will help connect Pacific governments, businesses, communities and peoples to global networks and digital markets, opening new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and economic participation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong:

“For the first time, every Pacific Islands Forum member now has access to the digital infrastructure needed to participate fully in the modern economy, backed in with Australian support.

“A more connected Pacific is a more resilient Pacific. This infrastructure strengthens economic growth, supports essential services and will help underpin a more peaceful, stable and prosperous region.”

Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy MP:

“Faster, more affordable and more reliable digital services will help integrate our economies, making it easier for Pacific peoples and businesses to connect, and investment to flow across the region.

“With new connections comes greater opportunities, better information flows and knowledge sharing, supporting Pacific Island countries to fully participate in the global economy.”

Council for Australian-Arab Relations Grant outcomes

Today I announce the recipients of the 2026 Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) Grants Program, supporting ten projects that will strengthen Australia’s economic, cultural and people-to-people links with the Middle East and North Africa.

This year’s grants advance cooperation in areas of shared priority, including climate and clean energy, health, sport, gender equality, and social cohesion, while building trust and connections across a region of growing strategic and economic importance.

Among the selected projects are initiatives that will:

Expand healthcare access in Lebanon via Australian telehealth innovation and digital health workforce development.
Strengthen the capacity of Saudi medical professionals to manage work-related illnesses and diseases through joint training programs and academic partnerships.
Enhance preparedness for respiratory disease outbreaks using AI-driven forecasting of health and economic impacts.
Advance Australia-UAE marine conservation efforts through collaborative research, technology innovation, and expert exchange.
Build animal disease surveillance and response capability in Oman with specialised epidemiology training for veterinarians.

Together, these projects showcase Australian expertise and deliver practical opportunities for collaboration and skills exchange.

I congratulate this year’s recipients. Their projects reflect the innovation and ambition that continues to shape Australia’s international engagement and create new opportunities for trade and investment.

Over the past decade, the CAAR Grants Program has invested more than $2.3 million in initiatives that strengthen ties between Australia and the Middle East and North Africa.

More information about CAAR and the Grants Program can be found on the CAAR website.

Employment services “punishment without trial” is back

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has quietly announced they will resume some payment cancellations and suspensions from 26 October 2026, with plans to return the Targeted Compliance Framework to “full operation” by early 2027. DEWR have decided the following penalties will resume under the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 (Cth) from 26 October:

payment suspensions for work refusal failures and
payment cancellations for not meeting a reconnection requirement within 4 weeks.

In December 2025, the Commonwealth Ombudsman released their report detailing the widespread failures of the Targeted Compliance Framework (TCF), which forces people to engage with dodgy private employment services providers who wield the power to issue breaches with no oversight and no real requirement to provide a reason behind the breach. These “breaches” led to payment suspensions and cancellations, however, DEWR stopped these penalties because they were being made unlawfully at a massive scale.

DEWR revealed their plans to resume sanctions the same day that their Minister, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, was at a conference touting her efforts to help women succeed in small business. The Minister is still yet to provide comment of any kind.

One of the payments affected is the parenting payment for parents whose youngest child is six years or older. Anyone who has ever raised a child knows that even once they’re in school, your caring responsibilities don’t just suddenly disappear, especially if you’re a single mother.

Life is getting harder, and many welfare recipients impoverished by the inadequate levels of our support payments are overwhelmed simply ensuring their own survival. Our communities battle daily with the cost of food and rent, with unpaid bills, with our elderly parents’ medical appointments and the cost of our children’s sports equipment. The list of immediate priorities is long, and it’s no wonder that returning a call from their employment services provider or remembering to check their MyGov inbox falls down the neverending to-do list.

Reconnection requirements are still a seriously risky proposition under the TCF. It’s highly likely that someone who’s failed to reconnect after 4 weeks is in serious trouble in one respect or another. They might’ve been hospitalised, they might’ve just lost their home. Regardless, a payment cancellation in these circumstances risks losing people who probably need an arm around them, and they may disengage permanently. Likewise, work refusal penalties are difficult to administer and the legislation is vague. It is on the jobseeker to argue that an offer of work is unsuitable, in a process that does not offer them a fair shout.

Anyone subject to the ridiculous ‘mutual obligations’ their provider imposes upon them knows that these activities don’t work. But the provider doesn’t care about that, because they can get a payment from the Government every time they force somebody into the provider’s own compulsory training module on shaking someone’s hand or on appearing confident, which have never worked anywhere in the world.

Greens spokesperson on Social Services, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“There is nothing in the Secretary’s statement that provides any confidence in the legal foundations of the system, nor their capacity to administer that system lawfully or fairly, nor any reason to believe the Ombudsman’s concerns have been appropriately addressed.

“There was nothing about improving DEWR’s capacity to monitor providers’ misconduct. They told the Ombudsman that they had an ‘app’ for that, which turned out to be a new dashboard on their existing system. There is no mention of any improved capacities in this regard anywhere.

“My office has heard reports of providers still threatening people with payment suspensions and cancellations to force people to comply with ridiculous or unnecessary requests, usually to bolster the provider’s incentive payment. That’s not helping anyone – that’s coercion.

“If these sanctions are resumed, the providers will be administering them. How can Minister Rishworth or her Department trust these providers to do the right thing, when they are financially incentivised to do otherwise? The TCF appears fundamentally at odds with lawful and fair decision-making.

“The Minister and the Department’s failure to communicate these matters in a timely, effective or comprehensible fashion is characteristic of all the worst Robodebt-style governance.”

Inquiry – Housing Catastrophe: Prices and Rents Soar Past Wages

The seventh hearing of the Greens-led Senate inquiry into intergenerational housing inequity, held in Perth today, heard evidence of a housing catastrophe with house prices and rents rising multiple times faster than wages or inflation.

Additional evidence to the committee today showed:

In the last 45 years, we have witnessed a catastrophic decoupling of house prices from wages, with real house prices soaring 350% since 1981 while real wages have increased by just 60%.
There’s been a significant fall in home ownership for people in their late 20s and early 30s resulting in life long renting.
It now takes 10.6-12.4 years to save for a 20% deposit compared to around 5 years in 1990.
Homeowners now pay on average 45% of their income on mortgage repayments, well above the 33% benchmark of housing stress.
Government schemes, such as the 5% deposit scheme, are insufficient to solving the housing crisis and have pushed up prices.
Life-term renters generally accumulate less wealth and less retirement security, are more likely to rely on commonwealth rent assistance and the age pension, signalling fiscal challenges ahead.
Lack of affordable housing is a barrier to attracting essential workers within commuting distance of their jobs.
People in WA are living in vans, tents, and caravans in relatives’ driveways. There are families by their hundreds living in cars and under bridges.
Youth homelessness has risen 32% in the past decade in Perth, while rent has increased by 50% since 2020.
On average, one young person experiencing homelessness dies every six days in Australia.
Renters are being left behind, as government policy focuses heavily on home ownership while the National Rental Affordability Scheme has ended.
There is a chronic and growing shortage of suitable housing for disabled people in WA. Disabled people face even greater barriers to securing a safe and affordable roof over their heads.
Short-stay accommodation like AirBnB is cannibalising the rental market, with 14 unhosted AirBnBs for every long-term rental available in regional WA.
WA currently remains the only state in the country that still has no grounds evictions on its rental laws.
Every year, Western Australia evicts five times more children into homelessness than New South Wales per capita.
Since WA Labor took office in 2017, more than 3,000 children have been evicted from public housing into homelessness. More than half of all these evictions were First Nations families.

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness and Senator for South Australia, Barbara Pocock:

“Today’s evidence is clear: House prices are out of control, rents are out of control, while wages are going backwards. Working hard no longer secures a roof over people’s heads.

“In the past 45 years, real house prices have soared by 350%, while real wages have increased by just 60%. We’ve seen a catastrophic decoupling of housing and wages.

“House prices need to fall if first home buyers stand any chance of getting into the housing market.

“Rents are rising at record rates forcing people to spend much more than 30% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads.

‘This housing catastrophe is turbocharging inequality. At the top end, banks, developers, big property investors, and the real estate industry are profiting from disaster, which is ruining the life-chances of millions of young Australians.

“Labor’s plans to fix the housing crisis are not touching the sides. After four years of rapidly increasing house prices and astronomical increases in rents, it’s no wonder Australians are ditching the major parties.

“In a nation-wide housing catastrophe, we need rent caps and a massive long term boost in public investment in good quality homes, renting them to people at prices they can actually afford.”

Greens spokesperson for Health, Mental Health, Disability Rights, the NDIS and Youth and Senator for Western Australia, Jordan Steele- John

“Across Western Australia, people are sleeping in cars, tents and caravans because they simply cannot find an affordable home. That’s the reality of a housing crisis that governments have allowed to spiral for far too long.

“The evidence heard in Perth today makes it crystal clear that renters, young people and disabled people are paying the price for decades of political failure.

Greens call on Women’s Safety Ministers to commit $4.6B to tackle housing crisis

Ahead of the Women’s Safety Ministers Council meeting, the federal government must commit an additional $4.6B to address the shortfall in social housing that would allow women escaping violence to have a secure place to live and rebuild their lives.

Women and children experiencing family and domestic violence are the largest cohort using homelessness services, with over 100,000 seeking support each year.

The most recent data shows:

Nearly 12,000 women and children seeking short term accommodation are missing out each year.¹
40% of homelessness services report closing their doors to new clients at least once a fortnight.²
In NSW alone, at least 6 women are turned away from services every single night.²
60% of victim survivors have not secured stable housing by the time they leave crisis accommodation. For far too many women and children, that means returning to a violent perpetrator.¹

Undersupply of public housing continues to exacerbate family, domestic and sexual violence, and puts increased pressure on already stretched frontline services.

Additionally, state and federal governments must support women’s safety sector calls to:

Fully funding critical frontline services
Increase Leaving Violence Payments to $7,500 to meet the increased costs of living
Remove barriers to access for Centrelink crisis payments

Senator Larissa Waters, Leader of the Australian Greens and Spokesperson on Women

“When politicians ask “why didn’t she just leave?”, they’re ignoring that unaffordable housing, rising rents, and crisis and transitional housing shortages leave women and children with nowhere to go.

“Housing and homelessness is a women’s safety issue. Faced with homelessness, many women are forced to choose to stay in violent homes.

“Housing pressure means that more victim-survivors are reaching out to crisis accommodation and other frontline services for help. But the sector is breaking at the time it is needed most, forcing services to turn away women and children every day.

“This is something that the government can, and must, fix by investing in public housing and frontline services. The Ministers meeting today must take on this challenge and send a clear signal that women’s safety matters. All victim survivors should be able to access support when they need it.”

“$4.6 billion is less than a quarter of the $17 billion per year that a gas export tax would generate and a drop in the ocean of the billions we’re currently wasting on nuclear subs we’re unlikely to ever receive.

“Labor knows there is massive unmet need, but even their pilot project to collect data on that need is years overdue and just got another extension. The sector, and the women and children who rely on it, cannot wait any longer.

“Labor must start prioritising people over corporate profit, and investing in the things that people need to survive, and live a good life.”

BACKGROUND

Data sources

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Specialist homelessness services annual report 2024–25, Clients who have experienced family and domestic violence – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Inaugural scholarship recipient determined to honour legacy of beloved Councillor

A Newcastle sustainability advocate who co-founded two community-led climate action groups has become the first recipient of a scholarship in memory of former Councillor Sinéad Francis-Coan.

Interior designer Nadine Samwell said she hopes to use the training she receives through Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) to inspire practical change in people for the benefit of the planet.

Past and present Greens Councillors join Lyndall Coan to congratulate Nadine Samwell who received the first scholarship created in memory of former Councillor Sinéad Francis-Coan.Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe said the scholarship is the perfect embodiment of Sinéad.

“Sinéad was always looking for ways to share her change-making skills with women and gender diverse community members who have that fire in their bellies for change that she had,” Cr McCabe said.

“The problems we face can be overwhelming, but with the right tools and support, advocates for change can make a huge difference. Sinéad definitely demonstrated that throughout her life.

“It’s especially meaningful to announce the first recipient of one of three scholarships that City of Newcastle is funding to honour the three years that Sinéad would have been serving as a Councillor.”

The scholarship was established through a unanimous notice of motion by the elected Council following the sudden passing of Cr Francis-Coan partway through her first term as a Ward 3 Councillor.

City of Newcastle is funding the initiative for the next three years, providing women and gender-diverse changemakers connected to Newcastle the chance to participate in WELA’s transformative national leadership programs.

Through her business, Ms Samwell uses the principles of circular design to keep materials in use for longer, maximising their value and minimising waste.

Her community-led action includes helping to form the Hunter Region Branch of Renew, a national, not-for-profit organisation that advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities.

After taking part in City of Newcastle’s Empowering Climate Champions program, Ms Samwell formed another group that funded an energy assessor who visited Mayfield homeowners and provided advice on how to lower their carbon footprint and save money on energy costs.

Ms Samwell said she is honoured to receive a scholarship inspired by Sinéad’s substantial contributions towards social equality, feminism and environmental sustainability.

“I’ve already started taking part in the WELA program and so far it’s been a lifechanging experience. I am determined to make the absolute most of the opportunity it provides me,” Ms Samwell said.

“I want to use this training to strengthen my leadership, deepen my contribution to climate and environmental action and grow into the kind of leader who inspires practical change for people and the planet.

“I launched Eco Edition in 2020 to help architects and designers who are trying to make more sustainable and healthier material choices, wanting to pass on the knowledge I’d gained from 15 years as an interior designer and a renovator for over 20 years.

“I now help architects and designers from around the world achieve their sustainability goals, but I’m also determined to continue to promote community-led climate action here in Newcastle.”

Before being elected to Council in 2024, Cr Francis-Coan worked as a union organiser and was deeply involved in grassroots movements focused on workers’ rights, environmental protection and gender equity.

Sinéad’s mother, Lyndall Coan, said she was pleased to see her daughter’s legacy inspiring people to develop their leadership potential.

“We congratulate Nadine on being the first recipient of this scholarship and we look forward to seeing the impact it has on her work in the future,” Ms Coan said.

“Sinéad was a tireless advocate for local businesses, especially small operations that had a focus on sustainability.

“She would be delighted that someone with Nadine’s passion has been awarded this scholarship.”

Members of the public who wish to support additional scholarships in memory of Cr Francis-Coan can donate via the WELA website

NSW Ambulance Virtual Clinical Care Centre helping thousands of patients avoid a trip to the ED

More than 9,100 patients in NSW who called Triple Zero in the first six months of 2026 avoided a trip to an emergency department by ambulance thanks to NSW Ambulance’s Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC).

Through secondary triage, virtual assessment and clinical advice, the VCCC enables patients to be safely referred to alternative care options when an ambulance or hospital visit is not required. This ensures patients receive adequate and appropriate treatment while ensuring ambulance resources remain available for serious and life-threatening emergencies.

It plays a key role in supporting paramedics, volunteers, aged care providers and families by providing expert clinical assessment, advice and decision making through phone and secure video consultations.

After 14,800 patients were safely and appropriately diverted from hospitals by the VCCC in 2024, the latest 2025 data shows a full picture of the program’s success.

In 2025, more than 17,000 patients received care through the VCCC.

In 2025, the VCCC:

Undertook almost 60,000 secondary triages of Triple Zero (000) calls.
Of those calls, over 17,000 patients were safely diverted away from hospital and to alternative care options, a 15 per cent increase on 2024.
Reviewed more than 30,400 interhospital transfers.
Supported NSW Ambulance clinicians by answering close to 5,900 clinical advice line calls.
Conducted 47,800 proactive follow-up calls to Triple Zero (000) callers with less serious conditions to provide reassurance and monitor patient safety.
96 per cent of patients who were referred to the VCCC reported a good or very good clinical outcome after being referred to more appropriate care.
96 per cent of patients also reported a good or very good experience.

The VCCC was established as part of the $1.76 billion Strategic Workforce Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) program, which is delivering more than 2,500 new staff over the coming years, with $135 million allocated to the VCCC.

While the VCCC may assist some patients who have called Triple Zero (000), the community are encouraged to access free health advice and be connected to care virtually or close to home by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse will assess their condition and refer them to the most appropriate service depending on their clinical need. If your situation or condition is life-threatening, always call Triple Zero (000) and NSW Ambulance will respond.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to easing pressure on hospitals by increasing access to care through alternate pathways and avoiding unnecessary ED visits. This includes:

Investing in virtual and urgent care services
Supporting geriatric outreach and Hospital in the Home.
Expanding scope of practice for pharmacists to treat uncomplicated skin conditions and UTIs, and resupply the contraceptive pill
Expanding scope of practice for GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD

Minister for Health Ryan Park

“The Virtual Clinical Care Centre is an incredible investment in how we deliver healthcare across NSW.

“It ensures people are connected to the world-class care while keeping ambulances available for time-critical emergencies and, importantly, helping to relieve pressure from hospitals.

“By supporting people to access the most appropriate care for their situation, the Virtual Clinical Care Centre helps avoid unnecessary trips to the ED, relieving pressure from busy hospitals and saving patients from long wait times.”

NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech

“Our VCCC teams are experts at working with patients to navigate them to the most appropriate care. Whether that is services such as virtual hospitals, urgent care clinics or simply advice to help manage their condition at home.

“In one case we heard from a mother who called Triple Zero (000) late at night worried about her unwell toddler. She received support through a phone and video assessment and after a thorough clinical review and clear advice, she felt confident managing her child’s symptoms at home.

“She described the experience as extremely reassuring and said it was a relief to speak to a clinician in real time, which is a sentiment that has been shared with us time and time again.”

Historic Parramatta North set for a once in a generation renewal

The Minns Labor Government has finalised the rezoning of 33 hectares of the Parramatta North precinct and will invest $124.5 million to power its transformation into a thriving, mixed-use community adjacent to one of Australia’s most important heritage sites.

The rezoning will create a vibrant new community that celebrates its nationally significant heritage and will establish new social and cultural assets, alongside housing, commercial, innovation and education facilities.

The Parramatta North transformation is another step in the Minns Labor Government’s plan to address Sydney’s housing supply challenge, by creating opportunities to build new homes close to public transport, jobs, and essential services, while creating vibrant communities where people can live, work, and thrive.

Situated along the new Parramatta Light Rail corridor and serviced by both the Ngara and the Children’s Hospital stops, the precinct has easy access to the Parramatta CBD and the Westmead Health and Innovation District, with direct and fast connections to the wider Sydney Metro system.

A revitalised Parramatta North will deliver a range of social, community and economic outcomes.

Key features of the rezoning include:

around 2,000 new homes, including at least 100 affordable homes
a mix of building types ranging from two to 23 storeys, scaled sensitively in response to their natural and heritage environments
up to 12,000 potential new jobs across health services, research, education and supporting industries
provisions for a new university campus to support the Westmead Health and Innovation District
new and enhanced multipurpose community facilities, including an upgraded heritage-listed recreational hall, a new First Nations pavilion adjacent to a natural riverside play space, and enhanced spectator and user amenities alongside the Green
up to 10 hectares of public open space, including sports fields, extended riverside pathways, parks and gardens, plazas and play spaces
a Country-centred approach to landscape design through enhanced riparian corridors, replacing native species, water-sensitive urban design and natural play spaces.

The finalised rezoning carefully balances the need for additional housing and complementary uses including tertiary education, commercial and retail, alongside the cultural history and important national heritage of Parramatta North.

Buildings with high or exceptional heritage significance will be conserved, while the number of buildings and their heights have been reduced next to the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct.

Over the next four years, underutilised government-owned land will be progressively released for housing, jobs, and mixed-use development, driving new economic activity across the region.

The staged development will ensure the site grows into a well-serviced destination that respects its significant cultural heritage, including Aboriginal peoples’ connections and significant buildings.

For information on the Parramatta North rezoning, please visit the NSW Planning Portal.

For information about the investment in the Parramatta North precinct, please visit Property and Development NSW.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“This is a great opportunity to create a new community that delivers for the people of Western Sydney while protecting and celebrating one of Australia’s most significant heritage sites.

“We want a city where people can afford to live, where young people have the opportunity to stay close to their families and communities, and where working people aren’t locked out of the city they helped build.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Good neighbourhoods don’t happen by accident; they are built through a combination of careful planning and the right infrastructure.

“This ambitious rezoning proposal sets Parramatta North up to become a well-connected, vibrant precinct for thousands more Sydneysiders to call home.

“We’re delivering the homes, jobs and open space our growing community needs while retaining Parramatta’s cultural heritage at the heart of this precinct.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Our $125 million investment is the next step in the opportunity to reshape the Parramatta North precinct into a well-connected, mixed-use community.

“By bringing together heritage, open space, employment and new development, the NSW Government is shaping a place of connection and renewal that honours Parramatta North’s past while building a better future for Western Sydney.

“The new Parramatta North community will stitch together the bustling Parramatta CBD with the Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct, finally combining these economic and job centres to establish Sydney’s new ‘Central River City’ that has long been proposed, but not delivered until now.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“This is a great outcome for our local community.

“As a result of extensive community consultation, we will get 10 hectares of public open space, parks and gardens.

“We are committed to maintaining the 6-hectare Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct in Government ownership and it is not included in the rezoning.

“The approved master plan and rezoning have reduced the number and scale of building adjacent to the precinct, opening sightlines and vistas to and from the heritage buildings.

“I look forward to working with the community as this project unfolds.

“Together, we will create a place where people can live, visit, work and enjoy all that Parramatta has to offer.”

New Prairiewood Ambulance Station to be located on Fairfield Hospital campus

The Fairfield community is being given its first look at the design for the new Prairiewood Ambulance Station.

The new ambulance station, which will be located on the Fairfield Hospital campus, is part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

The new modern, purpose-built station will be built on the corner of Polding and McKeown streets and include internal parking for up to 10 emergency ambulance vehicles, on-site vehicle wash facilities, administration and logistics areas, multipurpose spaces, staff amenities including a gym, and on-site parking.

The new artist’s impression showcases the station’s exterior design, including its façade and surrounding front landscaping.

Construction is expected to commence in 2027.

The site was selected following a comprehensive service planning process by Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance using best practice modelling software to map Triple Zero (000) calls.

The location of the new ambulance station will optimise response performance to better meet the emergency and mobile medical care needs of the local community.

The NSW Government is delivering 30 new ambulance stations and supporting infrastructure across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Hunter, and Illawarra regions over the coming years.

In addition to the Ambulance Infrastructure Program, the Minns Labor Government is recruiting an additional 500 paramedics in rural and regional areas, to boost emergency and mobile healthcare across the state.

For more information, visit NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is building more ambulance stations and recruiting more paramedics to deliver better health services for communities in Southwest Sydney and across NSW.

“Southwest Sydney is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, and the new Prairiewood ambulance station is one of nine stations the Government is delivering across Sydney’s west and southwest to ensure local communities continue to have access to timely emergency care now and into the future.”

Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott:

“This new ambulance station at Prairiewood will deliver modern facilities for our hardworking paramedics and help support our local families in their time of need.

“With the Minns Labor Government investing in the biggest redevelopment of Fairfield Hospital in its history, I’m delighted that we are ensuring our ambulance infrastructure is fit-for-purpose both now and into the future.”

Member for Fairfield David Saliba:

“This is fantastic news for local families, who will benefit from enhanced access to emergency and mobile healthcare services.

“Prairiewood and surrounding suburbs continue to grow, and it’s important essential health infrastructure grows with them.

“The new ambulance station will support our hardworking paramedics with a purpose-built facility while helping deliver better health outcomes for the community.”

Member for Cabramatta Tri Vo:

“This is wonderful news for all the families and communities right across my Cabramatta Electorate.

“Co-located with the redeveloped Fairfield Hospital, this new Prairiewood Ambulance Station will help emergency care, support our hardworking paramedics and hospital staff, and deliver better outcomes for patients when they need it most.”

Minns Labor Government unveils staged Oxley Highway upgrades for Port Macquarie

The Minns Labor Government is fast-tracking safety and congestion improvements for Port Macquarie communities by adopting a staged delivery approach for upgrades to the Oxley Highway between the Pacific Highway at Thrumster and Hastings River Drive.

The approach allows work on sections of the corridor to begin sooner, reducing delays while planning continues for future stages of the project.

The nine-kilometre corridor will undergo upgrades to improve safety, reliability and access to Port Macquarie, the Base Hospital and the Health and Education Precinct.

Transport for NSW has completed a business case identifying the preferred staged approach, allowing improvements to begin sooner while planning continues for future upgrades across the corridor.

Stage 1 and Stage 1A

Stage 1 will upgrade the Pacific Highway and Oxley Highway interchange towards Wauchope, one of the region’s busiest traffic pinch points, used by around 30,000 vehicles every day.

This work will begin with Stage 1A thanks to a $20 million investment by the NSW Government, which will deliver additional lanes between the interchange and Billabong Drive, extend the northbound off ramp, install new traffic signals and improve street lighting.

Detailed design is underway for Stage 1A, with feedback received from community helping inform the project’s final design. Early work including utility relocations for Stage 1A is expected to commence in 2027 followed by start of construction.

While Stage 1 moves towards construction, planning is continuing for the remaining stages which include proposed upgrades to Wrights Road, Lake Road and local road connections to the Hospital and the Health and Education Precinct to increase capacity and improve safety.

Transport for NSW is undertaking longer-term planning for potential upgrades at:

Oxley Highway and John Oxley Drive interchange near Philip Charley Drive
Oxley Highway and Carlie Jane Drive interchange
Widderson Street intersection.

The NSW Government will continue to keep the community informed as planning and delivery progress for the staged upgrades.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison:

“More and more families are moving to Port Macquarie each year, and that means more cars on this corridor.

“These upgrades will tackle those pain points locals are facing by keeping traffic moving and cutting down on bottlenecks.

“A staged approach allows us to get on with the job of delivering the highest priority upgrades now while planning continues on the remaining stages.

“I’m pleased we can now roll out this staged approach, so locals reap the benefits sooner and know what’s ahead.”

Labor spokesperson for Port Macquarie, Cameron Murphy:

“This area of Port Macquarie is busier than ever, particularly around the Pacific Highway interchange and the Hospital precinct. It is an area where traffic absolutely needs to move freely, not grind to a halt.

“By getting started on the highest priority upgrades first, we’ll see improvements where they’re needed most while planning continues for the rest of the corridor.

“People here have wanted to see change on this road for a long time, and a staged approach means they’ll get it a lot sooner.”