Category: NSW News

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib has appointed a new Commissioner, Trent Curtin, to lead the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS).

The RFS is the lead emergency service agency in NSW for bushfires, providing support for communities through its 70,000 volunteer members across a network of almost 2,000 brigades.

The RFS also provides fire and emergency services to protect homes, attend motor vehicle incidents and during search and rescue operations. The RFS works closely with other emergency services in responding to emergencies and natural disasters including recent events like Cyclone Alfred and the mid-north coast floods.

Mr Curtin commenced his career 30 years ago as a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority in Victoria and has served in senior leadership roles in the emergency services in both Victoria and NSW. These roles included Acting Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner at Fire and Rescue NSW with responsibility for Community Fire Unit volunteers. He also served as Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Fire Rescue Victoria between 2015 and 2020.

Mr Curtin has extensive experience battling major fires, floods and coordinating large-scale responses involving multiple agencies to significant emergency incidents.

The incoming Commissioner will also bring to the RFS a strong track record in crisis management, organisational strategy and a lifelong commitment to safety. He joins the RFS from SafeWork NSW where, as head of SafeWork, he led efforts to reestablish the agency as a strong and independent work health and safety regulator.

The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process undertaken by the Department of Communities and Justice. Mr Curtin will take up his role as Commissioner from Monday, 14 July 2025.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“I am pleased to announce Trent Curtin will be the new Commissioner of the NSW RFS.

“Mr Curtin has extensive experience as an emergency services leader in NSW and Victoria, where he has been involved in managing significant fires and large-scale natural disasters and working with volunteers.

“RFS volunteers are at the forefront of the State’s natural disaster response. From the 2019-20 bushfires to more recent flood events, they are a reassuring presence for communities in need.  

“Mr Curtin started his firefighting career 30 years ago as a volunteer and I look forward to working with him as he brings his emergency service expertise to an organisation at the frontline of bushfire response.

“I thank the outgoing Commissioner Rob Rogers who will finish in the role on 4 July for his four decades of service to NSW communities.”

Incoming Commissioner for NSW RFS Trent Curtin said:

“Having spent most of my life as a firefighter, I am honoured to be appointed Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service and to work alongside the committed volunteers and staff who represent the very best of community spirit.

“The RFS plays a vital role in our communities, responding in the most difficult circumstances to help others in their time of need.

“I look forward to honouring the legacy of the RFS as a community-centred agency, while ensuring we remain ready to meet the challenge of more frequent and intense natural disasters.”

The Minns Labor Government is taking the next step in the heritage revitalisation of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, confirming Richard Crookes Constructions has been awarded the main works contract to deliver the $300 million renewal of the Ultimo site.

Richard Crookes Constructions was selected through a competitive tender process and have extensive experience delivering complex cultural infrastructure projects for the NSW Government – including Naala Badu (Sydney Modern) and the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct revitalisation.

During construction, the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo Revitalisation project will create around 750 jobs, and inject $225 million into the local economy.

Infrastructure NSW, who are responsible for delivery of the project, and the Powerhouse Museum collaborated with award-winning architects Durbach Block Jaggers, Architectus, Tyrell Studio and Youssofzay + Hart to reimagine and renew the iconic 146-year-old cultural institution.

Key features of the new design include:

• Conservation and restoration: Preserving the heritage-listed Power Station buildings for ongoing adaptive reuse by the Powerhouse Museum.
• New and improved exhibition spaces: Designed to meet international museum standards for exhibitions across the applied arts and sciences, exhibition spaces will increase to 7,500sqm, (up from 6,850sqm)
• Reorientation: Aligning the museum to face The Goods Line, enhancing connections with the Sydney CBD, including easier access to the Museum from major public transport options. The new entrance will reveal the heritage facades of the original power station built in 1899 and the 1902 Turbine Hall.
• Activation of the Harris Street façade: Enhancing the museum’s contribution to the Ultimo streetscape, including subsidised workspaces for NSW practitioners across the applied arts and sciences, and a community meeting space.
• Central circulation system: Establishing an intuitive and accessible circulation system to support a high-quality visitor experience.
• Reimagined public domain: Delivering a 2,000sqm public space at the northern end of The Goods Line, a landscaped courtyard adjacent to the former Ultimo Post Office, and an internal courtyard accessible from Macarthur Street.

During the tender process, all three contractors advised that parts of the Wran and Galleria buildings’ internal steel structure are unsafe, with design of steel structures, load capability, fabrication and erection found to be non-compliant with the National Construction Code if retained. As such the internal steel structures will need to be disassembled and replaced to ensure the safety of construction workers on site and the long-term structural integrity of the buildings.

Following feedback, a modification to the development’s approval will be lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure next week which will include allowing for the dismantling and replacement of the Wran and Galleria building’s non-compliant internal steel structures, while continuing to maintain the heritage requirements of the built form.  

These modifications are covered within the existing budget.

Site preparation works, approved under the State Significant Development Application, continue to be carried out with main works construction expected to take up to three years.

The 1899 Ultimo Tram Depot (The Harwood Building) will continue to be used for museum operations including conservation laboratories, workshops and staff offices.

Following the conclusion of the revitalisation, the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo will continue to exhibit its iconic objects from the collection, including the Boulton & Watt Steam Engine, the Catalina flying boat Frigate Bird II and Locomotive Number 1.

For more information visit the Powerhouse Ultimo website.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“We are confident Richard Crookes Constructions, with their extensive experience and proven track record in delivering complex heritage revitalisations and renowned Sydney cultural institutions, is the perfect choice for this project.

“The Minns Labor Government committed to preserving and enhancing this iconic institution for future generations and confident this revitalisation will deliver the best and safest outcome for the museum and the passionate community of visitors who eagerly await its completion.

“Importantly the shape and scale of the iconic Wran and Galleria buildings will be safely replaced and future-proofed, so they can be enjoyed by visitors and the community for decades to come. 

“Keeping the structures is not only unsafe and non-compliant, it would cost the taxpayer more and give a limited warranty on the buildings, which isn’t justifiable given the end product will look the same.”

Minister for the Arts and Minister for Music and Nighttime Economy John Graham said:

“As custodians of one of the largest and most exceptional collections of objects in Australia, the Powerhouse Museum plays an important role in bringing the arts, design, science and technology and their history together.

“That is why the Minns Labor Government is investing in the heritage revitalisation, to secure the future of the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo, and make sure the museum is equipped with a range of exhibition spaces to meet international standards and showcase the Powerhouse Collection to its fullest potential.

“We always maintained we will preserve the Wran legacy with this project, and that is why some materials in the Wran and Galleria buildings will be replaced and rebuilt, to ensure a long future for these buildings.”

The NSW Government is reducing emissions and moving closer to reaching its Net Zero targets. The state will bridge the gap with a new plan to get to net zero by 2050.

The legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50% reduction by 2030, 70% reduction by 2035, and net zero by 2050.

Latest updates from the emissions projections show a strong improvement to the state’s reductions, with NSW estimated to reduce emissions by 46% in 2030 and 62% in 2035.

A new Net Zero Plan will be designed to ensure NSW can meets the 2030 & 2035 targets.

The plan will take a sector-by-sector approach to decarbonisation and for the first time bring together all the relevant portfolio Ministers to provide guidance and input.

While all sectors must contribute and do their bit, different parts of the economy will decarbonise at varying rates.

Data from the tabled State of the Environment Report shows that NSW’s largest emissions source by 2030 will move from the energy sector to the transport sector. This shows the rapid progress of rollout of renewables. The Transport and Built Environment sectors will be key focus areas, as they have huge opportunities to reduce emissions.

The NSW Government supports the findings of the recent Net Zero Commission’s 2024 Annual Report and supports all four recommendations from the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future’s inquiry report.

NSW Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. We are very close – only 4% off with five years to go. But we aren’t naive – meeting our targets will be hard.

“We are not shying away from the challenge, and we are determined to meet the targets; that’s why we enshrined the targets in law, that’s why we’re transitioning to renewables, that’s why we’re creating the Net Zero Plan.

“Every part of government must take action to ensure our climate response is truly comprehensive and effective.

“Every step we take towards our targets improves our health, our environment, our biodiversity and our air quality.”

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to keep communities safe across NSW with record funding to protect our most vulnerable children and new investments to improve access to justice, address violence against women and children, and bolster the safety of people in their communities and online.

A landmark $1.2 billion child protection package cements our commitment to protect the state’s most vulnerable children.

For the first time in 20 years, the Foster Carer Allowance will be substantially increased to recognise the critical work foster carers do to keep children safe across NSW.

The tax-free allowance will rise by 20 per cent, delivering the carer of a typical 14-year-old an additional $176 per fortnight.

We are investing a record $1 billion to rebuild the out-of-home care system, providing support to vulnerable children while we reform a neglected system. That includes 44 new purpose-built or upgraded homes, building on the work we have already done to keep at risk children from living in hotels and motels.

In addition, we are recruiting and retaining case workers with higher pay and more specialised training.

The 2025-26 Budget invests more than $650 million to support victim-survivors and provide better access to justice across NSW. This investment builds on a $6.1 billion social housing injection in our second budget, which included historic funding for new social housing that prioritises women and children fleeing domestic and family violence, as well as $527.6 million for homelessness services.

This year’s Budget includes $272.7 million for domestic, family and sexual violence services working to support victim-survivors and reduce violence against women and children. Of this, $11.2 million will go towards long-term reform to build a more sustainable system so we can intervene earlier and continue doing the crucial work of helping victim-survivors.

A further $49.4 million will fund a trauma-informed hub to support victim-survivors, including those who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence, who are participating in legal proceedings.

We are also addressing the increase in demand for the Victims Support Scheme, with $226.8 million to ensure continued access to counselling and financial support.

We are enabling better access to justice with $34.5 million for five additional courtrooms and 10 new virtually-enabled courtrooms to be added in Sydney’s CBD. Plus, $61.1 million in new funding to bolster the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program, and an additional $6.7 million to prosecute industrial manslaughter. This boost will allow the DPP to hire additional staff including prosecutors, solicitors and witness assistance officers.

Community safety is a top priority of the Government and our tough new domestic violence bail laws have seen record numbers of alleged offenders held on remand.

In response, the budget provides an additional $100.5 million to ensure Corrective Services NSW is resourced to supervise offenders, while supporting rehabilitation and integration in line with community expectations.

We are also investing in crime prevention with $5.5 million in early intervention and diversion programs for young people in contact with criminal justice system.

At the same time, we are delivering critical upgrades for NSW Police. These include upgraded surveillance systems to support major investigations and more than $100 million to fund cutting-edge digital policing technology and resources. A new Patrol Vessel (the Nemesis) that provides Police the ability to conduct extended offshore operations including search and rescue, maritime and counter-terror protection that targets maritime crime and illegal drug importation, is also being funded.
This Budget builds on our historic investment in NSW Police, including a once in a generation pay increase and the decision to pay recruits to train, which has seen applications to join the NSW Police surge by 70 per cent.

We are also increasing our investment in keeping NSW safe online. $175.1 million will support cyber security across government agencies to prevent, detect, and when needed, recover from cyber incidents.
The Minns Labor Government is building a better NSW by investing in the safety of our communities and the protection of our most vulnerable people.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering the largest investment in out-of-home care (OOHC) and child protection in NSW history, with a commitment to rebuild the neglected system and keep our most vulnerable children safe.

A landmark $1.2 billion Child Protection Package in the 2025-26 Budget will increase support and protection for children and young people in out-of-home care, significantly increase allowances for carers, and deliver reforms that ensure every dollar spent delivers better outcomes for vulnerable families.

Significantly, the package includes the first real increase to the Foster Care Allowance in 20 years, with $143.9 million budgeted to recognise the critical role of foster carers to keep NSW children safe.

The tax-free allowance will rise by 20 per cent, meaning the carer of a typical 14-year-old will receive an increase from $880 per fortnight to $1056 per fortnight, equating to $4,576 more per year.

For the carer of a typical 5-year-old child, the tax-free allowance would rise from $656 to $787.20 per fortnight, meaning a $3,411.20 increase per year.

A record $1 billion investment to rebuild the out-of-home care system also includes:

• $797.6 million to continue supporting children and young people in out-of-home care as reforms are designed and implemented, while also setting aside investment for a reformed OOHC program. This will improve the out-of-home care system and ensure all children and young people can thrive in supportive and stable environments
• $49.2 million for 44 government owned, purpose-built or upgraded residential care homes that will deliver safe and stable housing for children over 12 years of age with complex needs
• $10 million to support the Office of the Children’s Guardian to continue to oversee organisations and uphold children’s rights to be safe

In addition, $191.5 million will ensure we can recruit more than 200 new caseworkers and retain 2,126 caseworkers with higher pay and more specialised training, including 100 new leading caseworker roles. 

This record investment provides stable funding for the child protection system for the first time in at least a decade.

It underscores the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to improve the lives of children and young people in a system that was neglected under the Liberals and Nationals for too long.

We know we have more to do, but this announcement builds on strong foundations. In our first two years, the Minns Labor Government has:

• Ended unaccredited emergency accommodation for vulnerable children – meaning no children are living in places like hotels and motels as of April this year
• Reduced the number of children placed in all types of High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEA) by 35 per cent since November 2023
• Restarted the recruitment of foster carers in the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), a critical program which was disgracefully abandoned by the Liberals and Nationals more than a decade ago
• Recruited more than 240 emergency carers so far, who have kept hundreds of children out of emergency arrangements
• Delivered a record $350 million investment for family preservation programs delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
• Created DCJ-managed Waratah Care Cottages to better support children and sibling groups who would otherwise be stuck in emergency placements
• Redeployed our best and brightest casework specialists back to the frontline. Already this means more than 300 additional vulnerable children have been given support
• Insourced 300 family time workers, directly employing staff to keep children in OOHC connected to their parents
• The Minns Labor Government has released a comprehensive roadmap for reform. 

This includes a commitment to overhaul the former government’s failed Permanency Support Program (PSP), a model that outsourced the care of our most vulnerable children to non-government providers, without the oversight or accountability needed to keep children safe.

As part of these reforms, key services will return to direct government delivery through the Department of Communities and Justice, restoring public accountability and responsibility for children’s care.

With reform underway and historic funding now secured, the NSW Government is focused on building a system that delivers the care, stability and support that every child deserves.

The Minns Labor Government is today announcing a Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee to accelerate housing construction and help tackle the state’s housing supply challenges as part of the 2025-26 Budget.

Under the five-year Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, the NSW Government will leverage its strong fiscal position to go guarantor on up to 50 per cent of approved housing projects so developers can begin construction.

The Government will guarantee residential pre-sales for up to $1 billion of housing projects at a time through a revolving fund.

The Australian first will provide between $5 million and $50 million in pre-sale guarantees for each project and is expected to be accepting applications by the end of 2025.

How the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee Works

• Developers with planning approval and initial pre-sales can apply for the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee, subject to lender approval
• The NSW Government will assess projects and developers based on their credibility, capability, and capacity
• If approved, construction must begin within six months of signing the documents
• After projects are complete and dwellings sold, the government will issue further guarantees for up to $1 billion of projects at any one time for the 5-year duration of the program
• If dwellings remain unsold, the developer can “call” on the guarantee and the Government will purchase them at a discounted rate
• These homes could then be sold to buy or rent, or kept as affordable or social housing 

Meeting pre-sale requirements has been the most common issue cited by stakeholders in securing finance, and has been outlined as a key hurdle for industry in the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of housing supply challenges and policy options for New South Wales.

In fact, the number of pre-sales required to secure funding from a registered financial lender has increased in some cases, from 50 per cent of the dwellings to 80 per cent of the dwellings over the last few years.

This leads to projects remaining on hold while the requisite number of pre-sales is secured, which can delay construction for months or even years.

This announcement builds on the strong foundations we have laid to make sure more people have access to more homes across NSW, including:

• Our Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, which is set to deliver 112,000 homes across NSW over the next five years
• Transport Oriented Developments which will deliver 230,000 more affordable, well-located homes around 45 transport hubs
• The Housing Delivery Authority which has recommended that 136 projects be declared as State Significant since it commenced in January 2025. If approved, these projects will deliver 53,500 new homes – more than the entire number of homes built in NSW last year
• Planning approvals are already 17 per cent faster than in March 2023, applications to build are up 28 per cent on last year, and more than 70,000 homes are under construction
• We have created a better, fairer system for 2.3 million renters and have helped more than 60,000 first home buyers achieve their dream with no or discounted stamp duty under our First Home Buyers Assistance program

And there’s more still to come as the Minns Labor Government works to build a better NSW for today and for future generations.

Eighteen-year-old Brodie Taylor from Albury-Wodonga has made history-becoming the first known badged wheelchair netball umpire in New South Wales, and possibly Australia, after recently receiving his C Badge accreditation.

Brodie’s journey into umpiring is remarkable not just for the milestone it represents, but for the determination and collaboration that made it possible.

“I honestly wasn’t planning on getting badged this year,” Brodie said. “I was just umpiring at a local Schools Cup event when Amanda [McLachlan] from Netball NSW came up to me and said, ‘Look, we’ve all been watching you-we’re very impressed. Would you consider going for your badge?’ I thought, why not? My mum’s badged, and this felt like a good achievement-something I never thought I’d do.”

Brodie lives with acute transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that caused a spinal cord injury when he was just seven months old. He has spent his life in and out of power wheelchairs and undergoing surgeries. Despite the challenges, netball became a constant-thanks to his mum.

“I was always around the courts with Mum on Saturdays. My sister was off dancing with Nan, my brother was with Dad at rugby, and I just sat with Mum. I started out doing stats as her team manager. I love my stats-that’s what got me hooked.”

Brodie moved into coaching in 2023 and instantly made an impact, taking a club team to a premiership win and continuing to grow as a leader. His desire to empower young players shines through.

“I believe in showing our girls that they have potential-that they are just as capable as anyone else. That’s what I see as my role in netball.”

This year, he took up umpiring more seriously-just for fun at first-only to discover he had a knack for it. His talent didn’t go unnoticed.

Behind the scenes, Netball NSW worked hard to support Brodie’s accreditation journey. With guidance from Netball NSW Workforce Manager Chris Hall, the organisation worked with Netball Australia to navigate existing umpiring frameworks and make the pathway accessible for Brodie. Adjustments were made without compromising the integrity of the game or the standards required for badging.

Brodie’s C Badge assessment took place at Hume Netball Association in Jindera, south west NSW-cementing his place in netball history.

His story is not only a celebration of personal achievement, but also a reflection of what an inclusive sport netball is. With support, belief and opportunity, Brodie is proving that barriers can be broken-on and off the court.

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a safer New South Wales, with new legislation to strengthen protections for victim-survivors of sexual violence and toughen penalties for perpetrators.

A suite of reforms will be introduced to parliament next week which will bring New South Wales into line with other Australian jurisdictions and respond to gaps in existing legislation.

To continue to strengthen protections for young people, amendments to the Crimes Act 1900 will raise the age threshold for the definition of ‘child’ from 16 years to 18 years of age for the purposes of the child abuse material offences. This brings New South Wales into line with relevant Commonwealth offences and increases protections from sexual exploitation.

Child abuse material offences cover the production, possession and dissemination of this material as well as offences related to administering or encouraging use of digital platforms to distribute this material.

The Crimes Act will also be amended to make it easier to prosecute people who commit sexual acts in the presence of children, but with improper intent because of the presence of the child.

This reform brings New South Wales into line with community expectations that the law must always protect the safety and wellbeing of children.

Closing an existing hole in New South Wales laws, a provision will be added to the Act to ensure that sexual offenders who either sexually assault someone or indecently interfere with their body after death are unable to escape prosecution when the time of death is unknown, making which specific crime occurred unclear.

Under this provision, when it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that one of these two crimes occurred, but it is uncertain due to the timing of death which one, the accused will be sentenced on the basis of whichever offence has the lesser maximum penalty. Previously they would have been unpunished.

This reform is in direct response to an issue raised in the coronial inquest into the tragic deaths of Mona Lisa and Jacinta Rose “Cindy” Smith and the tireless advocacy of their families for reform.

The penalty for indecently assaulting a deceased person will also be increased.

This suite of reforms will also strengthen laws criminalising female genital mutilation, ensuring they are in line with community expectations. These reforms will clarify that female genital mutilation is a crime regardless of the reason or motivation or age of the victim, while ensuring medically necessary practices are protected into the future.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s legislative agenda which works to build a safer New South Wales, where women and children are protected and perpetrators are held to account. This reform work has also included:

• making it harder than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail
• introducing electronic monitoring for alleged serious domestic violence offenders
• strengthening laws to protect against repeated breaches of ADVOs
• making changes to bail courts across New South Wales to ensure bail decisions are made by magistrates and judges – not registers.

This legislation will be introduced the day after the Minns Labor Government hands down the 2025-2026 NSW budget, which includes more than half a billion in funding to increase support for victim survivors and support stronger responses against perpetrators across the justice, support services and corrections spaces.

Attorney General, Michael Daley said:

“The Minns Labor Government stands with victim-survivors.

“We are ensuring that women and children are better protected from sexual abuse and exploitation.

“Our Government is closing loopholes and strengthening the law to make it easier to prosecute those who commit acts of sexual violence.

“I thank the families of Mona Lisa and Jacinta Rose ‘Cindy’ Smith for their bravery and advocacy in the face of tragedy to strengthen New South Wales laws to better protect victims.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison said:

“We are working to build a safer New South Wales for women and children, and these reforms are vital in ensuring our laws provide the protection that victims deserve.

“Sexual and abuse and exploitation is unacceptable, at the same time as we are investing in support services for victim survivors, we are ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.

“We will continue to work with experts, advocates and victim survivors to address the impact of domestic and sexual violence across our state.”

NSW is set to secure our place as a global hub for innovation and investment with the creation of the Minns Labor Government’s Investment Delivery Authority and nearly $80 million in innovation funding as part of the 2025-26 Budget.

The Government’s third Budget puts investment, productivity and economic growth front and centre, delivering reforms that will make NSW an attractive place to invest and start a business, and securing the future of our state.

Investment Delivery Authority to attract and accelerate major investment

The Minns Labor Government is investing $17.7 million in the 2025-26 Budget to establish and support the work of an Investment Delivery Authority.

Modelled after the successful Housing Delivery Authority, the Investment Delivery Authority will accelerate approvals for major projects across all industries, including advanced technologies and energy.

Businesses have said that making major investments in NSW is too complex and too time consuming, which is slowing down productivity.

The Investment Delivery Authority will address this by helping cut through red tape, coordinate across government, and encourage investment.

It is expected to assist around 30 large projects per year, bringing forward up to $50 billion of investment each year.

It will provide advice on how best to navigate the planning system while evaluating projects for fast-track assessment and coordinating the necessary infrastructure to deliver them.

The Investment Delivery Authority will also be able to identify reforms to remove hurdles for private investment, and offer government assistance to support a proponent if their project is chosen.

This makes it easier for businesses to invest, build and create jobs in NSW.

The Investment Delivery Authority will accept expressions of interest from eligible domestic and international investment projects valued over $1 billion and will come into effect in the 2025-26 financial year.

A multi-agency Investment Taskforce, in Investment NSW under the Premier’s Department, will support the Authority’s work.

The Investment Delivery Authority will comprise Premier’s Department Secretary Simon Draper, Treasury Secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Secretary Kiersten Fishburn, and Infrastructure NSW Chief Executive Tom Gellibrand.

It will make recommendations to the Treasurer, the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, and the Minister for Industry and Trade.

Eligible projects must be able to commence development quickly and aligned with NSW Government priorities, as set out in policies including the NSW Industry Policy and Trade & Investment Strategy.

The Authority will not be restricted to a specific industry or sector. Major projects able to be considered may include hotels, data centres, renewable energy projects, and commercial developments.

Innovation Blueprint: Growing the economy through investment to secure NSW’s future

The Minns Labor Government is working to cement NSW as a global hub for innovation and technology through the recently launched Innovation Blueprint.

The 2025-26 Budget includes nearly $80 million of new funding to deliver the Innovation Blueprint, which will establish NSW as the best place to innovate, connect with investors, and scale a business.

With NSW accounting for 65 per cent of the nation’s venture capital investment in 2024, and being home to five out of eight Australian unicorn companies (privately held companies valued at over $1 billion), the state is already a recognised leader in driving economic growth through innovation.

The funding package for the Innovation Blueprint will promote more global success stories like Afterpay, Atlassian and Canva in the years ahead through the following groundbreaking initiatives:

• $38.5 million to turbocharge Tech Central, Australia’s largest technology and innovation hub
• $20 million for Emerging Technology Commercialisation to drive growth and productivity in key areas such as Housing and Energy
• $6 million to extend the existing Minimum Viable Products Ventures program to support more startups at the early stages of development
• $6 million to support manufacturing businesses to adopt innovative technologies
• $4 million to promote housing construction through the Housing Innovation Network and the Innovation in Construction Fund
• $4 million to support tech founder diversity by providing training programs for female founders and our future tech leaders living and working in Western Sydney and regional NSW
• $700,000 to extend the operation of National Space Industry Hub.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said:

“The fact is major projects from the private sector are getting bogged down in red tape, which is making it harder to do business in NSW when we should be doing everything we can to get things moving.

“Our state is open for business and this change will encourage more people to bring their best ideas to life in NSW, all backed by our government.

“We’ve made great progress with the Housing Delivery Authority. This reform is a big signal that NSW is not just open for business—it’s serious about being a global leader in innovation, industry, and investment.”

Treasurer of NSW, Daniel Mookhey said:

“We have listened to what we are being told, loud and clear: everything in NSW is awesome, except for how long it takes to get major projects done.

“We are creating a way to address the blockages, speed up the process and ensure NSW is properly open for business.

“The Investment Delivery Authority is the turbocharger to drive economic growth across the state.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“Lifting productivity growth is a critical issue for NSW and we recognise the challenges businesses and investors face when it comes to bringing their projects to life.

“The Investment Delivery Authority, supported by the Investment Taskforce, will identify and clear barriers that businesses may face, while advising on reforms that promote investment, competition and productivity in NSW.”

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“With this nearly $80 million of funding, we will ensure we nurture, grow, and support the next Afterpay, Atlassian, and Canva from the early stages through the most vulnerable periods of a startup’s life cycle – particularly just before the jump to commercialisation.

“The funding package will allow Tech Central – the largest tech innovation ecosystem in the country – to flourish as a melting pot for groundbreaking innovation, research, and lifestyle.

“We also understand that the best and brightest tech ideas aren’t just born in the inner city of Sydney, so we are providing startup support to our future tech superstars right across the state.”

Author of Pounder Review and Former Chair of the Tech Council of Australia, Kate Pounder said:

“This significant investment in innovation will cement NSW as a world leader in the tech sector.

“Most hearteningly, this money will also go where it is needed most – to female founders, and those from diverse cultures and backgrounds, as well as our budding tech giants living and working in Western Sydney and regional NSW.”

CEO of Business NSW, Daniel Hunter said:

“This is a game-changing step forward for New South Wales.

“With a clear plan to streamline approvals and coordinate government agencies, the new Investment Delivery Authority is exactly what NSW needs to turn ambition into action.

“Coupled with the Innovation Blueprint and nearly $80 million in new funding, this initiative will help transform breakthrough ideas into global enterprises—fostering the next Atlassian or Canva right here in our backyard.”

CEO & Managing Director of NEXTDC, Craig Scroggie said:

“In today’s geopolitical environment, trust and sovereignty are economic assets. As a Five Eyes nation, Australia is uniquely positioned to lead the next industrial era, and New South Wales is stepping up to that role. The Investment Delivery Authority is about execution. It reflects a deep understanding of the five pillars now shaping global AI infrastructure: speed, scale, security, sustainability, and sovereignty.

“Speed and scale are the new currency of global leadership. The Authority creates a faster path from planning to execution – reducing friction, aligning government, and providing the regulatory certainty private capital requires. NEXTDC has over $15 billion in AI infrastructure projects planned across NSW – including AI factories, high-density data centres, and mission-critical operations centres. This reform allows us to build the digital backbone of the future – faster, and at global scale.

“AI infrastructure has outgrown traditional planning systems. These aren’t just data centres – they’re sovereign-scale assets designed to power the AI era. Conventional frameworks are now facing first-of-a-kind scale challenges. This reform clears the path for accelerated approvals and long-term certainty – unlocking the investment required to deliver national capability and positioning NSW as a global destination for next-generation digital infrastructure.”

Managing Director, Corporate and International, AirTrunk, Carly Wishart said:

“Streamlining planning and approval processes for development permits and power allocation is essential if Australia is to capitalise on the data centre growth opportunity and become a smart economy.

“If Australia is to be a leading digital economy and build its own artificial intelligence capability, then it must have the necessary digital infrastructure and renewable energy needed to support it.

“AirTrunk welcomes the NSW Minns Government announcement in recognising that the race to build AI infrastructure is a global one and speed to build is the critical factor.  We look forward to working with the Investment Delivery Authority to hasten planning processes, ensuring that NSW and Australia get the productivity boosting benefits of AI.”