Category: NSW News

The thoughts of the entire Government are with our colleague and our friend Prue Car as she begins treatment following her breast cancer diagnosis.

I know Prue well. She is a fighter, and I know she will face this challenge with the same determination and grace that she brings to everything she does.

I fully support her decision to take the time she needs to focus on her health and recovery, and I know she will be supported by expert care and the love of her family, friends, and colleagues.

I also echo her important message about early detection and encourage everyone to stay on top of their health checks.

I have asked Courtney Houssos to act as the Minister for Education and Early Learning and the Minister for Western Sydney until Prue returns.

Prue remains as the Deputy Premier of NSW, as we look forward to welcoming her back when she’s ready.

Over the weekend I informed the Premier that, for health reasons, I will be taking personal leave for an undetermined period of time.

A recent screening has detected breast cancer, and I will now begin immediate treatment.  

Thankfully, because the cancer was caught early, my doctors are optimistic about my recovery — and so am I. I’ve faced this challenge before, and I’m determined to beat it again. Testing has confirmed this is unrelated to my previous diagnosis. 

I look forward to returning to the role I’ve cherished since our government took office in March 2023 — a role I absolutely love. 

While I undergo treatment and recovery, my colleague Courtney Houssos has kindly agreed to act as Minister for Education and Early Learning and the Minister for Western Sydney in my place. The vital work of rebuilding our state’s education system will continue without pause. 

To the wonderful constituents I represent in Londonderry, my office doors are always open to assist you with anything you need.

Breast cancer screenings are vital for early detection and treatment, and I strongly encourage all women to stay up to date with their checks. I am extremely grateful for early detection and to the incredible people who work in the NSW Health system. They are nothing short of extraordinary.  

I want to thank the Premier and all my Parliamentary colleagues for their unwavering support and look forward to being back as soon as possible. 

Keeping your children safe need not cause lasting injury to the household budget, with a $30 children’s helmet among those rated as safest on the market.

The NSW Government’s second annual Helmet Safety Testing and Assessment Ratings (STAR) has awarded five stars to a $30 white unicorn helmet available from Kmart.

It joins the $22 Bluey helmet awarded five stars in 2024 as a value option with the highest safety.

Children’s helmets on the market cost up to $290.

The children’s helmet rated as safest overall this year is the Fox Rampage Youth MIPS which retails at $290.

Modelled on ANCAP safety ratings for motor vehicles, Helmet STAR provides an easy-to-understand safety rating for new helmets based on comprehensive testing, giving a guide to parents and adult riders.

Each helmet is impact tested at the NSW Crashlab in Western Sydney where Transport for NSW technicians conduct examinations including vertical drops, a strap strength test, and drop tests with moving platforms. The helmet’s ability to protect the user’s head in each scenario is tested and a star rating assigned.

Helmets tested include models specifically for skaters and foot scooter riders.

One star means the helmet “meets the crash protection required by recognised helmet standards” in Australia, while five stars means the helmet is “exceptional in crash protection and well above the recognised helmet standards.”

The release of safety ratings for 54 bicycle helmets this year brings the total number of reviews and ratings available to 115 and the NSW Government urges all riders and parents to seek out the list.

This year the testing regime has been extended to rate both open-face and full-face mountain bike helmets with the $275 POC Tectal Race MIPS helmet taking out five stars in the open-face category and the $350 Met Parachute full-face helmet also achieving five stars.

Others awarded five stars include the $300 POC Ventral Air MIPS general purpose.

	Model	Score	Star Rating	Price
1	Fox Rampage Youth MIPS	90.91	✰✰✰✰✰	$290
2	Globber Kids LED	85.53	✰✰✰✰✰	$79
3	Kmart Unicorn	82.50	✰✰✰✰✰	$30
4	Giant Hoot ARX	29.00	✰	$65
5	BOLD Sikh Helmet	29.00	✰	$92

Link to latest ratings for all helmets

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“The children’s helmets we tested this year ranged in price from $30 to $290. That can leave parents wondering how much they have to pay to ensure their kids are safe on their bikes, scooters and skateboards.

“The good news is price does not always equal safety and value options that deliver five-star safety do exist.

“The great news is the Helmet STAR ratings system, now in its second year, is building up a valuable resource for parents and all adult riders to check whether their helmet choice ticks all the boxes on safety.

“Similar to car safety ratings it is a simple check for lasting peace of mind.

“By wearing a five-star rated helmet you are two to two and a half times less likely to sustain a serious head injury than if you were wearing a one-star helmet. This puts the power of choice in the hands of consumers.”

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Wearing a helmet when riding a bike is one of the most important things you can do, with research showing they can reduce head injuries by about 70% and fatal injuries by 65%. Choosing the right one is crucial.

“This year, the Helmet STAR program has expanded to include a broader range of helmet types. In addition to helmets for general or road use and for wheeled toys like scooters and skateboards, the program now also tests both open-face and full-face mountain bike helmets.”

“The Helmet STAR awards a star rating from one to five, with one-star helmets meeting the Australian crash protection standards, while five star rated helmets provide exceptional protection in a crash.

“With ratings for over 100 helmets across a variety of ranges and price points I encourage everyone to visit the website and make an informed decision when buying a helmet.”

More than 1.2 million people have already immersed themselves in the first week of Vivid Sydney 2025, up approximately 10 per cent on last year.

The first two Saturdays of the festival delivered bumper crowds, with close to 200,000 people per night packing the city to experience the 100 per cent free Vivid Light Walk.

A record-breaking 51,169 diners were recorded in restaurants on Saturday 24 May – the highest number ever in the event’s history, up 45 per cent from 2024.

Vivid Sydney’s world-class food offering continues to be a major drawcard, with more than 850,000 people purchasing food and drink so far, including over 335,000 across the opening weekend alone, delivering a significant boost to local businesses and the state’s visitor and night-time economies.

Darling Harbour, Darling Square and The Goods Line continues to prove popular with over 330,000 people exploring the precinct so far.

Vivid Sydney 2025 fast facts from Thursday 5 June:

• 25,000 plus prams on the Vivid Sydney footprint
• 18,000 plus brisket loaded fries and 1,100 plus creme brulée donuts sold at the Vivid Fire Kitchen
• on average, more than 81 per cent of visitors have purchased food and beverage during their visit
• most attendees are exploring multiple zones in one night, with an average of four to five Vivid Sydney zones seen in a single night out
• on average, attendees are spending more than two hours exploring the festival footprint.

Food lovers are in for a treat over the June long weekend, with internationally renowned food writer and television cook Nigella Lawson curating three sold-out Vivid Sydney Dinners in the newly opened Muru Gili tunnel at Martin Place. Adding to the culinary excitement, Our Shared Dream food events with OzHarvest on 11 and 12 June are also sold out, underscoring the strong demand for unique and memorable visitor experiences in NSW.

On Tuesday 10 June designer, director and BAFTA-nominated producer Liam Young will bring his visionary speculative film Planet City to life in an immersive experience at City Recital Hall. Then on closing night, Saturday 14 June, US comedy couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally will take the stage at ICC Sydney for a one-night-only appearance as part of the festival’s Global Storyteller series.

The Open Streets Program is activating streets and laneways to support local businesses and bring communities together.

Highlights include Spice Lounge on Mary Ann Street as part of the Vivid Fire Kitchen, open every night of the festival, where visitors can savour world-class food over special fire pits and fire drums. On Saturday 7 June, visitors can experience Sound Walk in Angel Place with the iconic city laneway awash with light, sound and roving entertainment for one night only, free for all ages to enjoy. Then, on Saturday 14 June, Hollywood Dreaming will illuminate Foy Lane in Surry Hills with stunning light art, live music and DJ sets.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“The verdict is in, and people are voting with their feet. Vivid Sydney’s outstanding attendance numbers so far reaffirm NSW’s status as one of the world’s premier creative and cultural destinations.

“It’s fantastic to see more than one million people already immersing themselves in Sydney’s vibrant, open-air art gallery and even better to see our restaurants full, proving that people aren’t just coming for the lights but embracing everything our city has to offer.

“With more than a week still to go, there’s every reason to dive deeper into Australia’s largest event. Whether you’ve visited before or are planning to come for the first time, now’s the perfect opportunity to explore a different Vivid Sydney zone, experience live music performances, savour world-class food, or be entertained by some icons of comedy.”

Transport and Tourism Forum CEO Margy Osmond said:

“It’s fantastic to see the roaring success of yet another incredibly curated Vivid Sydney. This festival not only makes Sydney shine, but it’s also a tremendous boost for the visitor economy and plays a huge role in showing off the icons and hidden gems alike.

“The positive numbers and bumper crowds speak for themselves, but if you haven’t already, be sure to experience the fun for yourself with over a week to go.”

Accommodation Australia CEO James Goodwin said:

“Vivid Sydney and major events like it, are crucial for hotels.

“Over the last few years Vivid Sydney has turned what are usually a few quiet winter weekends into a boom period, with occupancy rates in Sydney regularly close to 90 per cent, which is a remarkable achievement.”

Service and Creative Skills Australia CEO Natalie Turmine said:

“Vivid Sydney injects millions into the visitor and night-time economy, creating thousands of jobs across Arts, Retail, Tourism, Hospitality and Event Production.

“With more visitors comes a higher demand for skilled staff in hotels, restaurants, transport and attractions, providing a powerful boost to the state’s workforce. From students gaining their first industry experience to seasoned professionals leading complex productions, Vivid Sydney fuels opportunities at every career stage and drives long-term employment growth.”

The freight sector will employ an additional 235,000 workers and add $131.5 billion to the NSW economy by 2061, as the Minns Labor Government sets a course for growth and enhanced productivity.

The Government today releases Delivering Freight Policy Reform in NSW, an expert report led by Dr Kerry Schott AO and a three-member panel.

The report, requested by government in January 2024, sets out a clear roadmap of short, medium and long-term actions to ready the state to better integrate freight into our transport networks into the future.

The NSW Government has accepted the report’s recommendations and also requested that further work be done by Dr Schott into barriers and opportunities for moving more freight at night to take advantage of off-peak capacity in the transport system, including our roads, motorways, rail network, terminals and distribution facilities.

The value of freight to the NSW economy is now $74 billion, employing 330,000 people, according to Transport for NSW data. The roadmap provides actions to boost productivity at a time when the sector’s contribution from Gross Value Add (GVA) is expected to grow by an average of $1.6 billion a year to 2061 when it will provide 565,000 jobs.

Delivering Freight Policy Reform in NSW has identified dozens of short to long term actions from amending the port policy for container terminals to recruitment programs to address workforce shortages.

Key actions from the plan include:

• Developing a freight master plan – to ensure an integrated and long-term approach through enhanced strategic planning for freight.
• A package of initiatives designed to increase rail modal shift by improving the competitiveness and efficiency of rail freight.
• Adopting a new port policy regarding container terminals in which the Government should not determine the timing or location of any future container terminals but recognise Port Botany remains the key container port for NSW.
• Delivering the Industrial Lands Action Plan, in partnership with Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – focused on strategic land planning for freight purposes and addressing the shortage of industrial land availability.
• Government support for a program, in partnership with industry, to promote recruitment to address skills and workforce shortages which are consistently identified as a major risk facing the sector, particularly, in the first instance, heavy vehicle and train drivers as well as seafarers.

Dr Schott’s report notes the NSW Government is currently conducting a review into the future use of the Glebe Island Port and the entire Bays precinct ahead of the metro station linking the area to Parramatta, the CBD and the inner west. The Report notes the important role of Glebe Island and freight more generally but highlights that the co-location of homes and freight activity is typically not sustainable.

Any impacts on freight are being closely considered as part of that review.

The reform plan incorporates actions already committed through the NSW Heavy Vehicle Access Policy; the NSW Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy; and the recommendations of the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy Review. 

The full report can be found on the Freight Policy Reform Program web page.

Port regulations

Based on industry feedback, the Panel has also clarified their recommendations relating to the Willett Review into the Ports and Maritime Administration Act (Act) and the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS).

The Panel’s paper identifies that 14 of the 21 recommendations are adopted with the remaining six recommended changes to the PBLIS Mandatory Standards identified for further consideration during the implementation process to mitigate against any unintended consequences.

Recommendation 18, to engage NSW Ports – the private port operator – as a service provider to administer elements of PBLIS, was not supported by Government for consideration at this time. 

More information can be found on the Freight Policy Reform Program web page and the Ports and Maritime Act and Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy web page.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“The movement of freight is fundamental to how we all live our lives, the cost we pay for imported goods and the competitiveness of NSW manufacturers and producers.

“The NSW Government is determined to enable the freight sector to reach its potential, which could mean adding a further $131.5 billion year to the state’s economy and employing more than half a million people by 2061.

“Freight arrives at our biggest ports but moves through all our neighbourhoods on the road and rail network. Preparing those networks for the drivers of change to freight – especially population growth and technological change – is a big task and this report sets a roadmap to guide us.

“In relation to the changes to PBLIS, I have asked Transport for NSW to appoint an independent facilitator to help ensure industry is well consulted on implementation and will update the sector when we have appointed someone to the role.

“I am seeking further review of opportunities for increasing freight movement during off-peak periods, particularly through the night. Any additional recommendations will be incorporated into this action plan. I thank the reviewers for this reform plan.” 

The Minns Labor Government is investing an additional $17 million over two years into the renewal of the State’s fire-fighting fleet to strengthen our frontline emergency response.

This two year investment will deliver more than 15 new fire trucks to replace ageing vehicles, with initial funding part of a $98.7 million capital program over the next year which also funds new and upgraded fire stations.

Through the 2025-26 NSW Budget we are delivering better essential services that people rely on and investing to grow the economy—setting NSW up for long-term prosperity.

This additional budget for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) forms part of our wider investment to keep people safe and better serve communities during crisis by supporting our frontline emergency services.

Upgraded FRNSW fleet

Over the next two years, FRNSW will roll out new fire trucks, aerial ladder trucks and specialist vehicles to improve our emergency response to serious incidents.

The additional investment comes as the Minister unveiled the first of a new generation of fire trucks rolling out at Burwood, Newtown, Alexandria and Darlinghurst Fire Stations.

The new fire trucks have been designed and assembled in Australia, with the first stationed at Burwood. Valued at more than $900,000, the Burwood truck is equipped with updated features designed to improve access to firefighting tools during emergency responses. 

Alexandria, Australia’s busiest hazardous materials station, also recently received a new fire truck to support hazmat and chemical incident response.

Investing in fire stations

Along with increased funding for fire fighting vehicles, the NSW Government continues to upgrade and build new fire stations across the state. This includes new station builds at Cessnock, Dungog and Charlestown, and station refurbishments at Cooma and Cootamundra.

Design works are continuing for new stations at Wentworthville, Goonellabah, Broken Hill, Lithgow and Byron Bay, as well as upgrades at Moss Vale Fire Station.

The new and enhanced stations will provide dedicated facilities for both men and women firefighters, as well as ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ zones to help prevent the transfer of contaminants from fire scenes.

Protecting communities against natural disasters

The emergency services budget supports a range of initiatives across the portfolio including flood response, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) aerial response and communications infrastructure and platforms to help better respond to emergencies and natural disasters. This investment reinforces the Minns Labor Government’s focus on rebuilding essential services and continues a sustained uplift for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES).

RFS aviation funding has been boosted by $34.4 million over four years to ensure we can secure fixed wing aircraft and helicopters for emergencies in the face of increasing competition for resources as fire seasons extend around the world.

Emergency warnings sent to mobile and landline phones will also be supported through a $6.4 million allocation. The Emergency Alert System is used by emergency services to send location-based warnings during natural disasters such as floods and bush fires, and to help locate missing persons.

The NSW Budget to be released on 24 June will contain further details about emergency services investment as part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“We are investing in our emergency services to deliver the equipment and infrastructure they need to keep people and property safe.”

“The value of this investment has been demonstrated time and time again, most recently during the mid-north coast floods, where we saw the SES lead the emergency response assisted by Fire and Rescue flood response teams and RFS aviation assets.”

“Whether we are responding to bush fires or house fires, floods or road crash rescues, this investment is vital to support our emergency service workers and volunteers on the frontline.”

“This year’s multi-million dollar commitment to modern firefighting fleet, stations, equipment and communications will help protect communities across Sydney and regional areas for years to come.”

Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM said:

“Communities across the state will be better protected and our firefighters will be better equipped to do their jobs with the range of new vehicles.”

“We will continue to target our investment wisely and modernise our fleet to better serve NSW communities.”

The Minns Labor Government is rolling out a new ‘Find Your Path on a NSW Great Walk’ campaign that highlights seven spectacular multi-day walks across the state to address the growing interest in nature-based visitor experiences.

The new campaign highlights an impressive 275km of walking tracks in regional NSW that have opened to the public within the last two years. The walks showcase some of the state’s most breathtaking and diverse landscapes, from pristine coastline to ancient rainforest and alpine peaks.

Kicking off, on the 8 June 2025, the ‘Find Your Path on a NSW Great Walk’ campaign will target both experienced hikers and aspirational entry-level multi-day walkers offering self-guided and guided options, as well as camping and accommodation choices for overnight stays.

The campaign encourages visitors to explore multi-day walks including Snowies Alpine Walk (Snowy Mountains), Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk (Tweed/Byron Hinterland), Light to Light (Sapphire Coast), Murramarang South Coast Walk, Tomaree Coastal Walk (Port Stephens), Grand Cliff Top Walk (Blue Mountains) and Green Gully Track (Northern Tablelands).

In 2024, 9.9 million international and domestic visitors to NSW visited a national park or state park and spent more than $11.7 billion across the state during their trip.

Recent NPWS data shows that 23.7 million visits included a walk of up to or more than half a day. With the completion and promotion of these new Great Walks those numbers are set to climb.

For more information visit the NSW Great Walks web page.  

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

“National parks play a vital role in the NSW visitor economy especially in supporting regional businesses and jobs while also providing people with access to our state’s natural wonders.

“By promoting these fantastic NSW Great Walks, we are encouraging people to find their path and explore our regions in new and adventurous ways.”

Minister for Tourism and Jobs Steve Kamper said:

“NSW is home to the most diverse national parks on the planet and our ‘Find Your Path on a NSW Great Walk’ campaign will ensure they become bucket-list visitor experiences.

“Traversing our state’s spectacular unspoilt beaches, ancient rainforests and majestic mountain peaks, these walks have opened within the last 2 years and are truly spectacular.

“NSW national parks not only provide authentic connections with the state’s culture and stunning landscapes, they also support thousands of jobs and contribute millions of dollars in visitor expenditure to regional NSW.”

The Minns Labor Government will invest $30.4 million in a new Crisis Intervention package to ensure more vulnerable people can access homelessness services and find a safe place to live.

The 2025-26 NSW Budget includes:

• $20 million to expand existing crisis and transitional housing, delivering more beds and frontline support across NSW to help people in urgent need.
• $10.4 million over four years for the Bill Crews Foundation to support our homeless community.

This package gives homelessness services breathing room now, while we roll out the long-term fix: more public housing and more affordable homes, especially for victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.

The Minns Labor Government is pleased to match recently announced Commonwealth funding to the Bill Crews Foundation, which will help to secure the Foundation’s future.

The Foundation’s frontline crisis centre is one of only two accessible free medical and drop-in centres in Sydney, serving the homeless, people experiencing mental illness, drug and alcohol addictions, and financial distress.

This immediate support in the 2025-26 Budget builds on the Government’s historic $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW Program.  This included a $527 million injection to expand homelessness services.

The record funding to build and maintain social housing and to expand frontline homelessness services, is the most significant investment in public and affordable housing in our state’s history, following more than a decade of neglect.

The Government will prioritise over 50 per cent of new homes built for women and children fleeing family and domestic violence. Right now, more than 2,400 households are supported in hotel-style temporary accommodation each night, and 4 in 10 people seeking homelessness support are turned away. 

The Minns Labor Government is prioritising spending money on building homes for people in need.

The 2025-26 Budget will give services the opportunity to deliver more stable, supported options while we get on with the job of building more homes across NSW.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This is responsible spending that helps people who need it the most and continues the work of repairing a system that had been neglected for far too long.

“We’re serious about changing the way services are delivered to people going through crisis.  That means prioritising housing over paying hotel bills.

“I’m personally very pleased to continue supporting the magnificent work of Reverend Bill Crews. For more than thirty years he and his foundation have helped countless people through really tough times, and we want to make sure they can keep doing what they do.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This is a clear choice: invest in real support and proper housing or keep pouring public money into motels. We’re choosing the first.

“You can’t end homelessness without building more homes — that’s why we’re delivering record investment in public and affordable housing through our Building Homes for NSW program.

“This package gives services breathing room now, while we roll out the long-term fix: more public housing, more affordable homes, and a system that actually meets the need.”

“This funding is about giving people a stable place to stay tonight — but also making sure they have somewhere permanent to go tomorrow.”

The 2025-26 Budget will deliver a new $492 million NSW Health Pathology Statewide Hub as part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to improve essential health services for the people of NSW.

This investment will be essential for the delivery of new and enhanced pathology services on the Westmead Health Precinct, including a new build for the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR).

It will also include an upgrade to the high security PC4 biocontainment laboratory – the only one in NSW. This lab is used to test, isolate and research high risk infectious diseases that has the potential to be a major infection threat to the wider community. 

Since being elected we have been focused on improving essential health services and building hospitals which meet the needs of some of our most rapidly growing communities.  

The announcement today builds on our existing commitments for health infrastructure across NSW including:

• $2 billion for the new Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital;
• $790 million for the new Rouse Hill Hospital plus $120 million from the Federal Government;
• $550 million for the Fairfield Hospital Redevelopment; 
• $350 million for the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment; and
• $120 million for additional beds for Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals
• $330 million for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital
• $200.1 million for Key Health Worker Accommodation in regional, and rural locations

We know there’s more to do, and we want the people of NSW to have access to the best health care services and technology available

Demand on pathology services is only expected to increase with population growth and an increase in our ageing population. 

In NSW alone, there are more than 100,000 clinical and scientific investigations undertaken each day, with 70 per cent of medical decisions relying on pathology investigations and results.

The Westmead laboratory alone conducts 3.5 million pathology related tests per year. Built in 1978, the Laboratory has had minimal refurbishment since and it’s clear it is no longer fit for purpose.

The new and upgraded statewide pathology hub will support the delivery of local and statewide clinical pathology, public health, medical research, and specialised support services on the Westmead campus.

This will allow the hub to take advantage of new and emerging technologies and innovation and best practice models of specialist pathology service delivery. 

This means a major referral hospital like Westmead will continue to have a state of the art on-site lab to assist in the provision of the highest standard of specialist care by enabling close collaboration between pathologists and treating clinicians.  

Once finished, the current laboratory will be retained for future growth to be determined by NSW Health and WSLHD.

As the health system moves towards increasingly personalised specialist treatment approaches, clear and timely communication between specialists and other healthcare providers is essential. 

This is especially important when quick decisions are needed to ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time. 

The hub will also continue to link with other regional centres, including Orange, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, and Lismore, across the state, servicing the more complex needs of regional and rural local health districts and providing education, training and research support.

These capabilities rely on the ability to provide urgent services and additional testing, which are vital to supporting the high demands of large emergency departments.

This investment follows 12 years of broken promises and delays by the previous Liberal Government who failed to deliver on a range of health infrastructure projects, including the new Rouse Hill and Bankstown Hospitals. 

The delivery of the new NSW Health Pathology Statewide Hub is part of the Minns Labor Governments comprehensive plan to build a better NSW, ensuring our communities have the essential services people of NSW rely on.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns:

“Since coming to government, we’ve been focused on delivering the essential health infrastructure that communities across NSW need and deserve.” 

“We know there’s more to do, but this new pathology hub is another step in rebuilding our health system after more than a decade of delay and neglect.

“It’s about ensuring our clinicians have the tools and technology they need to provide world-class care.”

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“For 12 years, the Liberals neglected our health system by failing to properly move forward on a number of critical projects for Western Sydney – including Rouse Hill and Bankstown Hospitals.

“Since being elected we have been focused on improving health services and building hospitals which meet the needs of some of our most rapidly growing communities. 

“We know there’s more to do, with demand on pathology services expected to increase with population growth and an ever increasing ageing population which is why we’re making this half a billion-dollar investment at Westmead. 

“This budget delivers on this challenging but important work to rebuild essential health services.”

Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis:

“The critical importance of our pathology services at Westmead became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when, for a time, all positive COVID-19 tests were directed to Westmead from both public and private pathology labs for genomic and serology testing.

“This rapid increase in demand during the pandemic revealed just how vital it is to have a service available with surge capacity and space for new technology to respond to emerging health challenges.”

The Minns and Albanese Labor Governments have teamed up to double the incentives available for NSW households and small businesses to install a solar battery and connect it to a Virtual Power Plant, providing almost $5,000 in upfront benefits for a typical system that unlocks long-term cost-of living reductions.

The Australian Government’s $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program will support households and small businesses with a discount on the cost of installing small-scale battery systems. This will reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by around 30 per cent, making this support around double the current incentive available to NSW consumers.

The Minns Labor Government will now almost double its incentive for households and businesses to connect their solar battery to a Virtual Power Plant. It will stack with the Commonwealth solar battery incentive, to unlock more cost-of-living relief.

From 1 July 2025, the Minns Labor Government is increasing the incentive to up to $1,500 to encourage more households and small businesses to install a battery and connect to a Virtual Power Plant. The incentive varies by the size of the battery.

It means NSW households and businesses will be able to access double the current incentive for installing a battery (through the Commonwealth program) and double the current incentive for registering it with a Virtual Power Plant (through the NSW scheme).

For example, if a household installs a typical 11.5 kWh system, the combined support would be almost $5,000. If the household installs a larger 27 kWh battery, which costs just over $30,000 without support, it will receive a discount of around $10,000 from the Commonwealth program. If it then connects the battery to a Virtual Power Plant, it will receive an upfront payment of almost $1,500 from the NSW scheme.

Virtual Power Plants are connected groups of solar powered batteries owned by households and small businesses. Connecting to a Virtual Power Plant allows them to generate revenue on an ongoing basis by selling the excess energy stored in their battery to their neighbours and community when demand on the grid is high.

Virtual Power Plants also reduce demand on the electricity grid, which makes the state’s energy supply more stable and less prone to outages. This prevents price spikes and drives down the price of electricity for everyone, while taking us closer to our Net Zero targets.

The increased Virtual Power Plant incentive will replace the NSW home battery installation incentive which has been doubled by the Commonwealth program.

The NSW Government incentive for solar batteries has been a huge success, with more than 11,400 battery installations in six months.

Anyone with a compatible solar battery, including those installed under the NSW incentive since November, who has not yet taken up the Virtual Power Plant incentive, is eligible for the newly doubled incentive from 1 July.

The Clean Energy Regulator is responsible for ensuring the safe installation of home batteries under the Commonwealth’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, including the eligibility of products and accreditation of installers. The program builds on Australia’s well established and successful rollout of rooftop solar, which has seen more than 4 million solar installations and one-in-three homes harness sunshine for their power.

The NSW Government will continue working with stakeholders on future opportunities for the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, including considering what new activities could be incentivised.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen:

“NSW is world leading when it comes to generating rooftop solar power – and attaching more batteries to soak up our sunshine and store that energy will be good for bills and good for the grid.

“We’re working with the Minns Labor Government to make sure more homes and small businesses can slash their bills by installing a battery and connecting it to a Virtual Power Plant.

“The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are teaming up to double the benefits available to NSW households and small businesses. We’ll help more people in NSW access cheap, fast and safe solar energy in their homes and businesses night or day, when they need it.”

NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe:

“We know the best benefit for the grid comes when these batteries are linked together, and NSW wants to be world-leading in encouraging households and small businesses to be a part of that.

“The Minns Labor Government is working with the Albanese Government to double the current benefit available when you install a solar battery and connect it to a Virtual Power Plant.

“By increasing battery uptake we’re reducing demand on the whole grid, putting downward pressure on bills for everyone.”

Further information for media:

What is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and how does it work?

• VPPs are connected groups of solar powered batteries owned by households and small businesses that allow excess stored power to be sold to the electricity grid.
• There is no extra physical connection – the VPP is operated remotely by the VPP provider.
• The VPP provider remotely tracks available energy and uses it based on the contracted conditions agreed to by the consumer.
• The VPP passes on the financial benefits directly to the consumer.

What are the benefits of joining a Virtual Power Plant?

• Get an upfront payment through the NSW Government’s incentive. The amount depends on the battery size. For a 27 kWh battery, this could be up to $1,500.
• Continue to make money selling the battery’s excess stored electricity.
• Electricity sold from batteries connected to a VPP has the potential to attract a higher price than electricity sold through grid-connected solar because of higher power prices at night.
• Earning money helps pay off solar panels and battery faster.
• Help manage peaks in electricity demand to keep power costs down and the lights on, and decrease NSW’s reliance on fossil fuels.

How do battery owners join a Virtual Power Plant?

• Connect through a NSW Government Accredited Certificate Provider to receive an upfront payment. For a list of providers visit the NSW Climate and Energy Action website.
• Pricing, timing and other conditions of the VPP will be set by a contract with the provider.
• Not all batteries can be connected to a VPP, so check before you purchase. All batteries that were installed through the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme can be connected.
• If you are looking to install a battery with a discount, find out more about the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program available from 1 July 2025 by visiting the Cheaper Home Batteries Program web page.