Henson Park secures funding for last piece of the puzzle

The Minns Labor Government today announced it will provide $1 million toward upgrades to Henson Park to help transform the much-loved suburban ground into a fit-for-purpose community facility.

The NSW Government is committed to investing in grassroots sporting infrastructure and these funds will go towards upgrades that include a new scoreboard and public address system, refurbished accessible rest rooms, plus roof repairs and refurbishment of the first-floor clubroom.

The funding supports other major upgrades at the venue, including the $12.5 million Henson Park Grandstand Redevelopment which will provide a modern and inclusive home ground and training base for the many sports that use it, including the Sydney Swans and GIANTS AFLW teams and the Newtown Jets NSW Cup rugby league team.

Today’s announcement comes on top of $5 million the NSW Government provided to Henson Park Redevelopment Project Stage One which includes:

  • Female friendly changerooms
  • Stairs, ramps and lifts
  • Improved fire safety systems
  • Two universally inclusive changerooms
  • Refurbished referees and first aid area
  • A new gymnasium
  • A new multi-use club room

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Henson Park is one of the most iconic suburban sports grounds in Sydney, home to the Sydney Swans AFLW team and Newtown Jets, one of Australia’s oldest and most storied rugby league clubs.

“The venue is loved by the local community, regularly hosting large crowds and televised matches.

“Upgrading the facilities will ensure Henson Park reaches its full potential, supporting the growth of women’s and community sport, and providing long-term benefit to the many sporting groups that use the ground.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:

“Henson Park is an iconic Inner West Institution; it is the heart of sport in the Inner West.

“This is the last piece in the puzzle to upgrade our much-loved Henson Park. Not only is this the new home of women’s AFL and the Jets, but it is also a community hub. An afternoon on the hill with family and friends will now be all the better with a brand-new toilet block to go along with all the fantastic new facilities that are on the way.”

Deputy Mayor Inner West Council Mat Howard said:

“We’re committed to making the Inner West the home ground of women’s sport in NSW. That starts with the project to upgrade Henson Park. This new commitment of funding is excellent news for the players with the AFLW, the Newtown Jets, and for spectators and the community as a whole.”

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley said:

“The Sydney Swans welcome the upgrades, that come as the club counts down to the start of the AFLW season.  

“Henson Park is a terrific Sydney venue in the heart of the Inner West, and an important home ground for our AFLW team, so we welcome any improvements that will enhance the experience for our members and fans.

“We look forward to our women’s team returning to Henson Park on Sunday, 7 September for a home game against Fremantle.”

Newtown Jets CEO Stuart McCarthy said:

“Henson Park is Sydney’s greatest natural amphitheatre and a venue like no other. It is iconic, especially to the community of the inner west. It has been the spiritual home of the Newtown Jets since 1936.

“Upgrades to the Scoreboard Building on its famous hill which include a new scoreboard and public address system as well as kiosk upgrades, refurbished accessible rest rooms plus roof repairs and refurbishment of the first-floor clubroom is the final piece in the puzzle to providing a truly remarkable facility for both sporting participants, female & male, grass roots & elite, all abilities and the general public.”

Record $9 billion for schools across NSW including a new public school in Sydney’s growing South West

The Minns Labor Government will deliver a record $9 billion over four years for school infrastructure in the 2025-26 Budget — continuing the work of rebuilding public education in NSW.

This investment in our future includes $2.6 billion that will be spent over the coming financial year alone, to deliver our record pipeline of new and upgraded schools to support growing communities across NSW.

Importantly, every new public primary school is being delivered with a co-located public preschool, honouring the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to deliver 100 new public preschools by 2027, including 49 in Western Sydney.

This budget includes the following additional new schools and upgrades:

New schools

  • Emerald Hills – new primary school
  • Grantham Farm – new primary school
  • West Dapto – new primary school
  • Wilton – new high school

Major upgrades

  • Newington Public School
  • Excelsior Public School
  • Thornton Public School
  • Rydalmere East Public School
  • Rydalmere Public School
  • Ermington West Public School
  • Asquith high schools
  • Bayside High School (provisional name)
  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Campus

These new schools being funded in the 2025-26 Budget will deliver approximately 140 new classrooms that are estimated to accommodate 2,500 students.

The new school that is being announced for the first time today for Emerald Hills, near Leppington, will open for more than 550 students on Day 1 Term 1, 2028, with facilities including modern classrooms, a multipurpose hall, canteen, library and sports field.

Leppington was one of a number of growth areas within the South-West and North-West growth corridors identified by the Government’s Enrolment Growth Audit as the top 10 areas for student growth in the state.

The audit found the former Coalition government failed to accurately reflect the rapid population growth in these areas and failed to build the schools to match it.

Since being elected, the Minns Labor Government has commenced construction on more than 25 new and upgraded schools for growing communities across NSW, with another 30 set to begin before the end of 2025.

In addition to these, the NSW Government has fast-tracked schools to open in temporary facilities while their permanent facilities are built in Box Hill, Nirimba Fields, Tallawong and Gledswood Hills.

This has meant that families in growth suburbs like Marsden Park, Leppington, Tallawong and Gledswood Hills were able to enrol in schools years earlier than planned by Liberals and Nationals.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education following a decade of neglect that saw new schools and upgrades promised but never delivered by the former government.

This budget continues to ensure students across NSW no matter where they live can attend a public school close to home, and that these schools deliver a world class education to the next generation.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education and improve student outcomes by addressing over a decade of neglect by the former Government.

We know there’s much more to do, but we’re getting on with the job of rebuilding public education by:

  • banning mobile phones in all public schools, which has meant reduced distractions in school
  • paying our teachers more, which has seen a 40 per cent drop in teacher vacancies since coming to office. That means more teachers in front our classrooms
  • this has meant that the number of merged and cancelled classes have been almost halved
  • making more than 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contracts permanent.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“New and upgraded schools are essential, but nothing matters more than having a great teacher in every classroom.

“That’s why we delivered the biggest teacher pay rise in a generation — cutting permanent teacher vacancies by 40 per cent and slashing the number of merged or cancelled classes across NSW.

“This announcement today continues our record investment in public education with new funding for schools in the communities that need them most, fast-growing suburbs that were overlooked for far too long.

“Families in Western Sydney were promised schools that never came under the former government. We’re fixing this — building the schools that these communities need and deserve.”

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The Minns Labor Government, with the leadership of Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car, has invested record funding to build new and upgraded schools across growing parts of NSW that were neglected for too long under the Liberals.

“Our investment also includes new, fee-free public preschools co-located with public schools as part of our commitment to build 100 public preschools across NSW. These will be a game-changer for families in suburbs where access to high quality, affordable early education is scarce.

“For more than a decade, the former Liberal National Government failed to keep pace with population growth in these suburbs and towns. We are fixing that with real investment, building world-class local public schools and early education for families close to home.”

Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said:

“I was elected on a commitment of delivering schools for our growing community.

“This new primary school and preschool at Emerald Hills is another example of the Minns Labor Government’s investment in public education – alongside the new Leppington High School, an elective sports stream at Eagle Vale High School, five new public preschools, and four major school upgrades across the Leppington electorate.

“We’re making sure every family has access to quality local schools, close to home.”

Amazon data centre investment in Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman in Seattle today to welcome AWS’s investment of AUD$20 billion into data centre infrastructure in Australia.

Over the next five years, this landmark investment will provide the world’s most advanced infrastructure that can support complex artificial intelligence (AI) and all other technology applications, enabling organisations across Australia to train and deploy AI models and continue to rapidly innovate.

It will drive the development and expansion of data centres in Melbourne and Sydney that include storage, networking, analytics, and other advanced, highly secure services, supporting cloud and AI demand.

Australia is keen to seize the economic opportunities that AI and other digital technologies offer.

This investment will boost Australia’s economic growth, resilience and productivity.

It will expand Australia’s growing data centre infrastructure and support technology adoption by Australian businesses.

AWS matches 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable energy across its global operations, including Australian data centres, as part of its plans to achieve net zero by 2040.

The significant investment builds on the Australian Government’s strategic partnership with AWS to deliver a sovereign Top Secret Cloud which will generate up to 2,000 Australian jobs.

AWS has already invested AUD$9.1 billion in Australia since it first established a presence in Sydney in 2012.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“This significant investment will offer Australian industries the ability to take advantage of the revolutionary opportunities provided by artificial intelligence.

“It will build on Australia’s growing data centre infrastructure and contribute to our economic growth and resilience, including by providing more skilled jobs and AI-ready infrastructure.

“This investment highlights AWS’s role as a trusted US-based global technology provider, with a strong presence in and commitment to Australia, reflecting Australia’s continued strength as an attractive destination for business and investment.”

Additional humanitarian funding to meet urgent medical and nutrition needs in Gaza

Australia will provide a further $10 million to enable the distribution of urgent medical and nutrition supplies to Gaza to help address the catastrophic humanitarian conditions due to the ongoing conflict.

This funding brings Australia’s total humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by conflict in Gaza and Lebanon to over $110 million since 7 October 2023.

Infrastructure and health systems in Gaza have been devastated by Israel’s military operations. Food, medicines and essential supplies have been exhausted.

As part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing humanitarian support, Australia is partnering with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to provide urgent medical care to Palestinians suffering serious illness or injury in Gaza.

The Australian Government will contribute $5 million to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization for critical medical supplies to support field hospitals in Gaza.

Australia’s support builds on the charity’s existing work, including with the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, which has also donated essential medical supplies to Gaza.

Australia will also provide $5 million to UNICEF for nutritional support for children affected by the conflict. Gaza is experiencing a critical food security crisis, with children under the age of five the most impacted.

This contribution will help UNICEF provide 2.9 million rations of nutritional support, enough to meet the needs of 8,000 children for four months.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

“Australia has consistently been part of the international call on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza, in line with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice.

“Aid is being prevented from reaching those who need it. Children are injured and starving. Israel’s ongoing restriction on aid into Gaza is costing lives.

“Our new partnership with Jordan will enable us to provide urgent medical support with those who need it most.

“We will continue to work with our international partners to press for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel.”

International Development Minister Anne Aly:

“The devastation and suffering in Gaza are unconscionable. Australia’s support will help deliver lifesaving assistance and care to civilians injured in Gaza.

“Civilians cannot pay the price in this conflict. Every child deserves safety. Every child deserves access to food and medical care.

“The Albanese Government is working with the international community and trusted humanitarian organisations, like UNICEF, as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure critical aid enters Gaza and reaches those who need it.”

Circular solutions create a new normal

Ballina Shire Council has been awarded $34,200 by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to help deliver innovative local waste and recycling solutions, supporting the state’s transition to a circular economy.

The Creating a Circular Clothing Community project will Help divert textile waste from landfill by working with local and regional partners to shift community behaviours and promote reuse and repair.

This is one of 13 successful projects, led by councils and regional waste groups, to share in $2.9 million as part of the EPA’s Local Government Waste Solutions (LGWS) Fund program.

The funding will help deliver circular waste solutions across a diverse range of projects like eliminating waste in construction works and council operations, trialling services to divert waste from landfill and researching new technology to help recover or reuse materials.

Round four of the LGWS fund is planned to open in September 2025.

Individual councils, a group of councils, or regional waste groups in the waste levy paying area are eligible to apply. Individual councils can apply for up to $200,000 in funding, and groups of two or more councils can apply for up to $400,000 in funding.

For more information on Round 3 grantees and to learn how to apply for Round 4 visit: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/grants/councils/local-government-waste-solutions-fund

Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina:

“It’s fantastic to see Ballina Shire Council awarded funding for their Creating a Circular Clothing Community which will help minimise waste, keep valuable resources out of landfill and drive NSW towards a circular economy.”

“We know clothing waste is a major pollutant. I will be excited to follow along as this program gets underway.”

“I look forward to seeing the exciting opportunities this opens for Ballina communities. Moving to a circular economy not only protects our environment into the future but also strengthens communities and local economies.”

NSW EPA Executive Director of Programs and Innovation, Alexandra Geddes:

“NSW is on the cusp of a waste crisis with Greater Sydney’s landfill space predicted to run out by 2030. We need to work with councils and communities to plan for, design and pilot new ways of managing, recovering and reusing waste.

“This funding aims to tackle local waste and resource recovery challenges by delivering innovative community-specific solutions.

“Councils and waste groups are at the forefront of managing waste for their communities and they are pivotal to our transition to a circular economy.”

Israeli strikes risk collapse of rules-based order Australia claims to defend

Israel’s latest attacks on Iran, with the open backing of the United States, are another dangerous escalation in the region and risk tipping the world into a larger war. 

Australia must clearly and unambiguously state that we will not participate in the conflict and we will prohibit the use of any military facilities, including Pine Gap and other joint US facilities, in these attacks.  

Unilateral attacks on third countries are unlawful under international law and, whether undertaken by perceived Australian friends or enemies, must be opposed to prevent even more dangerous international precedents being set. 

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesperson, said:

“The Australian Greens condemn these latest Israeli attacks on Iran as yet another breach of international law by Israel and call on the Government to do the same. 

“No nation should be above international law. The Australian government must call on Israel to step back from military brinkmanship and engage with international legal processes and diplomatic solutions.

“Australia must not be drawn into another endless conflict. Our role needs to be as peacemakers who uphold international law, not as combatants who trash it.

“Bush said Iraq was ‘preemptive.’ Putin calls Ukraine ‘preemptive’ and now this. It’s the oldest trick in the warmonger’s playbook. 

“Israel’s actions threaten to ignite a wider regional conflict that would have devastating consequences for tens of millions of people around the world. 

“We see again and again that every ‘strategic target’ is someone’s neighborhood and that is happening right now in the suburbs of Tehran. The international community can either help stop this carnage or again own the body count. 

“Netanyahu and Trump seem to be sharing the same chaotic rule book to escalate conflict so they can avoid accountability for domestic and foreign policy failures. 

“Don’t let bombs and new breaches of international law distract from starving kids in Gaza. War crimes don’t disappear because a new war starts.

“Australia needs to stop being America’s deputy sheriff and prevent the US using any military facilities or bases in Australia in this unilateral attack on Iran.”

Community sector downpayment must be the start, not the end

The ACT Greens say today’s pre-budget announcement from the minority Labor Government is enough for the community sector to survive, but not enough to create a truly strong safety net for people in Canberra.

“More people than ever are turning to local community organisations to cover the basics like food, housing, healthcare and household needs, so if today’s funding announcement is the end of it, that’s a real problem,” said ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury.

“The Greens have been working with the community sector ahead of this year’s budget to really pressure Labor not to balance the books at the expense of people who most need the government’s support.

“Today’s announcement shows pressure works, and we’ve got to keep pushing.

“If Labor uses this budget to shut down the Rent Relief Fund or cut other essential supports, even more people are going be forced to seek help from the community sector.

“Today’s announcement only helps community organisations with multi-year government funding arrangements. Other services have an anxious wait, year after year, to find out if they’ll be able to keep operating.

“That has real life consequences for Canberrans who may lose their jobs, their support networks, or the roof over their heads,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“Today’s announcement of $10 million sounds nice, but spread across two years and 150 organisations – an average of $33,000 per year won’t go far.

“When you hold this $5 million per year up against the $100 million we could raise every year from taxing big corporations in a way they’d barely notice, you see how much more the government could do.

“I’m urging the Treasurer to take up the Greens’ proposal and raise extra revenue from the banks, the supermarkets, the airlines and the big retailers, which are contributing to cost of living pressures while racking up billions of dollars in profits.

“These corporations that love the ACT for being a prosperous, growing market should contribute more to our community. A drop from their ocean would be a significant pool of revenue for the ACT Government to properly fund the services Canberrans really need.

“The ACT Greens’ vision is for Canberra to be a genuinely progressive city where we look out for one another. That’s why we’ve got community services as a priority in our balance of power agreement that allowed Labor to form minority government, and why we’re watching the unveiling of this budget very closely.”

Greens call for immediate release of North West Shelf approval conditions for public transparency and honesty

In response to the extension of the deadline for Woodside to respond to its approval conditions, Greens spokesperson for the environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“The Australian public and Traditional Owners have the right to see Minister Watt’s approval conditions for the North West Shelf gas plant given the significant impacts this project will have on the environment, cultural heritage and the safety of our climate.

“With Woodside given seemingly unlimited time to negotiate with the Government behind closed doors, how can we be assured the approval conditions are not being watered down by the fossil fuel giant?

“These gas corporations will do everything they can to avoid strict conditions and scrutiny. The public has a right to know what the Minister originally said was needed and why the Government would be offering any compromise to Woodside.

“Give these fossil fuel companies an inch and they will take a mile. No easy ticket or carve outs should be offered.

“It is devastating that so soon after the public elected one of the most progressive parliaments in Australia’s history, the new Environment Minister’s first act in the job has been approving one of the biggest, dirtiest gas projects in Australia out to 2070 – and is letting them dictate the conditions behind closed doors.

“This monstrous gas expansion will be an environmental disaster – unleashing gas pollution on a huge scale, destroying cultural heritage and threatening pristine ecosystems like Scott Reef, home to threatened endangered species like the green sea turtle and the pygmy blue whale.

“The least the Minister can do is provide the public and Traditional Owners transparency over his decision making.”

City of Newcastle prioritises asset renewal in record Budget

Councillors will vote on the adoption of the 2025/26 Budget and Delivery Program at Tuesday night’s Council meeting, which will see more than $154 million invested across 344 projects. 

This includes 192 projects addressing road and traffic network improvements, 138 projects supporting cycleways and pedestrian networks and 86 projects that will focus on recreation and sport.

CEO Jeremy Bath said next year City of Newcastle’s average infrastructure spend per property will be about 10% greater than the average residential property will pay in rates.

“A $154 million capital works program means we are going to invest almost $2,100 per property improving infrastructure, which is $200 more than the average annual residential rate,” Mr Bath said. 

“This means we’re investing more than 100% of the average annual rate paid into improving the city’s infrastructure.

“City of Newcastle’s capital works program is also $50 million higher than any other local council in the region, representing our commitment to meeting the needs and expectations of our growing community.

“We’re balancing the need for new infrastructure with maintaining our assets, with a record $58 million being invested into the renewal and maintenance of existing infrastructure, which represents more than half of our total infrastructure spend.” 

Chief Financial Officer David Clarke said City of Newcastle undertook an extensive communications campaign to support the public exhibition of the draft 2025/26 Budget and Delivery Program.

“The key themes that emerged from community feedback were active transport infrastructure such as footpaths and cycleways, as well as parks, playgrounds and sporting facilities,” Mr Clarke said.

“Other areas of interest included local centre upgrades, support for night-time trade and special entertainment precincts, the need for more affordable housing, as well as flooding and drainage.

“Changes have been made to the draft Budget following public exhibition to incorporate the delivery of the commemorative plaque audit and replacement plan, the estimated costs of the proposed $2 inland swimming pool entry fee trial at Mayfield, Wallsend, Stockton and Beresfield, as well as 13 additional apprentices and trainees to be employed by City of Newcastle.

“Despite the challenges, we are forecasting a small surplus of $250,000, providing us with the financial capacity to maintain services and meet the commitments we’ve made to the community.”

Other highlights of the 2025/26 Budget include:

  • $42.2 million on road renewal and road upgrades, including the western corridor road widening at Minmi Road and Longworth Avenue
  • $20.6 million on recreation, aquatics, and sports improvements, including the Foreshore Park playspace
  • $11.9 million on coastal, city, and urban centres including the East End Hunter Street Mall and Georgetown local centre
  • $9.4 million on waste management and Summerhill Waste Management Centre
  • $7.1 million on street and park trees, bushland and watercourses, and Blackbutt Reserve
  • $6 million on bridge renewal and upgrades including Boscawen Street, Wallsend
  • $5.5 million on footpath and pedestrian projects
  • $5.4 million on cultural facilities including Art Gallery, Libraries, Museum, Fort Scratchley and our Civic venues
  • $5.3 million on city-wide stormwater upgrades, flood planning and management works including Cooks Hill
  • $5.1 million on coastal management including Stockton coastline protection work, estuary, and wetlands
  • $4.4 million on an affordable housing project at Rail Bridge Row
  • $4.1 million on cycleway projects and another $1.9 million on cycleways as part of larger projects
  • $3.5 million to upgrade the State Emergency Services building at Mayfield West
  • $1.5 million on climate action and sustainability initiatives
  • $0.9 million to progress the design for a reimagined western building at Queens Wharf

Following a recommendation from the recent independent review of City of Newcastle, a change has been made to the Budget to show both the forecast spend of each project in the capital works program as well as the phase of the project. 

Forecast spend for projects that are forecast to go to tender within the next six months are not shown to ensure competitive tension within the tendering process remains.

Historic biosecurity budget boost

The Minns Labor Government will invest over $140 million of new funding to safeguard the future of our states agricultural industry. As part of the Government’s comprehensive plan to build better regional communities this year’s state budget will continue the government’s focus on strengthening the state’s biosecurity program with and primary industries research capabilities.

Prioritising our state’s biosecurity

$100 million in new additional funding will be invested to further strengthen the state’s biosecurity detection, protection and response, bringing the states biosecurity budget to a historic $1.05 billion.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to making investments which grow the state’s economy. Primary industries contribute $20 billion annually to our state, as well as playing an essential role in keeping us fed and clothed, however invasive pests, diseases and weeds pose a significant threat.

This funding will drive the development of a new, sustainable and integrated biosecurity model. It will enable strengthening of surveillance and improve the state’s emergency response capacity in the event of a biosecurity incursion.

The Minns Labor Government was elected with a commitment to prioritise the state’s biosecurity, this funding will build on the work undertaken over the past years, which has delivered:

  • the appointment of the state’s first ever Independent Biosecurity Commissioner
  • the control management of more than 212,000 feral pigs and 18,000 feral deer
  • over 200 workshops with over 5,000 attendees to equip farmers with the knowledge they need to undertake best practice pest control and management
  • more than 39,000 one-on-one consultations by Local Land Service biosecurity officers
  • the investment of $95 million, more than any other state, to monitor, respond to and eradicate the threat of red fire ants.

Strengthening our state’s research capabilities

$41.2 million will be invested to modernise the primary industry research and development program, including upgrades to digital infrastructure to promote research in emerging areas such as AI assisted farming.

This funding will also support a graduate program to give a pathway to young scientists ensuring NSW has a pipeline of skilled researchers, safeguarding the productivity and efficiency of our state’s agricultural industry into the future.

This builds on the over $60 million invested last year to deliver vital upgrades to seven research facilities, and five emergency response sites across regional NSW, that were neglected by the former Liberal National Government.

These upgrades and additional funding will support the staff undertaking research across the state in vital areas such as, animal nutrition, climate change, aquaculture breeding as well as biosecurity surveillance and responses.

In the face of global challenges, including climate change it is imperative that NSW farmers have the tools to adapt and thrive. This funding will ensure the vital work undertaken at research facilities becomes more strategic, focused and valuable to farmers and producers.

This new research funding is in response to the final report of the Independent Research and Development Review conducted by a panel of eminent scientist and agricultural economists chaired by the former NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane AC.

Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:

“We are working hard to build a better New South Wales, by making investments which will grow the economy and set the state up for long term prosperity.

“We know that New South Wales cannot reach its full potential if our state’s farmers and agricultural industry are not thriving and safeguarded into the future.

“I’ve been lucky to meet with many farmers across our state and listen to their concerns, whether it’s feral pigs, deer, weeds or fires ants, all of them have raised the unrelenting threat biosecurity incursions pose.

“That is why we are making this essential investment to ensure that farmers can continue to do what they do best, knowing that the Government has their back when it comes to managing weeds and pests across the state.”

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said:

“These significant budget investments build on the work we have carried out over the last two years to turbo charge the fight against ferals, pests, diseases and weeds.

“Biosecurity is receiving unprecedented attention from our Government due to the increasing risk to our farmers and landscapes. We are standing with our farmers to show them the way on how to deal with these problems and to battle any feral problems head-on to make a real difference.

“We are committed to modernising our research and development effort for primary industries with an additional $41.2 million, so that there has been more than $100 million in new funding over the last year, and it is bringing a stronger, strategic and resilient focus to the future of primary industries.

“Establishing a graduate pathway for young scientists and researchers into our primary industries research program is essential to maintaining a continuous and dedicated specialist workforce driven by purpose and achievement.”