Month: August 2025

On the day of a national meeting of Education Ministers, the Greens are urging ministers to go beyond band-aid fixes and tackle the systemic problems undermining safety and quality in childcare.

The Greens say yesterday’s naming of 29 centres under new laws is a start, but it won’t lift overall quality or address the deeper failures of the for-profit model.

Last week, the Greens announced they will move to establish a Senate Inquiry into the quality and safety of early education and care as soon as Parliament resumes. The inquiry will, among other things, examine how the childcare subsidy model props up for-profit providers and undermines standards.

Australian Greens spokesperson for early childhood education and care, Senator Steph Hodgins-May: 

“More and more evidence is mounting that the profit-driven model of early learning is failing by treating children as revenue streams, not as young people deserving of quality care and education.

“As Education Ministers meet today I urge them to go beyond band-aid fixes and confront the real issue putting our kids at risk – a system that puts profit ahead of care. 

“The rapid review in Victoria warns providers are putting profits ahead of children’s safety, while the recent NSW review exposed the inherent conflict between profit and quality care. When will the Government finally reckon with this?

“The difference is stark: only 13 per cent of for-profit centres exceed the national quality standard, compared with almost one-third of community and not-for-profit centres.

“Naming and shaming poor quality providers is a first step, but it’s not enough. These are our children we’re talking about, not line items on a balance sheet.” 

The Greens say the Government’s roundtable has delivered nothing for workers, renters and first home buyers, according to Greens Senator Barbara Pocock.

With the Treasurer just today identifying the need to move on intergenerational inequality, the Greens say the government must move beyond talk, into action on tax reform and improved conditions for workers.

Senator Larissa Waters, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“What a flop that the roundtable didn’t result in anything more than Labor’s minimal pre-election plans. No action on big corporations paying their fair share, no changing housing tax settings that have cooked affordability, and no understanding that climate action is key to future economic prosperity. What a visionless approach,” Senator Waters said.

“The roundtable didn’t consider taxes on rich coal and gas corporations or take action on handouts for wealthy property investors. It didn’t move us towards a four day work week or raise income support. Instead, the major outcomes seem likely to push up emissions and slow down rooftop solar.

“The Treasurer’s calls for action on intergenerational inequality moments after the economic roundtable finished show how little the three day event achieved.

“Labor can’t keep putting off important reforms year after year, talking about problems like the housing crisis or intergenerational inequality while doing little to fix them. It’s time to put the talk aside and take action.”

Australian Greens spokesperson for finance, employment and workplace relations, Senator Barbara Pocock:

“This is a missed opportunity for bold action from the Government. Labor could deliver genuine tax reform today that would tackle intergenerational inequality, improve conditions for workers and boost productivity. Long delays on tax reform aren’t going to fix anything.

“Labor is supposed to be the party of the worker and yet its economic roundtable has delivered nothing for workers. Despite weeks of proposals from unions, we’ve seen zero commitments from the Government to improving working conditions that would ultimately boost productivity. What’s the point of inviting workers’ representatives to a roundtable if you’re not going to listen to them.

“The evidence is clear – flexible working arrangements – such as the right to work from home and a shorter working week with the same pay – reduce the time spent on commuting, improve work-life balance, increase mental and physical wellbeing, and boosts workforce participation and productivity. They are good for women.

“This is about justice for working people. The profit share of GDP has risen while workers’ share has shrunk. It’s time for workers to get their fair share. The Government has the support of unions for real reform for workers and their families. The Greens stand ready to pass them in parliament. 

“Ending the housing crisis is possible but cutting red tape won’t cut it. We have to bite the bullet on tax. That means winding back unfair tax handouts to wealthy property investors which are cooking our housing system, fuelling intergenerational inequality and helping to shut an entire generation out of home ownership.

“Unless the Government makes the necessary reforms to the tax concessions for property investors, we’ll continue to see house prices rise and rents spiral. Labor must listen to the experts and deliver tax reforms that will actually help Australians put a roof over their head.

“Labor must deliver on essential tax reform to deal with the housing crisis, ensure workers get their fair share and strengthen flexible working arrangements which we know boosts productivity.” 

The NSW Government has accepted all recommendations of an independent review into the delivery of this year’s selective education placement tests, with the 2026 tests and beyond to be held at smaller venues and logistics to be overseen directly by the NSW Department of Education.

Respected education academic Dr Michele Bruniges AM examined the issues that caused significant disruption to 2025 testing held at larger testing venues. Dr Bruniges has also chaired the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment Governing Board since 2017.

Disruptions on the first day of testing resulted in the department shifting subsequent testing to alternative smaller venues, managed by departmental staff. This approach will continue in 2026.

Dr Bruniges’ recommendations for the department, include holding only one placement test session per day per school, with a maximum number of 300 students in large school venues and 180 students in the smaller school venues.

In her report, Dr Bruniges notes the department’s successful establishment of computer-based test design and delivery outside of the three large testing venues.

Planning is underway for the 2026 tests. The first round of offers for next year’s selective high school cohort will be today.

Along with the Bruniges Review, separate independent advice into the fairness and integrity of the 2025 tests was provided by Professor Jim Tognolini, Director of the Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment at the University of Sydney.

Professor Tognolini’s work examined whether students who sat the test twice due to disruption had an advantage and whether all test versions were comparable and equally difficult.

His review found:

• No evidence of advantage for students re-sitting the test.
• Minimal difference between the scores on the first and second test for students who sat the Selective High School and Opportunity Class test twice.
• All test versions, including re-sits, were of equal difficulty.
• Where common questions were used between tests, proven methods were applied to ensure fairness.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The NSW Government is accepting all of Dr Bruniges recommendations including that future tests take place in smaller cohorts at local schools, ensuring we don’t see the disruption we saw this year again.

“Every student deserves a fair go, and I thank Dr Bruniges and Professor Tognolini for their work to ensure we deliver fair and well-run tests for entry to selective schooling and opportunity classes.”

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said:

“We will implement all recommendations of the Bruniges review to ensure a smooth process for students participating in next year’s tests.

“The disruption experienced at the larger testing centres earlier this year was not acceptable, and I’m pleased our steps to address the issues delivered a fair outcome.”

Dr Michele Bruniges AM said:

“For NSW families and their children, a decision to sit for placement tests for entry into selective education is significant.

“The use of large testing centres this year caused disruption, and the review has made recommendations to ensure the disruption experienced is not repeated.”

Professor Jim Tognolini said:

“Despite disruption to testing at major centres, students resitting the tests did not receive an advantage.

“There was minimal difference between scores on the original and re-sit tests, with proven testing methods ensuring fairness.”

Over-the-bed critical care cameras which provide real-time images of seriously ill babies and children are being installed at Northern Beaches Hospital following the Clinical Excellence Commission’s Independent Inquiry into the hospital’s emergency department, which identified the absence of this technology as a serious concern.

The Inquiry, commissioned by the Secretary of NSW Health was released earlier this month.

The Minister for Health, Ryan Park, today announced the cameras were undergoing testing and were expected to be switched on within a matter of weeks.

Specialist camera units are being installed in the emergency department, paediatric ward and special care nursery.

The cameras allow for a clinician to contact the Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) to connect them with specialists from the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, when a child is critically ill or facing an emergency.

Previously, Northern Beaches Hospital did not have a connection to NSW Health’s data network which would have enabled the video camera connection.

Clinicians would communicate with NETS via phone when seeking clinical advice in a neonatal or paediatric emergency.

Discussions between the Northern Beaches Hospital Taskforce, Healthscope and its receivers remain ongoing.

It remains the preference of the NSW Government that a negotiated agreement on the future control and operation of the Northern Beaches Hospital can be achieved.

NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“One of the great benefits of these cameras is that when in use the NETS clinicians can become very involved in the care often acting as another pair of eyes.

“The cameras are controlled at the NETS end so they can zoom in and look closely at the patient, or at the monitoring equipment to watch real time changes as they occur.

“These cameras are vital in providing specialist advice to clinicians on the ground dealing with a paediatric emergency.

“I hope this will provide some reassurance to the Northern Beaches community in light of the tragic death of Joe Massa.

“I would like to thank Joe’s parents, Elouise and Danny Massa, who have advocated tirelessly on behalf of the community for improvements to be made at Northern Beaches Hospital.

“Today, I am pleased to say that as a result of NSW Health’s work with Healthscope, the operator of Northern Beaches Hospital, these cameras are now being installed.”
 

Commissioner Karen Webb will be farewelled at Goulburn today after an extraordinary 38-year career with the NSW Police Force.  

On behalf of the NSW Government, I thank her for her decades of self-sacrifice and service to the people of this state.

Commissioner Webb has been a force for change, achieving landmark reform that will leave a lasting legacy on the NSW Police Force. 

Joining the NSWPF in May 1987, she has held every rank in the NSWPF, working across General Duties and Specialist Commands in both metro and regional NSW.  

Under her leadership, we have introduced significant recruitment and retention measures including delivering a once-in-a-generation pay rise for police, paying recruits to train and establishing pathways for regional recruits to return to the bush and experienced officers to transfer from interstate and New Zealand to the NSWPF.

Commissioner Webb’s commitment to tackling one of society’s most shameful crimes – domestic and family violence – is to be commended. 

Under her command, the NSWPF now have the only Domestic and Family Violence Registry in Australia, a Domestic Violence Liaison officer in every Police Area Command and District, the strongest cooperation with WDVCAS workers in our buildings and so much more. 

Her achievements are an enduring legacy for how NSW Police will deal with domestic violence for decades to come

Commissioner Webb’s drive to modernise the force for the 21st century will have a lasting impact on our police and community. 

At today’s Attestation Parade for new recruits in Goulburn the Commissioner will ‘march off’ the parade ground a little over 38 years after she herself attested on the same ground. 

It is fitting she does so with her head held high as we welcome the largest class of recruits in more than a decade to the force – a result of her reforms to police recruitment and retention.

Commissioner Webb has a great deal to be proud of in her long and exemplary police career.  We all owe her a huge debt of gratitude.

Congratulations Commissioner Webb.

314 police recruits – the largest class in 13 years – will be sworn into the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) today – bolstering frontline policing right across the state.

The Minns Labor Government will officially welcome Class 366 to the NSWPF this morning as they attest at the Goulburn Police Academy.

Today’s record-breaking class is clear proof that the Minns Labor Government’s reforms to police pay, and recruitment are working.

While there is more to do, these results show we are making inroads to turning around recruitment and rebuilding the NSWPF after 12 years of the Liberals unfair wages cap.

The new officers will be deployed to 57 Police Area Commands and Police Districts across the state, strengthening the NSWPF’s capability to fight crime and keep our communities safe.

Class 366 is made up of 221 men and 93 women (aged between 19 and 59). The cohort also includes 18 First Nations officers and officers who were born in 18 different countries.

The recruits will now begin 12 months of on-the-job training and will be deployed across:

• Central Metropolitan Region – 69
• Northern Region – 67
• North West Metropolitan Region – 63
• South West Metropolitan Region – 64
• Southern Region – 29
• Western Region – 22

13 recruits are taking advantage of the Minns Labor Government’s Be A Cop In Your Hometown program – electing to serve in or near their hometown after attesting.

This cohort is returning to the Mid North Coast PD, Coffs/Clarence PD, Oxley PD, Hunter Valley PD, Riverina PD and Murray River PD.

Strong local policing is particularly important in regional and rural NSW, where officers are trusted community figures and often the first point of support in times of crisis.

Class 366 has completed eight months of training (four months via distance education and four months of in-person training at Goulburn) and will now begin 12 months of on the job training as Probationary Constables.

The former Liberal-National Government had no plan for police recruitment, no plan for police retention and sent wages backwards for more than a decade. Thousands of experienced officers left the force as a result.

We are working hard to rebuild the NSWPF and create safer communities. While there is more to do, that work includes:

• Delivering a once-in-a-generation pay rise for police officers
• Establishing an historic scheme to pay recruits to train, resulting in a 72% increase in applications to join the NSWPF
• Establishing the Be a Cop In Your Hometown program
• Establishing the Professional Mobility Program to incentivise experienced officers from interstate and New Zealand to join the NSWPF

Premier Chris Minns said:

“A massive congratulations to class 366, and welcome to the NSW Police Force.

“On behalf of the people of NSW, I thank you for putting your hand up to serve and protect our communities.

“Policing is a tough and demanding profession, but it also offers extraordinary opportunities for a rewarding career.

“This record class shows our reforms are working – paying recruits to study, delivering a historic pay rise, and opening new pathways to serve regional NSW.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Every single one of these new recruits has shown a steadfast commitment to make our state a safer place. I wish them all a long, rich and rewarding career with the NSW Police Force.

“These recruits are going to where they’re needed most and are ready to hit the ground running and make a real difference in their communities.

“For many attesting today, becoming a police officer wouldn’t be possible without paid study. This historic reform is attracting not only more recruits, but a more diverse cohort with significant life experience – NSW is all the richer for it.

“The Minns Labor Government is working hard to get more boots on the ground. While there’s more to do, we have secured better pay, are paying recruits to train and have set up pathways for regional recruits to serve in or near their hometown and experienced officers to transfer to NSW.

“Class 366 is the largest class in 13 years, the class before this was the largest class in 11. That’s down to the leadership of Commissioner Webb and the landmark initiatives she’s helped us achieve.”

Acting Commissioner Paul Pisanos said:

“As we welcome a new generation of officers into the NSW Police Force, today is a day to mark the significant contribution Commissioner Webb has had on our organisation.

“We thank Commissioner Webb for her incredible commitment to serve the community, and the NSW Police Force.

“Commissioner Webb as the first female Police Commissioner, shattered barriers and blazed a trail of progress, paving the way for future generations and inspiring probationary constables to believe in their potential.”