Month: September 2025

The Minns Labor Government has made the largest single investment at Kiama High School in over a decade, officially unveiling upgraded science labs as part of our commitment to expanding opportunities for students at every NSW public school.

The refurbished laboratories boost the schools Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics programs, giving students access to modern, purpose-built facilities.

Since 2023 the Minns Government has invested close to $3 million on multiple much needed upgrades at Kiama High School, after more than a decade of neglect by the former Liberal-National government.

As well as these new science labs, these upgrades include new lifts and ramps as well as a brand new school hall stage lift to support students with disability.

The upgrades have been delivered as part of the Minns Government’s plan to deliver better schools for NSW students, with the 2025-26 Budget delivering a record $9 billion for school infrastructure.

This follows the government’s delivery of more teachers by reducing teacher vacancies by 61 per cent across the state, resulting in the number of cancelled classes recorded in NSW nearly halving since the Minns Government took office.

The former Liberal-National Government neglected schools along the South Coast for over a decade, leaving communities without much-needed schools and teachers that work in them.

Since coming to office in 2023, the Minns Labor Government has been working hard to rebuild school services across Kiama. We know there is still a lot more work to do, but in the past two years we have:

• A 96% reduction in teacher vacancies, with schools in the Kiama electorate beginning Term 3 2025 with just one permanent teacher vacancy, down from 27 at the same time in 2022 under the former Liberal-National government.
• Funded and planned a new primary school and public preschool in Calderwood, opening Day One, Term One 2028.
• Started construction of a major upgrade at Bomaderry High School, and awarded the contract for a new public preschool to be built at Bomaderry Public School.
• Delivered a new nature playround at Minnamurra Public School.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“I know Katelin will be a strong local voice inside the government if elected, making sure Kiama continues to benefit from the improvements being made to public education right across NSW.

“As the son of a public school teacher, I know our schools are the lifeblood of communities, and we want teachers and students to have access to world class facilities no matter where they learn.

“Thanks to these brand-new science labs, Kiama High School will be supporting the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.”

Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos said:

“High-quality public schools are vital for coastal and regional communities, so young families know their children can have the best start in life and can get a world class education in their community.

“As a long-time local and former Kiama High School student Katelin understands just how important investments like these are to locals.

“We have made a significant investment in maintenance at schools including Kiama, because these works maintain our schools at a high-quality standard our families and young people expect.”

Labor Candidate for Kiama Katelin McInerney said:

“I grew up in Kiama, attending Minnamurra Public and Kiama High Schools, and I understand the importance of making sure we equip local students for life beyond school.

“The Minns Labor Government has delivered for Kiama since forming government, but I know there is more work to do.

“I will make sure that we continue to deliver the critical infrastructure and services that our community needs and relies on.”

Kiama High School Principal Catherine Glover said:

“We’re creating opportunities for our students to explore, experiment, and gain a deeper understanding of the technologies that will shape their future. 

“Education is the key to opportunity in life, and we are committed to partnering with our community to create a school where all students are challenged to excel in a nurturing and inclusive environment.

“With the right tools and experiences, they can adapt to any challenge and thrive in any career pathway they choose.” 

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has committed to bringing back the Business Connect program for the state’s small businesses, which has been axed by the Minns Labor Government.
 
Mr Speakman said a Liberals and Nationals Government would reinstate the free advisory service which has helped 60,000 small businesses around NSW.
 
“The NSW Treasury commissioned an independent review into the program and found for every $1 spent, it brought in $1.50 in benefits back to NSW, and led to fewer businesses failing,” Mr Speakman said. 
 
“Since it was introduced by the Coalition Government in 2017, Business Connect has assisted more than 60,000 small businesses and helped create more than 40,000 new jobs.
 
“Business Connect offered up to eight hours per year of free, tailored advice to small businesses navigating compliance, planning, marketing and financial management.”
 
Addressing a Business Forum in Kiama today, Mr Speakman said the Minns Labor Government’s decision to axe Business Connect could be the final nail in the coffin for many already struggling small businesses.
 
“We all know how important small business is to the NSW economy – they’re the backbone of local communities,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“In regional areas the majority of local enterprises are small businesses: family-run, owner-operated and deeply connected to the community. Together, they sustain thousands of local jobs.”
 
Shadow Minister for Small Business Tim James said the Minns Labor Government has turned its back on small businesses at a time when they need it most.
 
“Under the Minns Labor Government, bills are up, insolvencies are at record levels and many small businesses are struggling,” Mr James said.
 
“In 2024-25, a record 7,643 businesses were forced into insolvency – a 26% increase in just one year.
 
“And to add insult to injury, Labor has ruthlessly cut a vital free support service for small business. From 1 October, Business Connect will gone with nothing to replace it.
 
“A NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will bring back Business Connect.”
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said a Liberals and Nationals Government will also consider fairer payroll tax settings to support small and medium-sized businesses to ease the pressure on employers, keep prices down for consumers, and give businesses the breathing room they need to grow.
 
“The Minns Labor Government has frozen payroll tax thresholds — dragging another 1,200 businesses into payroll tax every year. Treasury forecasts show this stealth tax will rip an extra $500 million from employers over the next four years,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“Meanwhile, scrapping indexation of land tax thresholds will collect over $18 billion over the next decade.
 
“At a time when NSW can least afford it, we should be supporting businesses, not weighing them down.”

More than 1000 volunteers will be recruited across NSW, to support their communities when it matters most thanks to a new grants program unveiled by the Minns Labor Government. 

Four experienced state-wide not-for-profit organisations – Anglicare, Australian Red Cross, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network and St Vincent de Paul Society – will share in $1.9 million in funding through the Recovery Services Capacity Grants Program.

In partnership with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, these organisations will develop flexible volunteering pathways that can be scaled up quickly, ensuring recovery operations are better resourced and more responsive to local needs.

These trained volunteers will be activated during the recovery phase and deployed across recovery centres, recovery assistance points and community outreach initiatives – providing practical support, information and comfort to people who have been impacted.

With the roll out of the program, the Minns Labor Government is directly addressing a key recommendation of the 2022 Flood Inquiry for better integration of spontaneous community responders, and better mobilisation of volunteers during the recovery stage of disasters and emergencies.

Projects will focus on recruiting and training formal and informal volunteers, who are often the first to step forward and support their community following a disaster.

Volunteers play a vital role not only during emergencies but throughout the recovery process. However, the pool of available volunteers is shrinking at the same time as the frequency of disasters increases, making programs like this essential to maintaining local recovery capacity.

By investing in recovery services and partnering with experienced not-for-profit organisations, the NSW Government and the NSW Reconstruction Authority are ensuring that communities across the state have the right support networks in place to recover stronger and faster from future disasters.

More information on the Program can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/recovery-services-capacity-grants

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“We all recognise and appreciate the incredible community spirit that is evident in times of crisis.

“This program harnesses that energy, builds local capacity and ensures volunteers are supported and ready to respond when their communities need them to.

“Together we are helping to create more resilient communities that are better prepared for and can recover faster after a disaster.”

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

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities contributing over 800 million hours a year.

“Many people step up during an emergency to help their local communities rebuild. For that, we are incredibly thankful.

“This new funding is a crucial injection into the sector to ensure our volunteers receive the training and support they need, as well as making sure we can recruit more volunteers when our communities need them.”

NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said:

“Volunteers are a huge part of disaster recovery, and we rely on them to support communities during the long journey of building back.

“This initiative is based on lessons learnt from the 2022 Flood Inquiry, which highlighted the need to better coordinate and support those who step up to help their communities during natural disasters.

“We look forward to working with our not-for-profit recovery partners to bolster volunteer capacity around the state.”

Councils that improve their assessment timeframes will have access to a share of $200 million in infrastructure funding under the Minns Labor Government’s Faster Assessments Incentive program.

The Faster Assessment Incentive program will fund local infrastructure projects for councils expected to deliver a higher proportion of housing under the five-year housing targets and are reducing their development assessment timeframes or keeping their assessment timeframes down.

Funding will also be made available for a Digital Assistance program, providing councils with financial assistance towards Application Programming Interface (API) updates. The API upgrades promote better integration with the NSW Planning Portal, streamlining development assessment and approval processes.

At the beginning of the National Housing Accord, the Minns Government committed to a range of measures to support and hold councils accountable to assessing Development Applications faster, including a new Ministerial Statement of Expectations, five year housing targets, infrastructure grants and a new Council League Table published every month.

Council League Table data shows a 24 per cent decrease in assessment timeframes in the last Financial Year, with DAs now being assessed in 83 days on average, or less than 3 months.

This means 69 per cent of councils are now meeting the new Ministerial Statement of Expectations, compared to 49 per cent at the beginning of the Housing Accord.

New data published today, also shows the NSW Government is completing State Significant Development assessments in 253 days, faster than the 275 day timeframe it committed to.

By reducing the time it takes to assess a Development Application, this reduces the time spent waiting to move into new homes.

This is part of the Minns Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes, parks and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and in the communities they choose.

Councils across Greater Sydney and regional NSW that are expected to deliver more than 1,000 homes during the Accord period will be eligible for a share of $67 million funding in the first round.

For more information on eligibility please visit Faster Assessments Incentive Program | Planning

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Councils who have worked hard to improve their performance and meet the Ministerial Statement of Expectations on DA assessment times can now access a share of $200 million in local infrastructure funding.

“Councils assess 85 per cent of all Development Applications and have a critical role to play in delivering the homes we need during the Housing Accord period.

“We have applied both the carrot and the stick, and now we’re seeing results. A 24 per cent reduction in assessment timeframes means DAs are being approved and builders can get construction underway faster and reduce costs.

“There is more work to do but there is a downward trend in assessment times, while the number of housing proposals are increasing.”

Families in Googong are set to benefit from a brand new public primary school and preschool, to be built alongside the new public high school, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education and ensure families in growing parts of NSW have access to world-class schools.

The announcement of the new primary school and preschool comes as construction commences on the new high school, which is on track to open on Day 1, Term 1, 2027.

The new high school, which is being master-planned for up to 2,000 students, will initially accommodate up to 700, with 26 modern classrooms, three support classrooms, a multipurpose hall and canteen, a library, multipurpose sports courts, specialist classrooms for science, performing arts and hospitality, wood and metal workshops, a sports field, and an agricultural plot.

The primary school, scheduled for completion in 2028, will accommodate more than 650 students with 28 modern classrooms, 3 support classrooms, a hall and sports courts, and the preschool will cater to up to 120 children a week.

The new primary school will be the second for the rapidly-growing town of Googong, after Googong Public School opened in 2023. The Minns Labor Government’s decision to open a brand new school, rather than limit its plans to expanding the existing public school, comes amid faster-than-anticipated enrolment growth in the area.

A second public primary school will mean there are more classrooms, and more room to grow, ensuring local families have access to world-class public schools well into the future.

The new schools are part of a raft of school infrastructure projects being delivered in the Monaro region, with the following projects recently delivered or underway:

• Bungendore High School – new permanent school
• New public school and preschool for Googong
• New high school for Googong
• Jindabyne High School (delivered)
• Jindabyne Primary School (delivered) and new public preschool
• Queanbeyan East Public School – new public preschool
• Queanbeyan South Public School – new public preschool
• Jerrabomberra High School expansion.

These projects are part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education in NSW, with $2.1 billion in the 2025-26 Budget for new and upgraded schools in regional NSW. This targeted investment will ensure families in growing communities across the state will get access to the world class public education they deserve.

In addition to delivering new and upgraded schools, Labor’s work to rebuild public education includes putting more teachers in front of students, with teacher vacancies down 61 per cent and the number of cancelled classes nearly halving since the Minns Government took office.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education and Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:

“I am thrilled to announce the new preschool and primary school for the growing Googong community, while turning the first sod for the high school. It’s great to be able to celebrate this important milestone with future high school students.

“We have listened to local parents who have said loud and clear that they want public school infrastructure that will meet the future needs of our rapidly growing community.

“The community of Googong had to wait for a Labor Government to get a public high school, and we will now see public education provision that anticipates population growth rather than trailing behind.

“The Minns Labor Government, with the strong advocacy of Deputy Premier Prue Car, is committed to rebuilding public education to provide local communities with free high-quality education near where people live and work.”

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:  

“This is a huge win for the growing Googong community, who can celebrate the start of construction on their new high school along with the news that they will also get a brand new public school and preschool. 

“The new high school, public school and preschool will be co-located on the same site making school drop-offs and pick-ups easier for families.

“As communities grow the Minns Labor Government is focused on delivering the vital infrastructure they need to thrive. By building a second primary school, plus a public preschool, on the same site as the new high school, families in Googong can be satisfied that their children will have a place in a world-class public school close to home.”

Googong Public School Principal, Rebekah Lindsay said:

“We are excited for the new high school within the Googong community that will continue to provide the quality education currently offered at Karabar High School.

“This new facility will create a supportive environment where students can grow academically and personally, helping every student to succeed and reach their full potential.”

The Minns Labor Government has partnered with Federation Council to fund $2 million in upgrades to RT Ball Park in the historic town of Corowa, turning a Crown reserve on the Murray River foreshore into a dynamic, thriving community space.

Crown Lands, part of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, invested $1.8 million towards the project via its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund. Federation Council funded the balance of the project to a total cost of $2.1 million.

The extensive work has turned the reserve into an area catering for a variety of recreational opportunities. Runners, cyclists and pedestrians are benefiting from 2.9 kilometres of new shared pathway that winds through the beautiful reserve and connects to other nearby parks.

The 2.5 metre wide pathway allows everyone to enjoy the reserve, whether they are families with strollers, cyclists, runners or pedestrians out for a leisurely stroll.

Picnic tables built by the local Men’s Shed have been installed at convenient spots throughout the reserve. Two pedestrian bridges were also constructed, along with a viewing platform that allows visitors an unparalleled view of the majestic Murray River.

The funding also removed a derelict boat shed, replacing it with a sandy bank that will make it much easier for visitors to swim and enjoy other water-based recreational activities.  Excess weeds were removed to establish picnic areas, allowing families to enjoy foreshore views.

The reserve is now accessible for cars as well as pedestrians. A new sealed internal road to the lagoon carpark has been completed, and another carpark to accommodate more visitors to the reserve. A third carpark has been sealed, allowing for more vehicles to park at the site.

Minister for Lands, Property and Tourism Steve Kamper said:    

“The NSW Government is focused on building better communities, and this $1.8 million grant together with Federation Council’s contribution has transformed RT Ball Park into a premier outdoor recreational space that caters for the whole community and will also support local tourism.

“These upgrades were designed to make the reserve accessible for all to enjoy a day out by the majestic Murray River foreshore. Some of our most beautiful natural sites are on Crown land and RT Park is no exception.”