Month: November 2025

Premier visits Netball Central to take in Scope of Game’s Growth

The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of New South Wales, was a keen spectator earlier today as he met hundreds of school children participating in Netball NSW’s Schools Cup Finals as well as representatives from the organisation’s professional Suncorp Super Netball Clubs: the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball.

With young netballers travelling from all over the state to take part in the Schools Cup Finals in Sydney Olympic Park, the Premier witnessed first-hand the game’s enormous reach and impact. 
He also toured Netball Central, Netball NSW’s home which doubles as a Netball NSW-operated community facility that welcomes almost 400,000 visitors through its doors annually. 
While Netball Central remains one of the most-visited sports venues in Sydney, the elite pathways and professional game has now surpassed the facility’s capacity, especially when it comes to high-performance requirements. 

Netball NSW, with the support of the NSW Government, is currently developing a MasterPlan for Netball Central with the aim of creating a full Centre of Excellence to support elite netballers – most notably the NSW Swifts, GIANTS Netball and NSW Pathway athletes – and to continue to serve the wider community as a treasured multi-purpose facility. 
The outcomes of the MasterPlan would bring netball in line with other Centres of Excellence that the NSW Government has already supported in Sydney across sports clubs in the NRL, Rugby Union, AFL and Cricket. 
With the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney on the horizon, Netball NSW is also working closely with the NSW Government to deliver a Legacy Plan, which seizes on the opportunity the global event will bring and on strategies to further engage with First Nations and multicultural communities.  

Netball NSW Chair Sallianne Faulker thanked Premier Minns for visiting: 
“On behalf of Netball NSW, it was an honour to welcome Premier Minns to our Netball Central home,” she said. 
“Today he was able to see all that is great about netball, by meeting some of our youngest participants, as well as some of the best athletes in the world in the Swifts and GIANTS.
“Netball Central has been, and continues to be, a wonderful community facility and home to our elite teams.  
“However, since it opened its doors, netball has continued to grow and grow, and we are now at a stage where this venue is ready for its next evolution.
“The Premier saw up-close the facilities used by the Swifts and GIANTS, which fall short of what high-performance athletes of their calibre deserve and have access to. 
“No sport has a bigger community impact, or done more to promote women in elite sport, than netball. 
“We are very grateful to the NSW Government for their support in developing our MasterPlan and to Premier Minns for taking the time to come out and listen to our plans.
“With the World Cup coming to Sydney in 2027, we look forward to continuing to work with the NSW Government to finalise our Netball Central MasterPlan and then continue that joint project to make it a reality.
“They are a vital stakeholder when it comes to delivering our vision for netball as a game and the community we serve.”

Supporting Pacific governments to respond to HIV

The Albanese Government continues to invest in the shared health security of our region. Through a new $48 million program, Australia will support the Pacific family to manage increasing rates of HIV infections.

This funding will assist Pacific governments to contain the spread of HIV through technical assistance, disease surveillance and co-investment in their national public health responses.

Rising rates of HIV, and co-infections like tuberculosis, place increased pressure on Pacific health systems, societies and economies. COVID has been an important reminder in recent years that communicable diseases, such as HIV, cost lives and ignore borders.

Ahead of World AIDS Day, acknowledged on 1 December each year, Australia reaffirms its support to ending the global AIDS epidemic by 2030. This latest announcement complements broader and longstanding Australian support to strengthen national health systems in our region and beyond.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“We are partnering with the Pacific to tackle the growing public health threat of HIV, including by sharing Australian knowledge and expertise and investing in community-led responses.

“Australia is continuing to work with our Pacific partners to reduce HIV transmission and support people living with HIV.”

Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy:

“As rates of HIV in the Pacific rise, Australia stands ready to co-invest with Pacific partners to strengthen nationally led HIV responses.

“As a member of the Pacific family, we will always be ready to support local leadership and community led responses to HIV in the region.

“Australia is committed to working with our regional partners to advance strong, resilient health system capable of responding effectively to HIV.”

Minister for International Development Anne Aly:

“Australia is proud to share our expertise in containing HIV as a public health threat, drawing on our decades of research and hard-won experience.

“By supporting resilient, equitable and inclusive health systems across the Pacific, we are investing in the shared health security of our region.”

Greens will support environment reforms in exchange for amendments for new protections for Native Forests, exclude coal and gas from fast-track

The Greens have negotiated significant wins to protect forests and stop Labor’s fast-track for coal and gas; and with the EPBC now better than the status quo, will support the passage of the package through the Senate this week.

Labor’s first draft was a wish list for corporate environmental destruction: it would have gutted Australia’s environment laws, given corporations the green light for new coal and gas projects in as little as 30 days, and introduced new loopholes to an already weak Act. 

While Labor had clearly hoped to pass a bill on behalf of big corporations, the Greens held firm during negotiations on protections for nature and the climate – boosted by community opposition to a bill that took us backwards. 

Holding firm with community support, the Greens negotiated wins that include:

  • Ending decades-long exemptions for forestry destruction in 18 months,
  • Removing the ability for coal and gas projects to use fast-tracked approvals or the ‘national interest loophole’,
  • Powers to stop illegal land clearing
  • Saving the Water Trigger,
  • Ensuring the Federal Minister can always step in to protect the environment

Despite significant wins for nature, the bill is still woefully short of what the climate needs – with Labor’s refusal to take meaningful climate action showing that the coal and gas lobby still runs both major parties. 

Labor has pointedly refused to support a climate trigger, despite majority public support and strong evidence in Inquiry, preventing the Environment Minister from considering climate damage when approving projects.

However, with three coal and gas fast-tracks removed, and the government clearly captured by corporations, this deal prevents fossil fuel giants from winding back these loopholes via agreement with the Coalition.

Sen. Larissa Waters, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“The Greens have won changes to better protect native forests, closed loop-holes for land clearing and stop Labor from fast-tracking coal and gas.

“Greens pressure made this bill better than the weak laws we have now, and infinitely better than if the government had done a deal with the climate deniers in the Coalition.

“This outcome was only possible because the Greens are in parliament. We’ve been able to hold off the worst of Labor’s plans – we need more Greens in parliament to get better outcomes. 

“Labor has again refused to take meaningful climate action.

“The Greens stopped Labor’s fast-tracking of coal and gas, but their straight up refusal to add climate to these laws shows Labor puts coal and gas corporate profits ahead of the millions of people who want to protect the climate.”

Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Environment spokesperson:

“The community trusts the Greens to deliver real outcomes for nature, and today that is what we have done. 

“Today, with hard work and negotiation we have secured new protections for our beautiful native forests and bushland that will protect our wildlife and biodiversity, and stopped fossil fuels being fast tracked. 

“Labor started this process with a bill that was clearly written to get a deal with the Coalition. It was full of carve outs and loop holes that would have allowed big corporations to trash our environment.

“We said from the start that the Greens wouldn’t accept a bill that would take nature backwards, and would fight to protect forests and the climate, and we’ve done just that.

“Now, this is an environmental protection bill that does what it says on the tin. 

Sen. Nick McKim, Greens Forests spokesperson:

“This is the best we could do in negotiation with a Labor Party that couldn’t care less about the environment, and cares more about corporate profits than protecting nature.”

“Ending the RFA exemption is a spanner in the works of the native forest logging industry which has trashed our beautiful forests with impunity for far too long.”

“We have ended an outrageous legal carveout for logging that’s resulted in devastation for forests and threatened species habitats across the country.”

“Forest campaigners have fought for decades to stop the special treatment for logging, but this is by no means the end of the fight to finally end native forest logging.

“There are now some extra tools to fight the forest industry and save our native forests. See you in the streets and on the blockades.

Chalmers must direct APRA to go further on investor lending

APRA has announced today that the regulator will intervene in the housing crisis by introducing limits to stop high risk loans from 1 February 2026.

The Greens welcome APRA taking action in response to the Greens’ and community concerns for the massive spike in investor lending. However, this alone won’t cool investors’ stampede of the housing market. The Greens say Treasurer Jim Chalmers must direct APRA to use all the available levers to curtail runaway investor lending.

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“I’m pleased to see that APRA is listening to the Greens. This is an important first step in limiting runaway investor lending that outcompetes first-home buyers but it’s not enough. 

“$40 billion has gone to investors in the last 3 months and APRA and Chalmers need to stop the tens of billions flowing to investors.

“APRA must use all the tools in their toolbox to rein in investor lending that is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis.

“Investor lending is growing at an unsustainable pace, outstripping loans to owner-occupiers. First-home buyers are being priced out by investors at weekend auctions, house prices are surging, and the banks are profiting handsomely.

“This housing crisis is heading toward a point where it may be impossible to reverse without immediate, decisive action. We urgently need to cool the overheated credit market for property investors. The Treasurer has the authority to issue directions to APRA and he should do so immediately.

“APRA has used its toolkit in the past to cool investor lending and it led to the greatest stabilisation of house prices in 30 years, they need to take that decisive action again. 

“This market is rigged in favour of wealthy property investors, and you only need to look at the latest ABS data, which shows investor lending skyrocketing by 12.3% over the year compared to only a 0.9% increase for first-home buyer loan commitments for the same period. It’s out of control!

“House prices are forecast to increase by 9 percent next year on top of more than 6% this year, which will only worsen unless more pre-emptive action by APRA is taken.” 

Greens secure $50million boost to ABC for children’s content and Australian stories on screen

The Australian content requirement for online streaming services bill will pass the Senate today. The Greens negotiations have delivered an additional $50 million in funding to the ABC to invest in Australian-made children’s and drama content. 

Greens communications spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young: 

“Today we are delivering an important reform for our screen industry. Big tech companies like Netflix, Amazon and Disney will now be regulated and required to invest in local Australian stories. 

“This is a win for our local screen industry and the incredible storytellers that we have in Australia. It is also a win for Australian audiences who deserve to see themselves and their communities reflected on our screens.

“As part of our negotiations, the Greens have secured an extra $50 million for the ABC to invest in local Australian stories, including children’s programming.

“This funding is about giving Australian kids the opportunity to see themselves and hear their own voices on their screens. 

“For decades, the ABC has been the heart of Australian story telling. By strengthening its capacity to make more children’s and drama content, we’re ensuring that heart keeps beating strongly. 

“Bluey, Bananas in Pyjamas, Playschool and many other successful shows have entertained and educated our kids for decades. This is the new chapter of quality kids content that parents can trust. 

“Homegrown content matters. It shapes how kids understand the world, gives them stories grounded in Australian experience, and keeps our creative industries thriving. 

“The Greens have long campaigned for local content quotas on streaming platforms to support Australian stories on our screen, and we’re happy to see this bill pass the Senate today. 

“The Greens have secured a commitment from the 

Submissions Open for Indoor Air Quality Inquiry

NSW Parliament has launched an inquiry into indoor air quality, looking at its impact on our health, productivity, work health and safety, and equity of access to public spaces.

The Chair of the inquiry, Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, said that indoor air is not regulated, unlike outdoor air, despite Australians spending about 90% of their time indoors.

“There are many spaces at risk of poor air quality due to lack of regulation, such as classrooms, offices, medical centres and public buildings, such as libraries and museums,” Dr Cohn said.

“We would like to hear from groups and individuals who have insights into the impact of poor indoor air quality. We’re interested in lived experience, expert evidence and organisational submissions.”

According to a report released this month by the Australian Academy of Science, exposure to indoor air pollution affects respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive and mental health.

“The quality of indoor air has a big impact on our health, including the spread of airborne illnesses like COVID-19, measles, whooping cough and influenza,” said Dr Cohn.

“Research has linked poor indoor air quality to increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Poor air also exacerbates existing conditions, such as asthma, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” Dr Cohn said.

“We’re keen to learn about potential solutions to improve indoor air quality in a range of buildings including schools, health services and public buildings,” Dr Cohn said.

Find out more and make a submission online by 29 January 2026.

City of Newcastle dials up the excitement to farewell 2025

A phone booth that transforms New Year’s resolutions into a glowing LED installation will be a quirky addition to City of Newcastle’s end-of-year celebrations on the Foreshore next month. 

The “wish exchange” is among the family-friendly fun being offered at this year’s New Year’s Eve event, which will once again culminate in the 9pm fireworks over the harbour. 

City of Newcastle’s New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Foreshore 2024Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe said the celebrations will facilitate a moment of reflection for the whole community and a chance to connect over a shared year of achievement. 

“Our New Year’s Eve celebration is a highlight of Newcastle’s annual events calendar, attracting more than 35,000 to the Foreshore precinct surrounding Queens Wharf each year,” Cr McCabe said.

“The event is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate a momentous year, while looking forward to what comes next.”

The New Year’s Eve celebrations will kick off at 5pm with plenty on offer for people of all ages.

Families can enjoy a kids’ zone with nostalgic carnival-style games, circus workshops, a toddler-only jumping castle and a craft section where kids can design their own sustainable New Year’s Eve sunglasses from thrifted frames. 

The Station will feature bigger stages this year with a line-up of homegrown entertainment, including local musicians, comedy and cabaret performances as well as three DJ stages across the site. 

The celebrations will culminate in a spectacular display of fireworks, which will launch from a barge in the middle of the harbour to provide incredible uninterrupted views. 

City of Newcastle Executive Manager Media Engagement Economy & Corporate Affairs Nick Kaiser said the inclusive event has been tweaked following feedback for an improved experience.

“We’ve listened to the community’s comments from previous years and moved the fireworks display to a central harbour location so they can be seen from every point along the foreshore, from Queens Wharf to Camp Shortland,” Mr Kaiser said.

“The event will include an accessible viewing platform, grassy picnic zones and a dedicated quiet zone ideal for those who may need a break from the large crowds and stimulation. Designated spots for accessible parking and additional public transport options will also be available.” 

To find out more visit visitnewcastle.com.au/nye2025 

Local businesses looking to serve up more reasons to visit Newcastle

A Tighes Hill cooking school is working to tap into Newcastle’s $1.5 billion annual tourism market with tasty new experiences aimed at attracting more visitors from outside the region.

Yellow Door Kitchen is one of five local businesses taking part in City of Newcastle’s Product Mentoring Development Program, which is designed to develop and promote new tourism products and activities to a wider market.

Executive Manager Media Engagement Economy and Corporate Affairs Nick Kaiser with owner Janet Newton at Yellow Door Kitchen.Executive Manager Media Engagement Economy and Corporate Affairs Nick Kaiser said City of Newcastle is working to expand the range of bookable tourism experiences in Newcastle to meet growing demand.

“This program is aimed at enhancing Newcastle’s growing reputation as a compelling destination within the Australian leisure travel market,” Mr Kaiser said.

“Almost five million people visited our city in 2024 but the majority of those visitors only came on a day trip or stayed overnight.

“With the expansion of Newcastle Airport’s international routes, it’s important to build capacity for domestic and international tourist-ready experiences.

“The unique activities will provide a deeper connection to life in Newcastle beyond the usual sightseeing opportunities, giving tourists even more reasons to stay in our city while providing a boost to the local economy.”

This year’s Product Mentoring Development Program attracted businesses that offer a range of experiences such as brewery tours, history crawls, First Nations culture and Civic Theatre backstage tours.

As part of the program businesses are taking part in two half-day workshops and will receive one-on-one mentoring sessions with previous participants such as Nova Cruises, Mitch Revs and Foghorn Brewery, as well as six months of ongoing business support.

Yellow Door Kitchen is already popular with locals and visitors from Sydney, but owner Janet Newton said she’s looking to expand her reach.

“City of Newcastle’s Product Development Mentoring Program is perfectly designed to help us find ways to reach a wider audience,” Ms Newton said.

“We have so much to offer with hands-on classes for people of all ages and cooking abilities, as well as cooking demonstrations involving food from all over the world.

“I’m excited to be part of this year’s program and look forward to learning from other industry professionals.”

This is the third round of the Product Development Mentoring Program, which to date has seen City of Newcastle support 23 local businesses develop and expand their ideas for the tourism market.

Mr Kaiser said the program was just one of the initiatives being delivered under City of Newcastle’s Destination Management Plan to help grow and support the visitor economy.

“The tourism sector plays a vital role in Newcastle’s economy, having experienced significant growth during the past 10 years,” Mr Kaiser said.

“We’re committed to leading a collaborative whole of industry approach toward shaping Newcastle as a premier destination.

“Projects such as the Product Development Mentoring Program are about investing in the capacity of our local industry, while initiatives such as our campaign with global travel platform Tripadvisor highlight our bookable attractions to attract new visitors and increase tourist spend. 

“This campaign has been running since mid-September and has already resulted in more than 80,000 visits to our ‘Seek New in Newcastle’ webpage, ensuring we continue to reinforce everything Newcastle has to offer to as many potential visitors as possible.”

NSW Government acts to stop life-threatening train surfing

The Minns Labor Government is taking action to stop the dangerous and growing trend of teenagers riding on the outside of the Tangara trains, with new safety devices being installed across the fleet to physically prevent people from accessing the back of trains.

The specially designed “nose cone” attachments are angled metal covers that block access to the tread plate between carriages – the area often used by so-called ‘buffer riders’ or ‘train surfers’ who cling to the outside of moving trains for social-media videos.

All 55 Tangara trains will be fitted with the devices by the end of 2026, with around a quarter completed by the end of this year.

The devices are being manufactured in NSW and installed at Sydney Trains’ Mortdale Maintenance Centre.

The rollout follows a successful six-month trial that found zero incidents of buffer riding on the fitted train.

Buffer riding incidents have risen by more than 25 per cent this year, with 275 cases recorded so far in 2025, alongside 588 crew-cab break-ins.

Eleven people have been seriously injured in the past five years, including a 13-year-old boy who fell from a train at Caringbah in September.

New CCTV released today by the NSW Government shows teenagers clinging to the backs of trains in heart-stopping moments of sheer recklessness.

Beyond putting hundreds of young lives at risk, buffer riding and vandalism is having an increasingly negative impact on the on-time running performance of Sydney Trains.

Buffer riders target Tangara trains, with the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line most impacted by disruption.

In 2025, more than 3000 minutes have been lost to buffer riding and vandalism.

Having traditionally been a reliable line, the T4 is the second worst performing line in 2025, with disruption spiking even more during school holidays in line with reported incidents.

There has been 132 incidents of buffer riding so far this year on the T4, which represents almost half of all recorded incidents across the entire Sydney Trains network.

Preventing buffer riding and improving reliability on the T4 is part of the Minns Labor Government’s focus on improving rail reliability in response to the Independent Rail Review. This includes:

  • An investment of $458 million in rail maintenance, prioritising critical parts of the network where failures lead to widespread disruption
  • Getting the new Mariyung fleet into service which allows for the retirement of the ageing K and V-sets
  • The $447 million Tangara Life Extension Program which is upgrading 55 eight-carriage trains

Premier Chris Minns said:

“No viral video or adrenaline rush is worth risking your life for.

“This message isn’t getting through to some people which is why we’re acting to prevent this reckless, life-threatening stupidity.

“This is about safety and common sense. We’re acting to protect lives, support our train crews and make the network safer and more reliable.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“The vision of teenagers playing Russian Roulette with 400-tonne trains is heart-in-mouth stuff that will be confronting to watch for all parents.

“We must end the buffer riding trend and the successful trial of the nose cone attachment on Tangaras means we can now get on with the job of physically preventing people stepping on to the tread plate in the first place.

“This is first and foremost a safety issue but if we can stop this happening the pay off will also be improved on-time running. The NSW Government is laser-focused on improving reliability on the Sydney Trains network.

Chief Executive of Sydney Trains Matt Longland said:

“We needed a robust and practical engineering solution to deter buffer riding, and we are confident this nose cone provides just that.

“Our staff will install the device on the front and back of the Tangara trains as a priority, and we aim to complete this on 110 cars across our 55 Tangara train sets by mid-2026.

“Reducing the incidence of buffer riding is a firm focus at Sydney Trains to stop people putting their lives at risk and reducing delays for train passengers across the network.”

Ferry tale ending: Mortlake Ferry back in action after vital maintenance blitz

The Minns Labor Government has celebrated the re-opening of the much-loved Mortlake Ferry following a vital four-month maintenance blitz.

Affectionately known by locals as the ‘Putney Punt’, the free ferry has long been part of daily life for hundreds of residents, visitors and businesses on the Parramatta River.

At the helm for the ferry’s first run back was the first female Mortlake Ferry Master in its near-100-year history, Yvonne Trovato. Yvonne swapped a life in finance for life on the water and a job she loves.

First opened on 16 May 1928, the diesel-powered cable ferry replaced a hand pulled barge which started operating near the Mortlake Ferry in the 19th century.

The Ferry initially cost £4000 and was built to help Australian Gaslight Company (AGL) workers travel from the north to their workplace in Mortlake.

As the local area grew, so did the capacity of the ferry, from eight cars to eighteen.

Even after the construction of the nearby Ryde Bridge, the Mortlake Ferry has proven to be a favourite for locals who rely on the crossing, with an average of 400 cars using the free service daily.

In the early 1900s, slipping the ferry (winching it out of the water) for repairs required closing streets overnight and using trucks to haul the vessel out during a low spring tide.

By the 1970s, permanent winches and deep concrete piles made this process far more efficient, though the ferry still endures significant wear and requires a full overhaul and repaint every four years.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said:

“The Minns Labor Government is thrilled to welcome this iconic ferry back into service.

“The Mortlake Ferry has always been a free service, and that is something we are proud to continue. At a time when every dollar matters, keeping this crossing free helps families, workers and businesses stay connected without extra cost.

“This project is about making sure a cherished part of Sydney’s transport history is ready for the future. These upgrades will improve safety for everyone using the ferry, whether passengers on foot, people behind the wheel or workers operating the vessel.

“The Mortlake Ferry has served the community for generations and is the last of its kind on the Parramatta River. As it approaches its centenary, this work will help preserve its legacy and keep it running well into the future.

“We know that locals and people who work on the Putney Punt hold it dear to their hearts. Transport for NSW has workers who have been associated with it for more than 30 years. One current operator’s dad used to work on the ferry and, as a boy, he used to fish for bream off the back of the punt while his dad worked.

“Now the Punt has its first female Ferry Master and is ready to head into a second century of service.

“We appreciate this closure has impacted daily routines, and we sincerely thank the community for their patience and understanding during this important upgrade.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison, said:

“While there are women working on other ferries, after nearly 100 years, the Mortlake Ferry has its first female Ferry Master now. This is an exciting milestone.

“I’d like to congratulate Yvonne on making history – this is a ‘first’ that is now part of the story of this iconic and much-loved vessel.

“Moments like these should be celebrated as we work towards increased gender diversity in non-traditional roles.”

Ferry Master Yvonne Trovato said:

“During Covid, I realised I wanted to spend more time with my parents, children and grandchildren – I was missing so many of their milestones. A friend knew I wanted a change and applied on my behalf without me knowing. It was the best thing she could have done.

“I used to use the ferry and now I operate it. I’m the first female Ferry Master – it’s a privilege, a dream – it’s surreal – sometimes I even impress myself!

“The best thing about the ferry is the people. You get all kinds – doctors, greengrocers, teenagers, teachers – people from every walk of life. And they say they like to see my smiling face at the beginning or end of the day.

“It is just the best job. I love being on the water and being a ferry driver – even in winter. The sunrises, the wildlife – I’d give my job 100 out of ten!

“During the upgrade and temporary closure, I was working at other cable ferries, but nothing beats Mortlake.”