Month: August 2026

More than 11,390 students across the state have benefitted from the Minns Labor Government’s $121.9 million investment in tertiary study subsidies since the program began in 2024.

The program is designed to create a future pipeline of health workers by supporting students commencing study with up to $12,000 to help with fees, technology, travel, or other study-related costs.

Students graduating study can receive a one off $8,000 payment if they have completed an eligible qualification and have an offer of employment with NSW Health.

All recipients must be willing to make a five-year commitment to working in the NSW public health system.

Successful applicants have come from across the state, with all regional and rural local health districts benefitting from the program.

Of the more than 11,390 students who have benefitted from the tertiary study subsidies more than 5,600 were students in their first year of study, and more than 5,770 graduates began working within the NSW Health system.

So far this year, the recipients include 778 medical students, 1,542 nursing students, 203 midwifery students, 544 allied health students, and 318 paramedical students.

In 2025, recipients included 890 medical students, 1,754 nursing students, 166 midwifery students, 675 allied health students, and 434 paramedical students.

The $121.9 million Tertiary Study Subsidies program builds on the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to improving health outcomes for people living in regional, rural and remote areas, with several initiatives currently underway to strengthen our regional workforce. This includes:

• The $200.1 million Key Health Worker Accommodation program which delivers modern, self-contained and fully furnished housing across rural, regional and remote NSW to attract and retain frontline healthcare workers.
• The NSW Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, which provides incentives of up to $20,000 for the hardest to fill and critically vacant positions in rural and regional NSW.
• Expanded training pathways, such as the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway, which has assisted 74 doctors to train as rural generalists across NSW.
• Investing $83 million to boost maternity care across regional NSW, including funding for an additional 53 full-time equivalent midwives.
• Delivering an extra 500 regional paramedics.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park

“It’s great to see that more than 11,300 students from every corner of NSW have directly benefitted from our tertiary study subsidies.

“Attracting skilled healthcare workers is a longstanding challenge, and one we are committed to addressing so that people can access the care they need no matter where they live.

“Across NSW, we are recruiting more doctors, nurses, paramedics, and allied health workers – and we are paying them more.

“After more than a decade of the Coalition neglecting the health workforce and subjecting workers to a cruel wages cap, we are taking steps to rebuild and strengthen the system.”

The Minns Labor Government will continue the Australian-first police drone trial in Moree for another two years and will look to roll out the technology in other regional areas.

The drones are part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to ensure NSW Police have world-class, modern technology to help keep regional communities safe.

Two drones have been operating in Moree this year giving officers another tool to respond to and prevent crime.

Known as POLAIR Remote, the drones are remotely piloted from a ‘Remote Operations Centre at the NSW Police Force Aviation Command at Bankstown Airport.

Police can reach anywhere in town within minutes of launch, improving police response times.

This is the first time drone technology has been used in this way in Australian policing.

An evaluation of the Australia-first trial in Moree is currently underway, with the evaluation looking at the operational effectiveness of the technology.

A community survey of 516 people was also undertaken to consider community confidence in the trial, which found that:

• 85% report no perceived negative impact
• 83% believed the drones enhance public safety
• 82% were either positive or very positive about the drone use
• 78% of respondents believed the drones improved emergency response times
• 76% said they had very high or high trust in police use of drones
• 75% feel safer or much safer as a result of the drone presence

Further consultation, including with Aboriginal stakeholders, will be undertaken as part of the expansion of the drone program.

The Moree drone program is part of the Minns Labor Government’s long-term place-based response plan to address youth crime and improve community safety across regional New South Wales, including:

• Investing $13.4 million for a targeted place-based response in Moree
• Investing $23 million to address youth crime and improve community safety in regional NSW
• Investing $6.3 million to provide intensive bail supervision and support for young people
• Providing $5.5 million for youth diversion and violence reduction programs
• Creating a new ‘Post and Boast’ offence for offenders who record their crimes for social media notoriety
• Securing a historic payrise for officers and paying police recruits to train to boost frontline numbers.

Learn more about the NSW Government’s investment via Moree place-based response.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“We’re extending this Australian-first trial in Moree for another two years because we want to give police every tool we can to keep regional communities safe.

“These drones can be anywhere across Moree within two or three minutes, giving police on the ground eyes in the sky and critical information about what they’re responding to.

“There’s no single answer to regional crime, but we’ll keep investing in police, prevention and new technology that can help make communities safer.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“This is smart policing at its best. Police and the local community have told us the drone program is a real game changer, so we’re extending it.

“This technology is changing the way police fight crime and it’s happening because the Minns Labor Government is giving police the tools they need to keep our communities safe.

“Modern policing happens in the community, in the sky, on the road and at the scene not behind a desk. That’s the legacy we’re building.”

The Minns Labor Government has announced plans are now underway to build a new Integrated Health Hub for the growing South West Sydney community of Wilton.

The future Integrated Health Hub will create a one-stop-shop for non-acute healthcare such as primary care, preventative care, and early intervention services to meet local health needs closer to home.

The hub will facilitate earlier patient discharge from the region’s hospitals, among the busiest in Australia, reduce avoidable ED visits and hospital admissions, and deliver essential care much closer to home.

This will help to reduce pressures on hospitals, allowing higher acuity care to be prioritised for those who need it most.

Land acquisition is a critical first step towards establishing the Integrated Health Hub, which will shift appropriate care from higher acuity hospital facilities to a more suitable and accessible community setting in Wilton.

In selecting the site, the Government will consider how easily it can be accessed by the community as well as its closeness to population centres, including connectivity with commercial and retail centres, as well as public transport option and parking.

The future Wilton hub will bring together community, outpatient and virtual health care in an accessible location, reducing the need to travel outside the local community for these services.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $11.9 billion to deliver more beds and expanded services across 32 new or upgraded health facilities in NSW, while also easing pressure on the system by increasing access to care through alternate pathway, including by:

• Investing in virtual and urgent care services
• Supporting geriatric outreach and Hospital in the Home.
• Expanding scope of practice for pharmacists to treat uncomplicated skin conditions and UTIs, and resupply and prescribe the contraceptive pill
• Expanding scope of practice for GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Not only are we investing in more beds and more hospitals, but we are also investing in community-based care that is more accessible and closer to home.

“This is a part of NSW that is growing quickly. This Hub will help meet the needs of the growing community, securing the future of health services for the broader Macarthur region.

“By planning for a new Integrated Health Hub in Wilton, we are ensuring people will have improved access to care while also relieving pressure from some of the country’s busiest hospitals.”

Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan:

“The NSW Government is investing in the health of people now and into the future by establishing new ways of delivering healthcare.

“Once established, the Wilton hub will not only provide a better patient experience, but also better value for NSW taxpayers as we direct them away from more expensive acute facilities and towards appropriate community-based options.

“For our Wollondilly community, from seniors to young families, it is critical to have accessible public health services close to home.”

Chief Executive South Western Sydney Local Health District Sonia Marshall:

“Taking local health care beyond the typical hospital setting and into communities not only improves convenience for patients, it ensures the long-term sustainability of the health system.

“As a local health District, we take a long-term view to health service planning, not only delivering the care people need now, but looking at new and better ways to serve our growing community in the future.”

The first funding boost from the Minns Labor Government’s historic $184.1. million increase to the specialist domestic and family violence sector will be rolled out to services engaged to help women and children experiencing domestic violence safely remain in their communities.

More than $40 million will be allocated to increase the capacity of services providing the Staying Home Leaving Violence program so they can support more women and children stay safely in their own homes, rather than having to leave when experiencing domestic and family violence.

All 52 Staying Home Leaving Violence services provided across New South Wales will receive a 50 per cent increase to their core funding over the next four years. The first funding uplift to each service’s will be paid this financial year, strengthening capacity for providers sooner.

This historic funding boost follows the NSW Government’s expansion of this crucial program to all 128 local government areas in New South Wales as part of the 2024/25 Budget. The additional $25.9 million funded 15 new services to close gaps in access in regional and some metro areas.

Last financial year, Staying Home Leaving Violence services supported more than 9,200 victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, including 2,399 children who had experienced abuse. With this additional funding, it means even more women and children will have access to this critical service.

The Staying Home Leaving Violence program helps victim-survivors remain in their homes, when it is safe to do so, instead of having to leave because of violence. It provides practical support including safety planning, security upgrades, case management and help navigating legal processes.

In collaboration with NSW Police and local courts, it aims to increase family safety and stability, and provides a range of support such as safety planning, improving home security, support for children and help with the legal process.

A 2022 independent evaluation found the program effectively enhanced the long-term safety and housing stability of women and families, while also improving the wellbeing of women and children affected by domestic and family violence.

As part of the Minns Labor Government’s 2026/27 Budget, five other specialist domestic and family violence programs will also receive a 50 per cent uplift over the next four years, including the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service, Safer Pathways, Specialist Workers for Children and Young People, Men’s Behaviour Change Programs and Domestic Violence Response Enhancement program.

Funding uplift for the remaining programs will be rolled out progressively, with investment directed to where it is needed most of each program.

The Budget commitment will help stabilise the sector and is part of the Minns Labor Government’s longer-term work to support victim-survivors, intervene earlier and stop violence before it starts.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The Minns Labor Government is working to stabilise the frontline domestic and family violence sector so that it has the capability to meet growing demand, and victim-survivors can access timely life-saving support when they need it.

“The Staying Home Leaving Violence program is a vital part of our crisis response, allowing women and children to stay safely in their own homes, close to their support networks. This supports their healing and recovery as they rebuild their lives after violence.

“We know the domestic and family violence services have been under pressure, and this funding increase means services can support more people and continue providing the quality tailored support that victim-survivors need.”

Domestic Violence NSW CEO Delia Donovan said:

“This is a vital and welcome investment in specialist domestic and family violence services, and recognition of the critical role Staying Home Leaving Violence plays in supporting women and children to remain connected to their homes, schools, workplaces and communities where it is safe to do so.

“As the peak body for specialist domestic and family violence services across the state, Domestic Violence NSW has consistently advocated alongside our members for greater investment in frontline services. It’s encouraging to see the NSW Government responding to these calls and investing in the capacity of services to meet growing demand.

“As the broader investment is rolled out, it will be important to continue working closely with the sector and the NSW Government to ensure services have the resources they need, now and into the future, to meet demand and ensure the best possible outcomes for victim-survivors.

“We look forward to continuing to work constructively with NSW Government, our members and the broader sector to build on this investment and ensure sustainable support across the NSW domestic and family violence service system.”

Support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, call the Sexual Violence Helpline on 1800 424 017 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

The Minns Labor Government’s own report has once again confirmed identification is essential if you are serious about enforcing e-bike laws, exposing Labor’s continued refusal to act and protect the community.
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals are calling on Labor to deliver an effective identification scheme after the Productivity and Equality Commission’s report reiterated concerns a lack of identification makes it harder to identify riders and devices, enforce rules and ensure accountability.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward said the report reinforces what the Opposition has been saying for months.
 
“The Commission says identification makes non-compliant e-bikes ‘easier to detect and enforce against’. That reinforces the Opposition’s call for a proper identification regime,” Ms Ward said.
 
“Labor has spent months dismissing identification and registration while announcing reviews, taskforces and crackdowns.”
 
“The Minns Labor Government should now act on the review it commissioned and deliver the identification scheme which the Opposition put forward almost a year ago.”
 
Ms Ward said the report also cites identification and registration schemes operating in Germany, China, and France.
 
“Identification is being used as an enforcement tool globally. NSW Labor can’t keep pretending identification is some radical proposition,” Ms Ward said.
 
“This isn’t about punishing the overwhelming majority of people who ride responsibly. It’s about giving police and enforcement authorities the tools to identify illegal e-bikes and riders, and deal with dangerous behaviour.”
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals have proposed a clear and practical regime to introduce low-cost identification plates attached to an e-bike when in use for specific rider cohort, including:

• Riders under the age of 18;
• Riders who use e-bike for commercial purposes; and
• Commercial shared service schemes. 

The policy also includes penalties for non-compliance and safety education.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals have welcomed the Minister for Veterans’ decision to finally advocate for the protection of the state’s historic Defence sites, including Victoria Barracks, and are calling on the Minns Labor Government to now back legislation to protect their future.
 
Under questioning at Budget Estimates, Minister David Harris agreed to speak to the NSW Minister for Heritage to advocate for sites to be heritage listed, after conceding he had not done so thus far.
 
Shadow Minister for Veterans Tim James said the Minister’s commitment was welcome but had come after months of inaction.
 
“Anthony Albanese is selling off these historic Defence sites to prop up his Budget, and Chris Minns has spent months standing by. It has taken sustained pressure from the Liberals and Nationals, veterans and the community to finally force him to act.”
 
“The Minister now needs to follow through and make it clear to his federal Labor colleagues that these sites should not be sold off.”
 
Earlier this month, Member for Lane Cove Anthony Roberts introduced the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Defence Lands Parliamentary Approval) Bill 2026, which would require the approval of both Houses of NSW Parliament before major planning changes could materially alter the development, use, subdivision, density, scale or intensity of five significant Defence sites.
 
“Heritage listing is an important step, but these sites are too significant for their future to be decided behind closed doors or through ordinary planning processes alone,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“Given the Premier finally declared his opposition to the sale, he must now also declare Labor’s support for our bill to show it is serious about protecting our Defence heritage.”
 
Shadow Minister for Heritage Jacqui Munro said heritage listing the sites was also key.
 
“Victoria Barracks, Lancer Barracks and HMAS Penguin are an irreplaceable part of our state’s military heritage, and once that history is lost, we can’t get it back,” Ms Munro said.

Despite the Treasurer’s spin, today’s 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report (IGR) shows that NSW will be far worse off in 40 years’ time without serious and widespread reforms now.
 
The Treasurer claimed the State’s outlook is better now compared to five years ago when we were in the middle of a global pandemic, while ignoring the serious challenges that are only growing on his watch.
 
While the Treasurer has put the gloss on today’s report there are eight facts that he doesn’t want the people of NSW to know about the IGR.
 
1.      NSW’s fiscal position is unsustainable
The Treasurer claims that the report shows the long-term fiscal gap has been closed, but the document itself highlights that: “the state’s fiscal position is not on a sustainable path over the long run without changes to existing policy settings.”[1]
 
2.       NSW will pay higher taxes
The report also highlights that taxes will continue to grow faster than our economy in NSW, leaving residents paying more under Labor. The IGR itself says that: “taxation is the only component of revenue that is projected to materially exceed economic growth.”[2]
 
3.       NSW’s population is growing faster than expected
The 2021-22 NSW Intergenerational Report forecast NSW’s population in 2025 to be 8.413 million[3], but due to the Albanese Labor Government’s record unchecked migration levels, the most recent ABS population data for 31 December 2025 shows that the population in NSW was 8.641 million[4], an increase of 228,000 from projected.
 
The IGR acknowledges that this has increased housing pressure, noting that: “Post-pandemic, rapid population growth has also outpaced construction.”[5]
 
Meanwhile, the IGR expects one million people to leave NSW over the next 40 years due to housing unaffordability.[6]
 
4.       More businesses will pay payroll tax
When it comes to payroll taxes the report indicates that it is the Government’s policy to capture more businesses, “this threshold is assumed to remain fixed over the projection period, consistent with current policy, meaning more businesses will exceed the threshold over time[7].”
 
5.       NSW’s productivity rates are falling
In 2021-22 productivity was forecast to grow by 1.2%[8] per year over the next 40 years, but in today’s 2026-27 IGR, NSW’s productivity has been revised down to just 0.8%[9] annual growth, which is concerning when the report itself recognises that: “productivity growth is the primary driver of long-run living standards.”[10]
 
6.       Spending is growing faster than revenue
Expenditure growth is forecast to outstrip revenue growth and provide a fiscal sustainability challenge for NSW.
 
The report highlights that: “expenditure is projected to grow more quickly than revenue in the long term in the absence of policy change. This will weigh on the NSW Budget’s long-term outlook.”[11]
 
7.       Real gross state product per person is getting worse
While real gross state product (GSP) per person is forecast to grow at 35% over the next 40 years, that’s lower than the 70% growth over the last 40 years.
 
The previous IGR forecast real GSP to reach $139,000 by 2060-61,[12] while this IGR forecasts it will only reach $131,000 five years later in 2065-66.[13]
 
8.       Debt bomb looming
Over the IGR horizon gross debt is set to hit 89.9% and net debt is set to grow to 83.5% of GSP.[14]
 
Shadow Treasurer Scott Farlow said that the NSW Government needed to acknowledge that the 2026-27 IGR showed that significant reform needs to be urgently undertaken by the Minns Labor Government.
 
“The 2026-27 Intergenerational Report is sobering reading for the people of NSW, and it shows that things aren’t as rosy as Treasurer Mookhey would have you believe,” Mr Farlow said.
 
“Without significant and widespread reform the promise to the next generation of our State is that they won’t be seeing the same opportunities that their parents had and they’ll be paying more state taxes and left to bear an even greater burden of debt.”
 
“We know the Premier already has his eyes on the exit having declared earlier this year that he ‘won’t be here’ by 2032, and Labor’s lack of a long-term plan for our state’s economy is harming NSW’s future.”

[1] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 6-21

[2] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 6-10

[3] Attachment A, 2021 LGR Model Output, 2025

[4] Australian Bureau of Statistics, National, state and territory population, December 2025

[5] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 3-2

[6] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 2-2.

[7] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 6-12

[8] 2021-22 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 39

[9] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 1-1

[10] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 2-8

[11] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 6-15

[12] 2021-22 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 39

[13] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, p. 2-13

[14] 2026-27 NSW Intergenerational Report, Technical note and sensitivity tables, Table 4.2, p.24