Month: September 2026

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey have continued the NSW Government’s official visit to India, pushing for more Indian investment in NSW and new opportunities for NSW businesses in technology, critical minerals, tourism and other fast-growing industries.

NSW is only at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential of the economic relationship with India, with significant opportunities to grow investment and trade.

The visit has already delivered new opportunities for NSW-developed technology, exporters and creative industries, while opening discussions with some of India’s biggest companies about investment in NSW.

The Premier and Treasurer met senior executives from NMDC, NTPC Mining, Hindustan Copper Limited and Coal India to discuss Indian investment in NSW’s critical minerals sector and opportunities for NSW to supply the minerals needed by India’s growing manufacturing economy.

The meetings focused on NSW’s significant deposits of critical minerals and the state’s mining expertise, technology, strong safety standards and stable investment environment.

Earlier, the Premier and Treasurer witnessed the signing of an agreement between Transport for NSW’s Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) and HCLTech to explore using AI to make NSW-developed traffic technology easier to use across India’s diverse language markets.

SCATS is already used around the world and the partnership creates an opportunity to sell more NSW-owned technology into India, generating revenue that can be reinvested in transport back home.

The economic program follows meetings with senior Indian political leaders on the first day of the mission, including Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.  

A reception hosted by Australia’s High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Mr Philip Green OAM, brought together government representatives, business leaders and NSW exporters.

During the evening, the Premier announced the internationally renowned Jaipur Literature Festival will be hosted at Powerhouse Parramatta in August 2027, bringing writers and cultural figures from Australia, India and around the world to Western Sydney.

The reception also marked the launch of 14 NSW food, beverage and consumer brands into the Indian market, connecting NSW businesses with importers and distributors in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

Also announced was The Indian Cowboy, a new feature film to be set and filmed in NSW, produced and directed by NSW filmmaker Anupam Sharma and written by Victoria McIntyre Wharfe, with Satish Sharma as co-producer from India. The film tells the story of Bobby Cash, India’s country music singer whose international career took off after performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Alongside the economic program, the delegation visited Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, reflecting the strong connections between India and the Sikh and Hindu communities in NSW.

The official mission will now continue in Mumbai, with further business, investment, education and government engagements.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“We’re just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the opportunities between NSW and India.”

“India is growing quickly and there are huge opportunities for NSW in critical minerals, technology, education and tourism, but we have to work for it. We have to be here making the case for NSW.

“NSW has the minerals India needs, world-class mining expertise and the safety, environmental and legal standards that major investors are looking for.

“We want Indian companies investing in NSW, and we want NSW businesses taking their technology and expertise into this enormous market.

“SCATS is a great example. It’s NSW technology already being used around the world and there’s a real opportunity to take it further in India.

“And we start with a huge advantage, with more than 200,000 Indian-born people call NSW home and those family, cultural and business connections give us a head start that other places would love to have.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“It’s clear from being here, just how ambitious India is. This is a country that wants to grow and wants to grow fast.”

“With 1.4 billion people, demand isn’t the problem. The opportunity for NSW is supplying what this growing economy needs, whether that’s critical minerals, technology, education or tourism.

“NSW has a lot of expertise to offer and India is looking to Australia as a trusted partner.

“SCATS is one of those great NSW success stories that most people probably don’t know about. We own world-leading traffic technology and we’re already selling it around the world.

“If we can sell more NSW-owned technology into cities like Delhi and Mumbai, that’s more revenue we can put back into better transport at home.

Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green OAM said:

“The relationship between Australia and India continues to grow in strength and depth, supported by strong business, education, community and cultural connections.

“NSW plays a vital role in that relationship, and this mission demonstrates the breadth of opportunities available through closer collaboration between India and New South Wales.” 

The Minns Labor Government is doubling the Christmas cheer this festive season with the popular Seniors Regional Christmas Concerts set to hit the stage across south-east NSW.

For the first time since launching in 2013, the Seniors Regional Christmas Concerts will tour six regional communities this year from 24 November to 9 December. Last year, Seniors Regional Christmas Concerts were held in three communities.

Free concerts will be performed at venues across Dubbo, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Cooma, Bega and Batemans Bay with a combined capacity for more than 2000 seniors to enjoy the shows.

Featuring Glen Innes-born country music artist Darren Coggan and his indie songwriter daughter Olivia, this year’s concerts will evoke a Country Meets Christmas vibe. 

The family duo will blend their country music flair with traditional Christmas favourites in a 90-minute show guaranteed to inspire audiences to sing along in delight.

Guests will be treated to a selection of renowned songs including Take me Home, Country Roads from John Denver, Happy Xmas from John Lennon and some of Darren Coggan’s own masterpieces like Always Believe in Love and This Christmas.

Free local concerts will be held at:

• Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre at Zingel Place on Tuesday, 8 December at 11am
• Yuin Theatre at Bay Pavilions on Wednesday, 9 December at 11am

Tickets will be available online from 9am on Tuesday, 8 September and can be booked at: nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival/whats-on/christmas-concerts

Group bookings for 10 to 20 people are encouraged from aged care facilities, retirement villages, seniors social groups and additional seniors organisations.

High demand for tickets is expected, and locals are encouraged to apply fast to avoid disappointment.

The Seniors Regional Christmas Concerts form part of the NSW Seniors Festival series of events this year.

The 2027 NSW Seniors Festival will run from 1 March to 14 March under the theme Discover. Connect. Celebrate! 

The NSW Seniors Festival is a key initiative targeted to strengthen social inclusion and celebrate the contribution of seniors across the state.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said:

“Seniors across south-east NSW make an outstanding contribution to their community and the Regional Seniors Christmas Concerts is the NSW Government’s Christmas gift to them.

“The feedback from seniors who attend these concerts each year is overwhelmingly positive, which is why we are spreading the joy far and wide by doubling the number of concerts this year to six regional communities.

“We are excited to see Christmas celebrations kick off early and I encourage local seniors to join in the festivities and sing along.”

Performer Darren Coggan said:

“The love of Christmas is family and what a beautiful gift it will be for me to share the stage and harness all the whimsical magic of the Australian Christmas season with my daughter Olivia on this wonderful tour.

“There has always been something infinitely special about Christmas in our house, a cherished time of togetherness, catching up with friends, family and those whom we hold close.

“We hope to bring that same sense of joy and reflection to the stage in these Country Meets Christmas concerts, performing for seniors across regional NSW.”

Member for Bega Michael Holland said:

“Christmas is a wonderful time to come together, and I’m delighted that seniors across my electorate have the opportunity to enjoy two fantastic concerts in Bega and Batemans Bay.

“The annual concerts are always a wonderful celebration, and I know local seniors are looking forward to an amazing morning of great music, laughter and Christmas spirit.

“It’s also fantastic to see the Regional Seniors Christmas Concerts expanding from three communities to six this year, ensuring more seniors across regional NSW can share in the festivities.

“I encourage everybody to get in early and secure their tickets. With Darren Coggan and his daughter Olivia bringing their Country Meets Christmas shows to our region, it promises to be a terrific celebration of the festive season.”

The number of entertainment precincts in NSW has now reached 12, with Cronulla the latest community to boost its night-time economy by extending trading hours and relaxing noise settings in its CBD.

Commencing today the new precinct includes the bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants, clubs and shops between Gerale Street and Wilbar Avenue, and supports Sutherland Council’s vision to extend daytime visitation into night-time activity and deliver more vibrant entertainment options like the popular Cronulla Jazz and Blues Festival.

Since the Minns Labor Government came to office Special Entertainment Precincts have been established in Tamworth, Dulwich Hill, Marrickville, Balmain, Leichardt, Rozelle, Marrickville, Canley Vale and Canley Heights.

Over 20 more councils are preparing to establish entertainment precincts including Goulburn, Burwood, Parramatta, City of Sydney, Ryde, Hornsby, Northern Beaches, Waverley and Canterbury-Bankstown.

Following community consultation on trading hours and sound settings, all Special Entertainment Precincts begin with a 12-month trial, giving the community opportunity to monitor impacts, provide feedback and make changes ahead of any precincts being made permanent.

Sutherland Shire Council received $187,000 funding under the NSW Government’s SEP Kickstart Grant program to establish a SEP trial in the Cronulla CBD.

Since coming to office in 2023, the Minns Labor Government has introduced three tranches of vibrancy reforms that have banned single-neighbour noise complaints, reformed the noise complaints system, enable outdoor activation and removed unnecessary regulations that increased the cost and administrative burden for hospitality operators and decreased the enjoyment of patrons.

Live music is at the centre of the night-time economy revival with more than 596 venues now taking up the government’s extended trading hours for programming music, which is almost four times the number of venues than when the government took office

For more information, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/office-of-24-hour-economy-commissioner/vibrancy-reforms/seps

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“Already one of Sydney’s best day time destinations, Cronulla’s night-time economy will start to catch up, as it becomes the state’s first ever beachside Special Entertainment Precinct.

“Congratulations to Sutherland Shire Council for all the consultation and planning they’ve done to set up this precinct and boost their night-time economy.

“We’ve come a long way since the lockouts and lockdowns. We now have 12 Special Entertainment Precincts and many more on the way.”

24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:

“The great thing about the Special Entertainment Precinct model is that it has been designed to be adaptable to different settings. Councils are best placed to work out what makes sense in their context.

“Cronulla is well placed to embrace a SEP trial and encourage visitors and locals to visit the beach and stay for the nightlife.

“Consultation is key, and this trial will help Sutherland Shire Council work with local businesses, creatives, residents, police and other local leaders to get the settings right.”

Sutherland Shire Council mayor Jack Boyd said:

“Cronulla is already one of the best places in New South Wales to enjoy a meal, catch up with friends, listen to live music or spend time by the beach, and is also the only beach with direct train access, and this trial gives us the opportunity to build on those strengths.

“As NSW’s first beachside Special Entertainment Precinct, Cronulla is leading the way in showing how a thriving night-time economy can coexist with a great lifestyle, strong local businesses and a vibrant community.

“This important initiative will provide local businesses with greater certainty and opportunities to grow while creating more reasons for residents and visitors to stay local and enjoy everything Cronulla has to offer after dark.

“Importantly, this is a 12-month trial. We will closely monitor its implementation and any unintended impacts to ensure the precinct continues to deliver positive outcomes for businesses, patrons and residents alike.”

Another damning NSW Ombudsman report has exposed that the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) routinely closed reports about unborn children suspected to be at risk of significant harm after birth because it had “no capacity to allocate” a caseworker.
 
Shadow Minister for Families and Communities, Natasha Maclaren‑Jones, said Minister Kate Washington has presided over scandal after scandal and is now failing expectant parents and unborn children by allowing pre‑natal risk reports to be logged and ignored.
 
“Just months after the Ombudsman exposed DCJ for closing hundreds of thousands of ROSH reports because it had no capacity, we now find that when it comes to pre‑natal reports, the pattern is even more disturbing, warnings about unborn children are being logged, and close because there is no caseworker.” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said
 
“The Minister has lost sight of the purpose of pre‑natal reporting. She has failed unborn children at the very point early intervention is meant to occur, because she has failed to properly resource the child protection system.”
 
“Pre‑natal reporting exists to connect families with support before a crisis and due to under resourcing by the Minister thousands of reports were closed without allocation or referrals to support services. This is not child protection.”
 
“Minister Washington must end these unlawful practices immediately and ensure there are enough caseworkers to assess and support vulnerable expectant parents and unborn children.”
 
The report, The Department of Communities and Justice’s practice of responding to pre-natal reports, found DCJ routinely closed pre-natal reports due to “no capacity to allocate”, failed to consistently refer expectant parents to support services, and unlawfully made child protection determinations before children were even born.
 
In 2023–24, DCJ received 5,007 pre‑natal reports. Of these, 37% were closed due to “no capacity to allocate”. Nearly half of those screened as risk of significant harm were also closed for the same reason.
 
The report can be accessed here: https://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/reports/report-to-parliament/final-report-dcj-management-of-pre-natal-reports

The collapse of more than 1,500 NSW construction businesses in the past financial year is further evidence that the Minns Labor Government’s taxes and charges are making it harder to build the homes NSW needs.
 
While ASIC data shows 1,540 NSW construction firms became insolvent, industry leaders warn that 98 per cent of developments in the pipeline are not being financed.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said the Minns Labor Government will also not meet its National Housing Accord target until March 2032, almost three years late.
 
“Businesses are drowning in taxes and charges under Labor, and construction companies are collapsing while NSW falls further behind on housing,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“How many more Bathla style collapses will it take before Chris Minns takes action to reduce state government fees, taxes, and charges in the construction sector?”
 
“NSW needs business tax settings that reward growth, investment and job creation, which is exactly what our payroll tax reforms are designed to deliver.”
 
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Chris Rath said Labor’s approach was making housing projects increasingly unviable.
 
“Industry leaders are warning that projects in the areas where homes are needed most simply do not stack up, yet the Minns Labor Government continues to pile on taxes and charges including its $13,000 tax on every new home in Greater Sydney,” Mr Rath said.
 
“Every building company that closes means jobs lost, projects abandoned and fewer homes for families already struggling with the housing crisis.”
 
“Labor could’ve addressed their taxes and charges in the recent budget, but they should at least be announcing much needed relief today.”
 
The Liberals and Nationals have a clear and decisive plan to boost housing supply and invest in infrastructure across NSW. It includes:

• Pausing Labor’s $13,000 tax on every new home until 30 June 2029.
• Cutting payroll tax rates for small and medium construction businesses.
• Working with communities to develop tailored local plans for housing.
• Repurposing the Long Bay Jail site for 12,000 new homes.
• State-led rezoning in Erskineville, Macdonaldtown, Newtown and St Peters for over 10,000 new homes.
• Delivering the Camellia-Rosehill Place Strategy for a further 10,000 new homes.
• Negotiating a new Western Sydney City Deal to provide a long-term plan that delivers the essential infrastructure our growing city needs.