Month: September 2026

Essential government information is now easier to understand as the Minns Labor Government delivers on its Easy Read election commitment – with NSW taking out national awards for information accessibility.

Government communication can be complicated, but Easy Read cuts through the complexity with simplified language, large font sizes and images.

This can be particularly useful for the more than 150,000 people with intellectual disability in NSW, but it also benefits people with low literacy and those whose first language is not English.

Easy Read resources on the NSW Government website cover important topics like emergency services, fines and fees, housing, transport, and more. The Minns Labor Government has been working with the Council for Intellectual Disability and other stakeholders to collaborate and deliver on its commitment to inclusive government information.

NSW’s pioneering approach has been recognised at the Australian Access Awards. Last year, the NSW Government won ‘Website of the Year’ and ‘Government Website of the Year’, and the coveted ‘Accessibility Initiative of the Year’ award was taken out by the Department of Communities and Justice’s Accessibility Studio located in Parramatta.

The Accessibility Studio is designed to test communication and address accessibility barriers before government services are launched. Staff use new technology and specialists to check ease of access for people with low vision, low English proficiency, and other accessibility needs.

The Minns Labor Government has committed to ongoing expansion of information available in Easy Read through the State’s new four-year Disability Inclusion Plan.

Making digital services accessible, inclusive and connected for everyone in NSW is also a key outcome of the NSW Digital Strategy.

See the Easy Read section on the NSW Government website.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Digital inclusion is about more than just making sure people have internet access – it’s about making sure nobody is left behind while we all navigate an increasingly digital world.

“Essential government information should be accessible for everyone. Easy Read is about making sure more people can understand the services, support and opportunities available to them.

“People across NSW can now more easily understand how to access information which can help them with things like going to hospital or applying for TAFE, as well as how to make informed decisions in their everyday life whether it be catching a bus or responding to a fine.”

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:

“Government information can be difficult to understand, particularly for people with intellectual disability and low literacy. Our suite of Easy Read documents simplifies information so it’s more accessible.

“Before the last election we promised that we would make essential government information easier to understand – the Minns Labor Government is delivering on that promise.

“This is just the beginning, we will continue to make NSW Government services and information more accessible because it will make our state fairer and stronger.”

Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball said:

“DCJ is committed to making its information and services accessible to everyone and Easy Read is a key part of that.

“In addition to the central Easy Read Hub on the NSW Government website, DCJ has its own Easy Read Hub where people can search by topic: from information on courts, your rights and law to support for families, health and housing.

“We’re also proud to have created the award-winning DCJ Accessibility Studio, where staff can get help from in-house experts to test and ensure their content is accessible for the public.”

Council for Intellectual Disability CEO Heath Dickens said:

“Easy Read makes information accessible to everyone. It removes unnecessary barriers so people can understand, engage and make informed decisions. When information is clear, people with intellectual disability are included and heard.

“CID has worked closely with the Department of Communities and Justice and other NSW Government agencies to ensure people with intellectual disability can access and understand important information. We acknowledge and are encouraged by the work the NSW Government is doing to build foundations for a more inclusive community.

“While there is still more to do, we look forward to continuing to work together to build on this progress.”

The Minns Labor Government is strengthening the state’s aquaculture industry with reforms that will boost investment, increase productivity and support jobs across regional communities.

Under proposed amendments to the Fisheries Management Act 1994 before the NSW Parliament, aquaculture lease terms will double from 15 to 30 years, giving businesses greater certainty to invest, innovate and plan for the long term.

These proposed changes will benefit 235 oyster aquaculture businesses, operating 2,421 aquaculture leases in 18 Local Government Areas along the NSW coast with the most leases in Mid North Coast, then Bega, Eurobodalla, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Central Coast and Shoalhaven.

The Minns Government’s proposed changes respond to long-standing calls from industry to deliver this reform so they can better engage with financial institutions and secure investment for operational expansions and enhancements that then lead to more productivity, jobs and local economic benefits.

The shorter-term leases have historically proven to be an impediment to accessing financial investment and have constrained growth.

These changes are a smart and practical solution to removing barriers for achieving the joint industry and NSW Government Aquaculture Vision that has set out to double the aquaculture sector’s farm gate value to $300 million by 2030. Extending the length of leases to 30 years will better align with the lifespan of modern aquaculture infrastructure.

The reforms are another demonstration of the Government’s work to provide more opportunities for growth and advancement in regional NSW.

The Bill before Parliament will also introduce stronger penalties to deter the theft of aquaculture stock and infrastructure, which is an ongoing issue impacting operators and undermining legitimate businesses.

Maximum penalties will be increased to up to $22,000 for an individual for a first offence, or up to $44,000 for repeat offenders.

These tougher penalties will protect aquaculture farmers from criminal activity, help combat black-market seafood trade and strengthen confidence across the industry.

The amendments form part of a broader package to modernise fisheries legislation, support sustainable resource management and ensure the long-term growth of the seafood industry.

Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“These reforms are about backing our aquaculture industry to grow, invest and create jobs in regional NSW.

“Doubling lease terms gives businesses the certainty they need to plan for the future and invest in modern, sustainable operations.

“The former National and Liberal Government brushed this problem for the oyster industry to the side, but our Government is stepping forward to make this happen and I call upon the Coalition to back the Bill.

“It’s imperative that we move quickly to deliver this significant improvement for the industry.

“At the same time, the Bill will deliver stronger penalties to protect hardworking farming families and businesses by targeting those who steal stock or damage infrastructure.

“These proposed changes are another example of the Minns Government’s commitment to building a sustainable aquaculture sector, following the investment of $27 million from the Regional Development Trust into 31 seafood projects.

“We’re building a more stable, competitive aquaculture sector that can continue to thrive and deliver both for regional economies, and food for Australian tables.”

The Minns Labor Government is extending effective youth bail laws and establishing a groundbreaking pilot to support at-risk young people and tackle the underlying drivers of crime.

Legislation will be introduced today further extending section 22C of the Bail Act 2013 which has helped disrupt high-risk offending by young people since its introduction in 2024. 

The bail test for young people charged with repeat car theft and break and enter offences requires a judge to have a high degree of confidence the accused will not offend while on bail.

The Government always intended to extend the laws until April 2028 and last year opposed an amendment by the Coalition and the Greens to shorten the sunset period to October this year. 

A statutory review of the laws, to be tabled in Parliament today, found 22C has helped stabilise youth crime rates in regional NSW. 

Break and enter and motor vehicle offences have declined in regional NSW while there has been a reduction in legal proceedings against young people. 

The review recommends extending 22C to allow for the implementation of broader community-based initiatives including the establishment of a voluntary diversion pilot in Tamworth. 

Backed by an $8.4 million investment in the 2026-27 NSW Budget, the pathway is set be rolled out by early 2027. Work is progressing on a second pilot site set to be announced in coming weeks. 

The pathway will provide wraparound support to children between the ages of 8 and 13 with complex needs who are engaged in, or at risk of engaging in, concerning or high-risk behaviour. 

Young people will not need to be charged with a criminal offence to be eligible. This new model is preventative and designed to help young people and their families before high-risk behaviours turn into offending. 

It will close a longstanding gap for children under 10, who are below the age of criminal responsibility and may be too young for existing programs. 

Referrals can also be made if a young person has been charged with an offence to help prevent reoffending, but the pathway will run separately to the criminal justice system. 

The model being finalised with stakeholders will be delivered by Youth Justice NSW with whole-of-family, culturally responsive support from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to create lasting, positive change. 

Caseworkers will engage directly with the young person, provide one-on-one support and monitor their progress against agreed goals. In addition, family workers will provide practical, day-to-day support in the young person’s household. 

The pilot responds to recommendation 6 of the independent review of the operation of doli incapax, commissioned by the NSW Government. Doli incapax presumes children under 14 lack capacity to be held criminally responsible. 

The Government will also begin consulting with stakeholders this week on a mandatory diversion pathway, with a model to be settled by the end of the year. 

The voluntary diversion pathway builds on the Government’s youth crime reforms enshrining doli incapax in legislation. 

The reforms strengthened the law and gave courts clearer rules about what they must consider when determining whether doli incapax has been rebutted by the prosecution. 

The reforms also make it easier for children to access diversion for lower-level offending, with police and the courts retaining the discretion to charge and convict young people if appropriate. 

Attorney General Michael Daley said: 

“We’re not waiting until a child is charged with a crime to intervene. This pathway will identify at-risk young people and support them and their families to help prevent offending rather than just respond to it. 

“It will also help children who have already found themselves before the courts to turn their lives around.

“Disadvantage and trauma are significant drivers of crime. That is why this model provides wraparound support to help get children on the right track and help their families to keep them there.” 

Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dib said: 

“The earlier we can make sure children who need support get help, the better our chances of preventing them from entering the justice system. 

“The Minns Labor Government is making record investments to provide more opportunities, skills and assistance for young people to change their course in life, committing more than $146 million to diversion and early intervention initiatives. 

“This new pathway expands these programs further to support very young people who are at risk and help them build a better, more positive future.”

A Sloane Liberal and Nationals Government will crack down on criminals and make communities safer by introducing new Adult Crime, Adult Time laws within the first 100 days of Government.
 
Labor has lost control of crime across NSW with young people increasingly at the centre -being recruited to carry out gangland hits, committing violent crimes and breaking into people’s homes.
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals have repeatedly put forward stronger laws, which include Anytime, Anywhere Knife Wanding laws and tougher penalties for those who recruit children to commit crimes, only to be met by opposition from the Minns Labor Government.
 
Under our reforms, the list of serious children’s indictable offences (SCIOs) would be expanded, meaning maximum adult sentences would apply to additional serious crimes.
 
The offences would be backed by guideline sentencing and new sentencing principles to ensure detention is not treated as a last resort, especially where that applies to multiple sentences. Greater weight will be given to victim impact rather than the age of the offender.
 
We will also double funding for the Community Safety Investment Fund to $10 million and fund expanded diversion, school suspension and post-detention rehabilitation programs to put young people back on the right track.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said that under our plan victims would be put first and serious youth offenders will face real consequences for their crimes.
 
“I believe in tough love which means doing everything we can to support young people and put them on the right track. But if you commit a serious adult crime, there should be serious adult consequences,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“For too long youth offenders who have committed serious crimes in our state have faced consequences that don’t match community expectations. That will end under the NSW Liberals and Nationals Adult Crime, Adult Time laws.”
 
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said regional NSW was dealing with a youth crime crisis and was sick of waiting for Labor to get tough on this issue.
 
“Regional NSW has had enough. From Moree to Dubbo, families, business owners and older Australians have had enough of living with violent crime and kids running riot,” Mr Singh said.
 
“We will put community safety first in regional NSW and ensure serious youth offenders get the book thrown at them for their crimes.”
 
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Anthony Roberts said police officers were sick of arresting the same serious youth criminals just to see them back on the streets.
 
“Our police do a great job keeping our communities safe, we need to back them with laws to ensure that serious youth offenders face proper consequences for violent crimes,” Mr Roberts said.
 
Acting Shadow Attorney General Susan Carter said these laws would also be accompanied by further investment in youth diversion programs.
 
“Young people who commit serious crimes should face serious consequences, but we also want to be doing all we can to ensure young people don’t commit those crimes to begin with,” Mrs Carter said.
 
“Adult Crime, Adult Time laws will form one part of a broader Liberals and Nationals youth justice package that will be based on a clear principle that we will hold serious offenders properly accountable while also doing everything reasonably possible to stop young people becoming serious offenders in the first place.”
 
Shadow Minister for Prevention of Regional Crime Brendan Moylan said the NSW Liberals and Nationals would tackle serious youth crime through both prevention and consequences.
 
“We must tackle crime from all sides, intervening early, deterring offending and throwing the weight of the law at those who commit crimes to keep NSW communities safe,” Mr Moylan said.
 
Former NSW Deputy Police Commissioner and Liberal Candidate for Camden Mick Willing said the police must have the powers to get control of the issue.
 
“The face of crime has changed, we now have a situation where innocent members of the public are no longer off limits, and sentences need to represent that and community expectation around that,” Mr Willing said.

New figures have revealed seatbelt fines surged by 2,357 per cent in just one year, with the NSW Liberals and Nationals calling for an immediate public education campaign.

A staggering 132,755 seatbelt fines were issued in 2024–25 following the introduction of AI-powered detection cameras. Concerningly, more than one in ten fines were issued for failing to wear a seatbelt at all.

Despite the huge increase in fines, the latest Transport for NSW figures show:

• 12,157 people were seriously injured during 2025, an increase of 598, or 5.2 per cent, from 11,559 in 2024.
• 244 lives have been lost on NSW roads in 2026, compared with 240 at the same time last year.

Shadow Minister for Roads Mark Coure said enforcement must be supported by clear and practical education.

“These figures show that current deterrence measures are not enough to improve road safety,” Mr Coure said.

“Cameras can detect an offence and issue a fine, but the evidence is showing it is not addressing the cause and changing behaviour.”

“The Minns Labor Government must back current deterrent measures with a comprehensive education campaign, which the NRMA is also calling for – with targeted information for passengers, parents, pregnant women and culturally diverse communities.”

“Two-thirds of the offences reportedly involved passengers, demonstrating that the Government’s message is simply not reaching the broader community.”

“With the NSW road toll remaining unacceptably high, fines alone are not a road safety strategy. Education and enforcement must work together.”