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Clandestine Koala Translocation Program results in Koala Deaths – Labelled Animal Cruelty and calls on Minister and Premier to Explain

A NSW Government Koala Translocation project, claimed to promote genetic diversity in south-east NSW has gone horribly wrong with 13 koalas translocated and 7 dead, leading to calls to explain how the project got off the ground, halt all translocations of koalas in NSW and investigate whether any charges for animal cruelty should be laid against those responsible.

Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson says “What’s happened is deeply disturbing, tragic and cruel. How this even past muster as a Koala “conservation program” is unfathomable, something has gone radically awry and the Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe is staying quiet, but she and Premier Chris Minns must explain.

“This level of experimentation with our endangered koalas is cruel, was a catastrophic failure and should not have happened. The control settings around this translocation experiment were obviously fundamentally flawed and I don’t think the public would find this level of experimentation with our endangered koalas at all acceptable.

“The evidence over many years shows that translocation of koalas is fraught with risk and failure. It is deeply concerning that the Government allowed thirteen healthy koalas to be taken from their habitat in the Upper Nepean State Conservation Area all the way to South East Forest National Park where there are no koalas. Given the outcome, it’s clear they shouldn’t have.

“Koalas are not expendable, any and all translocation programs must be immediately stopped and the ethics and controls around such programs need to be reviewed transparently and publicly. In this case there needs to be an investigation as to whether animal cruelty laws have been breached. It is hard to reconcile that only a few months ago wildlife carer Tracey Dodds was prosecuted for animal cruelty charges for caring for a rescued kangaroo that had to be euthanized.

“It’s a stark and tragic reminder that the only sure way to protect koalas and avoid their current dire trajectory of extinction is to protect them from predation, road strike and disease now, where they currently live and to improve and extend that very habitat.

“It’s deeply distressing and sends a very cynical message that the Government is focussed on high risk and failed koala program effort while it continues to allow the destruction of core koala habitat for development and logging of high quality koala habitat in the forests of the promised Great Koala National Park, with no end in sight.

“The Minns Labor Government promised to protect koalas, but it’s been over 2 years, they haven’t established the Great Koala National Park, changed any laws to better protect koalas, they haven’t even completed the review of the NSW Koala Strategy and the Minister for the Environment is staying quiet about what has happened here.

Premier Chris Minns victim-blaming of Kathleen Folbigg is callous and cruel

Greens MP, spokesperson for justice and solicitor Sue Higginson has condemned the comments from Premier Chris Minns after he refused to meet with Kathleen Folbigg on Monday.

The Premier told a press conference he would refuse Ms Folbigg’s request for a meeting, saying:“There’s a lot of difficult calls for me to make as Premier. This isn’t one of them.”

“… like every citizen in the state, she’s entitled to take her matter to the courts and sue the NSW government, but this is a complex issue given she won’t do that.”

Ms Higginson has recommended that the Premier undertake trauma-informed communication training to avoid further hurtful comments being made toward victims of injustice and school himself in the functions of the justice system.

NSW Greens Justice Spokesperson and solicitor Sue Higginson MLC said, “I’m shocked at the disparaging language Labor Premier Chris Minns is using when talking in public to Kathleen Folbigg and I am concerned about his lack of understanding of our justice system.

“The Premier Chris Minns has essentially engaged in victim-blaming, and he should be more mindful when talking through the powerful media to a woman who has lost four children to a rare genetic disease and who was wrongfully imprisoned for decades by the State he represents.

“Ms Folbigg is owed some form of compensation by the NSW Government and a request to meet with the Premier is literally the bare minimum. Instead, the Premier has criticised Ms Folbigg for requesting a meeting and seeking an accepted method of compensation rather than engaging in drawn out expensive civil litigation against the State of NSW

“Saying, as Premier, that you make hard decisions but “this isn’t one of them” – it’s incredibly callous and cruel particularly in the circumstances while Ms Folbigg is simply exercising her rights to access justice and has in fact spared the State protracted legal proceedings.

“Ms Folbigg has chosen not to sue the NSW Government after being wrongfully convicted. Chris Minns is repaying her grace and her choice with ghosting, accusations and dismissals. The Premier and his advisors need further training in trauma-informed communication, basic compassion, how to respect human dignity and the justice system.

“Misogynistic and dismissive tone is not what people expect from the Premier and it is retraumatizing for a woman who has been the victim of an historic miscarriage of justice.

“The Premier should apologise to Ms Folbigg, and the public and he should meet with her. There is no conflict of interest here. It’s a serious case of justice delayed, is justice denied. Ms Folbigg has waited too long. I am now in discussions with the opposition and other members of the cross bench in the Parliament about what further steps we can take to end this drawn out denial of justice.”

Treasurer’s housing targets are pie in the sky

There is an urgent need for tax reform if Labor wants to solve the housing crisis according to Greens housing spokesperson, Senator Barbara Pocock.Treasury has kyboshed Labor’s targets and Pocock says all they are doing is helping wealthy investors to corner the market with the 50% discount on capital gains tax and lucrative negative gearing arrangements.Senator Barbara Pocock:“Jim Chalmers said yesterday that Labor can deliver their promised 1.2 million new homes – well, someone needs to tell him he’s dreaming.”Without reform to the tax concessions for property investors this supply side solution will never solve the housing crisis. House prices will continue to rise, rents will continue to spiral and wealthy investors will acquire most of those new homes while first home buyers continue to miss out.”We need more homes to be built, but we also need to make sure first home buyers and owner occupiers are actually able to purchase them.”Currently, 70% of home lending is going to people who earn over $200,000 a year. To make home ownership accessible to those not on a top tier salary, we need to tackle the tax problem by limiting negative gearing and scrapping the capital gains tax discount.”The tax changes proposed by the Greens, would allow 850,000 people to live in a home they own and bring many of the 31% of households who rent into home ownership.”Rent Assistance“People struggling with high rents who are relying on Commonwealth Rent Assistance should be given immediate relief through an increased rate.”This government must raise income support levels above the poverty line and work with the states and territories to control unlimited rent increases and make lasting improvements to renters rights. Nobody deserves to teeter on the knifepoint of housing instability.”

TAFE NSW Orange receives $635,000 for industry ready upgrades

Aspiring nurses in the Central West are set to benefit from a $635,000 investment to upgrading nursing training facilities at TAFE NSW Orange, ensuring Diploma of Nursing students’ graduate job-ready with the latest industry skills.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on education in the region, transforming two existing four-bed wards into a cutting-edge simulated hospital environment.

The revamp will include purpose-built additions such as a clean preparation area, dirty utility, and a fully equipped training bathroom; all designed to replicate real-world clinical settings.

Students will train using the same equipment they’ll encounter on the job, including medical services panels at every bed, a medication fridge, and a lockable medicine cabinet, helping the build the confidence and competence to step straight into the healthcare workforce.

Orange is home to one of the largest regional health hubs in NSW. Nurses account for over 42% of the Western NSW Local Health District workforce, making this investment a critical part of strengthening the pipeline of skilled local nurses who can meet growing community needs.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan visited the campus today to tour the existing nursing facilities and announce the funding package.

Work is set to commence later this year and will be completed by mid-2026.

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

“The Minns Labor Government record $3.4 billion investment in TAFE NSW and the skills sector is helping to futureproof regional campuses and train critical workforces.

“This investment will set students up for real-world success now and into the future, not just in the classroom but in the region’s hospitals, clinics, and aged care facilities where they’re urgently needed.

“TAFE NSW Orange plays a vital role in training the next generation of nurses, and these upgrades will ensure students can confidently transition their skills from the classroom to the workplace.

“Whether it’s in Orange or across the Central West, we want our future nurses to have the best possible start, and that begins with world-class public training facilities”.

Member for Orange, Phil Donato said:

“I welcome this announcement of $635,000, that will go directly towards upgrading nurse training facilities at the TAFE NSW Orange Campus. These added education facilities will ensure a pipeline of job ready nurses to enter the workforce.

“I appreciate the NSW Government has recognised that this upgrade will not only attract more regional students but go a long way to retaining them as part of a valued and skilled workforce.”

NSW invests $26.2 million in low-emissions clean technology

The Minns Labor Government is investing $26.2 million to spearhead the next wave of emissions reduction technologies, supporting cutting-edge solutions which deliver both environmental and economic benefits to the state.

The Clean Technology Innovation grants support 13 projects across NSW to advance their technologies from research to commercial businesses, these include:

Underwater robotic hull cleaners that reduce ship emissions and fuel consumption, eliminate harmful coatings and prevent the spread of invasive species.
A drag-reducing adhesive film for aircraft, inspired by the skin of fast swimming sharks, that reduces emissions.
Testing a cleaner method to extract lithium for batteries, to make the process more efficient and cost effective.
Turning farm waste into green hydrogen and ammonia using a new on-farm technology.
Setting up the world’s first commercial manufacturing facility for Printed Solar, which was rolled out in stadiums during Coldplay’s world tour.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering this significant funding injection as part of the $275 million Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative to fuel new investment, new jobs and new opportunities for NSW businesses, industries, communities and workers.

The grants focus on developing and implementing technologies that don’t currently exist in the marketplace but have the capability to reduce emissions and assist with the state’s net zero targets.

Each project will progress through stages including design, prototyping, construction, testing and real-world scenarios to ensure commercial viability. Funding ranges from $400,000 to $5 million per project.

In addition to the NSW Government’s funding, the projects have also successfully attracted $46.9 million in private investment, demonstrating strong industry confidence in their potential.

The successful projects must be completed by 2028, delivering tangible outcomes in the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

For more information visit www.energy.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry/programs-grants-and-schemes/clean-technology-innovation.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said:

“The Minns Labor Government is investing in the new technologies, jobs and industries that will drive our state’s transition to a low-carbon economy, create new jobs as we address the critical challenges climate change presents.

“This investment will see these projects transition into practical, real-world solutions for emissions reduction that also boost innovators, investment and new jobs.”

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Anoulack Chanthivong, said:

“Building a green innovation economy is critical to NSW’s long-term prosperity.

“These projects are a perfect example of our Industry Policy in action, which has identified the transition to a net zero economy as one of its three key missions, alongside local manufacturing and increasing housing supply.

“This is also an example of our Innovation Blueprint coming to life as we build clean technology communities that fuel technological advancements as well as new investment, new jobs, and new opportunities right across the state.”

CEO and Founder of Novalith, Steven Vassiloudis said:

“Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the global energy transition, not just by exporting minerals, but by exporting the technology that makes them cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable to produce.

“This support from the NSW Government recognises the vital role homegrown solutions like Novalith’s can play in building resilient supply chains and accelerating the world’s shift to a low-carbon future.”

Summary of funded projects:

Applicant Name	Funding granted	Product/ Project description
MicroTau, St Peters	$2,500,000	MicroTau is exploring how to produce more of its special riblet film product, inspired by the skin of fast swimming sharks, which sticks to planes and helps them move through the air more easily. By reducing drag, it can lower fuel use and cut emissions from the aviation industry.
Novalith Technologies Pty Ltd, Alexandria	$1,500,000	This project focuses on scaling its novel lithium extraction process to a commercial scale. The technology enables the sustainable production of low-cost, low-impact lithium carbonate directly from spodumene to strengthen global supply chains of battery materials.
PlasmaLeap Technologies, Marrickville	$2,584,617	Testing a cleaner, cheaper way to make fertiliser directly on farms. It will design and build a small, low-emission fertiliser unit for regional NSW, helping farmers cut costs and reduce environmental impact.
5B Holdings Pty Ltd, Mascot	$2,500,000	Developing and testing the Next Generation Maverick Solution: a new solar panel system that’s faster to build, easier to install and cheaper to produce. It’s designed to work well even in places where labour costs are high, helping make solar energy more affordable and scalable.
Hullbot, Rozelle	$1,943,218	Developing robotic hull cleaners to cut ship fuel use and emissions by 20%, eliminate toxic coatings, and stop invasive species. This project will scale up the robot design and production system to deliver the service to ships.
H Nu Pty Ltd, Gosford	$432,500	Build a production line for novel fibre-optic based, lightweight, highly accurate current and voltage measuring systems for high-voltage grids. This type of low-cost, accurate metering is key to a successful renewable grid.
Sicona Battery Technologies Pty Ltd, Unanderra	$1,675,000	Validate the technical and commercial feasibility of Edge Functionalised Graphene technology through a pilot plant, ensuring it meets industry standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Lab 360 Solar Pty Ltd, Maryvale	$1,775,000	Transform daylight photoluminescence (DPL) inspection methods into a commercial tool that can be used at scale. By improving the technology and data analysis, it will help solar operators find faults, boost performance and lower costs.
FPR Energy Limited, Mayfield West	$4,850,000	Commercialise FPR Energy’s particle based concentrated solar thermal technology, to provide long duration green heat and power. These battery energy storage systems cater to industrial, commercial and residential needs.
Renewable Metals Pty Ltd, Muswellbrook	$1,100,000	Assess the feasibility of NSW’s first commercial lithium battery recycling refinery. It would help build a local recycling industry, support clean technology and keep valuable battery materials in use across energy, transport and industry.
HydGene Renewables Pty Ltd, Lane Cove	$2,500,000	This project is turning farm waste into green bio-hydrogen and ammonia – clean fuels that can be used on farms. It will demonstrate a scalable technology that can be used on farms, boosting the agriculture sector, enhancing sustainability and reducing waste.
Kardinia Energy Pty Ltd, Shortland	$2,255,000	Setting up the world’s first commercial manufacturing facility for Printed Solar – lightweight, flexible solar panels that can go where traditional ones can’t. It opens up new markets and takes clean energy to more places.
BT Imaging, Waterloo	$598,391	Pioneer the development of the world’s first in-line Photoluminescence and Machine Vision solution with automated tuning. It will help make solar cells more efficient and cost-effective.
TOTAL FUNDING	$26,213, 726

Agreement to boost Chinese tourism to Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is focused on advancing Australia’s security and economic interests – with trade, tourism and Australian jobs a critical part of his visit to China.

That means driving greater and more diverse tourism cooperation between Australia and China – building on our strong people to people links.

China is Australia’s largest tourism market by expenditure, with a total spend of $9.2 billion in the 12 months up to March 2025.

This represents around a quarter of all short-term international visitor expenditure in Australia for that period.

Chinese tourism is also growing at a faster pace than other international markets, with a 26% increase in visitors in the past 12 months and a total of 860,000 trips to Australia.

Today Prime Minister Albanese witnessed Tourism Australia and Trip.com Group sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that promotes Australia as a premier tourist destination for Chinese travellers as well as visitors from other key Asian markets.

This partnership will provide a significant boost for Australia’s tourism industry.

Trip.com Group is one of the world’s largest travel agencies. It commands more than 40% of the Chinese travel market, has a large presence in other parts of Asia and is accessed by more than 300 million travellers worldwide.

While visiting Trip.com Group’s headquarters in China, Prime Minister Albanese attended the launch of Tourism Australia’s new trailer for the next chapter of its Come and Say G’Day campaign – aimed at inspiring international travellers to book an Australian holiday.

Prime Minister Albanese

“Not only is Australia’s beef, barley, red wine and rock lobster the best in the world – we’re the best place in the world to come for a holiday.

“Expanding our tourism relationship with China will mean more jobs for Australians and a boost for Australian businesses.”

Celebrating 10 Years of Premier League – NSW’s Elite Netball Pathway

This year marks a major milestone for one of New South Wales’ most important netball competitions-Premier League turns 10.

Launched in 2016, Premier League has cemented itself as the pinnacle netball competition in NSW, showcasing the state’s top current and emerging talent every Wednesday night at Netball Central.

Over the past decade, it has become the undisputed breeding ground for future stars of Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) – athletes, umpires, coaches and bench officials – offering a fiercely competitive environment that mirrors the intensity of Australia’s elite domestic league, considered the best in the world.

SSN representatives such as GIANTS Netball players Amy Sligar, Maddie Hay and Erin O’Brien, NSW Swifts Sophie Fawns, Freddie Schneideman and Grace Whyte, Melbourne Mavericks stars Tayla Fraser and Amy Parmenter along with Emily Moore from the Queensland Firebirds are all alumni of Netball NSW’s Premier League.

“The exposure to week in week out competition of Premier League was an amazing stepping stone into the SSN,” former Premier League and current SSN GIANTS Netball player Amy Sligar said.

“I started Premier League as a 15-year-old and continued to play as I moved through Super Netball Reserves and into SSN. I was incredibly lucky to play with and against so many amazing players, including current and former Suncorp Super Netball players.”

As a high-performance stepping stone, Premier League provides crucial development opportunities for players, coaches, umpires and administrators, bridging the pathway between community netball and the elite stage of the Super Netball Reserves and Suncorp Super Netball.

“Premier League also provided an opportunity to work with many great coaches. The lessons I learnt on and off court have helped shape my career in Suncorp Super Netball,” Sligar concluded

NSW Swifts Head Coach Briony Akle reinforced the value of the Premier League in building the next generation of SSN talent.

“I love the Premier League and coached in it early on, and I really think it has helped hugely in the development of talent into SSN,” said Akle

“So many past and present Swifts have come through Premier League such as Sophie Craig, Tayla Fraser, Teigan O’Shannassy, Lili Gorman-Brown and Lauren Moore. Some of our players still play in it to get high-quality game-time.

“Today we have the likes of Sophie Fawns, Freddie Schneideman and Grace Whyte who’ve also had huge development in it.

“It’s not just Swifts, many Giants have emerged from being part of it too and I reckon it’s hands down the best league of its kind in Australia.” affirmed Akle

Stacy Harding, General Manager – Competitions at Netball NSW, said the competition is an essential part of the state’s high-performance system.

“Premier League is where NSW’s next generation of stars are tested. It offers the best and most fierce competition to blood athletes for the ferocity of Suncorp Super Netball. Week in, week out, it demands elite intensity and prepares our players for the next level.”

Over the past 10 years, dozens of Premier League athletes, umpires, bench officials and coaches have stepped up to Super Netball contracts, national honours, and even international representation. It’s a track record that reflects both the depth of talent in NSW and the critical role this competition plays in nurturing future stars.

To celebrate the milestone, Netball NSW is launching a fan-led campaign to name the Premier League ‘Team of the Decade’.

Across Netball NSW and Premier League social channels, fans can cast their votes for the best player in every position, as well as the Coach of the Decade-a fun and nostalgic way to honour the standout performers of the past 10 seasons.

The finals series for Premier League commences on Wednesday 23 July, with the Grand Final taking place on Sunday 3 August at Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park. All matches are available to watch live and on demand at https://netballnsw.tv/

Clandestine Koala Translocation Program results in Koala Deaths – Labelled Animal Cruelty and calls on Minister and Premier to Explain

New high-tech Western Harbour Tunnel facility brings manufacturing jobs to Sydney’s West

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a better NSW, today opening a high-tech facility that will fabricate the new Western Harbour Tunnel and create around 700 quality manufacturing jobs in Western Sydney.

The new, purpose-built facility at Emu Plains will precast individual concrete segments and culverts. They will then be put in place by the two largest tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in the Southern Hemisphere as they excavate under Sydney Harbour.

The walls, roof and floor of the huge tunnel, which is the size of three Metro tunnels, will be fitted together from thousands of concrete pieces made by skilled local workers and fitted together like a giant precision-cut jigsaw.

More than 13,000 concrete segments and nearly 1,400 culverts will be custom built in the state-of-the-art facility in Emu Plains, before being transported to the tunnels via the M4 and WestConnex.

The Emu Plains site is an Australian first. It is expected to operate for up to three years for the project and has the potential to be used by other projects or businesses in future, making it a lasting legacy of the tunnel project.

The tunnel boring machines are expected to arrive in Sydney later this year, before being assembled deep underground below Birchgrove. They will tunnel 1.5km from Birchgrove to Waverton, under the Sydney Harbour seabed, connecting the northern and southern ends of the project.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $4.2 billion over four years to deliver Sydney’s first road crossing of the harbour in almost 30 years.

The 6.5 kilometre tunnel will connect the Warringah Freeway in North Sydney to the WestConnex M4 and M8 at Rozelle Interchange, helping drivers bypass the CBD and making it easier, faster and safer to get around Sydney.

As the Government continues to champion women’s economic opportunities, particularly in historically male dominated industries, of the 700 jobs created at this facility there will be a target of 50 per cent women. Over 7,000 construction jobs will be created through building the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Due to open to traffic in 2028, under the Minns Labor Government this city shaping Project will remain in public hands. This is in direct contrast to the former Liberal National Government who sold off roads which were paid for and owned by the People of New South

Wales, resulting in rising toll prices controlled by a private company and have continued to champion privatisation from opposition.

You can find more details on the project here

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“This is a city shaping project which is literally being manufactured piece by piece in Western Sydney.

“We know that Sydney is growing, and we are working hard to address the housing crisis and bring Sydney’s CBD back to life – the fact is we can’t do any of that if we don’t have the roads we need to get people safely and quickly from A to B.

“Today’s announcement is a big milestone in our work to deliver this major project. At the same time this will provide a massive boost for our states manufacturing capability, bringing more jobs and opportunity to Western Sydney.

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“It’s exciting to see this facility open for business today and ready to build Sydney’s second harbour tunnel with local talent and world’s best technology.

“We are proud of the work to encourage more women into construction through this new facility.

“The Western Harbour Tunnel is one of 23 Government pilot projects trialing increased targets of for women in trade and introducing a new target of 7% for non-traditional roles.”

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos said:

“Delivering a project of this scale requires specialised manufacturing and state-of-the-art technology. We’re investing in smart, modern manufacturing right here in Emu Plains to lift our capabilities.

“This project is another example of how our Minns Labor Government is spending our government procurement dollars to create more well-paid, highly skilled jobs right here in NSW.

“We’re backing Western Sydney workers by providing them the tools, opportunities and facilities to deliver this critical piece of infrastructure, right at their doorstep.”

Member for Penrith, Karen McKeown said:

“Emu Plains has a long and proud history of manufacturing quality infrastructure, and it’s great to see that continue with this new facility.

“700 quality, manufacturing jobs right here in Western Sydney is a massive win and I’m proud of the Government’s work to promote gender equality in a historically male dominated industry.

“The opening of this factory in Emu Plains proves yet again that we are the engine room of the state.”

NSW can’t afford this Government

The Minns Labor Government has spent $11 billion more on public sector wages than it told the people of New South Wales it would. Meanwhile, it has cut infrastructure funding for schools, hospitals, transport and water, the very things families need to keep moving, working and living well.

Acting Leader of the NSW Opposition Leader Damien Tudehope said the Government has lost all sense of balance.

“We have always backed fair pay for the frontline workers who serve this state and we always will, but when pay increases come with delays, cuts and crumbling services, the people paying the bill start asking where their money is going,” Mr Tudehope said.

Ten percent of people in New South Wales are public servants. The other ninety percent of NSW rely on the public services that are now being squeezed.

Under this Minns Labor Government:

Transport infrastructure has been cut by $21 billion since 2022

Water infrastructure is facing a $5.9 billion hole under the regulator’s draft ruling

$1 billion has been stripped from the health capital budget

Hospital projects been shelved or stalled or re-announced with micro updates to appear as if the government is doing something.

Elective surgery waiting lists have returned to near-COVID levels, with more than 100,000 patients waiting

Labor went to the election claiming wage increases would come at no cost, offset by productivity. That never happened. The result is a government that has run out of runway — high wages, low delivery, and no long-term plan.

Frank Sartor, a former Labor minister, warned of this very risk in his book The Fog on the Hill. He wrote:

“From 1997 to 2010 public sector wages and salaries in New South Wales grew at a rate way above not only their interstate counterparts, but those in the Commonwealth public service and the NSW private sector in real terms… NSW public sector workers were being indulged compared with their counterparts… Because of union control of the Labor government, a very significant economic rent was being paid… This annual extra cost severely restricted the government’s capacity to fund vital infrastructure projects such as new rail links.” (Frank Sartor, The Fog on the Hill, p. 45)

That is what is happening again, and it is happening faster.

Budget papers show that by 2028, wages will consume 55 percent of discretionary spending, up from 46 percent just two years ago. That leaves less than half the budget to serve everyone else.

We need to support our workers and the people they serve. Labor has forgotten the second half of that promise.