admin – Page 15

Accessibility through art broadening experiences at expanded Gallery

Art lovers are being invited to celebrate two groundbreaking commissions that are creating a more accessible and inclusive Newcastle Art Gallery for thousands of visitors.

A panel talk and Auslan-interpreted tour on Saturday will highlight the development of the Gallery’s first access-focused digital guide, Nancy, and provide insights into the world-leading sculptural solution to the Gallery’s original floating staircases.

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM said the commissions were having a significant impact on how people are interacting with the reimagined Gallery space.

A woman with glasses, medium-length, wavy brown hair, and wearing a striped blue and white shirt is reaching out with both hands to touch a large metal panel. This is artist Fayen d’Evie interacting with her commissioned sculpture ( reflecting air ) Artist Fayen d’Evie engaging with a tactile interpretation of a work of art by Brian Robinson which forms part of her sculpture, ( reflecting air ) “…Touch enabled her to discern minute details… which often pass unnoticed…”, 2025. Design and fabrication: Feather Edge. Newcastle Art Gallery, Australia, commissioned with assistance from the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and proudly funded by the NSW Government 2025. © the artist. Photo: Roni Bintang

“The expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery provided the ideal opportunity to ensure access and inclusion were at the heart of how our community can experience our reimagined facility,” Ms Morton said.

“From using an artistic and access-led solution to the physical challenge created by the space under the staircases for visitors who are blind or have low vision, to developing our first digital guide, which has already been accessed by more than 8,000 visitors, we are committed to collaborating with community members with lived experience to deliver better outcomes for everybody.”

Saturday’s event will feature internationally acclaimed artist Fayen d’Evie and Central Coast-based Auslan trainer and interpreter Thomas Doe, who will give visitors a chance to learn more about how access-led solutions are being embedded permanently in the new Gallery.

Digital guide Nancy takes visitors on a 24-stop tour around the ground floor collection exhibition with audio, Auslan-interpreted video and written descriptions, which can be accessed using a visitor’s personal device via the Newcastle Art Gallery website or QR codes throughout the space.

The guide was developed using a ‘by community, for community’ model, with contributions and expertise from local d/Deaf consultants and community members, Auslan interpreters, artists, accessibility advocates and First Nations consultants.

It was named in recognition of Nancy Tapp, a much-loved volunteer of 36 years at Newcastle Art Gallery, to celebrate the role that Gallery guides play in shaping the unique experience of every visitor.

Thomas Doe said being involved with Newcastle Art Gallery to develop Nancy was a meaningful experience.

“The Art Gallery team approach the project with open minds and a genuine commitment to inclusion,” Mr Doe said.

“Providing Auslan access means d/Deaf and hard of hearing people can do more than just view the artwork – they can connect with the stories, understand the artist’s intention, and fully experience the exhibition.”

As well as contributing to the development of Nancy, Fayen D’Evie was commissioned to create the architectural-scale sculptures that enable visitors to move safely around the two floating staircases on the ground level of the original 1977-built Gallery, which no longer adhere to modern building code standards for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Tactile versions of key works of art and braille incorporated into the sculptures also allow people to engage through touch with the stories of the Gallery, which d’Evie said was important for her when developing the sculptures.

“I wanted these sculptures to be invitations not barriers, and architectural prompts for conversation between visitors, sighted and blind alike,” d’Evie said.

“They honour the original staircase structure, while creating a tactile veil around it.”

Fayen d’Evie’s sculpture was supported by a $50,000 grant from Creative Australia and a $50,000 grant from the NSW Government Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grants program, while Nancy was supported by City of Newcastle and a $10,000 Museums & Galleries of NSW grant.

Co-chair of City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Standing Committee, Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk, said designing spaces with accessibility as priority means better outcomes for everyone.

“Art should always be for everyone, and the Newcastle Art Gallery team should be commended for their work to ensure one of our city’s key cultural landmarks can be better enjoyed by all,” Cr Adamczyk said.

“Making those improvements is a key outcome from our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) which is up for renewal in 2027.

“It’s currently undergoing early engagement, and I encourage the community to get involved and share their experiences with us to make sure we continue building a Newcastle that works better for everybody.”

Community members can find out more and make a submission on the DIAP via the Have Your Say page on City of Newcastle’s website, before Monday 15 June.

Saturday’s Intersensorial Conversations event starts from 11am, with more information and limited bookings still available on the Newcastle Art Gallery website.

Legislation to shut down illegal places of worship passes parliament

The Minns Labor Government’s legislation to strengthen councils’ powers to shut down unlawful places of public worship has passed the NSW Parliament despite attempts by the Liberals and Nationals to delay the bill in the Legislative Council.

The Local Government and Other Legislation Amendment (Places of Public Worship) Bill 2026 delivers on measures announced in response to the antisemitic terror attack in Bondi on 14 December and provides councils with stronger enforcement tools to protect community safety.

The reforms bolster existing powers by significantly increasing fines for illegal places of public worship and enabling councils, in serious cases, to seek orders to cut off water, electricity and gas where venues breach planning laws and ignore directions to cease operating.

The legislation:

Allows councils to issue development control orders to stop unlawful activities that breach planning laws or pose risks to public health and safety.
Doubles penalty notice fines from $3,000 to $6,000 for individuals and from $6,000 to $12,000 for corporations.
Enables councils to apply to the Land and Environment Court for orders directing utility providers to cut off services to non-compliant venues.
Increases maximum penalties for failure to comply from $11,000 to $110,000 for individuals and from $22,000 to $220,000 for corporations.

The changes have been complemented by amendments to the Planning System SEPP which came into effect at the end of April requiring councils to consult with NSW Police Commissioner on community safety matters and the prevention of crime before approving development applications for new places of public worship, or changes to the use of existing ones.

These reforms build on previous legislation passed by the Minns Labor Government to combat hate, including new offences for inciting racial hatred, banning the display of Nazi symbols at Jewish places, and strengthening protections for people attending their place of worship.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“There is no place for hate in NSW. If a place of worship is operating outside the law and dividing the community, councils now have the tools to shut it down.

“Recent planning changes have also put public safety first, mandating consultation with NSW police before approving development applications for new places of public worship.

“These strengthened enforcement powers and mandatory consultation with NSW Police are practical steps to keep communities safe.”

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“Freedom of religion is a fundamental part of life in New South Wales, and it must always be protected. But it doesn’t provide a licence for hate speech, unlawful conduct, or behaviour that puts the community at risk.

“No one is above the law. Places of worship, like any other premises, must operate within the planning rules that exist to keep communities safe.

“These changes give councils clear authority to act where those rules are ignored, particularly where there are risks to safety or community cohesion.

“This is about upholding the law in a measured and practical way, and making sure local communities are protected.”

Final plan for Moore Park South delivers new park and 12-hole golf course for Sydney

Mums, dads and young people from across Sydney are a step closer to being able to enjoy a brand-new park with sports fields, courts, outdoor fitness equipment, a nature playground, shaded picnic spaces with barbecues and more.

The Minns Labor Government has today released the final plan for the new 20-hectare park and 12‑hole public golf course at Moore Park South, based on extensive feedback from the local community, sporting groups and councils.

The plan, which is supported by a $50 million investment from the Minns Labor Government, will deliver a great new public open space for one of the most densely populated areas in Australia, with the population within 5km of the new parkland projected to rise to almost 790,000 by 2041.

The community surrounding Sydney’s newest park will be able to enjoy new sporting and community facilities, including:

new pathways for running, walking and cycling
a fenced off-leash dog area
a full-size community sports field, multi-purpose sports courts and outdoor fitness equipment
large areas of parkland for people to picnic and relax
new amenities such as toilets, park furniture, space for food kiosks and lighting
a reimagined golf offering designed in consultation with Sydney’s golf community.

The final design responds to feedback received during extensive community consultation and site analysis, including:

increasing the golf offering from 9 holes to a 45 par 12-hole golf course, without reducing the area for the new park
improving connectivity and recreation by delivering more entry points and pathways which link to the park’s perimeter loop
minimising tree loss by relocating the sports field
relocating the nature playground to a more centralised area of the park.

Golf which caters to all ages and abilities will remain an important part of Moore Park South.

The reconfigured 12-hole golf course will be delivered as part of the new golf offer at Moore Park South. This change reflects valuable feedback from golfers and the broader community on the draft Establishment Plan, with the length of the reconfigured course increased from 9 to 12 holes.

Working closely with a respected golf architect and stakeholders, the new 45-par course has been designed to be challenging and utilise existing fairways, while retaining a finish at the Golf House.

The course will also be supported by:

an expanded driving range with up to 90 bays
an 18‑hole mini‑golf course
putting and chipping greens.

Works to establish the new park will commence from July 2026, with access for the community available immediately. For the most substantial upgrades and additions to the park, construction is expected to be completed by 2028.

Throughout the transition the public will be kept updated on changes to parkland access and the phased opening of parkland recreation facilities.

Importantly, a minimum of nine holes will be available to play until the 12-hole course is opened in 2027.

Public consultation on the draft Establishment Plan was completed between 28 October and 24 November 2025.

The final plan was also informed by the results of soil testing which found common contaminants deep underground which will not impact Moore Park South’s future use as a parkland. The findings are to the results of testing at the now popular Sydney Park in Alexandria.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW, supporting families, young people and downsizers with the great public spaces and community facilities to exercise, gather and relax.

To see the final plan or read the ‘What we heard’ report visit centennialparklands.com.au/mooreparksouth

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This plan delivers quality open space which will act as a backyard for thousands of people in one of Australia’s most densely populated communities.

“We’re re-imagining Moore Park South and delivering a new 20-hectare park with everything from a new community sporting field, walking, running and cycling paths and trails and relaxation and picnic areas.

“Alongside the great new open spaces we’ve worked with Golf NSW and a golf architect to increase the golf offering from 9 holes to a 12-hole golf course.

“Moore Park South will have something from everyone whether people want to play sport, enjoy time outdoors, walk the dog or play a round of golf.”

Greater Sydney Parklands Chief Executive Joshua French said:

“Community and stakeholder feedback has been central to decision-making; ensuring the new public park and golf offer provides for a range of activities and users.”

“Over the next three years, we’ll be focused on delivering a park that is welcoming, accessible and well-managed, with facilities that respond community needs, now and into the future.”

CEO Golf NSW Stuart Fraser said:

“Golf NSW acknowledges it has been consulted by the NSW Government in determining the future of Moore Park Golf Club and more specifically the course layout.

“The preference has always been to retain 18 holes however this was physically not possible.

“Internationally recognised Golf Course Architect, Harley Kruse, has however configured a 12-hole layout that would be practical and still offer a challenge for golfers of all abilities.”

More journeys, more often: Minns Government unveils revitalised regional coach network

The Minns Labor Government is delivering a major uplift in NSW TrainLink coach services, with new and improved routes and modern coaches designed to better serve rural and regional communities.

A 36 percent funding increase across the NSW TrainLink coach network will lift total funding to $290 million over the next nine years, delivering smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers across the state.

From 1 July, 14 coach operators will run 49 routes across the NSW TrainLink coach network, delivering 638 long-distance services each week, up from the current 592 services across 45 routes.

This increases the total coverage of the NSW TrainLink coach network by almost 200,000 kilometres, bringing it to more than 7.15 million kilometres.

The funding will improve existing routes and the introduction of new services, with safety, comfort and accessibility at the centre of the upgraded coach network. On some routes, the uplift will save passengers over two hours in travel time.

Additionally, the majority of services will be operated by modern coaches featuring wheelchair accessibility, improved seating and seatbelts, mobile phone charging points, onboard defibrillators and toilets.

The new services have been informed by extensive community feedback including from regular customers and operators, as well as input from the NSW Bus Taskforce, delivering on the outcomes of an in-depth network review. This includes ensuring better connections between coach services and other modes of transport.

The new routes will service over 360 destinations across NSW and into Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the ACT.

Key improvements include:

A new Armidale–Port Macquarie return route creating an Armidale–North Coast connection for the first time, with a train connection at Wauchope to Coffs Harbour, Grafton, the Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast and Brisbane
An enhanced Port Macquarie – Wauchope service enabling travel to Grafton, Coffs Harbour, the Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast and Brisbane (for the first time). Enhanced service between Port Macquarie and Wauchope, providing both northbound and southbound connections. This enables journeys from North Coast and Queensland centres such as Grafton, Coffs Harbour, the northern rivers, Gold Coast and Brisbane to and from Port Macquarie for the first time.
A new Yass–Young coach route connecting with rail at Yass (saving up to two hours on a Young–Sydney trip), plus a two-hour journey time saving for Griffith and Temora passengers travelling to and from Sydney and Canberra. Services will include Yass Junction to Young on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Young to Yass Junction on Thursdays and Sundays. These will connect with rail services to provide a faster, more direct service between Young and Sydney.
The Goulburn-Canberra-Goulburn day return service will run seven days a week, providing a weekend service for the first time.
A new Dubbo Airport stop for routes to and from Nyngan, Bourke and Broken Hill.
The popular route between Tamworth and Dubbo and return will increase to three times per week.

For more information, click here.

Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering better connections for regional communities.

“The former Liberal National Government gutted transport across the regions. This additional funding is essential in restoring our regional public transport links and ensuring our regional communities are able to access the services they need and deserve.

“When we came to government, we committed to improve public transport for people in rural, regional and remote areas. This initiative, based on direct feedback from local communities is filling in the gaps in our regional coach network.

“We know that our NSW TrainLink coach services are crucial, connecting our rural and regional communities to health, education, family and friends.

“These changes deliver savings of up to two-and-a-half hours, we’re making it easier for regional communities to choose public transport and leave the car behind.

“With around 500,000 passenger journeys every year, It’s important that we take our passengers where they need to go, when they need to get there.”

Chief Executive of NSW TrainLink, Roger Weeks said:

“After listening to passengers, local operators and the NSW Bus Taskforce, we’ve reshaped the network to make services more reliable, better connected and easier to use, matching service provision to community need.

“Alongside the network review, we’ve overhauled our coach contracts, making wheelchair accessible coaches standard with better passenger amenities like improved air conditioning and toilets standard.”

Two new services transforming mental healthcare in Kempsey

This Minns Labor Government is transforming mental health care in Kempsey, with two new initiatives improving access to critical mental health support.

A free, walk-in mental health service has today opened its doors on Wide Street, offering accessible, stigma-free and culturally responsive suicide prevention support to the local community.

Kempsey has also been chosen for an innovative pilot program, with Mental Health Hospital in the Home launched in February this year.

Together, these initiatives are redesigning mental health services in Kempsey to better meet the needs of the local community and remove common barriers that prevent people from accessing support, like stigma and hospital-related trauma.

Safe Haven

The newly-renovated, Aboriginal-led Safe Haven is a free, non-clinical space where people can walk in without an appointment or referral to receive immediate mental health support.

Safe Havens offer an alternative to accessing mental health services through a hospital emergency department.

The Kempsey Safe Haven will be staffed by Aboriginal peer workers who bring cultural knowledge, lived experience and strong community connections to their support while also working alongside the existing Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service.

Located on Wide Street in Kempsey, the service is now open Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm and is available to everyone in the community.

Mental Health Hospital in the Home (HiTH)

Mental Health Hospital in the Home is an acute mental health service that provides hospital level care to voluntary patients in the comfort of their own home or community.

This type of care is proven to prevent the impacts of prolonged inpatient stays like physical and cognitive decline and is designed to give patients more options and improved continuity of support.

As part of the pilot, capacity has increased at Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit where people requiring hospital admission can continue to receive high-quality care.

Two reviews will assess the effectiveness of the HiTH pilot at the 6-month and 12-month marks.

The transformation in Kempsey is another step in the Minns Labor Government’s plan to modernise and improve access to mental healthcare in New South Wales, including:

Building a network of Medicare Mental Health Centres, where anyone can access free, walk-in mental health support.
Investing in more than $64 million in community mental health programs, to help people with mental health challenges live independently in the community.
Embedding suicide prevention into government decision making, with our world-leading Suicide Prevention Act 2025.

The Mental Health Line is available 24/7 on 1800 011 511 to connect people with mental health services. For crisis support, call 13YARN (139 276) or Lifeline 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“People should be able to get the right care at the right time, in the least restrictive setting possible. That is exactly what we are delivering in Kempsey with the Mental Health Hospital in the Home pilot and the new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven.

“By investing in free, walk-in community-based services we are redesigning mental health services to improve outcomes and to better meet the needs of the local community.

“We’re still in the early days of the HiTH pilot but I’m excited to see how that model can improve outcomes for the patients in the Kempsey community who may not be suited to traditional inpatient care.

“The new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven is another powerful example of what better mental health care looks like — culturally-led, inclusive, and designed by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people. It reflects a commitment to services grounded in culture, community and lived knowledge, where people feel safe, respected and understood.

“That matters, because when someone is in distress, getting help early and locally can make all the difference.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin:

“Kempsey has been chosen as a key site for these transformative programs because we recognize the vital need for enhanced mental health support in our regional centers. This pilot is a major win for the North Coast, putting our community at the forefront of modern, compassionate healthcare.”

“For the people of Kempsey and the Macleay Valley, these services are a gamechanger. They remove the traditional barriers to care—like the stress of a hospital emergency department—and provide support that is local, accessible, and culturally safe.

“By delivering hospital-level care at home and opening an Aboriginal-led Safe Haven, we are ensuring that the people of the North Coast have more options to receive the right help, in the right place, at the right time.”

Kempsey Shire Mayor Kinne Ring:

“Our community deserves services that are welcoming and easy to access, and I’m pleased to see this new approach shifting toward more community-based support and greater choice in how our residents can access care.

“The Safe Haven is a genuinely important addition. A free, walk in space where anyone can access support without an appointment or referral. Being local, accessible and culturally safe will make a real difference in helping people feel comfortable seeking help when they need it.

“The Hospital in the Home program also represents a meaningful shift in how care is delivered, bringing hospital level support directly to patients in their homes or community. Kempsey is a close-knit and supportive community, and this model opens up new opportunities to deliver mental health services in a way that genuinely improves access for local residents.”

Mid North Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Jill Wong:

“The launch of the new Mental Health Hospital in the Home model of care is a significant milestone for our region, allowing people to receive intensive, high-quality mental health care safely at home and in their community, close to family, culture and supports.

“Most people seeking mental health support don’t need to be admitted to hospital and in Kempsey we now have a full suite of supports from the walk-in options at our Safe Havens to Mental Health Hospital in the Home and stronger community mental health services. This ensures people receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

“The Safe Haven is more than a building, it’s a welcoming front door to compassion and hope, a place for community to connect and to feel safe, enabling clinical teams, working alongside Mental Health Hospital in the Home, to connect people to the support they need, when they need it most.”

Mid North Coast Local Health District Acting Aboriginal District Coordinator Tianna Bailey:

“The Aboriginal led Safe Haven will be vital to support the healing and wellbeing of the Aboriginal community members in Kempsey and across the Macleay Valley, as part of the broader network of community-based care that includes community mental health teams and Mental Health Hospital in the Home support.

“Operating alongside the Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service and complementary models such as Mental Health Hospital in the Home, the Safe Haven will ensure mob have access to culturally safe suicide prevention and wellbeing support.

“This is a significant step forward for Aboriginal led services and programs and reflects the Mid North Coast Local Health District’s strong commitment to listening to Aboriginal voices and delivering culturally appropriate, responsive and community driven models of care.

“The inclusion of Aboriginal stakeholder and community governance groups is central to this model, ensuring the cultural integrity of both the Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service and the Aboriginal led Safe Haven, while strengthening connections with broader mental health services and ensuring continuous improvement is aligned to community priorities.”

Minns Labor Government must urgently pass amended good character evidence bill

Last night, the Opposition and the Legislative Council crossbench voted to support amendments to the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Good Character at Sentencing) Bill 2026 which would prevent good character evidence from being used at sentencing for any and all sexual offences, and to give courts discretion to ignore good character evidence at sentencing for all other offences.

These important amendments were introduced to Labor’s bill by both the Opposition and The Greens to address the serious concerns raised by key victim-survivor support groups through the parliamentary inquiry which the Minns Labor Government tried to block.

Not a single member of the Legislative Council crossbench voted with the Government against the sensible amendments to the Bill.

Shadow Attorney General, Damien Tudehope, welcomed the widespread support for the amendments in the Parliament and called on the Minns Labor Government to pass the bill immediately in the Legislative Assembly next week to protect victim-survivors of sexual offences.

“The Attorney General Michael Daley should speak with the Premier today to make passing this bill in the lower house an immediate priority for when Parliament resumes next Tuesday,” Mr Tudehope said.

“Any attempt to delay it by playing parliamentary games now only risks more victim-survivors of sexual offences having their perpetrators benefit from good character evidence.”

“Disgracefully, Labor wanted to ignore the serious concerns raised by key stakeholders, like Domestic Violence NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service and Public Defenders, about removing good character evidence altogether.

“We chose to listen to those concerns and strike a balanced approach that excluded good character evidence for sexual offences and gave the courts the ability to ignore good character as it sees fit.”

“A key example of why Labor’s blanket approach was wrong, is the example called out by Domestic Violence NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW and Public Defenders where a female victim of domestic violence who, after years of abuse, may commit an out of character domestic violence or other violent offence where that kind of offender should not be deprived of the opportunity to have someone speak to their otherwise good character.”

“The Government did not attempt to speak with the Opposition before bringing the reform in and has not engaged in good faith negotiations through the entire process.”

“Now is the time for them to act and pass the laws that the Upper House has passed and not delay it any further.”

The Australian Lawyers Alliance’s spokesperson, Greg Barns SC, has welcomed the sensible amendments secured by the Opposition and Legislative Council Crossbench.

“Every person and every criminal case is unique,” said Mr Barns SC.

“Enforcing blanket rules that apply across the board denies procedural fairness to individuals and removes the discretion of the courts.”

“The removal of the use of character references for every crime limits the ability of the court to make informed sentencing decisions.”

The Bill now returns to the Legislative Assembly which is due to meet again on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

Woman ISIS bride charged by NSW JCTT for allegedly entering Syria when occupied by ISIS

An Australian woman has been charged by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) for allegedly entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone and joining ISIS.

The woman, 32, is expected to face Downing Centre Local Court tomorrow (8 May, 2026), after being arrested on arrival into Sydney International Airport today (7 May, 2026) by the NSW JCTT.

The woman was charged with entering, or remaining in, declared areas, contrary to section 119.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth), and being a member of a terrorist organisation, contrary to section 102.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). Both offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

It will be alleged the woman travelled to Syria in 2015 to join her husband, who had previously left Australia and joined ISIS.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt said operational planning for the potential return of individuals from the Middle East started in 2015 and later formalised under an overarching operation named Kurrajong.

“Australian JCTTs methodically investigated all Australians who travelled to declared conflict areas and will ensure those who are alleged to have committed a criminal offence are put before the courts,” Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.

“JCTTs include some of the most experienced national security investigators and analysts in our country.

“This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations.”

The NSW JCTT comprises the AFP, NSW Police Force, ASIO and the NSW Crime Commission.

The priority for law enforcement is to ensure the safety of the community, and suspicious activity can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police also recognise this information may be distressing for some people in the community, and support is available. Anyone feeling overwhelmed is encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Two women ISIS brides charged by Victoria JCTT for alleged crimes against humanity

Two Australian women from Victoria have been charged by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) with crimes against humanity offences allegedly committed in Syria.

The women, aged 53 and 31, are expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court today (8 May, 2026), after being arrested on arrival into Melbourne International Airport yesterday (7 May, 2026) by the Victoria JCTT.

The 53-year-old woman was charged with:

Crimes Against Humanity – Enslavement, contrary to section 268.10 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth),
Crimes Against Humanity – Possess a Slave, contrary to section 270.3(1)(a) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth),
Crimes Against Humanity – Use a slave, contrary to section 270.3(1)(a) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), and
Crimes Against Humanity – Engage in slave trading – Purchase, contrary to section 270.3(1)(b) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
These offences each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.

It will be alleged the woman travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children, and was complicit in the purchase of a female slave for US$10,000, and knowingly kept the woman in the home.

The 31-year-old woman was charged with:

Crimes Against Humanity – Enslavement, contrary to section 268.10 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), and

Crimes Against Humanity – Use a slave, contrary to section 270.3(1)(a) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

Both offences carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.

It will be alleged the woman travelled to Syria in 2014 with her family and knowingly kept a female slave in the home.

The women were detained by Kurdish forces in March 2019 and held with other family members in Al Roj Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

“JCTTs include some of the most experienced national security investigators and analysts in our country.

“This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations.”

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said the safety of all Victorians remains paramount.

“Victoria Police will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and other agencies to ensure there is no risk to our local community,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.

“We want to reassure all Victorians that anyone residing in our state who has committed serious criminal offences, including those returning from conflict areas, will be held to account.”

The Victoria JCTT comprises the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO.

The priority for law enforcement is to ensure the safety of the community, and suspicious activity can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police also recognise this information may be distressing for some people in the community, and support is available. Anyone feeling overwhelmed is encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Australia’s first climate change case to reach the High Court — and the world is watching

On 13 May 2026, the High Court of Australia will hear the nation’s first ever climate change case to reach our highest court— a landmark moment that will set a binding national precedent on whether Australian planning authorities are legally required to consider the local climate impacts of fossil fuel project approvals.

The case, MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd v Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group Inc (DAMS HEG), was brought by a grassroots Hunter Valley community group challenging the approval of a major expansion of the Mount Pleasant open-cut coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Court of Appeal ruled unanimously in July 2025 that the mine’s approval was unlawful — finding that planning authorities are legally required to consider the specific local climate impacts of a project’s downstream emissions. MACH Energy is asking the High Court to overturn that ruling.

The case arrived at an extraordinary moment. Just 12 hours before the NSW Court of Appeal’s ruling, the International Court of Justice in The Hague delivered its own landmark advisory opinion, finding that fossil fuel-exporting nations bear legal responsibility under international law for the climate harm their exports cause. Australia had argued to the ICJ that it bore no such responsibility for emissions from its coal and gas exports. The ICJ rejected that argument.

Four of the world’s leading climate law and science institutions have been granted leave to intervene in the High Court in support of DAMS HEG — from the Universities of Cambridge, Columbia and Melbourne, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. The case is being watched internationally as a test of whether domestic law can hold fossil fuel producers accountable for the local consequences of dangerous climate change.
The case directly affects 18-plus coal proposals in the NSW planning pipeline, and other fossil fuel developments under consideration across Australia. It will provide a foundation for other major climate cases including the Pabai Torres Strait appeal, the North West Shelf challenge, and future climate litigation across Australia and internationally.

Wendy Wales , President, DAMS HEG
Wendy Wales is a retired science teacher and the president of the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group — the community group that brought this case. She and her partner Tony Lonergan run a farm in the Upper Hunter Valley, surrounded by open-cut coal mines. She has driven this case through three court levels over four years.
“Our communities are enduring increasingly terrifying climate disasters, and nature is deteriorating before our very eyes. Yet our governments are continuing to throw fuel on the fire by approving massive new projects and expansions like MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project. We have felt the catastrophic impacts of droughts, bushfires, floods and a myriad of other tragic events. The short term economic benefits can not be given priority over the exponentially increasing long term consequences”.

Tony Lonergan , Treasurer, DAMS HEG
Tony Lonergan is a retired science teacher and farmer whose family has worked land in the Upper Hunter Valley for generations. His property sits adjacent to the Mount Pleasant mine, and he has joined his wife Wendy Wales and DAMS HEG through this legal journey.
“What could be more important than protecting our unique natural heritage and biodiversity, or ensuring we can live safely in Muswellbrook and the Upper Hunter for generations to come? The continuation of coal mining in NSW prioritises the private interests of a few over a safe climate and the future of our children and grandchildren. Our planning laws are clearly not climate ready if projects as harmful as the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project are allowed to proceed. Addressing global heating means cutting our greenhouse gas emissions, and fast. Political parties have to face reality. Do you want to address this existential problem or not? Stop pretending.”

Elaine Johnson , Director, Johnson Legal (can not do interviews before hearing)
Elaine Johnson is the founder and director of Johnson Legal, the firm representing DAMS HEG in the High Court proceedings. She has supported her clients through the Court of Appeal proceedings, and now the High Court.
“Continued fossil fuel production is driving climate harms here at home, and Australia is still one of the largest exporters of coal in the world. We look forward to supporting our clients in their defence of the NSW Court of Appeal’s decision overturning the Mount Pleasant Coal Mine expansion.
“The NSW Court of Appeal’s decision was truly groundbreaking, and is already changing how proposals for new and expanded fossil fuel projects are assessed in NSW. The High Court will now determine whether that decision holds at law on appeal.”

Professor Nicole Rogers, Professor of Climate Law, Bond University
Professor Rogers has particular expertise in climate litigation, climate activism and the law, and interdisciplinary climate studies. She is author of two monographs on the legal ramifications of the climate crisis and a co-author of the 2026 Edward Elgar publication Re-imagining Environmental Law . She has published widely on the transformative potential of climate litigation in reshaping legal and policy frameworks.
“Australia’s apex court hearing its first climate change case is a watershed moment in the history of Australian law. Courts around the world — from The Hague to London to Canberra — are being asked the same fundamental questions: can legal systems keep pace with the climate crisis and to what extent are decision makers who continue to approve fossil fuel projects accountable for climate impacts? The Mount Pleasant case is Australia’s latest contribution to that global conversation, and the High Court’s answer will be studied by others well beyond the Upper Hunter Valley.”
“In light of the recent findings of the International Court of Justice, this case and others highlight the growing legal and economic risks for anyone seeking to continue approving fossil fuel projects without considering the real-world climate consequences. Australia is positioning itself as a prime target for future climate litigation if its federal and state governments fail to heed these risks.”

Emeritus Professor Mark Howden AC, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions; Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Emeritus Professor Howden has worked on climate variability, climate change and climate impacts for over 36 years. He is a Vice Chair of Working Group II of the IPCC — the group responsible for assessing climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerability — and helped develop both the national and international greenhouse gas inventories that underpin the Paris Agreement. His core expertise covers climate science, climate impacts on agriculture and food security, ecosystems, water and energy systems.
“The science on this is unambiguous. Every tonne of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere contributes to global warming — and that warming is already measurably increasing the frequency and severity of extreme heat, drought, flood and fire events across south-eastern Australia and globally. This is not a projection about the future. It is a description of what is happening now, documented across decades of observation and confirmed by arguably the most comprehensive global scientific assessment process in history.”
“Drawing quantitative linkages between individual greenhouse gas emitters and particularised harms is now feasible, making science no longer an obstacle to the justiciability of climate liability claims. The science linking human activity to observed and future climate changes is clear and unequivocal. The question before the High Court is whether Australian law is prepared to recognise it.”

BACKGROUND
· The Mount Pleasant open-cut coal mine sits 3km upwind and northwest of Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW. It is owned by MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Salim Group. MACH Energy sought to double the mine’s output to 21 million tonnes per year and extend its life to 2048 — generating an additional 870 million tonnes of CO₂, 98% of it as Scope 3 emissions from coal burned overseas.
· The NSW Court of Appeal ruled unanimously on 24 July 2025 that the Independent Planning Commission had failed a mandatory obligation under s.4.15(1)(b) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to consider the specific local climate impacts of the mine’s emissions. MACH Energy was granted special leave to appeal on 4 December 2025.
· The ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change obligations of states was handed down on 23 July 2025 — the day before the NSW Court of Appeal ruling — finding that fossil fuel production, export licensing and subsidies can constitute internationally wrongful acts.
· Five institutions have been granted leave to intervene in the High Court in support of DAMS HEG: Melbourne Law School Climate Futures (Prof. Jacquie Peel), Oxford Faculty of Law (Harj Narulla), Cambridge Centre for Climate Engagement, Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law (Columbia University), and the Union of Concerned Scientists (Dr Christopher Callahan).
· DAMS HEG is represented by Johnson Legal. Lead barrister at the High Court hearing is Naomi Sharp SC. The hearing is scheduled for 13 May 2026 in Canberra.

NSW Government animal welfare reforms fall short of promised changes

The Australian Alliance for Animals has welcomed the introduction of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026 into the NSW Parliament, while expressing disappointment that the reforms fall well short of the NSW Government’s commitment to modernise the state’s outdated animal welfare laws.

The proposed amendments introduce a number of sensible enforcement and operational improvements to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, including refinements to existing offences and compliance powers. However, the legislation does not replace the nearly 50-year-old Act with a new contemporary animal welfare framework, as promised by NSW Labor prior to the 2023 election.

Alliance Policy Director Dr Jed Goodfellow said the reforms represented a missed opportunity for more meaningful change.

While we support measures that strengthen enforcement and improve the operation of the existing Act, these amendments do not deliver the comprehensive modernisation that was promised to the NSW community,” Dr Goodfellow said.

NSW still has the oldest animal welfare legislation in Australia. The community expects animal welfare laws that reflect contemporary science, modern community values, and current understanding of animal sentience and welfare.”

The Alliance noted that animal welfare reform has been the subject of extensive consultation processes over many years, with strong engagement from community members, animal welfare organisations, industry stakeholders and experts.

Over 7,000 submissions were made to previous consultations processes aimed at delivering a new Animal Welfare Act for NSW, yet it now appears this work has simply been shelved,” Dr Goodfellow said.

There is overwhelming public support for stronger animal welfare protections in NSW. People want laws that move beyond simply prohibiting cruelty and instead establish clear, modern standards for the care and treatment of animals.”

The Alliance said key reforms still absent from NSW law include recognition of animal sentience and a modern duty of care framework placing proactive obligations on people responsible for animals.

We remain hopeful that the NSW Government will continue the reform process and build on these amendments to deliver the modern animal welfare framework it committed to introducing,” Dr Goodfellow said.