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Australia and Fiji ratify Pacific Resilience Facility Treaty

Australia and Fiji are pleased to announce the formal ratification of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) Treaty, a landmark agreement that places Pacific communities in control of their own resilience financing.

This is an important step toward ensuring Pacific Island Countries have greater resources and control in addressing the growing impacts of climate change.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, today lodged ratification documents for the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (Treaty) at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva in the presence of Secretary General Baron Waqa.

The PRF is the first Pacific-led, owned and managed community resilience financing facility. It will provide grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and projects that respond to loss and damage. It will seize the economic opportunities of clean energy through resilient, community led projects.

The Pre-COP, to be hosted by Fiji and Tuvalu in October, will bring leaders to the Pacific to see climate impacts and solutions first-hand, with a special session at COP31 to provide a platform for pledges to the PRF.

Donors are encouraged to use this opportunity to announce new pledges to maintain momentum towards the ‘USD1.5 billion for a 1.5-degree world’ fundraising goal.

Tonga, Nauru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Niue have already ratified the Treaty. This is a clear reflection of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ shared resolve to create a Pacific-led institution that puts communities at the centre of resilience financing.

This step paves the way for the initial call for proposals, set for launch at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in late August 2026.

Lock, stock and barrel: ACT Greens secure win on comprehensive fuel relief plan

The ACT Legislative Assembly have backed the Greens’ practical plan to make clean transport cheaper and more accessible to Canberrans.

The Greens secured an ACT Government commitment to expand the Sustainable Household Scheme to include cargo bikes – bikes with increased storage space, helping more people access a low-cost alternative to driving.

A commitment from the Government was also secured to do more to actively encourage and support people to choose e-bikes and e-scooters as their transport of choice more often.

Canberrans can expect to see pop-up cycle lanes trialled across some of the Territory’s busiest transport corridors, creating safer, more accessible routes for cyclists.

Loan caps for electric vehicles under the Sustainable Household Scheme are slated to be increased, alongside an expansion of EV charging infrastructure across the ACT.

Andrew Braddock, Spokesperson for Transport:

“This is a win for Canberrans who are feeling the pinch at the pump, giving people real, practical and affordable alternatives to gas-guzzling cars.

“The fuel crisis is far from over, and it’s the ACT Government’s responsibility to step up with tangible options that take pressure off household budgets

“Based on Federal Government analysis, the worst impacts of the fuel crisis are still to come, and Governments at all levels have a responsibility to step up with tangible options that take pressure off household budgets while reducing our dependency on polluting fossil fuels.

“Cargo bikes are a smart alternative to cars – fast, efficient and significantly cheaper to run. Expanding the Sustainable Household Scheme will put them within reach for many more Canberrans.

“Pop-up cycle lanes make riding a genuine option for more people, creating safer, dedicated space so cyclists of all ages and abilities can get from A to B with confidence.

“Today’s result shows that we don’t have to accept the status quo. Canberrans expect their government to back them in during tough times and make it easier to choose cheaper, cleaner ways to get around.

Minns Labor Government refuses to rule out fracking for gas in Great Artesian Basin

NSW Minister for Resources Courtney Houssos has refused to rule out the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Western NSW, including in the largest freshwater supply in Australia, the Great Artesian Basin. This comes after the Government reduced the application fee for petroleum (including gas) exploration licences by 98% on the same day as they announced their plan to open mining for gas in NSW.

In 2021, the Coalition Government released an assessment reportthat identified the Western NSW, areas that Labor have put on sale last week, are inaccessible to traditional drilling methods and would require hydraulic fracturing.

Greens MP Sue Higginson has given notice of a motion in Parliament to stop the Government from reducing the exploration application fee from $50,000 to $1,000.

Greens MP, Solicitor and spokesperson for Justice Sue Higginson said,

“Everyone in NSW should be concerned that the Minns Labor Government is ready to let our freshwater be poisoned and drained through fracking by gas corporations,”

“Fracking is one of the most damaging and polluting gas mining processes that has ever been employed, and every politician in NSW should be able to say clearly that they do not support fracking in our State,”

“Premier Minns’ decision to chase a media headline by reducing gas exploration fees by 98% is already offensive to the people of NSW who are having our resources stripped away with barely any profit, but this refusal to rule out fracking is an existential threat to our future,”

“The Coalition Government walked away from this dangerous proposition of new gas fields in NSW, they even spent $25 million to buy back a gas licence from Metgasco in the Northern Rivers. People showed how harmful gas mining and fracking is, so it’s hard to see how this Labor Government thinks there is a social licence to start this fight again,”

“I have a motion in Parliament to restore the exploration fees to $50,000, so overseas gas giants are not getting a free ride, but the real fight against fracking in NSW starts again right here,”

“The Government has confirmed that there are already gas companies rubbing their hands together over the prospect of new gas in NSW, and they have no interest in what is best for us,”

“This is a decision that impacts everyone. Our food security, our fresh water, the environment that we rely on, and public health and safety. Chris Minns has stepped too far and he should pull back now,” Ms Higginson said.

“Instead of making dodgy deals with Lotto, tax the gambling corporations” Greens say

The Greens have called out Jacinta Allan’s Labor government for doing dodgy deals with gambling corporation, The Lottery Corporation, in the name of getting votes at the next election.

It comes after the state budget on Tuesday where it was revealed that The Lottery Corporation secured a 40 year license to continue to operate in Victoria. The Lottery Corporation has donated $132,000 to the Australian Labor party since 2022.

In March Labor voted with the Liberals to block the Greens’ amendments to ban donations from gambling corporations.

The Greens say everyday people should be shocked about the lengths Jacinta Allan’s Labor government is willing to go to win votes at the November election and is exactly the reason we need to get corporate donations out of politics.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell.

“If this Labor Government had any integrity and guts they would properly tax the gambling corporations to pay for the things we need, not do dodgy deals with them.”

“Jacinta Allan’s budget was good for Labor’s corporate donors, not for everyday people. Labor just locked Victorians into a half a lifetime deal with a gambling corporation so they can receive kickbacks from their gambling company donors.”

“The Greens are the only party who have the guts to fundamentally change the system, get corporate power out of politics and make billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share, to put that money back into the public good, so that everyone can afford a home and the things we need to live a decent life.”

Major push to control feral deer in western NSW underway

In a major assault on feral deer in western NSW, the Minns Labor Government is targeting large swathes of private land and national park to proactively prevent the spread of the destructive pest.

In a joint effort, Local Land Services and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will undertake aerial culling across some 726,000 hectares of mostly flat, open terrain in Western NSW.

Western Local Land Services is currently delivering a targeted aerial shoot across private land in the Hillston-Euabalong area until 19 May, through the NSW Government’s Good Neighbours Program.

This will be followed by a series of shoots delivered by the NPWS throughout May and June in the neighbouring Hunthawang, Nombinnie, Round Hill and Yathong national parks.

Western Local Land Services is working with about 60 private landholders to coordinate control efforts through the Good Neighbours Program, which aims to increase collaboration between public and private land managers to more effectively manage pests and weeds across the state.

Feral deer compete with livestock for pastures, trample vegetation, degrade water quality and pose a public safety risk on roads.

They are listed as a priority pest in the Western Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan, with fallow deer being the most widespread species.

All land managers in NSW have a general biosecurity duty to manage pest animals on their properties, including feral deer.

Local Land Services provides advice and support to land managers to manage feral deer and helps facilitate landscape-scale coordinated control programs, such as the western NSW program.

Landholders are encouraged to participate in coordinated control programs and report feral deer activity to their local biosecurity officer or via FeralScan.

Visit the Local Land Services website for more information about the Good Neighbours Program.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

“Deer are a feral pest that are destroying public and private land across NSW.

“These operations are about preserving our natural environment, improving safety for regional communities and protecting agricultural productivity.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The Minns Government is taking decisive, coordinated action to get on the front foot and stop feral deer from spreading further across western NSW.

“While there are fewer species of feral deer established in western NSW compared to other regions, that doesn’t mean we can become complacent. In fact, it presents an ideal opportunity to work together to keep on top of feral deer populations and prevent the spread.

“That’s why we’re taking proactive steps now to bring together public and private land managers to bridge borders and set them up for success.”

Information for media

NPWS West Branch has conducted more than 480 hours of aerial shooting so far this financial year.

This has removed just over 27,000 feral animals, including 22,000 goats and 4,000 pigs.

NPWS also uses ground baiting, mustering, ground shooting and trapping to remove feral animals.

Construction commences on the Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment

Main works construction for the $50 million Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment is officially underway marking a major milestone in delivering new and enhanced health services for Glen Innes and surrounding communities.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring communities across NSW have greater access to healthcare services closer to home.

The Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment will deliver a new acute services building on the existing hospital campus, housing an expanded emergency department, medical imaging, ambulance drop-off and bays, back of house, mortuary and new main entry.

Health staff from Glen Innes Hospital, along with stakeholders and members of the community joined project team members for a traditional sod turn to celebrate the start of main works construction.

To support construction, a temporary internal access road is being built on the eastern side of the hospital campus. The next phase of works will include the creation of the new ambulance access.

The Glen Innes Hospital will continue to operate as normal during construction, providing care for the Glen Innes and surrounding communities, and will remain as a District Hospital, networked to Armidale and Tamworth hospitals for access to specialist health services.

Access to the hospital via Taylor Street remains unchanged and will continue to be available during construction. The driveway from Ferguson Street/Gwydir Highway is reserved for Ambulance and mortuary access, construction activities and access for the Museum volunteers.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2028.

Consultation with staff, community and stakeholders will continue to ensure the new hospital building is a welcoming environment that reflects the heritage and culture of the region.

The project is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with Hunter New England Local Health District and main works contractor, TCQ Construction.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $12.4 billion to deliver 32 new or upgraded hospitals, including $3.5 billion over four years for hospitals across regional NSW.

A community forum was held in April 2026 to provide local businesses with information on opportunities to support and participate construction for the redevelopment. For more information email sariah@tcqconstruction.com.au or visit: https://gateway.icn.org.au/projects/17890

Further information on the redevelopment is available by visiting the project website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/glen-innes-hospital-redevelopment

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“Ensuring rural and regional communities have access to the best healthcare is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government, and this $50 million investment in the Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment will deliver modern health facilities to support our hardworking health staff and the local community.

“In the coming months, the community will see construction ramp up as the acute services building starts to take shape.

“Importantly, all hospital services will continue to operate as normal during construction, so the community can be assured they will continue to receive the care they need when they need it.”

Labor Spokesperson for Northern Tablelands Peter Primrose:

“The redevelopment of the Glen Innes Hospital ensures that communities in and around the Glen Innes Severn region have access to modern facilities that are better equipped for hardworking health workers to provide necessary health care to patients.

“The commencement of the construction for the Hospital is a significant milestone as it delivers a high-quality health facility that has been purpose built for patients, visitors, and staff that will serve the surround region for year to come.

“It has been fantastic to see local trades and businesses being given the chance to play a key role in the Hospital’s redevelopment, supporting the local community, local economy, and workforce.”

Productivity & Equality Commission inquiry into stranded aged care patients

The Productivity & Equality Commission will undertake a review into older patients stranded in hospital, including assessing the costs and impacts of stranded patients.

This review comes after the latest Health Ministers Meeting, where the NSW Government successfully led a push for a national Hospital Discharge Joint Taskforce to address discharge delays in Australia’s public hospital system.

The Productivity & Equality Commission review will deliver recommendations on ways to reduce discharge delays; improve access to suitable care; and relieve pressure on hospitals. The commission will conclude its review within six months.

Stranded aged care patients increasing

The number of patients ready to be discharged but unable to leave a NSW public hospital because they are unable to obtain a Commonwealth aged care placement is surging, from 300 in December 2023 to 776 in 2025. The number of days stranded in a hospital bed by these patients has also escalated from 11,943 in December 2023 to 44,487 in 2025.

Productivity & Equality Commission review

NSW Health will assist the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission to understand what can be done inside and outside of hospitals for patients to receive the most appropriate care; improve access and supply of that care; and provide NSW Health staff to the review team to help develop robust, evidence-based recommendations.

Interstate taskforce

The national Hospital Discharge Joint Taskforce, co-led by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments, will commence alongside the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission review. It will help deliver policy and improve outcomes for patients exceeding their estimated date of discharge due to delayed access to aged care and NDIS placements.

While access to aged care placements is a Commonwealth responsibility, the NSW Government has had to step in to provide a range of measures to protect patients from being stranded including aged care outreach initiatives in which doctors visit aged care patients in their home or residences potentially sparing them a visit to the ED.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“The current situation is unfair for patients and unsustainable for the broader hospital system.

“It’s blocking the beds we badly need for more critical cases.

“We need to find a better way to help patients who are becoming stranded, while they wait to get the Commonwealth aged care support they need.

“While this is a national problem, we cannot simply wait for the Federal response.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Every day in New South Wales, there is the equivalent of an entire hospital taken offline because people cannot access Commonwealth aged care placements.

“Hospitals were not designed for indefinite stays and these people deserve better.

“Today, I am announcing that the Productivity and Equality Commissioner will undertake a review into this alarming and unsustainable trend which has tripled in just the past three years.

“While we continue to advocate to the Commonwealth, we can’t afford to wait for them.

“We already have a range of initiatives in place to try to protect patients from being stranded and if there’s more we can do, this review will uncover it.”

Critical renewable energy projects prioritised under new law

The Minns Labor Government will today introduce a new law to speed up the delivery of key renewable energy projects, to power large energy users as coal-fired power stations exit the system.

The proposed legislation will allow the NSW Energy Minister to identify the highest-priority renewable energy projects in the planning pipeline, and prioritise them for streamlining.

It will result in more streamlined approvals for generation, storage and network projects that will power homes, industry and economic growth.

The proposed law will not remove any environmental or community assessment requirements. Developers will still need to meet all relevant planning, environmental and consultation obligations.

Priority energy projects must demonstrate best practice in how they work with landholders and communities, particularly in regional NSW.

The NSW energy grid is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades, with the Minns Labor Government supporting new energy infrastructure to replace our retiring power stations, support the ongoing operation of heavy industry and power new economic growth across the state.

Renewable energy already provides about 36 per cent of NSW’s annual electricity supply. In a first for NSW, there were multiple periods in summer when renewable energy accounted for more than 80 per cent of the electricity supply mix, contributing to keeping lights and air conditioners running.

The proposed law is designed to build on this progress, by accelerating the infrastructure needed to generate, store and move clean energy across the state.

The Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026 will also support the effective and consistent implementation of the NSW Benefit-Sharing Guideline, ensuring councils and communities hosting projects receive associated benefits.

More than $180 million in benefits have been committed to communities since the guideline’s introduction in November 2024. This is in addition to the Renewable Energy Zone community and employment benefit funds coordinated by EnergyCo.

Further reforms are also in development to improve the way projects are referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination, to ensure NSW residents continue to have a strong voice while avoiding unnecessary delays to energy projects that are critical to NSW.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring reliable, affordable energy for our heavy industries like the Tomago aluminium smelter, and to power economic growth across the state.

“This new legislation will mean infrastructure projects that are critical for manufacturing jobs, economic growth and energy affordability don’t get stuck in the queue.

“No matter where you live in this state, you will benefit from us getting on with the job and delivering quality renewable projects as fast as we can.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“With a growing pipeline of energy projects ahead of us, we need a planning system that can support achieving our ambitious energy targets.

“Since 2023, we’ve already reduced assessment times for renewable energy projects by almost 20 per cent while delivering 50 per cent more approvals.

“These reforms build on that success by enshrining the community benefit scheme and streamlining prioritised projects in the planning system with the most potential to power our state’s future, making sure the right projects are delivered at the right time in the right places in line with our energy goals.

“These reforms will also make sure critical projects are not being delayed by objections from people thousands of kilometres away who will never be impacted by them – NSW locals should and will have the loudest voice.”

Government securing more fuel reserves – the Australian Fuel Security and Resilience package

The Albanese Labor Government has announced today that the Federal Budget next week will include an Australian Fuel Security and Resilience package to ensure energy sovereignty and protect our nation’s energy interests.

The package will provide more than $10 billion to secure Australia’s near-term fuel and fertiliser security, establish a permanent Government-owned Australian Fuel Security Reserve of around a billion litres, and lift the Minimum Stockholding Obligation by around 10 days for every type of fuel.

This will support an overall expansion of Australia’s onshore fuel reserves to ensure at least 50 days of fuel supply and storage of diesel and aviation fuel.

As part of our plan to deliver energy sovereignty, our Australian Fuel Security and Resilience package will deliver:

$7.5 billion for the establishment of a Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility to increase supply and storage of fuel and fertiliser by providing financial support including loans, equity, guarantees, insurance and price support.
$3.2 billion to establish a Government-owned Australian Fuel Security Reserve of around a billion litres to increase long term diesel and aviation fuel supply and storage in combination with an increase to the Minimum Stockholding Obligation (MSO), to increase Australia’s critical fuel reserves to 50 days. Our Australia Fuel Security Reserve will focus on regional stockouts and supply constraints for essential users in the event of another supply crisis.
$10 million to support feasibility studies into new or expanded fuel refining capabilities, to be co-funded with state and territory jurisdictions.

The Government will consult on implementation of the fuel reserve to enable the ability to underwrite or purchase fuel, support storage, and trade stocks as needed to ensure our fuel security during severe or prolonged fuel supply disruption.

An additional 10 days of fuel holdings through an uplift to the Minimum Stockholding Obligation for all fuels is also supported in the budget with $34.7 million over four years to support ongoing management of Australia’s fuel security, including Government engagement with industry to plan the uplift in fuel holdings.

It will be achieved by increasing current requirements on refiners and importers holding stocks of aviation fuel, petrol and diesel.

The changes will take place progressively over time, backed by support to invest in new and refurbished fuel storage to support the uplift in fuel stocks.

The Government will work with state governments to undertake feasibility studies into new or expanded refining capabilities, building on work with current refinery operators to retain our current refining capability in the decade beyond 2030.

More details of the Australian Fuel Security and Resilience package will be released next week as part of the Federal Budget.

Couple charged with fraud offences allegedly totalling more than $300,000 – Hunter Valley

A man and a woman have been charged with fraud offences in the state’s Hunter Valley.

In August 2025, detectives attached to Hunter Valley Police District’s Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced inquiries under Strike Force Overton, following reports of alleged fraudulent transactions, including the fraudulent sale of hay, made by employees of a local pastoral company, with the alleged value exceeding $300,000.

Following extensive inquiries by detectives, on Monday 4 May 2026, a 47-year-old man was arrested at Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with 21 offences – dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception (19 counts) and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime (two counts).

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

On Tuesday 5 May 2026, a 48-year-old woman was issued a Court Attendance Notice for five counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception.

She is expected to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tueday 16 June 2026.

Police will allege in Court that over an approximate three 3-year period, the couple had gained/caused a financial loss of more than $326,000 to the pastoral company through fraudulent hay sales, use of farm machinery on external unauthorised properties, scrap metal sales, diesel fuel theft, and mechanical and tyre repairs and maintenance on vehicles not belonging to the pastoral company.

Investigations under Strike Force Overton continue.