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The Minns Government is responding to three new events of H5 bird flu after samples were taken from greater crested terns at Port Kembla and Warriewood on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, as well as a Hutton’s shearwater at Corindi in Coffs Harbour.

This is the first confirmed detection in a shearwater bird in NSW.

There are no signs of any mass mortality in the area or anywhere else in NSW and surveillance is continuing so we can detect any further cases early.

As of 3 September 2026, there are 20 H5 bird events in NSW and 468 across Australia.

Given the spread of bird flu across Australia, NSW now reports detections under the nationally consistent event system, where a single investigation may involve one or more birds and considers factors such as location, timing, species and other findings.

A national surveillance plan is in operation to monitor for any further detections and facilitate rapid, coordinated response.

Bird flu has not been detected in commercial poultry flocks, captive birds or any other birds native to NSW and the risk to human health remains low.

The Government is continuing to receive many calls to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline and key stakeholders are being briefed regularly on the current situation.

The NSW Government has commenced a rollout of targeted vaccinations for vulnerable species of birds to help protect them against H5 avian influenza.

A combination of insurance populations in captivity, and wild populations of birds, are in the process of being vaccinated. This includes the Little Penguins in Manly and Barunguba Montague Island.

If you see sick or dead wild birds, domestic birds, marine mammals or other wildlife showing signs of H5 bird flu – Avoid contact, Record what you see, Report it via the online reporting form or Emergency Animal Disease Hotline –1800 675 888.

The NSW Government continues to work closely with Australian and State and Territory governments to roll out the plans developed with industry, agriculture and wildlife organisations.

The Chief Veterinary Officer has advised the poultry industry that there is at this stage only a voluntary housing recommendation for poultry birds.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“We are deeply concerned about the impact that H5 bird flu could have on our native wildlife.

“No government policy can stop this virus form spreading through our wild bird populations. What we can do to support our wildlife is vaccinate insurance populations, protect their habitat and eliminate invasive species.

“The public also has an important role to play by avoiding contact with sick or dead birds and reporting them to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline, helping us detect new cases and target our surveillance efforts.”

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“NSW so far has 20 H5 bird events, while the rest of Australia has more than 460, and there have been no mass mortality or poultry bird events.

“Our focus is on preparedness, surveillance and responding to events quickly.

“Now is the time for everyone who has backyard chickens or pet birds in aviaries to take precautionary steps to ensure there are no interactions between their chooks and pets with wild birds.

“The Government also recommends people be careful with their dogs when walking on beaches or parks and ensure they don’t eat carcasses or chase wild birds. There is low risk of exposure but it’s important to minimise any risk for your pets”.

Almost 40 years since the first Tangara trains rolled out of the factory in Newcastle, they are now re-entering timetable service after an extensive refurbishment, extending their lifespan by over a decade and boosting reliability on the network.  

This week the first of 55 refurbished Tangaras operated in passenger service on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line, between Hurstville and Waterfall via Sutherland from 10:55am.  

This marks a major milestone for the $447 million Tangara Life Extension program which is underway at Auburn and Flemington in Sydney, and Cardiff in the Hunter. Three more refurbished Tangaras will enter service before the end of Q1 2027, with production ramping up throughout 2027 via an additional production line at Cardiff.  

The refurbishment includes updating interiors and fittings, upgrading the onboard operating system, installing internal destination displays and CCTV, upgrading public address systems including digital voice announcements, installing new safety and accessibility features such as, flip up seating for priority wheelchair spaces, improved passenger emergency help points and the installation of internal emergency door release system.

The Tangara Life Extension program is extending the life of the fleet by more than ten years while the Minns Labor Government rebuilds local manufacturing capacity in order to deliver the next fleet with 50% local content.

Announced in July, the government has committed $12 billion over 15 years to deliver a state-owned train manufacturing facility in the Hunter and the next fleet of NSW passenger trains.  

The Hunter train manufacturing hub will employ up to 780 workers in construction and 550 ongoing jobs in the facility and supply chains. Two potential sites have been identified – a former coal mine at Teralba and the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot, with a government decision on site selection to be made later this year.  

The Tangara trains make up almost 30% of the Sydney Trains suburban passenger fleet and are in service predominantly on the T4. The improved security features including the installation of internal CCTV will make them less prone to vandalism and reduce the incidence of breakdowns and service interruptions.  

In the most recent Budget, the Minns Labor Government committed a record $2.1 billion to rail reliability, including increased network maintenance, improvements to the Rail Operations Centre and track, power and signalling works.  

On-time running for all suburban rail services on the Sydney Trains network has improved from 90.9% in 2024/25 to 92.7% in 2025/26.  

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“These refurbished Tangaras will look better, feel better, be more accessible and more reliable.  

Passengers on the all-important T4 line will spot them straight away. They are refreshed both inside and out and will be more reliable now they been modernised with the latest security features.  

“The Liberals said NSW was no good at building trains. Seeing these trains serve the people of NSW for yet another decade, will be a daily reminder of the strength of train manufacturing in our state and the reason we’re bringing it back.

“When we came to government there was no plan for the future of the Tangara fleet. We’ve now extended their life, got the first train back on the tracks and are investing in building the next fleet here in NSW.”

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said:  

“Seeing the first refurbished Tangara back on the tracks is a major milestone for the network, and for the communities along the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line who rely on these services every day.”

“These upgrades mean safer, more accessible and more reliable trains for local passengers, from improved CCTV and door systems to new priority wheelchair spaces and modernised interiors.”

“This investment is part of the Minns Labor Government’s broader effort to strengthen the rail network, backed by record funding for maintenance, signalling, power and operations to keep services running safely and on time.”

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said:

“Seeing the first refurbished Tangara back in service is a significant moment for our crews and the many teams delivering this program.

“These upgrades will improve reliability, safety and the overall experience for passengers who rely on these trains every day.

“With work now underway across Auburn, Flemington and the Cardiff Maintenance Centre, we are building momentum and will see more refurbished trains progressively return to the network.”

Motorists travelling along the New England Highway, between Tamworth and Willow Tree, will soon benefit from safer and smoother journeys with work now underway on a new overtaking lane.

Under the Road Safety Program, the Albanese and Minns Labor governments have invested a total of $5 million to build a new overtaking lane on the New England Highway, around 30 kilometres south of Tamworth.

The new 1.2km overtaking lane will improve safety and traffic flow for southbound motorists and provide an important safety initiative on the New England Highway between Tamworth and Willow Tree.

The project also includes:

• widening the sealed shoulders
• extending the concrete drainage
• realigning and resurfacing the existing road surfaces
• installing a one-metre-wide centre line treatment
• installing new guard rails and improving road safety signage

Transport for NSW is undertaking the improvements, with works expected to be complete in late March 2027, weather permitting.

Road works hours are between 6.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and between 6.30am to 6pm when required on Saturday.

Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain MP:

“The Albanese and Minns governments are investing in essential road infrastructure that will serve people living in, working in, and visiting regional NSW for many years to come.

“Safety on our roads is a top priority, and with works beginning on New England Highway, this is another example of our commitment to protecting all road users.

“Once complete, these upgrades will ensure safer, smoother and more efficient journeys for the thousands of commuters who travel along this busy corridor each day.”

NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison:

“Getting on with upgrades like this is about making sure regional communities have the safe and reliable road networks they deserve.

“The New England Highway serves as a critical connection for thousands of residents and freight operators every day, which is why safety improvements are so important.

“This new overtaking lane will provide safer and more efficient connections across the region, helping road users travel to work, return home as well as transport essential goods and services.”

Senator for NSW, Tim Ayres:

“The New England Highway is an important piece of infrastructure for residents, agriculture and local industry.

“This joint investment from the Australian and New South Wales governments delivers practical improvements that will help improve road safety between Willow Tree and Tamworth.”

NSW Labor Spokesperson for Tamworth, Anthony D’Adam:

“We know how important the New England Highway is to freight operators and people travelling through the region, and these upgrades will help make journeys safer and more reliable for everyone.

“With work now underway, we’re getting on with the job of delivering safer roads for the motorists right across the state.”

New dads would receive free mental health checks under a pilot to be funded under a Liberals and Nationals Government to address the number of men not getting the support they need during a critical period for families.
 
The pilot program, which is estimated to cost $2.5 million, would run for four years across multiple Local Health Districts, delivering important mental health support for dads at key perinatal and postnatal milestones. The pilot would help determine how these mental health checks could most effectively be delivered statewide.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said becoming a new dad was a life changing experience for men, but many fathers report they are not getting the healthcare they need.
 
“Recent research from Movember found that three in five dads were never asked by a health professional about their mental health in the lead up to, or in the 12 months following the birth of their child. I want to change that,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Happy and healthy parents set up our kids for success, but right now too many new dads are not getting the healthcare they need. Looking after mum, bub and dad means the whole family gets the best possible start.”
 
Shadow Minister for Health Sarah Mitchell said this pilot would help identify new dads who need help early and would align with the touchpoints already embedded in NSW maternal health pathways.
 
“Mums are checked on regularly throughout pregnancy and after birth, and there is an opportunity for us to align those checks with health interventions for new dads as well,” Mrs Mitchell said.
 
“The pilot will be delivered in both metropolitan and regional health settings and ensure where a dad might be struggling with his mental health, we can support him earlier, reducing the risk of something more serious developing.”
 
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Matt Cross said celebrating his second Father’s Day with his son was a reminder of the joys being a new dad brings.
 
“Being a dad is one of my greatest joys, bringing immense love and purpose to my life. We need to ensure every dad feels supported and connected, because supporting dads helps build stronger families,” Mr Cross said.
 
Ms Sloane acknowledged the vital advocacy and research work of Dr Zac Seidler and Movember, which had shone a light on the health of new dads in their More than a Provider report, which called for routine mental health screening of new dads.
 
This announcement builds on the NSW Liberals and Nationals plans to deliver a dedicated 10-year Men and Boys’ Health Strategy by the end of 2027 and host a two-day Men’s Health summit next year.

Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton says Chris Minns has bowed to the radical left of the Labor Party and the Greens by making pill testing permanent, trashing his previous opposition and raising a disturbing question for NSW voters: if Labor’s left can flex its muscles like this now, what will it demand in a second Minns term?

The Daily Telegraph reported today that free and anonymous drug checking will become a permanent fixture at up to 15 NSW music festivals a year from October, backed by $4.3 million in taxpayer funding.

Mr Shelton said the decision was a worrying sign that Premier Chris Minns was losing his grip on the sensible centre of his party.

Chris Minns came to office presenting himself as the leader of ‘club sensible’ in Labor, and for much of his first term he has managed to keep some of his party’s worst ideological instincts in check,” Mr Shelton said.

But on pill testing he has folded. He opposed it, he warned against it, and now he is spending $4.3 million of taxpayers’ money making it permanent.

This has the fingerprints of Labor’s radical left all over it.

There’s no such thing as a healthy ecstasy pill.”

Mr Shelton said the bigger issue for voters was what the reversal revealed about the likely direction of a second-term Minns Government.

If this is how Labor’s radical left flexes its muscles while Chris Minns is still fighting for a second term, imagine the influence it will wield if Labor is returned for another four years.

This could be the first portent of what a second-term Minns Government looks like: club sensible pushed aside and the crazy left increasingly calling the shots on policy.”

Mr Shelton said pill testing itself sent a dangerous and contradictory message to young people.

The Government says these drugs are illegal, yet it has just committed $4.3 million to checking them for people who intend to take them. You cannot credibly run both messages at once.”

Family First opposed pill testing when Queensland introduced it and when Victoria legalised it.

There is no such thing as a safe illegal drug, even if tested,” Mr Shelton said. “These pills are cooked up by criminal gangs in dirty labs. A government test at a music festival does not magically make them safe.

Just because the gangs sometimes get the dosage wrong does not mean the pills that pass the government testers are as harmless as lollies.”

Health Minister Ryan Park concedes drug checking is no “silver bullet” in making drug use safe, while the service’s own harm-reduction message acknowledges that no illicit drug use is safe.

Nobody queues at a festival because they want someone to tell them not to take the pill they have already bought and carried in,” Mr Shelton said.

They are looking for reassurance, and the Government knows it.

No family should ever have to bury a nineteen-year-old because of drugs, and parents campaigning after such unimaginable loss deserve to be heard with compassion.

But checking illegal drugs is not stopping drug use. It risks normalising it and creating the impression that illicit drugs can somehow be made manageable if government experts are standing nearby.”

Mr Shelton said the $4.3 million should instead be directed towards rehabilitation, prevention and policing criminal drug networks.

Spend the money helping young people get off drugs, providing rehabilitation places they can actually access, targeting the criminal gangs supplying this poison and giving young people an unambiguous message that illegal drugs can destroy their lives.”

Family First is committed to enforcing laws on drug supply and possession, diverting people into successful programs that help them become free of addiction, and never giving up on the goal of keeping Australia free of illicit drugs.