Author: admin

Labor backtracks on local manufacturing promises

Shadow Minister for Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology

After two years of inaction, the Minns Labor Government has officially broken its promise to enforce a 50% local content target for rolling-stock contracts, delaying real action for another decade and leaving NSW workers behind.
 
Shadow Minister for Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, Mark Coure, has condemned the Government’s failure to deliver on its key election commitment, calling it a betrayal of local workers and manufacturers.
 
“This was a clear and simple promise from Labor—50% minimum local content for rolling-stock contracts. Instead, they’ve kicked the can down the road for another 10 years. That’s a decade of lost jobs and missed opportunities for NSW,” Mr Coure said.
 
The Minns Labor Government has released yet another industry policy filled with roadmaps, plans, studies, taskforces, and commissions, but has failed to take real action to create jobs and invest in local manufacturing.
 
“We’ve had enough of the reports and strategies, NSW workers need action now. Instead of mandating local manufacturing, Labor is still handing contracts to overseas companies while highly skilled workers here in NSW are left out in the cold,” Mr Coure said.
 
Despite their repeated promises, Labor has chosen to build buses overseas instead of supporting and upskilling our local manufacturers.
 
“This is a blatant betrayal of NSW workers. If the Minns Labor Government was serious about local industry, they would enforce local content requirements now, not in 10 years,” Mr Coure said.
 
“NSW can’t afford another decade of inaction. The Minns Labor Government must step up, enforce their own commitments, and start building in NSW, not overseas”.

700 day toll review continues – new tolls, longer tolls, millions wasted

After 700 days of talk, press conferences and expensive reports, the Minns Labor Government’s so-called Toll Review has delivered nothing for drivers. Instead, the Minns Labor Government has secretly explored new tolls and longer contracts, meaning motorists will be paying more, for longer.
 
Labor has now quietly dumped former Toll Review Chair Allan Fels as lead negotiator and is paying an estimated $990,000 for a replacement, while signing off on a $2,750,000 new legal bill for outside lawyers.
 
Before the election, Labor made sweeping promises:

  • No new tolls under Labor
  • Tolls would be cheaper under Labor
  • Toll roads would be returned to public ownership
  • Opposing two-way tolling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel

But after nearly two years in government, this is what has happened instead:

  • $5.4 million wasted on a review with no outcome
  • $1.7 million paid to ex-bureaucrats for three reports that have been ignored
  • The Toll Review Chair charging taxpayers for $750 a night for five-star hotels stays, plus business class flights
  • Secret briefings to ratings agencies on extending toll road contracts, meaning drivers will pay tolls for even longer
  • Exploring new tolls on the M5 West, M5 East, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern Distributor
  • Toll hikes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel
  • Traffic modelling showing some drivers could be hit with toll increases up to nine times higher
  • Warnings ignored that Labor’s traffic modelling was unfit for negotiations

Chris Minns and Labor campaigned on lowering tolls but have instead delivered secrecy, waste, and higher costs for drivers.
 
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Chris Minns made big promises on tolls, and he is breaking them one by one.
 
“For 700 days, he has dodged, delayed, and dissembled. It‘s time he came clean,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said Labor’s toll policy was to say one thing before the election, and then do the opposite.
 
“If Labor introduces new tolls or extends toll contracts, it will be Chris Minns’ ‘no carbon tax under my government’ moment,” Ms Ward said.
 
Secret meetings, million-dollar consultants, and five-star hotels—this is what toll reform looks like under Labor.
 
After 700 days, drivers are still waiting.

Another Month, Another Transport Failure Under Minns

The Minns Labor Government has once again failed to deliver a reliable transport network, with Sydney Trains recording a dismal 81.6% on-time performance for February—falling far short of the 93% target for services arriving within five minutes of the scheduled time.

This latest failure comes despite a break from disruptive union strikes, proving that Labor’s mismanagement runs deeper than industrial action. Meanwhile, Sydney Metro commuters faced reduced services on Monday with no warning, and bus reliability in the North Shore and St George areas continues to deteriorate.

Since Labor took office, Sydney Trains has only met its on-time target twice, with the last successful month being January 2024. Transport for NSW’s own data shows that under the previous Government, commuters were consistently provided a more reliable service before Unions NSW boss Mark Morey declared 2022 the “year of the strike.”

While Labor blames union action for the chaos, the reality is that Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW are failing under their leadership. Commuters across Sydney can see it for themselves.

Instead of taking responsibility, the Government desperately tried blaming a 2017 timetable change—a feeble excuse that does nothing to address the real issue: a lack of a plan and leadership.

In 2023, the Government was warned that its hand-picked Transport Secretary was an “operational risk”, with the Secretary himself admitting he had no experience running a transport network.

Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward said:

“Has there ever been a time when Sydney’s transport network was this unreliable?

“The Government has spent a fortune on endless reviews, yet commuters are only getting more delays and worse services. What is the plan?

“Labor is about to pay a ransom to the unions, yet there is no talk about improvements in reliability or productivity—the two things that matter most to commuters and taxpayers.”
 
Member for Oatley Mark Coure said:

“Locals in St George and the South have had enough of unreliable transport services. Whether it’s train delays, reduced bus services, or Metro disruptions, this Government has no plan to fix the mess they’ve created.

“The Minns Government has spent a fortune on reviews and excuses, but commuters don’t need more spin—they need real improvements. When will Labor take responsibility and start delivering results?”

All New South Wales public schools on a path to full and fair funding

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have reached an Agreement to fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools.

As part of the Heads of Agreements signed today, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to New South Wales.

This will lift the Commonwealth contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034 and follows New South Wales delivering its election commitment to reach 75 per cent of the SRS in 2025, two years ahead of the former Liberal National Government.

This will see an estimated $4.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to New South Wales public schools over the next 10 years.

This represents the biggest ever new investment in New South Wales public schools by the Australian Government.

New South Wales has also committed to removing the 4 per cent provision of indirect school costs such as capital depreciation so that New South Wales schools will be fully funded over the life of the Agreement.

Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools.

This is not a blank cheque. The Agreement will be accompanied by a New South Wales Bilateral Agreement, which ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, such as: 

  • Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks to identify students who need additional help;
  • evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring to help students who fall behind;
  • initiatives that support wellbeing for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals;
  • access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, and
  • initiatives that improve the attraction and retention of teachers.

In addition to these reforms, the Agreements have national targets that complement the New South Wales Government’s own public school targets released last week.

National targets include:

  • Improving NAPLAN proficiency levels for reading and numeracy across all year levels;
  • Increasing the outcomes for priority equity cohorts in NAPLAN results;
  • Increasing the Student Attendance Rate;
  • Increasing the engagement rate (completed or still enrolled) of initial teacher education students; and
  • Increasing the proportion of students leaving school with a Year 12 certificate.

This means more help for students and more support for teachers.

Today’s agreement with New South Wales follows agreements with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Victoria.

The Commonwealth is continuing to work with Queensland.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Building Australia’s Future means investing in the next generation.

“That’s why every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn.

“We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia.

“This is about investing in real reform with real funding – so all Australian children get the best possible education.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns

“Public education is the best investment any government can make. Every dollar spent in this space is a dollar spent on the future of our country.

“Every single child in Australia has the right to a quality, free public education and we are proud to work with the Albanese Labor Government to ensure New South Wales schools are fully funded.

“We’ve seen a 40% reduction in teacher vacancies since we came to government, but we know there’s still more to do.

“This investment is vital as we work to lift education standards across the state by ensuring there is a qualified, dedicated teacher at the front of the classroom.”

Minister for Education, Jason Clare

“This is big. The biggest state in the country has now signed up.

“This will help more than 780,000 kids in more than 2,200 public schools.

“This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.

“It’s not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results.

“That’s why funding will be directly tied to reforms that we know work.

“It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life. What every parent wants. And what every Australian child deserves.”

New South Wales Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car

“This incredible outcome for public schools will allow us to deliver on the ambitious targets we have set for the public education system in New South Wales.

“Our commitment to rebuilding public education will now be underpinned by an agreement that delivers full funding for public schools.

“The Minns Labor Government inherited a teacher shortage crisis and falling outcomes after a decade of under funding by Federal and State Liberal and National Governments that saw 10,000 merged and cancelled classes daily and over 3000 teacher vacancies.

“With teacher vacancies now down 40 per cent and the number of cancelled classes halved, we are delivering tangible results.  

“This investment will enable us to restore public education in New South Wales to the world-leading standards that families deserve.”

ANOTHER CRITIAL STEP FOR HEXHAM STRAIGHT WIDENING PROJECT

ore great progress has been made on the Hexham Straight Widening project on the Pacific Highway, with demolition of the old northbound bridge over Ironbark Creek/Toohrnbing now complete.


The southbound bridge over Ironbark Creek has been open to traffic since November 2024 and is currently carrying two lanes of traffic in each direction.


Construction is now underway on the second new crossing, which will become the northbound bridge.
When both structures are complete, each will carry three lanes of traffic.


The Hexham Straight Widening Project is part of the broader $2.24 billion M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, which is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.


The Australian Government committing $1.79 billion and the NSW Government is committing $448 million.
The project is expected to open to traffic in 2026.


Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:


“It’s great to see one of the new bridges already in operation and to see such good progress being made on the second new crossing.


“This project will help tens of thousands of people get where they are going more quickly and safely, while also being a catalyst for major economic growth in our region.


“I know Novocastrians will be so pleased to see this milestone reached and I look forward to the entire Hexham Straight Widening project being completed by next year.”


State Minister for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp:


“It’s fantastic to see this progress. The Pacific Highway, or Maitland Road as it’s also known, is a vital local roadway, and this project will help thousands of people get to where they’re going more quickly and easily.

“Once complete, the Hexham Straight Widening will ensure a stronger road network for our local community, motorists and the freight industry.

“The Australian and NSW governments are proud to work together to deliver infrastructure that will meet the needs of the community and motorists now and into the future.”

Appeal for information after public place shooting – Waratah West

Police are appealing for information following a shooting at a house in Waratah West this morning.

Police attached to Newcastle City Police District responded following reports a shot was fired at a house on Acacia Avenue, Waratah West, about 6.30am (Wednesday 5 March, 2025).

They established a crime scene and conducted a canvass of the area.

No injuries have been reported.

A crime scene has been established and police investigations are continuing.

ASEAN-Australia Centre grants and BRIDGE School Partnerships

I am pleased to announce the recipients of the ASEAN-Australia Centre’s 2024-25 grants program and the 38 schools selected for the BRIDGE school partnership program.

The Centre’s initiatives support the implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, through practical action that increases Australia’s business, cultural and community connections with the ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste.

The Centre is funding grants across three priority areas – creative industry exchanges, business and education initiatives and practical research to strengthen shared understanding and connection between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Successful grant recipients will be listed on GrantConnect, and include:

  • support for young women entrepreneurs from Australia and ASEAN countries to scale-up their start-ups through business and investment connections
  • a visiting fellowship for ASEAN business and community leaders to share trends and opportunities with Australian businesses and communities
  • exchanges for Southeast Asian and Australian music industry professionals to enhance two-way trade
  • a football diplomacy program for women’s football administrators and players to strengthen cultural, professional and sporting connections in the lead up to Australia hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026; and
  • an initiative to enhance the supply of premium Australian horticultural produce to Southeast Asia and introduce the region’s next generation of chefs to the sustainability, traceability and quality of Australian produce.

I also congratulate the 38 exceptional primary and secondary schools from Australia and Southeast Asia selected for the ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program – providing structured learning opportunities and building cross-cultural connections between educators and more than 300 students.

These schools join a prestigious network of more than 1,200 schools that have participated in BRIDGE across the Indo-Pacific region since 2008.

I look forward to seeing the enduring friendships that will emerge from the expanded program.

McKim accepts Chalmers’ debate challenge

Greens Treasury spokesperson Senator Nick McKim has accepted Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ challenge for a debate on the economy.

“Mr Chalmers has challenged shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor to a debate, which would be an absolute snorefest as they are in lockstep on the big issues,” Senator McKim said.

“Mr Taylor has gone quiet so the  Treasurer now has a chance to  debate someone who will actually disagree with him.”

“He should debate the Greens so some of the big challenges and opportunities in our economy get the exposure they deserve.”

“The Treasurer has had three years and is still failing to make billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax.”

“If he were prepared to take these obvious steps to increase revenue he could fund genuine legacy-defining reforms like putting dental and mental health into medicare.”

“He’s had three years and is still giving wealthy property speculators massive tax handouts so they can outbid renters trying to buy their first home.”

“He’s had three years and has failed to introduce economy-wide divestiture powers to increase competition and bring prices down.”

“Neoliberalism needs to be challenged, which won’t happen unless the Greens are involved.” 

“Mr Chalmers’ first term as Treasurer has been a litany of missed opportunities and he needs to be held to account. Mr Taylor won’t do that but the Greens certainly will.”

Minns Labor Government to bring Parklea Correctional Centre back into public hands

The Minns Labor Government will bring the management of Parklea Correctional Centre back into public hands in one of the largest de-privatisation moves in NSW history, further delivering on its commitment to publicly-owned assets, and to providing secure jobs and long-term career opportunities for working people.

The decision to return the management of this vital service to the public sector will secure over 400 well-paid public sector jobs for workers in Western Sydney.

The 1,576-bed facility at Parklea is Sydney’s second-largest remand centre and has been managed by MTC Australia (previously MTC Broadspectrum) since 2018, with its existing contract expiring in March 2026.

The contract will be extended by six months, to allow sufficient time for the transition to occur in October 2026.

Parklea will become the second NSW prison to return to public ownership after Corrective Services NSW takes over the management of Junee Correctional Centre on 1 April 2025, following a 16-month transition.

The NSW public sector is currently responsible for around 10,000 inmates across 31 prisons.

Corrective Services NSW and Justice Health will work with MTC, current employees, the Public Service Association of NSW, as well as the local community, as part of the transition.

A Corrective Services NSW transition team will be established to provide timely updates and additional support to current staff throughout the transition period.

NSW Premier Chris Minns:

“We began bringing Junee Correctional Centre back into public hands in 2023, and today, we take the first step in making Parklea public again.

“Frontline staff who work at Parklea Correctional Centre today will have a job at Parklea – regardless of the changes.

“We told voters at the last election that we opposed privatisation, and we are again delivering on that promise today.

“This is a win for hundreds of essential workers in Western Sydney as we rebuild essential services for NSW.”

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong:

“The Minns Labor Government was elected with a clear mandate to ensure publicly owned assets remain in public hands, and returning Parklea to the public sector is a clear response to this mandate.

“Unlike private management, the Corrective Services NSW’s operating model is not based on a profit motive, it’s based on the objective to reduce reoffending following release from prison, which focuses on rehabilitation, education, and safe reintegration into the community.

“Due to the hard work Corrective Services NSW has done to bring the Junee Correctional Centre back into public ownership, we now have a blueprint for success that we’ll follow closely to ensure a smooth transition for Parklea Correctional Centre to transition back into the public sector.

“By bringing Junee and Parklea Correctional Centres back into public hands, we’re delivering better value for NSW taxpayers and improving outcomes for workers, inmates, and the community.”

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis:

“This decision has been a long time coming and I welcome the Parklea Correctional Centre’s move back into public hands.

“We will work to support a smooth transition of staff employment arrangements into the public operated facility.”

Corrective Services NSW Acting Commissioner Leon Taylor:

“Corrective Services NSW will work with MTC and other stakeholders through this period of change with as minimal impact on day-to-day operations as possible.

“We look forward to Parklea Correctional Centre being safely back in public hands, which will provide secure jobs and career opportunities for our hardworking frontline Corrective Services NSW staff.”

Schoolyard safety first: NSW and SA unite to curb bullying with landmark agreement

The NSW and South Australia state governments are continuing their collaboration on initiatives to help improve the wellbeing of our schoolkids with an agreement to work on measures to combat bullying.

Deputy Premier and NSW Education Minister Prue Car and her South Australian education counterpart Blair Boyer signed a joint agreement to tackle the scourge of bullying.

The joint effort follows the success of last year’s groundbreaking Social Media Summit, organised jointly by the NSW and SA Premiers, to explore and address the impacts of social media on children and young people.

The MOU binds the two states to “undertake a coordinated approach to information sharing and collaboration to minimise the impacts of bullying in schools and support positive school environments”.

Work will commence immediately on the sharing of best practice prevention strategies that are already working in NSW and SA schools, curriculum materials and tools for educators to combat bullying, including cyberbullying, in our schools.

Last year NSW Premier Chris Minns and Deputy Premier Car announced they would lead the development of a statewide bullying framework for all NSW schools. 

The regulator of schools, the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), has already convened its first meeting with the school sectors to progress the work on the anti-bullying framework.

The MOU is just part of a suite of measures the Minns Labor Government has initiated to deal with challenges facing our schools.

  • Banned mobile phones in all NSW Public schools, with a recent survey showing that 86% of principals believing socialising has improved since this came into effect.
  • Implemented a new, stronger behaviour policy which provides teachers and principals with the authority they need to appropriately manage student behaviour.
  • Introduced a revised school curriculum which includes lessons on bullying, respectful relationships and consent education.
  • Hosted a Social Media Summit alongside the South Australian Government, and supported the Federal Government’s decision to raise the minimum age for social media to 16.
  • Recruited 92 new school counsellors and psychologists since the beginning of this year.
  • Launched the Spotlight on Cyberbullying Website which provides free and easily accessibly cyberbullying resources for parents, carers, teachers and schools.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Bullying is a scourge that impacts children across all school sectors, states and territories, and we all have a crucial role to play in stamping it out.

“NSW is leading the way nationally to address bullying and cyberbullying so children at all schools feel safe and supported to focus on their learning.

“I am proud to work with South Australia in progressing this issue. There is much that we can share with each other to come up with the best approaches to prevention.

“We all want the same outcome – which is to keep our kids safe and happy so that they can get the best out of their education.

“As we progress this work in NSW, we look forward to working with our state and federal counterparts on a consistent national approach.”

SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said:

“Preventing bullying before it starts is the best action we can take to make sure every child can get the education they deserve.

“That’s why we’ve focused our efforts on training teachers to better respond to bullying and bolstering the respectful relationships curriculum.

“Prue Car and I have made tackling bullying a priority and our new partnership will give staff more tools to act and support students.

“This action builds on South Australia’s nation-leading mobile phone ban, the rollout of explicit teaching of behaviour in schools, and 100FTE mental health and learning specialists in schools.

“Bullying impacts all schools in all sectors. That’s why we’re sharing resources and training across all sectors to take action across all schools.”