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The Minns Labor Government has passed three new bills to ensure the community is protected from racial hatred, offensive Nazi symbols, and desecration and harassment at places of worship.

The Government’s package of legislation was developed in response to a series of unacceptable antisemitic attacks that caused community division and fear.

The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Racial and Religious Hatred) Bill 2025, Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025, and Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 all passed the Parliament overnight.

The legislation will create new offences and provide for tougher penalties for existing charges.

It will soon be a crime to:

• Intentionally block, impede or hinder a person from accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship without a reasonable excuse.
• Harass, intimidate or threaten a person accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship.

Such conduct is punishable by a fine of $22,000 or two years’ imprisonment, or both.

It will also be a crime to intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race – with an exception for directly referencing religious texts during religious teachings or discussions.

The incitement of racial hatred will attract a maximum penalty for an individual of two years’ imprisonment, fines of up to $11,000, or both, while corporations can face fines of $55,000.

Our legislation also:

• Clarifies that graffiti is a “public act” for the purposes of the offences of threatening or inciting violence and displaying Nazi symbols;
• Provides for tougher sentencing for displaying by public act a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, the Sydney Jewish Museum or a Jewish school; and
• Aggravates sentences when a person’s conduct is partially or wholly driven by hate.

The laws send a clear message that we take racial hatred and antisemitism seriously, and we are prepared to act quickly and decisively to protect the community.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“The Government has acted quickly in response to disgusting acts we have seen in our state.

“Our package of legislation is a strong response to recent antisemitism, but it will also protect people of all races.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“This package of legislation will protect members of our community in a variety of ways.

“When we drafted these laws, we were mindful of preserving protest rights and freedom of political expression while also ensuring adequate community protection.

“In today’s environment, this legislation sends a strong message that hatred will not be tolerated.”

The Minns Labor Government is urging all road users to rest and stay off the road while tired after NSW recorded a 47 per cent rise in people losing their lives in fatigue related crashes last year.

Sadly, 78 people died in fatigue-related crashes on NSW roads in 2024 compared to 53 people in 2023.

Alongside speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue is one of the top killers on NSW roads and the vast majority of crashes involving fatigue are happening on regional roads, with 69 of the 78 deaths occurring in regional communities in 2024.

While heavy vehicles make up only 2 per cent of NSW motor vehicle registrations, heavy vehicle drivers accounted for around 26 per cent of fatigue related deaths on NSW roads last year.

To help raise awareness of the dangers of driving fatigued, the Minns Labor Government is promoting fatigue safety and the benefits of taking a power nap during National Driver Fatigue Week which runs from February 21-27.

The awareness and education effort builds on the government’s other suite of road safety initiatives which are aiming to reduce fatigue related crashes and improve road safety overall. These include:

• Rolling out around $1 billion in lifesaving infrastructure upgrades on regional and metropolitan roads through the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program and the joint federal/ state funded Road Safety Program.
• Investing $46 million on 2700 kilometres worth of rumble strips to help fight fatigue.
• Maintaining 673 signposted rest areas and building a new rest area on the Newell Highway north of Narrabri.
• Upgrading rest areas through the $11.9 million statewide Heavy Vehicle Rest Stop Minor Works program.
• Promoting 56 volunteer run Driver Reviver rest area sites where motorists travelling during holiday periods can stop for a free tea or coffee.
• Running high visibility communication campaigns such as the ‘Don’t Trust Your Tired Self’ campaign
• Launching a trial of average speed cameras for light vehicles in 2025.
• Upgrading mobile phone detection cameras to detect seatbelt offenders.
• Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with an additional 2,700 new sites where a camera can be deployed. (Total enforcement hours remain the same).

For more information and tips on how to combat fatigue, visit the Power Nap website: https://powernap.org.au.  

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:  

“Driving on country roads often involves driving for long distances, at higher speeds and sharing the road with heavy vehicles so the fatigue risk is much greater.

“We need all road users to be aware of the dangers of fatigue and remember if you feel tired while driving or experience any of the early warning signs such as yawning, restlessness or sore eyes, pull over in a safe place, stretch your legs and have a power nap at one of the many rest areas we have available in NSW.

“Make sure you have a good night’s sleep before getting behind the wheel and avoid driving at times when your body would naturally sleep, like late at night or early morning.”

NSW Ambulance has today welcomed 119 new paramedic interns and 14 emergency medical call takers, after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony at the State Operations Centre in Sydney.

This graduation follows the Post Employment Tertiary Pathway (PETP) induction held two weeks ago and will further boost frontline health services across the state, with many commencing their first shifts from tomorrow.

The new recruits joining the service come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including William Guthrie who is following his childhood dream to be a paramedic and Ebony Peterson, whose AFL career was cut short by injury but inspired by the healthcare she experienced, chose paramedicine as a new career option.

The paramedic interns will be posted across NSW to complete the on-road portion of their 12-month internships, before taking permanent positions in metropolitan and regional areas. The emergency medical call takers will all be posted to Sydney Control Centre.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“Congratulations to NSW Ambulance’s newest inductees. The skills and compassion of these paramedic interns will touch countless lives across our state.

“The new paramedic interns and emergency medical call takers represent the next generation of dedicated first responders, ready to serve communities across NSW.

“Their commitment to patient care and emergency response will strengthen our frontline health services and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:

“Today’s induction is a proud milestone for these new recruits and for NSW Ambulance as a whole, and the uniform they wear represents trust, dedication and resilience.

“Every call the new paramedic interns and emergency medical call takers respond to is an opportunity to make a difference and help those in our community in their most vulnerable moments.”

William Guthrie

“I knew from a young age exactly what job I wanted to do, so graduating today really is the culmination of a childhood dream.

“I am immensely proud to wear this uniform and excited to start putting my training into practice.”

Ebony Peterson

“I have experienced first-hand the dedication of healthcare staff, which motivated me to join the profession myself and become a paramedic.

“I am excited and nervous but after all the training, I am ready to get out there.”

Patients and visitors at Boggabri Multipurpose Service (MPS) will benefit from an extended dining room with better wheelchair access thanks to a $200,000 funding boost from the NSW Government.

The Minns Labor Government is investing a total of almost $12 million in 61 projects as part of the Regional Health Minor Works Program.

The planned works at Boggabri MPS will see the space increase by an estimated 20 square metres and will improve accessibility for those with limited mobility, providing a better experience for all.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in upgrading health facilities to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

“These small enhancements to the facility at Boggabri are significant to the comfort of our patients, and they better the work environment for our dedicated health care staff.

“This $12 million program is one of a number of investments our government is making to strengthen rural and regional health services, so people have access to the best possible care close to home.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“This upgrade at Boggabri MPS, providing 20 extra square metres of space, will mean patients will have an improved dining experience during their time at the facility.

“We welcome this investment in in Boggabri MPS and we look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring once completed. Any investment in the regional health system is a step in the right direction.”

Acting Executive Director of Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Anna Styles-Tape:

“The work will see an extension of the facility’s dining space bringing a greater capacity and easier wheelchair access for the community.”

After significant delay, the Minns Labor Government has finalised Stage 2 of its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms with no plan to deliver the roads, schools, and essential services needed to support growing communities.
 
The Coalition believe that higher-density housing around transport hubs is a sensible way to grow our cities—when it’s done right, with proper infrastructure and community input. The Coalition will continue our constructive engagement with the Government to build a planning system that is fit for purpose to support the delivery of greatly needed housing growth.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that whilst the Government picked 171 town centres and stations across metropolitan Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra and Hunter for additional density, the Minns Labor Government has failed to outline an infrastructure plan to support these communities.
 
“You don’t build the house before laying the foundation, but that’s exactly what Labor is doing—establishing density without the infrastructure to support it. Labor refuse to commit a single dollar in additional infrastructure funding for the 171 targeted communities as a result of these reforms,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“Train stations and town centres alone do not make a liveable community. We want to see more homes built, but well-located areas come with upgrades to roads, schools, hospitals and essential public space to support denser communities.
 
“For local communities to embrace new developments and to make a dent into the housing crisis, the Government must provide the funding to address schools that are already overcrowded, roads that are gridlocked, and local hospitals under strain.”
 
Shadow Planning and Housing Minister Scott Farlow said that while Labor have now finalised their plan for density, there was no infrastructure plan to support it.
 
“The Coalition support planned growth around public transport hubs, but Labor’s approach is all density, no infrastructure,” Mr Farlow said.
 
“Without proper investment in services communities will suffer. It’s vital that these reforms are matched with a supporting plan to ease congestion and improve local services.
 
“Labor introduced a $12,000 tax on every new home, which has made development less feasible across NSW.
 
“While Labor’s been happy to collect the tax, they still haven’t outlined a detailed infrastructure plan to show what will be delivered,” Mr Farlow concluded.

The Minns Labor Government has lost the plot. The RTBU is running the show, the train network is in freefall, and commuters are being treated like collateral damage.
 
Premier – pick up the phone, call your ally Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and admit what everyone in NSW already knows—you haven’t got a clue how to fix the mess you created by your unaffordable promises to union bosses before the election. Ask him to send in Murray Watt, the federal Workplace Relations Minister, and see if he has the spine to pull the handbrake on this rolling disaster.
 
Because this is no longer just a state issue—this is a full-blown Labor catastrophe, and the federal government has the power to stop it by invoking section 431 of the Fair Work Act. But what do we hear from Anthony Albanese and Murray Watt? Silence.
 
They could fix this today, but they won’t. Because Labor is Labor. Whether it’s in Sydney or Canberra, the unions pull the strings, and Chris Minns, Anthony Albanese and Murray Watt are all too weak to cut them.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Chris Minns has lost control, and he knows it.
 
“Chris Minns has two choices—call in Murray Watt or keep pretending he’s in charge while Sydney grinds to a halt,” Mr Speakman said.
 
And what about Murray Watt? He’s ghosting New South Wales.
 
The only time we see Murray Watt act is when it suits Canberra’s politics, but when it comes to protecting NSW’s economy, he’s nowhere to be found. He and Anthony Albanese have left Chris Minns to flounder like a deer in the headlights—too scared to fix the problem, too scared to be attached to it.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said Chris Minns has one job—keep NSW moving and he’s failed.
 
“If he won’t stand up to the RTBU, then let’s see if his ally Anthony Albanese has any backbone. Because right now, NSW has no Premier—just a union sheep in a suit,” Ms Ward said.
 
Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Transport Damien Tudehope said Chris Minns isn’t running NSW—the RTBU is.
 
“He’s too scared to stand up to them, too scared to ask Canberra for help, and too scared to admit he’s failed. If he had any guts, he’d be on the phone to Anthony Albanese.”
 
What’s it going to be, Premier?
 
Are you going to keep fumbling through this crisis like a bad episode of “Yes, Minister,” or are you going to call your ally and ask for help?
 
NSW deserves better than this circus.