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The huge trade potential of Wollongong and the wider Illawarra area will be the focus of the latest NSW Government ASEAN Market Update for NSW Businesses series being held in Wollongong today.

The updates provide local businesses with information about trends and export opportunities across Southeast Asian markets.

The ASEAN bloc is NSW’s second-largest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods growing by more than nine per cent in the past year. Continued rapid growth is expected in sectors where NSW businesses excel, such as food and beverage, health, and the digital economy.

Held in partnership with Asialink Business, today’s session will bring together around 80 participants, including Wollongong businesses, industry groups, and diplomatic representatives from Southeast Asian nations, at iAccelerate within the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.

Speakers at the forum include NSW exporters who have already utilised Investment NSW’s export support services to build connections and drive export sales across Southeast Asia.

The NSW Government is focussed on promoting ASEAN market opportunities to NSW businesses, with the region expected to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2040.

The ASEAN Market Updates series, is supported by other initiatives led by Investment NSW to help small and medium businesses pursue international growth objectives in Southeast Asia and other important export markets around the globe.

In 2024/25, these include supporting cleantech companies to export to Malaysia and Singapore, and wine to be exported to Vietnam.

The ASEAN Market Updates series began with a session in Western Sydney last October and will continue in the coming months with events in the Northern Rivers, the Hunter and Wagga Wagga.

For more information on how the NSW Government supports business to export, visit Investment NSW: https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/export/

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The ASEAN region is entering a golden age, propelled by a young population, industrialisation and technological advances, which present significant opportunities for NSW exporters.

“ASEAN nations are actively pursuing economic growth, with an increasing focus on sustainable development, food and health resilience, the digital economy and skills.

“My ASEAN Market Updates series is all about unlocking the potential of NSW businesses to export and partner with Southeast Asia, where our two-way trade is worth $33.6 billion and continuing to grow.

“The attendance of so many senior ranking diplomats, including Ambassadors and Consuls General shows the international attractiveness of the NSW economy and is a big vote of confidence in the Illawarra region.”

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“The Illawarra is home to innovative businesses with enormous export potential, and Southeast Asia presents a golden opportunity for growth.

“The NSW Government is here to support Wollongong businesses every step of the way to ensure they can compete and thrive on the global stage.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“I’m more than willing to take any opportunity to help sell Wollongong to the world.

“Wollongong has strong connections with the ASEAN region, but there remains enormous potential to take our trade and investment relationship to the next level.

“The University of Wollongong has opened three campuses across Malaysia and has several research partnerships, which is just one example of how we’re cultivating deeper connections with the ASEAN region.

“Today’s ASEAN Market Updates series is an important opportunity for our local businesses to learn more about this dynamic region and how exporting their products and services could turbocharge their growth.”

The Minns Labor Government is announcing a series of tough new measures to crack down on a recent escalation of troubling graffiti, racial hatred and antisemitism in the community.

The package of reforms will help give police and the community additional powers and resources to respond to disgusting acts of racial violence and hatred.

It sends a clear message to people who commit these crimes or intend to commit them that these acts have no place in NSW, and they will face severe and harsh penalties if they do.

In response to recent appalling attacks, the NSW Government will:

• Introduce a new criminal offence for intentionally inciting racial hatred, with a proposed maximum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment.
• Introduce a new offence in section 93ZA of the Crimes Act 1900 directed at the display of a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, with an increased maximum penalty to 2 years’ imprisonment, and clarify that that graffiti is a ‘public act’.
• Expand the aggravating circumstance that applies on sentence when an offence is motivated by hatred or prejudice to ensure that it applies whether a crime is partially or wholly motivated by hatred or prejudice.
• Amend the Graffiti Control Act 2008 to create an aggravated offence for graffiti on a place of worship.
• Introduce a new offence in the Crimes Act 1900 to stop people in or near a place of worship from intentionally blocking access to the place of worship without reasonable excuse, or from harassing, intimidating or threatening people accessing places of worship, and provide police with associated move on powers. This new offence is proposed to have a maximum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment.

In addition to these strengthened laws, the Minns Labor Government is also announcing:

• Increased funding to support the crucial work of the NSW Police Force Engagement and Hate Crime Unit by $525,000.  This will allow for boosted engagement and communications with the community, including additional synagogue and school visits.
• An increase to the NSW Local Government Social Cohesion Grants Program by $500,000.
• Training to support local governments address rising prevalence of hate crimes.

These reforms build on the significant work of the police over the summer:

• The NSW Police Force launched Operation Shelter on 11 October 2023 to respond to public safety in relation to the current conflict in the Middle East.
• More than 300 proactive patrols are conducted under Operation Shelter every day. These centre around significant sites such as places of worship.
• Resources from Traffic and Highway Patrol, the Regional Enforcement Squad, dog unit and Pol Air have also been brought in to help local police on the ground.
• Strike Force Pearl has been established to investigates these hate crimes – and doubled its fulltime dedicated detectives from 20 to 40.

The reforms send a strong message about the seriousness of committing acts of racial hatred and antisemitism, and the NSW Government’s commitment to send a clear message to perpetrators that they will be held responsible for these acts.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We have seen disgusting acts of racial hatred and antisemitism.

“These are strong new laws, and they need to be because these attacks have to stop.

“NSW is a multicultural state, and these acts designed to intimidate and divide will not work.

“These laws have been drafted in response to the horrifying antisemitic violence in our community but it’s important to note that they will apply to anyone, preying on any person, of any religion.

“If you commit these acts, you will face severe penalties, and we make no apologies for that.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Blocking access to places of worship, graffitiing sacred sites, or inciting hatred are wholly unacceptable behaviours that have no place in our society. These proposed changes strengthen penalties and expand police powers to maintain order across the community.

“The Minns Government is expanding the criminal law to send a clear message that inciting hatred is not just unacceptable, it will soon be criminal.

“The entire community will be safer as a direct result of these changes. The proposed changes will mean that divisive and hateful behaviours will not succeed in dividing our community.”

Minister for the Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Police are doing everything they can to disrupt and investigate these vile crimes. Today’s announcement will further strengthen their capability to continue this critical work.

“Our community thrives on diversity and mutual respect. We refuse to let those driven by hate divide us.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“Our multicultural society is one of our greatest achievements, but it is not something we can afford to take for granted. It requires our constant attention.

“The Minns Government will continue to proactively address bad faith actors and explore every avenue to ensure social harmony and that our multicultural society is protected.”

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“It’s vital that all tiers of government are united in the effort to stop antisemitism.

“I welcome the additional support and training for councils so that they can expand their work promoting unity and harmony within local communities.”

The Minns Labor Government has once again been caught napping, allowing Victoria to swoop in and snatch the rights to host in-season NFL matches—an opportunity that should have been Sydney’s to claim.
 
This is a government with no vision, no strategy, and no idea.
 
Chris Minns, John Graham and Steve Kamper were handed a golden opportunity to bring one of the world’s most lucrative sports to Sydney. Instead, they sat on their hands while Victoria did the deal. Sydney didn’t lose this event—Labor lost it for us.
 
Sydney will now miss out on three in-season NFL matches from 2026, set to be played at the MCG. This comes despite Sydney’s superior stadium, local NFL talent like Jordan Mailata, and the clear economic benefits the event would have delivered to NSW.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said the Government couldn’t see the value in bringing tens of thousands of tourists, international media, and millions in economic activity to Sydney.
 
“This is a government that reacts instead of leads. A government that always turns up late and empty-handed. And a government that is fast becoming the worst advertisement for doing business in NSW,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Sport Eleni Petinos said the Minns Labor Government has completely dropped the ball on this one—while Victoria runs away with the win. NSW had every opportunity to secure these NFL games, but Labor let it slip through their fingers.
 
“NSW had the home-ground advantage, but Labor fumbled it away,” Ms Petinos said.
 
Victoria will now host one of the worlds’ biggest sporting codes while NSW is left to watch from the sidelines under a Labor government too weak to even get in the game.

Jo Haylen has made the right call to resign as Transport Minister. But make no mistake—this wasn’t Chris Minns taking decisive action. This was three days of weak leadership, excuses and political protection before Ms Haylen finally fell on her sword.
 
For three days, Chris Minns had opportunity after opportunity to sack his Transport Minister. The evidence was there and kept mounting. The repeated use of taxpayer-funded vehicles that no fair and reasonable person would accept was clear. But instead of acting, Chris Minns stalled, deflected, and hoped the problem would go away.
 
This is because Jo Haylen isn’t just any minister—she’s was one of Chris Minns’ key Left faction allies. The Premier wanted her in Cabinet to keep his own job secure. Even when the facts were undeniable, even when new revelations kept emerging, he refused to act.
 
Jo Haylen also proudly declared, ‘I’m incredibly proud that we’ve managed to make public transport exciting again.’ Well, commuters don’t find cancelled trains and transport chaos very exciting.
 
Under her watch:

• Against professional advice, she hand-picked a Labor donor and mate of both hers and Chris Minns to run Transport for NSW.
• She had a taxpayer-funded department liaison officer doing political work in her office.
• She oversaw a train network meltdown with over 1,200 services cancelled in a single day – a record.
• She used her ministerial car and driver in a way that no fair-minded and reasonable person would accept.

To clarify, the Minns Labor Government inherited a transport system transformed by the former Liberals and Nationals Government — including world-class infrastructure like the Metro. But instead of embracing innovation, Labor insisted on putting drivers on driverless trains, all to keep their union mates happy. This was after 16 years of Labor doing nothing for NSW.
 
While Jo Haylen has gone for the time being, what about Rose Jackson? Instead, stories appeared that said “a senior government source” claimed she had no idea it was her birthday celebrations to protect Ms Jackson while her friend took the fall. Chris Minns had taken no action on Ms Jackson because he relies on her to bring him left faction support.
 
The Premier had three days to show leadership. Three days to take action. Three days to prove that standards matter. Instead, he failed. Jo Haylen may be gone for the moment, but the rot inside the Minns Labor Government runs much deep.

This morning Chris Minns’ credibility as Premier is up for debate. During a train wreck radio interview, he tried to sidestep the obvious – his Transport Minister, Jo Haylen, misled the public about her use of taxpayer-funded drivers – and yet he still refuses to sack her.
 
This is not just about one dodgy minister; it is about two and a cover-up.
 
Yesterday Chris Minns claimed Jo Haylen made a “singular lapse in judgement.” He said she had nothing to hide. He said there were no other examples of Jo Haylen doing this.
 
That was not true.
 
It is since emerged that she repeatedly used her driver between Sydney and Caves Beach for the Saturday sports run.
 
It is also emerged that she used her driver on Sunday double time for a weekend family lunch west of the Blue Mountains.
 
Chris Minns is too weak to act because he relies on the hard-left faction that helped put him in the job.
 
If Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson stay, it is because Chris Minns is too scared to cross factional masters.
 
If Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson stay, it is because Chris Minns cares more about protecting the Labor Left than protecting taxpayer money.
 
Leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman, said it is time for Chris Minns to do what any decent leader would do and sack Jo Haylen immediately. Rose Jackson, who has been and still is in hiding, must go too.
 
“Now we find out Jo Haylen has been caught out again – and this is not just about one rogue minister, it is about two. This is about a Premier who is too weak, too compromised, and too tied to faction heavyweights to do the right thing. If Chris Minns will not sack Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson, then he may as well admit he is just a puppet for the Labor Left,” Mr Speakman said.
 
This is not a government that treats taxpayer money with respect. It is a government of self-entitled elites, who see public money as their own personal slush fund.
 
Acting Shadow Minister for Transport Damien Tudehope said Chris Minns is letting Jo Haylen get away with it.
 
“The Premier’s repeated defence of the indefensible has now collapsed under the weight of fresh revelations about Jo Haylen’s travel rorts. Jo Haylen lied to the people of NSW, lied to the media, and lied to the Premier.
 
If Chris Minns has a shred of integrity, Haylen and Jackson must go. If he refuses, the people of NSW will know exactly who he works for – and it is not them,” said Mr Tudehope.   
 
Chris Minns’ judgement is shot. If he lets this slide, then the only conclusion voters can draw is this this Premier’s standards are as bad as his ministers.