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The Minns Labor Government is backing women-led businesses in our state with the launch of Australia’s first database to showcase women-owned businesses making it easier for women to connect and explore new business opportunities.

The NSW Government has invested over $190,000 for Entrepreneurial & Small Businesswomen Australia (EBSWA) to support the development of the Women-Owned Enterprises Australia Supplier Network, a hub for women-led businesses of all sizes to increase their visibility.

The Supplier Network will then match women-owned enterprises on the database with commercial businesses or NSW Government tenders under $3 million.

The goal is to have 3,000 women on the database in three years to increase visibility and opportunities for their businesses.

Women are currently under-represented in small business, often due to a lack of access to finance and formal networks when compared to men.

The 2021 Census shows approximately 34 per cent of NSW small business owners are women. In comparison, 66 per cent of the state’s small business owners are men. Increasing the proportion of small businesses owned by women supports economic growth and social progress.

To support women in seizing the opportunities, EBSWA has also been funded to run industry-specific procurement-readiness workshops to address existing knowledge barriers and a small business summit to help women connect and learn from each other.

This is part of the NSW Government’s wider effort to improve women’s economic opportunity and advance gender equality. This includes membership to the WEConnect global women-owned business network so verified women-led businesses can be connected to New South Wales buyers, reaching new markets and customers. 

Other work we are doing includes, partnering with organisations in the Supporting Women in Business Grants and Investing in Women Grants.

More information and access to the Women-Owned Enterprise Australia Supplier Network hub is available here: https://www.esbwa.com.au/

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“The Minns Government is working hard to empower women to dream big, start up and run their own businesses. Many women have fantastic business ideas, and just need a bit of a boost to turn them into something more.

“This new hub is a great way to connect women-owned and led businesses with NSW government tenders, so that we can use our buying power to really boost women’s opportunity.

“It’s not only good for women, but also great for our economy by increasing the diversity of suppliers.”

Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin said:

“Small businesses are the engine room of the NSW economy, but for too long, many talented women entrepreneurs have been operating under the radar.

“By investing in this database, we are shining a light on women-led enterprises and ensuring they are front and centre when it comes to major contracts and tenders.

“This initiative will open new doors for thousands of women in business – giving them the visibility, connections and confidence they need to grow and compete.”

Founder and CEO EBSWA Amanda Rose said:

“ESBWA is funded through a range of sources across government, corporate and project-based partnerships. Women Owned Enterprises (WOE) operates as a dedicated brand of ESBWA and the NSW Government is currently supporting the Women Owned Enterprises project in New South Wales.

“The core goal of ESBWA is to represent and advocate for women in business and entrepreneurship across Australia, ensuring women are visible, influential and economically powerful within policy, industry and enterprise.

“This is not just an announcement, it is the establishment of infrastructure. For the first time in Australia, there is a coordinated mechanism to identify, verify, prepare and actively connect women-owned enterprises into procurement supply chains.”

Anyone who attends memorial services at mosques in Sydney and Melbournehonouring the so-called “martyrdom” of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, should be placed on an ASIO watch list.

Family First National Director Lyle Shelton said it was shocking that Muslim leaders would be encouraging their followers to venerate a man who just machine gunned 30,000 civilisations and has sponsored global Islamic terrorism for decades.

“These events in support of one of the bloodiest butchers of this century are deeply offensive to the many victims of the Iranian regime and to the Iranian diaspora in Australia who fled that tyranny,” Mr Shelton said.

“Any Australian citizen who turns up to this should be put on the ASIO watch list. Anyone on a visa who attends should be deported,” Mr Shelton said.

“The Imams organising this and events like it should be asked to explain why this does not amount to support for terrorism.

“He funded the Islamic terrorists who raped, murdered and kidnapped innocent civilians on October 7.

“He inspired the Muslim mob at the “gas the Jews” protest at the Opera House, two years of pro-Hamas protests on our streets, the Harbour Bridge march where his image was carried by supporters, Bondi and the recent Town Hall protest.

“Too many Australian Muslims have learned nothing from Bondi,” Mr Shelton said.

“Where are the ‘moderate’ Muslim leaders calling this out?

“How are we supposed to believe Islam is a religion of peace? Clearly it is not.

“The event advertised for Arncliffe in Sydney says there will be a reading of the Koran at the service honouring Khamenei. That’s akin to reading the Bible at a memorial in honour of Hitler.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns was right to describe the mourning of the Ayatollah as “atrocious”. By any objective measure, the Iranian regime has a long record of repression, violence and brutality against its own people and the wider region.

Australia has formally listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation and last year the Albanese Government expelled Iran’s ambassador following findings that Iranian operatives were linked to anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney and Melbourne.

“In that context, public events in Australia praising or mourning the leader of such a regime amount to support for Islamic terrorism,” Mr Shelton said.

Family First agreed with Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin’s call for any mosques honouring Khamenei to be subject to criminal investigations for links to the IRGC.

Australians overseas should be prepared for serious travel disruptions in the days ahead due to the conflict in the Middle East.

We understand this will be a challenging time for many people, particularly those with family in the region or travel plans.

The Albanese Government’s priority is the safety and security of Australians. We will continue to support Australians to navigate the disruption ahead, providing regular travel advice updates and consular assistance where we can, noting there are limits to what any government can do in a fast-moving and uncertain environment.

Many Australians in the Middle East are unable to leave due to airspace closures, including around major transit hubs. Road and land border closures may also restrict movement.

Even if you are not travelling in or through the Middle East, your plans may still be affected.

There are flight delays and cancellations, both in the region and globally – including on routes to Europe. Scheduled flights can change at short notice.

There is also a broader security risk in the Middle East. Periods of heightened conflict can increase the threat of protests, civil unrest and, in some cases, terrorist attacks.

Australians should:

• Closely monitor events and local media.
• Check directly with their travel agent or airlines to confirm their plans.
• Review their travel insurance to understand what is covered in the event of cancellations.
• Follow Smartraveller for the latest advice and subscribe for updates.

Smartraveller now advises Australians do not travel to most destinations in the Middle East. This includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Australians should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Across the Middle East region, prioritise your safety, monitor events and follow local advice including shelter in place instructions.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has activated its 24/7 Crisis Centre to provide consular support to Australians in the region.

It has also opened a crisis portal for Australians in Israel and Iran. The registration portal is for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members who have right of entry into Australia. DFAT will contact registered Australians directly to provide updates.

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Australian Government 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre (+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 in Australia).

The Victorian Greens have slammed Labor for putting children as young as fourteen at risk of life in prison, calling it a prime example of how the Government has lost its way and set its priorities backwards.

The new laws allow children as young as fourteen to receive life sentences. The Greens warn they will do nothing to make communities safer and will, in fact, increase reoffending.

All the evidence shows early contact with the criminal justice system and longer, harsher sentences worsen long-term outcomes. Like Labor’s bail laws, these changes will disproportionately harm First Nations communities.

The Greens say that Labor trying to liken their approach to cities around the world that have successfully reduced crime is misleading and false. 

Cities around the world that have successfully reduced violence have not relied on tougher sentencing. They adopted whole-of-system public health approaches – investing in early intervention, youth services, housing, healthcare and community support to address the drivers of crime before harm occurs.

Meanwhile in Victoria, crime prevention funding has been cut in recent years, public housing stock has been demolished, and frontline homelessness, mental health and drug and alcohol services are overwhelmed.

Peak bodies including VCOSS, Homelessness Victoria and the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association have warned that services cannot meet rising demand, with homelessness services turning people away and long waitlists for treatment.

the Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Katherine Copsey:

“Labor’s doubling down on failed policies that won’t make the community any safer. All the evidence shows longer, harsher sentences worsen long-term outcomes. And just like Labor’s bail laws, these changes will disproportionately harm First Nations communities.

“Labor isn’t taking lessons from the evidence overseas, they’re taking lessons from the Liberals. Literally copy-pasting this policy from the Liberals in Queensland. 

“Labor is doing the opposite of what has worked overseas by cutting prevention, frontline healthcare services, and public housing, all to pay for costly punitive policies that don’t work.

“Real safety starts with stable housing, access to healthcare and mental health support and it means acting now to prevent harm before it happens. We need Labor to stop playing politics with community safety and do what actually works.” 

New Cotality data shows that annual credit growth for investor home lending is tracking at the fastest rate since 2015, which should raise alarm bells for APRA, the national regulator

In 2025, the Greens called on APRA to intervene in the housing crisis by cooling investor lending. Instead, APRA introduced measures to stop high risk loans from 1 February 2026, which the Greens say have failed to address the underlying surge in investor demand.

Independent economist Saul Eslake told media that if APRA had taken stronger action then the RBA may not have had to increase interest rates.

With investor lending out of control, house prices soaring through the roof and further rate hikes on the horizon, the Greens say it’s time for APRA to level the playing field to give first-home buyers a chance. 

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“If only APRA had intervened when the Greens had asked them to. Instead, the housing crisis continues to spiral out of control while Labor refuses to act.

“The system is stacked against first-home buyers. Investors already have a $100,000 advantage when they bid at auctions. 

“It shouldn’t be easier for wealthy property investors to buy their 5th, 10th, or 20th house. 

“The more houses that property investors buy, the less houses there are available for first-home buyers.

“Australia’s inflation problem is being driven largely by rising house prices, caused by Labor’s failed housing policies.

“Labor’s 5% deposit scheme and $181 billion tax handouts for property hoarders are surging investor demand and spiking house prices, which is the biggest driver of inflation.

“This housing crisis is heading toward a point of no return. We urgently need to cool the overheated investor credit market. 

“APRA must intervene to even out the playing field to give first-home buyers a chance. It must use all the tools in its tool box to rein in investor lending that is exacerbating the housing affordability crisis.

“APRA has used its toolkit in the past to cool investor lending and it led to the greatest stabilisation of house prices in 30 years, they need to take that decisive action again.”