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People across NSW will soon be able to get treatment for more everyday health conditions at their local pharmacy, making it easier to get care without having to wait for a GP appointment.

Under a new trial announced by the Minns Labor Government, eligible pharmacists will be able to treat ear infections and wounds, and help patients manage chronic conditions including high blood pressure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

At the same time, up to 250 additional pharmacists across NSW will become qualified to provide more extensive treatment for nausea and vomiting, reflux, rhinitis, musculoskeletal pain and acne, as well as initiate the oral contraceptive pill.

It means more people will be able to walk into their local pharmacy and get treatment for common conditions closer to home, while freeing up GP appointments for patients who need them.

The changes build on pharmacy reforms already introduced by the Minns Labor Government, with around 40,000 patients accessing treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections through community pharmacies and more than 2,000 women receiving a resupply of the oral contraceptive pill.

More conditions, closer to home

Eligible pharmacists will be invited to take part in a new trial enabling them to provide care for ear infections and wounds, and help manage some chronic conditions.

The trial will give patients another option to get care in their community. Appropriate safeguards will be put in place to maintain the safety and quality of care.

It will also help take pressure off GPs by allowing pharmacists to provide more minor routine care, freeing up appointments for people with more complex health needs.

More pharmacists, providing more care

250 more pharmacists will be able to treat the following conditions in the coming months:

• Acute nausea and vomiting
• Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• Mild acute musculoskeletal pain
• Mild to moderate acne
• Initiation of oral contraception

This will be achieved by allowing pharmacists who graduate with an appropriate qualification from the University of Newcastle or the University of Technology Sydney later this year, to align their scope of practice with pharmacists who hold a similar graduate certificate from James Cook University.

Easier access to more vaccinations

From next year, pharmacists will also be able to administer National Immunisation Program vaccines, including to children under five, giving families another option to keep their vaccinations up to date.

This measure is targeted at situations where families may need access to a vaccination quickly, including before travel or during outbreaks of diseases such as measles.

While families will now have an additional avenue to have their child vaccinated, regular visits to a GP remain a very important part of childhood healthcare. These appointments provide an opportunity for GPs to check a child’s growth and development and discuss the health and wellbeing of the whole family.

Children who need catch-up vaccinations and people with complex medical conditions will not be eligible for these vaccinations through a pharmacist.

Previous reforms

These reforms are in addition to other health conditions which can already be managed by trained pharmacists in NSW, including:

• uncomplicated urinary tract infections
• resupply of hormonal contraception
• minor skin conditions which include eczema, shingles, impetigo and psoriasis.

Specific eligibility criteria are in place for each condition to ensure patients receive safe and appropriate care.

Pharmacies providing these services can choose to charge a consultation fee for the service. This consultation fee will be in addition to the cost of any medicines supplied.

This latest expansion builds on the work the Minns Labor Government has already done to improve access to care for people in NSW, including:

• Investing in virtual and urgent care services
• Supporting geriatric outreach and Hospital in the Home
• Expanding scope of practice for pharmacists to treat uncomplicated skin conditions and UTIs, and resupply and prescribe the contraceptive pill
• Expanding scope of practice for GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD

To find a local pharmacist delivering expanded health services, you can search the healthdirect Service Finder.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:

“For most people, their local pharmacy is one of the easiest parts of the health system to access, and we’re making better use of the skills and training pharmacists already have.

“This year close to 250 additional pharmacists across the state will be qualified to treat conditions in the community, making healthcare even more accessible.

“We’re also trialling the further expansion of scope to include ear infections, wound care and the management of chronic conditions.

“It means more options for patients; more care available in local communities and more GP appointments available for people who really need them.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We are making it easier and more convenient for people to access the care they need.

“Pharmacies are an important point of care for members of the community and these reforms will ensure they can deliver more health services for people.

“By increasing the number of pharmacists who can use the expanded scope of practice, we are ensuring more communities around NSW can access this care.”

Coastal protection works to address serious erosion issues at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay have been completed as part of a $1.6 million NSW Government investment to improve safety and access for beachgoers and protect important community assets from further erosion.

High tides and ocean swells had taken a toll on the beach and surrounding dunes, affecting public access and threatening the Crown land reserve and adjoining Reflections Byron Bay Holiday Park.

The NSW Government, through Crown Lands and its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF), provided $1.275 million for the protection works, with Reflections Holidays engaging the Soil Conservation Service to deliver the project.

Work started in early August and continued over five weeks to install about 600 sandbags across a 72-metre section of previously unprotected beach at the front of the holiday park.

The existing sandbag wall installed on the reserve beachfront in 2020 was also repaired as part of the works program.

Revegetation works will be carried out in October, with fencing installed to protect regrowth.

Crown Lands will allocate a further $395,000 to support further sand nourishment works at Clarkes Beach, which are expected to be completed next year.

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“Our beaches are a treasured part of life on the North Coast, but they face pressure from coastal erosion, severe weather and high tides.

“This funding has delivered practical protection for the reserve at popular Clarkes Beach to enhance the visitor experience and help minimise the risk to our valuable community assets.

“Investments like this at Clarkes Beach supports both our coastline and the communities that rely on it.

“While we can’t control the weather and ocean conditions that affect our beaches, we can take practical action to protect our natural assets, cultural heritage and community infrastructure.”

Young people in Dubbo are already benefiting from a major $10.4 million upgrade of PCYC Dubbo Sports World, with three new basketball courts now complete and 1,500 young people taking part in regional youth programs so far this year.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $10.4 million to upgrade the Dubbo facility, supporting better sporting infrastructure, more youth-focused spaces and stronger opportunities for young people in Western NSW.

The Sports World works include upgrades to existing sports halls so they can support multi-sport competitions, new equipment including mechanical backboard systems, scoreboards and audio-visual fit outs, a new front-of-house area with reception, café, staff offices, storage and amenities, as well as a youth hub, fitness gym, program rooms and learning spaces.

So far:

• Three new basketball courts have been completed;
• The roof of the main hall has been resealed; and
• Work is underway on refurbishing part of an old indoor court into a dedicated gymnastics space

The front-of-house refurbishment is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.

The Dubbo investment builds on the Minns Government’s $10 million partnership with PCYC, supporting 278 youth programs across regional NSW over four years.

Programs include Nations of Origin, which combines sport and First Nations culture to build connection and pride; Stepping Up, which helps school leavers transition into careers through mentoring, training and employer connections; and Fit for Work, which gives disengaged students practical skills, qualifications and confidence to move into employment or further education.

During Terms 1 and 2 of 2026, PCYC youth programs funded through the partnership have engaged 1,500 participants, including 1,034 Indigenous young people.

Programs have been delivered across regional locations including Armidale, Walgett, Broken Hill, Griffith, Kempsey, Wagga Wagga, Queanbeyan, Parkes, Orange, Lithgow and Bathurst.

Employment-focused programs have also supported early pathways into work and study, generating nine job outcomes and eight secondary education outcomes so far.

Funding for the PCYC is part of over $220 million being delivered from the Minns Government’s $400 million Regional Development Trust Fund that provides strategic and sustainable investment to grow regional and rural industries, businesses and communities.

For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust 

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“This project is about giving young people in Dubbo and across Western NSW better facilities, more support and more opportunities to build their futures close to home.

“It’s fantastic to see real progress at PCYC Dubbo Sports World, with three new basketball courts already delivered and work underway to create modern spaces for sport, fitness, learning and youth programs.

“We’re backing the facilities and programs that help young people build confidence, stay connected to their communities and take the next step into education, training or work.

“We’re already seeing the impact of our partnership with PCYC, with 1,500 young people taking part in programs across regional NSW this year, including strong participation from Indigenous young people.”

PCYC NSW CEO Michael Silman said:

“It’s exciting to see the transformation of PCYC Dubbo Sports World taking shape, this investment from the NSW Government will help us improve our facilities, reach more young people across Western NSW and create stronger, safer communities.

“The $10 million regional youth program partnership with the NSW Government has enabled us to deliver more programs, more impact, more regularly, in the communities that need them most.

“Through our suite of employability programs, as well as U-Nites, Nations of Origin and GRIT, participants are building positive connections with their communities, engaging in education and achieving employment outcomes that can change the trajectory of their lives.

“We thank the NSW Government for its continued commitment to regional communities and for recognising the vital role PCYC plays in supporting young people to realise their capability and build brighter futures.”

PCYC Wagga Wagga Stepping Up program participant, Allira McCracken said:

“I was struggling with my self-confidence, worried about my future. I wasn’t enjoying school and didn’t know where to start with looking for a job, or if I’d even be able to get one. I was spending days in bed, then I found PCYC.

“The PCYC Stepping Up program has made me feel like I have a chance in the world, I learnt how to develop resumes and cover letters, how to apply for jobs, and how to present myself professionally. Because of this and the qualifications I gained during the program, I secured work experience in community services which has put me on a positive path.”

“I most enjoyed the one on one mentoring in the program, the support from PCYC staff meant a lot to me personally. I’m now more independent and I believe in myself, I’m productive in life, and doing things that I never thought I could do.”

Senior transport leader Camilla Drover has been appointed Chief Executive of Sydney Metro.

Ms Drover brings extensive infrastructure, engineering and commercial experience in the public and private sector.

Most recently, Ms Drover led NSW Motorways as interim CEO through a complex direct deal negotiation. Her substantive position was Deputy Secretary Infrastructure, Projects and Engineering at Transport for NSW, prior to which she had more than a decade in leadership roles with major infrastructure contractors.

Ms Drover commences in the role on 1 October.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“Camilla is a tenacious and commercially astute infrastructure leader, with a strong track record of delivering projects, solving complex problems and building high-performing teams.

“With Metro Southwest in its final stages of testing and two Western Sydney metros in construction, I’m looking forward to working with Camilla at this critical time of delivery for Australia’s biggest infrastructure project.

“On behalf of the NSW Government, I want to thank Acting Chief Executive Hugh Lawson for the high quality of his stewardship during this pivotal period for Sydney Metro.”

The opening of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension from Black Hill to Raymond Terrace this Friday is a game changer for the people of the Hunter and for every motorist making the journey up to the North Coast and beyond.
 
Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for the Hunter Scott Farlow said the project had only become a reality because of the vision and commitment of both the former Federal Coalition Government and NSW Liberals and Nationals Government.
 
“The M1’s missing link is no more thanks to the vision and commitment of the former Federal Coalition Government and the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, who planned, designed and funded this vital piece of infrastructure for the people of the Hunter and New South Wales,” Mr Farlow said.
 
“With the completion of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension from Black Hill to Raymond Terrace motorists across the Hunter will no longer be stuck in bottlenecks over the Hexham Bridge contending with tourists and truckies.”
 
“This is a congestion buster for every motorist who uses the stretch between Newcastle and Maitland every day, removing 25,000 vehicles from local Hunter roads, while keeping freight, tourists and local commuters moving through the region.”
 
“From 2020 the former Coalition Federal Government and NSW Liberals and Nationals Government worked to make this a reality with a $2 billion commitment to the project and saw the vision of this vital missing link become a reality.”
 
“It’s good to see that the Federal and State Labor Governments have completed this vital project for the people of the Hunter, but sadly under the Albanese Government future projects in NSW are missing out.”
 
“Under the former Federal Coalition Government, New South Wales received its fair share of Federal Infrastructure funding – 31 per cent. Now under Labor our State is losing out to Queensland and Victoria who are receiving well above their population share of Federal infrastructure funding, while in New South Wales we received only 17.7 per cent.”
 
“Hopefully the opening of the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension won’t be the end of the road for Federal Infrastructure funding in new South Wales. The Premier finally needs to take up the case with the Prime Minister and fight for a fair share for the people of New South Wales,” Mr Farlow said.

Hospitals across Sydney have become parking lots for ambulances under the Minns Labor Government, with paramedics unable to transfer critical patients or respond to other incidents.
  
Today’s Bureau of Health Information (BHI) data makes clear the Minns Government is all talk, no action with key measures moving backward, leaving more patients stuck in ambulances outside or walking out without completing treatment.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said NSW deserves better healthcare services, but all Labor has delivered in three years is excuses and longer waits for patients. 
 
“Last month, the Premier told people to avoid our hospitals, and today’s data reveals many patients were already doing that rather than facing Labor’s long hospital wait times,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Labor has shown their only plan for our hospitals is to blame Canberra when something goes wrong.” 
 
Shadow Minister for Health and Regional Health Sarah Mitchell said today’s BHI data confirms what frontline health staff have been saying for months. 
 
“Under the Minns Labor Government our hospitals are strained, ambulances are ramped, waiting rooms are full, patients are walking out without finishing treatment, and critical frontline health staff are burning out trying to keep the system afloat,” Mrs Mitchell said.
 
“The fact that 6,500 more patients left our biggest public hospitals without completing treatment compared to this time last year is a damning indictment of our health system under Labor.
 
“Instead of delivering on promises to improve our health system, Chris Minns and Ryan Park are focused on pointing the finger at their Labor mates in Canberra.”

Just days after the Police Minister denied organised crime was out of control, a man has been killed in another suspected underworld attack, the third shooting in NSW in a week.
 
Police are reportedly investigating whether the killing was gangland-related, which would make it the 52nd gangland shooting this year, after the man was shot dead in the car park of the Punchbowl Community Centre on Wednesday, near a primary school and church.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said her thoughts were with those affected as police investigated the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
 
“People across Sydney would understandably be fearful after reports of another suspected underworld shooting, this time in a public car park directly opposite a primary school,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“This latest killing exposes the gulf between the Minns Labor Government’s reassurances and the violence unfolding on Sydney’s streets.”
 
“At a time when communities are looking for leadership and reassurance, the Police Minister is nowhere to be seen. She needs to front up and explain how she can continue to claim organised crime is not out of control.”
 
Shadow Minister for Police Anthony Roberts said communities deserved an honest assessment of the violence occurring across NSW.
 
“The Police Minister may be on leave, but the violence has not taken a break,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“People should not have to fear that they or their children could be caught in the crossfire while going about their daily lives.
 
“Keeping people safe is the most basic responsibility of government, yet Labor repeatedly voted against tougher measures proposed by the NSW Liberals and Nationals before the violence reached this point.”

International testing by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows NSW students are struggling with the basics, with reading and mathematics results at or near record lows after three years under Labor.
 
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment, measuring 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges.
 
The 2025 results show:
·        Reading scores have fallen since 2022 with results at the lowest levels recorded since testing started in 2000.
·        Mathematics scores have also fallen to the lowest on record.
·        Only 50 per cent of NSW students are meeting the national proficiency standard in mathematics and 56 per cent in reading.
·        NSW is being outperformed by Victoria, the closest comparable state.
 
The results follow disappointing NAPLAN results last month which showed the number of NSW year 3 students needing additional support for numeracy increased by over a quarter in the three years since NSW Labor came to office.
 
Around 30 per cent of NSW students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are also not meeting national benchmarks for reading, writing and numeracy.
 
Shadow Minister for Education Mark Speakman said the NSW Labor Government’s failure to improve student outcomes was undermining confidence in public schools.
 
“Student numbers in government schools rose by over 40,000 under the Liberals and Nationals but fell by over 260 under the first two years of the Labor Government,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“This year’s Budget cuts education employee expenses by around five per cent after inflation and assumes further falling public school enrolments and teacher numbers.”
 
“These results should concern every parent who expects their child to leave school with strong reading, writing and mathematics skills.”
 
“After more than three years in government and all the talk, Labor has failed to improve student outcomes and students can’t afford more of the same.”
 
Mr Speakman said that the Government must snap out of its complacency and urgently fix its approach across the board, including:
·        ensuring evidence-based, explicit teaching methods for reading and mathematics, which have been shown to produce the best results, are actually being used in all classrooms
·        initial and ongoing training of teaching reading and mathematics
·        giving teachers the training and support they need for effective classroom behaviour management
·        ensuring technology is not being counter-productive in classrooms support for children with disability