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NEW REPORT EXPOSES LABOR’S FLAWED PLAN, REVEALS TOWER DEMOLITION WOULD COST MORE THAN REFURBISHMENT

A groundbreaking new report reveals that retrofitting rather than demolishing the public housing towers at the Flemington estate would save the government nearly $364 million.

Since the former Premier announced the demolition of all 44 public housing towers across Victoria, the Victorian Greens have been pursuing Labor relentlessly to reveal more about what justification exists for the destruction and privatisation of public housing.

The Victorian Labor government has consistently said that refurbishment and repairs are too expensive, despite not providing a shred of evidence to back up these claims, denying documents to the courts, parliament and under FOI.

This new study starkly contrasts what Labor has been saying and reveals that living conditions can be improved for residents and more housing can be built at the sites, with less financial investment from the government than if they were to push ahead with their current plan to demolish and privatise.

The study led by the non-for-profit design and research practice OFFICE proposes a way to refurbish existing and infill new social housing at the Flemington Estate without displacing residents or demolishing buildings.

The report forecasts overall savings would be $363,608,253 which could be reinvested into other public housing maintenance and buildings.

The report also reveals that the ‘retain, repair and reinvest’ approach which would provide a 55% reduction of global warming potential compared to demolition, and has also looked at the severe social impacts and psychological trauma of displacing and relocating residents.

Samantha Ratnam:

“It was always only a matter of time until Labor’s flimsy housing plan would start to fall apart”

For over a year Labor has failed to provide a single shred of evidence to justify demolishing public housing and handing it over to private developers. Now we know that their claims that the towers couldn’t be upgraded is utterly baseless.

This report makes it clear – the towers don’t need to be destroyed. Labor could actually save millions of dollars and build more public housing by upgrading the estates, but they’re choosing not to.

We’re in the middle of a housing crisis with more than 120,000 people on the public housing waitlist. We need to be building more public housing, not tearing it down.

Not only has Labor lost credibility on solving the housing crisis, we are also beginning to see Labor deliberately use secrecy and poor transparency to obstruct Victorians from seeing the truth that Labor cares more about its property developer mates than making sure people have a roof over their head.”

Greens plan to overhaul vicious cycle of waste

The Greens have today announced a plan for a National Repairability Star Rating label system to overhaul the vicious cycle of production and waste that’s straining our planet’s resources and overwhelming its waste management capabilities.

To ensure products with embedded batteries – such as smartphones, scooters, children’s toys, portable chargers, vacuums and electric toothbrushes – are safely recycled when they reach their end of life, the Greens are also pushing for a national deposit scheme to cut the growing risk of battery-related fires across Australia’s recycling streams.

Greens spokesperson for waste and recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:

“The current vicious cycle of production and waste is straining our planet’s resources and overwhelming its waste management capabilities.

“It is a toxic triumph of capitalism that companies profit off selling cheaply-made products, such as household appliances, that are designed to be replaced rather than repaired.

“We can’t recycle our way out of this crisis. The best way to reduce waste is to stop it being created in the first place. This means extending the lifecycle of products through reuse and repair initiatives and creating secondary markets for recycled materials, in addition to banning hard-to-recycle materials.

“In a circular economy, everything is built for its end-of-life purpose, and everything has value – but in order to achieve this governments need to encourage, incentivise and enshrine the right to repair the things we own.

“A National Repairability Star Rating label system will help inform and empower consumer product knowledge and choice – but we need more Greens in parliament to make it possible, and to fight major parties’ obsession with corporate profit at the expense of the planet.”

Greens spokesperson for the environment, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young:

“Much of what is currently considered ‘waste’ is actually a valuable resource disposed of incorrectly, and anything else is a design flaw – but this problem has a political solution.

“Governments must hold big corporations to account to build a true circular economy where waste no longer exists because all necessary production has value and stays in a closed-loop system. A National Repairability Star Rating label system will go a long way to achieve this.

“South Australia has been at the forefront of tackling Australia’s waste and recycling crisis – our Container Deposit Scheme has led the way for 45 years and is recognised as one of the most effective in the world.

“In addition to being the first Australian state to introduce a 10-cent deposit on beverage containers; in 2009 we were the first to ban single-use shopping bags; and in 2021 became the first to ban plastic straws. South Australia would be the perfect place for an e-waste deposit scheme trial because people here get it.”

Greens candidate for Sturt, Katie McCusker:

“Incorrectly disposed e-waste items are wreaking havoc on the recycling and resource recovery sector, with years of government inaction now threatening the entire sector’s daily operations.

“E-waste should never be disposed of in kerbside bins due to the growing risk of battery-related fires. Australia’s waste and recycling sector suffers up to 12,000 battery-related fires a year because accessible and safe disposal options for products with embedded batteries currently don’t exist.

“These avoidable fires are causing insurance premiums for the recycling sector to skyrocket, putting industry workers and the environment at immense risk, and increasing business costs by over $400,000 per business.

“We can’t continue to allow big corporations that put these products onto the market to pass off financial losses and exclusively privatise profits. For a national deposit scheme to work, governments must force companies to take responsibility for the products they make — and this must include helping to fund safe disposal and processing of e-waste products.

“Change is possible, but in order to see it people need to vote for it.”

Australia’s new Humanitarian Policy

he Australian Government has launched a landmark new Humanitarian Policy to set the long-term direction and focus for Australia’s humanitarian action to ensure it saves lives, alleviates human suffering, and builds resilient communities.

Right now, there is more conflict than any time since the Second World War and the worsening impacts of climate change mean Australia’s humanitarian action must be fit for our times and the future.

The Policy outlines the role Australia will play when need is outstripping the world’s capacity to respond, and disregard for international humanitarian law is increasing.

The new Humanitarian Policy focuses on three priorities:

Building readiness and preparedness to anticipate shocks before they occur and working with our international partners to lessen their impact;
Responding to crises and disasters by delivering support that meets the needs of crisis-affected populations and protects the most vulnerable immediately and in the long-term; and
Reinforcing the international humanitarian system and taking principled and practical steps to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law.

The Policy maintains Australia’s focus on the Indo-Pacific, where Australia can make the greatest impact, drawing on our strengths and deep relationships.

Australia will also provide $5 million to support a newly-established Asia-Pacific Regional Humanitarian Fund to rapidly respond to escalation in humanitarian needs in complex crises and disasters in our region.

The launch of the Policy complements the Albanese Government’s global initiative to drive action to protect aid workers in conflict zones, announced at the United Nations last month.

Australia brought together ministers from Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom who agreed to pursue a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia has a proud history of supporting those in need during conflict and crises, but a changing world requires a new approach.
“The new Humanitarian Policy is not just about saving lives and meeting humanitarian needs. It is also about protecting the peace, stability and prosperity that we want for Australia, our region and the world.
“It is ultimately about shaping a world where humanitarian assistance is needed far less often.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“When Australia’s friends and neighbours need help, we respond – just as they have consistently helped Australia in our own times of need.
“Our new Humanitarian Policy builds on the relationships and partnerships we have forged over time, enabling even stronger support when disaster strikes.
“It continues our tradition of leadership and principled humanitarian action as a partner of choice, while better positioning us for the challenges of the future.”

Negotiations to begin for an Australia-Mongolia Social Security Agreement

The Albanese Labor Government is entering into negotiations with the Mongolian Government on a bilateral social security agreement.

An agreement would enhance access to certain Australian and Mongolian social security benefits for eligible people who have lived and/or worked in both countries.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said an agreement would not only help strengthen ties with Mongolia, but would also offer greater freedom and choice for eligible people on how and where they spend their retirement.

“Generally, agreements allow people to maximise their income by helping them claim payments from both Australia and other countries, where they have spent part of their life making a living for themselves,” Minister Rishworth said.

“An agreement also has the potential to benefit businesses as well as individuals in both countries.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, said the commencement of negotiations is an important step in growing the Australia-Mongolia relationship.

“Australia and Mongolia are working together to deepen our cooperation across a range of areas including our people-to-people ties, economic and education linkages.

“This agreement to commence negotiations will benefit both Mongolians and Australians and encourage trade and investment between our two countries.”

An agreement between Australia and Mongolia would build on Australia’s existing portfolio of 32 international social security agreements, following the recent commencement of the Social Security Agreement between Australia and Serbia.

Mongolian Ambassador, Davaasuren Damdinsuren said he values the agreement as an essential milestone for strengthening the relationship between Mongolia and Australia.

“It demonstrates both Governments’ commitment to protect and ensure the rights and interests of its citizens residing overseas,” Ambassador Davaasuren said.

Ambassador Davaasuren acknowledges the importance of the agreement for strengthening bilateral relations in people-to-people ties and to encourage trade and investments between two countries.

“This agreement will enormously benefit to the peoples of both countries residing each other’s territory.”

In addition to improving bilateral relations, international social security agreements:

assist eligible people who have moved between Australia and an agreement country to access pensions from both countries they may not otherwise be able to access,
provide increased flexibility and choice to eligible individuals upon retirement, and
reduce business costs, promote bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

More information on Australia’s current international social security agreements and what they do is available on the Department of Social Services website.

Qantas to operate Palau Paradise Express

Australia and Palau are pleased to announce Qantas has been selected to operate the Palau Paradise Express, a direct flight service connecting Brisbane, Australia and Koror, Palau.

This service, which commenced in May this year, is supported by the Government of Australia and the Government of Palau and is expected to operate through to at least November 2025.

The Palau Paradise Express boosts air connectivity in the Pacific promoting tourism, trade and stronger people to people links.

This announcement comes as Australia and Palau celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, demonstrating the warmth and strength of our relationship.

President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. President of the Republic of Palau:

“We appreciate Australia for partnering with us to promote economic activity between our two nations. The flight makes it easier for tourists and businesspeople to travel between our two nations and encourages trade and commerce.
“It also provides opportunities to work together, building people to people relationships, supporting education, and work force training that is already taking place. We look forward to welcoming more Australians to Palau and trust that this continued partnership in aviation will further extend our already broad and warm relationship with Australia.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia and Palau have partnered to expand connectivity in the Pacific, and increase tourism, trade and business opportunities.
“The Palau Paradise Express is a demonstration of the closeness of our partnership with Palau.
“Australia is working with the Pacific, and investing in a resilient and sustainable aviation sector which supports a more connected and prosperous region.”

NSW first in the world to identify number of people living with metastatic breast cancer

In a world first, Cancer Institute NSW has identified that around 7,900 people in NSW are living with metastatic breast cancer. A discovery which will help improve cancer outcomes not just in NSW, but across the entire country.

Using the Cancer Institute NSW’s unique linked data sets, a methodology which will soon be shared nationally and internationally, it has been determined that 7,850 women and 50 men in NSW are living with metastatic breast cancer.

Understanding the number of people living with this disease will help overcome the feeling of invisibility described by so many and ensure that NSW is prepared to support the growing number of people living with and surviving cancer, thanks to medical advancements in treatment and care.

It will also ensure health professionals and researchers better understand the impact of diagnostics and treatment on breast cancer recurrence and survival, and work to make life-changing improvements in cancer research, care and policy reform.

Metastatic breast cancer is an invasive form of breast cancer which has spread from the breast to other parts of the body. While the number of people initially diagnosed with breast cancer is available through each state and territories cancer registries, the exact number of people who go on to develop metastatic breast cancer, following an initial breast cancer diagnosis, is unknown in Australia and around the world.

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) has led Australian advocacy efforts to develop a clearer picture of the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer, holding a roundtable last year with key government, non-government and community agencies.

Following the roundtable, the Cancer Institute NSW set to work to identify the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer, using well established and robust data assets.

By linking cancer incidence and mortality data with NSW clinical datasets, Commonwealth Medicare Benefits Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule and National Death Index data, the Institute was able to determine the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer in NSW.

The Cancer Institute NSW will soon share its robust data methodology to help support national and international efforts in understanding and treating metastatic breast cancer

Today, Minister for Health Ryan Park also opened a new BreastScreen NSW clinic at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick. For eligible women, a breast screen every two years can help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages when it is easier to treat. For more information on breast cancer and breast cancer screening visit www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“As NSW Health Minister, I am incredibly proud NSW clinicians and researchers have made this remarkable discovery.

“NSW is proud to lead global efforts to understand how many people are living with metastatic breast cancer and lift the veil of uncertainty and invisibility experienced by thousands of people in our community.

“Australia is now one step closer to understanding just how many people are impacted by this aggressive form of breast cancer, and in an important next step, understanding how many other people in our community are living with other forms of metastatic cancer.”

Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:

“This is an important step forward for people with metastatic breast cancer in New South Wales and I applaud the world-leading efforts of Cancer Institute NSW.

“Knowledge is power and this information will help drive a new era of research to improve the lives of thousands of people, not just in NSW but across the country.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:

“I congratulate the Cancer Institute NSW on this incredible research.

“With breast cancer being the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, discoveries like this helps us get ahead and ensure that NSW is prepared to support the growing number of people living with and surviving cancer.”

Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill:

“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time for women to make an appointment for your next mammogram. It’s quick, it’s easy and it’s free.

“The refurbished and expanded BreastScreen NSW clinic here at The Royal Hospital for Women will make such a difference for local women, and as a result between 3 – 5 thousand additional women will be able to get a potentially life-saving mammogram each year.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien AM:

“While our global understanding of cancer has improved significantly, cancer rates are projected to triple in the coming decades with more people currently living with cancer than are being newly diagnosed.

“Pinpointing how many people have metastatic breast cancer is more than just knowing a number. It’s about giving a voice, options and hope to people living with and beyond cancer and letting them know we see them and are here for them.

“Although a cure for metastatic breast cancer remains the ultimate goal, our immediate focus must be on helping those living longer with the disease to live well. It’s not just about treating the cancer – it’s about treating the whole person, improving their quality of life and addressing their physical, emotional, financial and practical needs.”

Director Policy, Advocacy & Support Services Breast Cancer Network Australia Vicki Durston:

“NSW is setting a benchmark as the first state to establish a method for reporting on the number of people living with metastatic breast cancer.

“The data we now have reveals a reality far greater than we ever anticipated. BCNA stands for every individual whose life remains invisible in cancer data registries—not just here in Australia, but globally.”

Breast Cancer Network Australia Consumer Representative Lisa Rankin:

“As someone living with metastatic breast cancer, I am incredibly excited that it is now possible to recognise those living with the disease. Until now we have been hidden in plain sight and vastly underestimated in numbers.

“I want to thank the NSW Government and BCNA’s advocacy for their achievement. I look forward to the positive change which will result from being recognised, improving the lives of those living with the disease, their families and others important to them.”

NSW Government supports amended Equality Bill

The NSW Government is today announcing the government’s support of the proposed amended Equality Bill to offer protections for members of the LGBTIQA+ community.

First introduced to NSW Parliament in August 2023 by the Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich, this Bill has been subject to extensive consultation, including a Parliamentary inquiry.

The NSW Government has worked with the Member of Sydney on a number of proposed amendments.

The amended Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 proposes various legislative changes, including:

Allowing people to change their registered sex through an administrative process, without requiring surgery.
Making hatred for or prejudice against transgender, gender diverse or intersex people an aggravating factor in sentencing.
Updating terminology in laws to replace terms such as “HIV infection” and “suffering with AIDS” to “living with HIV/AIDS”.
Clarifying in the Mental Health Act 2007 that expressing, or refusing to express, a particular gender identity does not that someone has a mental illness.
Enabling a parentage order to be made for a child born through international commercial surrogacy, if it is in the best interests of the child and other criteria and important safeguards are met.

The changes to allow people to register a change of sex without surgery are simple changes that will bring NSW in line with all other jurisdictions across the country.

This follows ongoing work by the NSW Government to progress reforms that ensure all members of our community feel valued, respected and equal.

The Minns Labor Government has already fulfilled our election commitment to ban ‘LGBTQ+ conversion practices’ through the Conversion Practices Ban Act 2024, which passed the NSW Parliament in March.

The Premier also issued a formal apology in June to people convicted under discriminatory laws that criminalised homosexual acts, and passed legislation this year that meant more of these offences were able to be extinguished.

In September, the NSW Government supported all 19 recommendations delivered by the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes, which examined the unsolved deaths of LGBTIQ people and found shortfalls in historical responses by the NSW Government.

The Government has also announced that it is establishing the LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council, which will provide a mechanism for ongoing community consultation.

Penny Sharpe, Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council said:

“The changes proposed by the Equality Bill will make NSW a safer and more inclusive place – and they’ve been a long time coming.

“People in every other state of Australia are already able to change their sex without requiring surgery, and this legislation will bring us in line with the rest of the country.

“As a government, we’ve been committed to equality for a long time. Supporting this bill is our latest step to ensure every citizen in NSW is valued.”

Michael Daley, Attorney General of New South Wales said:

“The Equality Bill seeks to change multiple pieces of legislation to make NSW a more inclusive place.

“As legislators, it is our job to reflect the views of the community, and in this instance, it is clearly time for these pieces of legislation to be updated.”

Sydney Opera House illuminated to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Australia

The Sydney Opera House shells will be illuminated on Friday night as NSW welcomes King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Australia, with Sydneysiders and visitors invited to head into the city to see the spectacular projection.

Curated by the NSW Government, the projection consists of a four-minute photo montage from Their Majesties’ previous visits to the state and the nation. The images reflect the diverse ways in which Their Majesties have engaged with and celebrated NSW and Australia over the years.

The illumination will commence at 8pm on Friday, 18 October to coincide with Their Majesties’ arrival into Sydney.

This will be the King’s first visit as Sovereign – the first visit by a reigning monarch since Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2011.

The NSW Government is honoured to welcome The King and Queen to Sydney and is inviting NSW residents to join the celebration.

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to see Their Majesties at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt on Tuesday afternoon, 22 October at 4.20pm. This opportunity will be followed by an impressive Fleet Review and fly past by the Australian Defence Force on Sydney Harbour concluding at 5.20pm.

For more information about the Royal Visit and the Sydney Opera House engagement visit: www.nsw.gov.au/royalvisit

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We are lighting up the Sydney Opera House to warmly welcome The King and Queen to our beautiful harbour city.

“The photo projection on the Opera House sails celebrates a historic moment – The King’s first visit to NSW as Sovereign – and is a fitting tribute.

“I also invite everyone to the Opera House forecourt next Tuesday afternoon to join The King and Queen.

“NSW is looking forward to hosting this milestone visit and I encourage everyone to make the most of it.”

Restart a Heart and save a life

Minister for Health Ryan Park is calling on more people to sign up as a NSW Ambulance GoodSAM volunteer this Restart a Heart Day so they can help save a life if someone near them has a cardiac arrest.

NSW Ambulance attends to around 9,000 people in NSW who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year and statistics show only 12 per cent of people who receive resuscitation survive.

The GoodSAM app works by alerting registered responders when someone near them goes into cardiac arrest and a Triple Zero (000) call has been received.

The GoodSAM app has helped directly save 36 lives in NSW since it was launched in 2023.

Responders can opt whether or not to accept the alert and respond by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), while at the same time, an ambulance is dispatched.

NSW Ambulance has incorporated the NSW public access defibrillator registry into the GoodSAM app, meaning responders can also see if an automated external defibrillator (AED) is located near a person experiencing cardiac arrest and use it to improve that person’s chance of survival.

John Cornell is one of the lucky survivors of a cardiac arrest, thanks to his fast-thinking teenage son and bystanders who sprang into action when he collapsed in March, and he is showing his support for Restart a Heart Day by sharing his story.

John said his cardiac arrest came out of nowhere while he and his son were out for a walk in Lawson, in the NSW Blue Mountains.

While John’s son Matthew called Triple Zero (000), community members began chest compressions and fetched an AED from a nearby public swimming pool, which they used to restart his heart.

When they arrived, paramedics took John to the emergency department at Blue Mountains District Anzac Memorial Hospital, before he spent 12 days in the Intensive Care Unit at Nepean Hospital, where he had another heart attack.

Fortunately, he has since made a full recovery.

Restart a Heart Day is an international campaign, coordinated in Australia and New Zealand by the Council of Ambulance Authorities, reminding people how to respond if they believe someone has suffered a cardiac arrest:

Call: Triple (000) and ask for Ambulance and follow their instructions
Push: begin chest compressions by linking your hands and pushing hard and fast
Shock: if available, use an AED to shock the person’s heart.

Members of the community can sign up as a GoodSAM volunteer and learn lifesaving CPR and how to use a defibrillator with NSW Ambulance paramedics, who will be at Parramatta Farmers Market, Centenary Square, Parramatta from 7.30am to 2.00pm today.

You can register as a GoodSAM responder if you’re 18 years old or over, and able and willing to provide chest compressions, which are easy and safe to do. You don’t need to have formal first aid or CPR training. To register, please visit: ambulance.nsw.gov.au/goodsam

In 2022, the NSW Government announced a $2.5 million partnership between NSW Ambulance and the GoodSAM responder app.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“The best chance of survival for anyone having an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is receiving early chest compressions and defibrillation from an automated external defibrillator.

“The first eight minutes after someone suffers a cardiac arrest is crucial and for every minute a patient is in cardiac arrest and does not receive CPR or a shock from a defibrillator, their chance of survival drops by 7 to 10 per cent.

“Restart a Heart Day is a great opportunity to ask yourself if you know what to do if someone near you has a cardiac arrest and to familiarise yourself with the life-saving actions of ‘call, push and shock’ and sign up to GoodSAM.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:

“If you see a community member who has had a cardiac arrest, the best thing you can do is call Triple Zero (000) and start chest compressions.

“Over 8,000 community members have already joined our free life-saving GoodSAM program and more volunteers will lead to more lives being saved.

“GoodSAM volunteers nearby will be notified as an ambulance is being dispatched and our emergency medical call taker will give you clear instructions and stay with you on the phone until paramedics arrive.”

John Cornell:

“There are so many people that I need to thank, but unfortunately I don’t know who most of them are.

“They call the blockage that I had in my heart ‘the widow maker’, and my family really took the brunt of the trauma of everything that happened.”

NSW sets target to boost billion-dollar screen and digital games industries, supporting thousands of jobs

Supporting Australian storytelling, developing the next generation of creative talent, and a plan to grow the digital games sector are the key priorities of the new three-year screen and digital games strategy.

The NSW screen industry added almost $1.1 billion to the state economy in 2021-22 and is currently home to 51% of Australia’s screen production, and 49% of post-production businesses. To ensure NSW remains the leading screen state, the NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy will:

Invest in developing local talent and audiences, including:

$1 million pilot program to address skills shortages will be developed and rolled out with TAFE, AFTRS and NIDA to fast-track entry level and mid-career below the line practitioners in the below the line workforce.
$200,000 IP option fund to give producers the ability to purchase IP rights to turn home-grown novels, non-fiction work and podcasts into screen and gaming content, so we have more Australian stories on screen.
$200,000 Community Film Festival Opening Night Fund will support communities share the vibrancy of screen stories with audiences from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, by bringing them together to enjoy screen community film festivals.

Role of Screen NSW

New film friendly legislation will be introducedto ensure a strengthened standard of working.
Address impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the sector: Screen NSW will convene an industry working group to help develop an Australian industry response to AI, and review funding guidelines.
Priority hotline: The Head of Screen NSW will be given the authority to escalate critically urgent production issues for an urgent government response.

Supporting infrastructure

Addressing the critical shortage of filming infrastructure in NSW, the NSW Government will develop new partnerships with the private sector to explore alternate options for studio space, including a second studio and Callan Park.
Centre for Screen culture and digital innovation. Working with local government and industry partners, the NSW Government will support plans to establish a hub for creative workers across the industry.

Focus on developing digital games industry

The $466 billion global digital gaming industry is highlighted as an enormous opportunity. New incentives to support games production and increase NSW revenue for digital games to $406.39 million in 2027-28 include:

Reducing Digital Games Rebate NSW expenditure minimum from $500,000 down to $350,000. The Rebate is designed to nurture homegrown developers, attract and retain work and talent to the state, and accelerate growth in the NSW digital games sector. While many larger, established studios currently access the Rebate, the lowered threshold mean it will now be more accessible to a broader range of digital games companies in NSW, including many independent studios that currently operate in the state.
Increased investment in the Digital Games Seed Development Program and Market Travel Programs. A flourishing games industry is one that includes large and small developers, an investment of$1.5 million over three years will support digital games producers to essential skills and build their industry networks and knowledge.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“Our people, our stories, and our skills – these are the reasons why more than half of Australian screen production happens here in NSW. This strategy sets out how the government and the industry could work together to build on that.

“While there has been a recent slowdown in global screen production, the Federal Government’s increased location offset will see Australia gain a greater share of that market. This strategy recognises the opportunities that brings, as well as the pressure that puts on NSW production facilities.

“We have identified ways of cutting the red tape that has made NSW a ‘No’ state when it comes to attracting productions. Backed by the introduction of a NSW Screen and Digital Games Act, we aim to make NSW a ‘Yes’ state.

“For the first time in NSW, we are putting digital gaming front and centre. This strategy sets out a ‘hothouse’ approach that backs existing high performing producers to support the ambitious target of 20% compound annual growth in the sector.”

Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth said:

“I am thrilled to be able to drive this strategy and provide a path forward for our sector, working towards a vibrant and sustainable future for all screen practitioners and game makers in NSW.

“Storytelling has the power to unite and inspire, and as a state with such a rich depth of talent, we strive to be known as the place to create compelling stories. This is an exciting time for our sector as, while developing this strategy, we have taken stock of where the industry is at and looked forward to where we want to be in the next three years. This has informed our strategy and with this vital support we want to move forward with the industry and take it to new heights.

“I am confident this strategy will provide assurance that Screen NSW are committed to supporting NSW stories and storytellers.”

Background

The strategy outlines four strategic priority focuses to support and sustainably grow the screen and digital games sector. These include:

Creating stories: We lead the way in making enriching, high calibre stories and cultural content for local and global audiences.
Building sustainable growth: Our businesses are globally recognised, connected and competitive. High quality, accessible spaces help them grow and create jobs that are future proofed and sustainable.
Improving capacity and capability: We set best practice standards to ensure workers have career pathways, are respected, safe, appropriately remunerated and supported in their career ambitions.
Developing audiences to increase demand: Local content finds and delights diverse audiences locally and around the world.

New legislation: The strategy includes proposed new legislation to ensure screen friendly approaches across local councils and state government agencies.

In 2025, the NSW Government will introduce the NSW Screen and Digital Games Act to strengthen NSW as a film-friendly jurisdiction, reduce red-tape and provide the highest level of cooperation across government with filmmakers to maximise opportunities for the sector. This will strengthen elements of the Making NSW Film Friendly Premier’s Memorandum and incorporate an updated Local Government Filming Protocol.

Renewed Screen NSW agency: The strategy will provide Screen NSW with greater independence and will build its capacity to continue to strengthen and grow the industry. This will mean:

Shortening investment approval timeframes, contracting and payment terms.
Legislation will be introduced for the Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee to include digital games representation and renaming the board to reflect this update.
The Head of Screen NSW will be given the authority to escalate critically urgent production issues for an urgent government response.

The full strategy available is here: Screen NSW – NSW Screen and Digital Games Strategy