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World-leading biosecurity research facility given $31 million boost

Construction has begun on $31 million infrastructure upgrades at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI) as part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to protecting the state’s agriculture sector, supporting research and innovation and strengthening our biosecurity capabilities.

The world-class facility in Menangle plays a critical role with a team of renowned scientists working to find new ways to reduce threats to agriculture, the environment, and our community.

The Minns Government is helping build-up and protect the state’s primary industries with $100 million invested over the last year in agricultural research and more than $1 billion in biosecurity systems and programs.

The latest upgrades at EMAI include:

  • a $15 million high-containment insectary that will strengthen NSW’s capacity to protect agriculture and the environment from damaging insect and mite pests.

The facility will enable rapid, secure research to respond to exotic incursions, and improve biosecurity preparedness for industries such as grains, horticulture, livestock, forestry and cotton, as well as the environment, by increasing the likelihood of a successful response.

This facility was funded by the NSW Government with a $2 million contribution from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

  • $6.5 million to renovate the existing greenhouse complex to support plant biosecurity research and diagnostics. This includes the host diversity of new and emerging pathogens, developing new surveillance methods, and improved control options.

Plant industries depend on pathogen-tested propagation stock, so upgraded greenhouse facilities will strengthen early detection of exotic and emerging pathogens.

  • $4.8 million to extend the animal house facility to support priority biosecurity research.
  • $4.7 million to other critical laboratory and infrastructure upgrades across the EMAI campus.

The greenhouse research complex, animal house research facility extension and critical laboratory and infrastructure upgrades are funded under the Minns Government’s $60 million Critical Infrastructure Uplift Program.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute is one of the world’s leading primary industries research centres and the Minns Government is committed to making it even better.

“The work undertaken by the dedicated scientists has aided biosecurity response capacity for red imported fire ant, Xylella, khapra beetle, Japanese encephalitis virus and white spot syndrome virus, protecting the State’s multibillion dollar primary industries sector.

“The Minns Government recognises how crucial biosecurity research is with this $31 million investment in labs, greenhouses, and research facilities at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute.

“NSW Government scientists continue to deliver world-first breakthroughs which have long-lasting benefits to agriculture, the environment and our community. This funding recognises the critical role our scientists continue to play in preventing biosecurity incursions and improving our preparedness.

“Collaboration is a key component for EMAI scientists who have been able to deliver world-firsts, such as developing a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease this year. Investing in these facilities gives our researchers the opportunity to continue their studies and work with international counterparts to protect our industries.”

“Our scientists and researchers are delivering world-first and Australia-first discoveries that are helping protect our industries, strengthen our biosecurity, improve productivity and support farmers right across the state.

“From cutting-edge science to practical innovations that directly benefit regional communities, EMAI is where some of the brightest minds are pushing the boundaries of research and development right here in NSW.

“This work often happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is absolutely critical to the future of our primary industries and reinforces NSW as a national leader in agricultural innovation.”

Case studies:

FMD Vaccine World First

  • Researchers at EMAI played a critical role in developing the world-first vaccine.
  • This is a once-in-a-generation development that puts Australia at the forefront of the development of these types of vaccines.
  • Protecting our livestock from devastating animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD), is a vitally important initiative for Australia.
  • An outbreak of FMD could cost the Australian economy up to $80 billion through trade disruption and response to the disease.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) response

  • The Virology Laboratory at EMAI was the first lab in Australia to identify the presence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in foetal pig samples.
  • The lab’s virologists and veterinary pathologists were unable to resolve what was causing illnesses in pigs, so the team ran a broader virus diagnostic to detect the group of viruses that includes JEV.
  • The detection of JEV in Central NSW and south to the Murray River was an unexpected and significant finding.
  • After the diagnosis, health authorities were able to confirm JEV in human cases of encephalitis which up until then had an undiagnosed cause.

Varroa and suspect Polyphagous shothole borer (PSHB) samples

  • Collaboration between the molecular entomology and biotechnology teams at EMAI, using Advanced Gene Technology Centre (AGTC) facilities, led to successful barcode sequencing to confirm or deny the presence of serious exotic pests in less than 24 hours.
  • In the case of varroa in 2022, the team confirmed varroa the morning after samples were received at EMAI.
  • For two suspect Polyphagous shothole borer samples, the team followed up on suspect protein fingerprint profiles that indicated the material could be PSHB, with barcode sequencing undertaken overnight to confirm NSW was still free of PSHB.

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week – a time to reflect and go ‘all in’

Today is National Sorry Day, a time when we acknowledge the lasting impacts caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.  

Survivors and their descendants continue to demonstrate incredible strength and resilience, ensuring their stories and truths are shared.  

National Reconciliation Week, which starts tomorrow, is a reminder of the role we can all play in strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) begins each year on the anniversary of the successful 1967 referendum and ends on the anniversary of the historic 1992 High Court Mabo decision recognising Native Title.

This year’s Reconciliation Week theme, ‘All In’, is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation; not just today, but every day.  

The NSW Government is committed to work in partnership with Aboriginal organisations, communities, and people to Close the Gap.

We know that when Closing the Gap solutions are designed, led, and implemented by Aboriginal people and communities, in partnership with Government, we get better outcomes.

Our focus is on shared decision-making.

Going ‘All In’ can mean taking practical action in your workplace, school, sporting club or community. It can mean attending or holding a reconciliation event, supporting Aboriginal businesses and artists, learning about the history of your local area, listening to Aboriginal voices, or starting a conversation about reconciliation with family and friends.  

Communities across NSW will mark the week with walks, cultural events, language workshops, exhibitions, performances and community gathering. There are dozens of events to get involved in.

Visit the https://www.reconciliation.org.au/ website to find an event near you. 

$30 million Wentworth Health Service Redevelopment open

Wentworth and surrounding communities are benefitting from improved and enhanced healthcare services, with the official opening of the new $30 million Wentworth Health Service.

The new purpose-built health service includes a 19-bed Inpatient Unit, palliative care suite, dining room, family gathering room, patient gym, a reception area and waiting room, courtyards and community health rooms.

The new facility has been built on the existing hospital site, which overlooks the Darling River and features high ceilings, natural light and colours that reflect the natural surroundings of the site. Local art brings the health service to life, and the unique history of the old hospital is reflected in a heritage display and framed photographs along the Inpatient Unit corridor.

A strong sense of Connecting with Country is also evident within the new Health Service, with a scar tree sculpture and canoe-shaped oculus at the entry. Signs in Barkindji language will welcome consumers and visitors, and local native plants, with descriptions about their traditional uses, will be incorporated in the landscaping for the new health facility.

The facility includes a new ambulance access bay which links through to a new Urgent Care Centre, located within the new health services building.

The Urgent Care Centre is open 24/7 and is a dedicated space for people to be seen and treated for a range of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

The Wentworth Health Service facility was delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with Far West Local Health District and HPAC Pty Ltd as the contractor. Final works including landscaping is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to delivering world-class health care across the state and has invested $3.4 billion to deliver new and upgraded health services in regional NSW.

More information about the redevelopment is available at Wentworth Health Service Redevelopment.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“The official opening of the new $30 million Wentworth Health Service marks a significant milestone for the local community and ensures staff, patients and the local community have access to improved services, modern health facilities and care closer to home.

“It’s a unique facility which has been designed to help meet the healthcare needs of Wentworth and surrounding communities now and into the future.

“The new purpose-built health service will provide enhanced health services, including a 19-bed Inpatient Unit, palliative care suite, community health rooms, and much more.”

Member for Murray Helen Dalton MP:

“The new Wentworth Health Service is a great reflection of the local environment and people, who were integral in the planning and design of the new health facility.

“We are also proud that Wentworth is one of the first 100 per cent fully electrified hospitals in NSW, with sustainability a key feature in the design.”

Labor Spokesperson for Murray Bob Nanva:

“It’s important that our health facilities are not just functional, but are pleasant spaces that help people to feel at ease and to heal.

“The design of the new facility reflects the culture, colours, landscape and history of the local area.”

E-bike backflip exposes Labor’s glacial failure on Sydney’s streets

NSW Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward today called out the Minns Government’s embarrassing backflip on e-bike number plates and warned that after months of talk and tinkering nothing on the ground has changed.
 
Earlier this year, Transport Minister John Graham went on 2GB to rubbish the idea of number plates on e-bikes, declaring they “won’t help with enforcement.” Now his own government’s draft regulations are proposing exactly that for shared e-bikes.
 
“Call it a number plate, call it a ‘fleet identification number’, it’s the same thing, and the Minister said it wouldn’t work. Now, he is implementing it.” Ms Ward said.
 
Ms Ward slammed the Government’s half-measure approach, pointing out the regulations only target shared bikes, completely ignoring the dropkicks on private e-bike terrorising parks, footpaths and people across the city.
 
“The ratbags causing chaos aren’t on shared e-bikes. They’re on private e-bikes, and Labor has done absolutely nothing about the reckless behaviour,” she said.
 
To make matters worse, the new laws for shared bikes passed Parliament six months ago, and the Government still hasn’t brought them into force.
 
“Six months. Not a single regulation in effect. It’s all consultation and talk meanwhile, innocent Sydneysiders are dodging e-bikes left stranded across the footpath.” Ms Ward said.
 
The Liberals and Nationals have called on Labor to support amendments giving police the power to immediately seize private e-bikes based on behaviour, not specifications.
 
“We’ve got renamed number plates for some e-bikes but still no accountability for ratbags.”
  
“NSW deserves a government that moves at the speed of the problem. This one is still stuck in first gear.”

Appeal to locate man missing from Speers Point

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the state’s Lake Macquarie’s region.

Evan Davies, aged 55, was last seen at Speers Point, about 5pm last Friday (22 May 2026).

When he was unable to be located or contacted officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were notified yesterday (Monday 25 May 2026) and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

There are serious concerns for Evan’s welfare.

Evan is described as Caucasian appearance, 185cm tall, medium build, bald, unshaven and brown eyes.

It was not know what he maybe wearing.

Evan is known to frequent the Speers Point and Sydney metropolitan area.

He maybe driving a white 1990 Volkswagen panel van bearing NSW registration RLH993.

Anyone with information into Evan’s whereabouts is urged to contact Belmont Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

New Salvos Report exposes Cost-of-Living Emergency for Australia’s Poorest

91% skipping meals, 60% eating expired food and 1 in 5 eating from bins – New Salvos Report exposes Cost-of-Living Emergency for Australia’s Poorest

The Salvation Army today issued an urgent warning that Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is spiralling into an emergency for the nation’s most marginalised people, with a new report revealing nearly one in five (19%) people surveyed saying they had eaten from bins and three in five (60%) saying they had eaten expired or spoiled food in the past 12 months. 
 
The new report surveyed 4,400 Australians seeking emergency relief support from The Salvation Army and revealed widespread food insecurity and severe financial distress, with 91% saying they skipped meals in the past 12 months and almost one third (32%) saying this happened daily. 
 
The report also found one third (35%) said they survived on only one meal a day and 67% said they watered down food or drinks to make them last longer. 
 
One community member who received support from The Salvation Army said, “We starve, it’s that simple. We drink water because it fills us up. We walk a bit to take our minds off this horrible life we are in, and we beg whoever we can for help.”
 
Another community member simply said they “go without food, find thrown-out food, look in bins” in order to survive.
 
Children are increasingly bearing the brunt of the crisis, with 35% of parents saying their children had gone to school hungry and almost 6 in 10 (59%) households with school-aged children saying kids had missed school because families could not afford transport costs in the past 12 months.
 
“It is deeply confronting to see so many people across our community pushed to such desperate levels of hardship, where parents are skipping meals, children are going to school hungry and people are eating spoiled food or even eating from bins simply to survive,” says Major Bruce Harmer from The Salvation Army.
 
“No one in Australia should be forced to choose between heating their home, feeding their children or buying medication, yet this is the reality facing more and more people every single day.”
 
The report highlighted widespread “energy poverty”, with 84% of respondents going to bed early to keep warm, 63% living in darkness, relying on candles and torches, and almost half (49%) using public places such as shopping centres or public bathrooms to avoid using electricity at home.
 
Medical care is also increasingly out of reach, with over half (51%) unable to afford to see a doctor, dentist or optometrist, 46% unable to afford prescription medication and one quarter (25%) relying on hospital emergency departments instead of visiting a GP.
 
Another mum who received support from the Salvos said , “We never have enough food. We buy what is cheap and rely on help and food banks. I am very careful about our electricity use. My oldest son has been making do this year with only one school shirt. We put water in dish soap, shampoo, cleaning products, and other items to stretch them. We rarely buy milk, but when we do, we add water to make it last longer. We don’t spend money on clothing. We often fill prescriptions late or don’t take them daily to stretch them out further.”
Further findings from the report included:
· 82% said they had gone an entire day without eating in the past year.
· 87% said they avoided using heating or cooling over the past year due to cost pressures
· 77% said they had been unable to properly heat or cool their home in the past year
· 90% have experienced being unable to afford public transport or fuel for their car
 
The Salvation Army is calling on Australians to support its vital work, with demand for assistance continuing to rise across homelessness, emergency relief, financial hardship, family violence, youth services and community meals. The Salvos’ Red Shield Appeal is aiming to raise $41 million to support those doing it tough across the nation.
 
“Our report surveyed thousands of people who reached out to the Salvos for emergency relief support, with 90% saying they would not have managed financially without the help they received,” Major Harmer adds.
 
“But the need is growing rapidly and we cannot do this alone. Right now, your support can help provide food, financial assistance, safe shelter and hope to Australians doing it incredibly tough.”
 
Across Australia last year, through The Salvation Army’s network of over 400 centres and 2,000 services, the Salvos provided:*
· Assistance to one person every 17 seconds
· More than 1.74 million sessions of care to over 228,000 people in need
· Over 1 million nights of safe accommodation
· More than 1.4 million meals to those who accessed our homelessness services.

Visit to India

Today I will travel to India to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and hold the Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.

In these uncertain times, the Quad is a vital partnership – four nations working together to shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific region.

Together, Australia, India, Japan and the United States are delivering concrete outcomes on shared interests including maritime security, critical minerals supply, infrastructure development and disaster relief.

While in India I will hold the 17th Australia-India Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue with my counterpart, Minister for External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar.

Australia and India’s partnership has never been more consequential.

As Comprehensive Strategic Partners, Australia and India are deepening cooperation in trade and investment, defence and maritime security, climate and energy transition, strategic technology, and education and skills; with an enduring social connection at the heart of our partnership.

The Albanese Government will continue to strengthen Australia’s relationships and work even harder in new and existing coalitions like the Quad as we keep building Australia’s future in an ever less stable world.

Greens: Flotilla participants welcomed home in Sydney after allegations of kidnapping, imprisonment and abuse by Israel

Senator Faruqi joined family, friends, and supporters at Sydney International Airport this morning to welcome home seven of the brave Australian participants on the Global Sumud Flotilla: Neve O’Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, and Anny Mokotow.

These Australians were among the hundreds of humanitarians kidnapped and imprisoned by Israel while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Many participants have reported physical, psychological, and sexual abuse while imprisoned by Israel.

Lines attributable to Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice:

“It was an honour to welcome home to our brave Global Sumud Flotilla participants who have kept our hope alive and who carried with them not just aid, but humanity, love, and a commitment to a free Palestine.

“The kidnapping, abuse, torture, and violence they were forced to endure at the hands of Israel is depraved, but I can see that their spirits remain unbroken. We are so proud and grateful to all of them and their families. They give so many others the inspiration to keep speaking out for Palestine and holding our own government to account.

“The world has been horrified to see the treatment by Israel of civilians on a legal mission to deliver life-saving aid and break the illegal siege of Gaza, just as the world has been horrified by Israel’s genocide, mass murder and starvation of Palestinians over the last two and a half years.

“Israel was able to abuse and torture Australians so brazenly only because it has been given full cover, impunity and active support by countries like Australia to keep committing and escalating their crimes against Palestinians.

“Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong should be ashamed for calling Israel a friend and an ally, not only because of the abhorrent abuse of flotilla activists, but because of Israel’s ongoing and brutal occupation, apartheid and genocide of Palestinians.

“It is frightening how little the Labor government cares about Palestinian lives or indeed the safety of our own citizens.

“If Labor gives a damn about peace, international law or justice, they need to stop shaking hands with the architects of this genocide and they need to stop believing Israel’s lies and propaganda. Instead, they must sanction Israel, end the arms trade and cut ties. Useless words expressing grave concern mean nothing when people in Palestine and Lebanon are being killed every single day.”

“Total capitulation to the gun lobby” Greens say as Jacinta Allan’s Labor rejects firearm ownership caps

The Victorian Greens say the Allan Government has capitulated to the gun lobby after rejecting a key recommendation from former Police Commissioner Ken Lay to cap the number of firearms a person can own, following the Bondi massacre.

Despite accepting 15 of the 16 recommendations from the firearms review commissioned after the Bondi tragedy, Labor refused to support limits on the number of guns a single licence holder can possess.

The review found some recreational hunters own up to 68 firearms, while some sports shooters own as many as 288.

Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell said Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government had put politics and gun lobbyists ahead of community safety.

the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“Victorians are right to ask why anyone needs dozens or even hundreds of firearms and why Labor is letting them.

“This was Labor’s chance to show leadership on gun reform and community safety, but they blinked because they’re more worried about upsetting powerful gun lobby groups in marginal seats ahead of this year’s election than community safety.

“This is exactly why people are fed up with Labor. They’ll say or do whatever they need to cling to power, even if it means rejecting common-sense reforms to keep people safe, just because the lobbyists will get upset.”

Commissioner Major General Brereton quits the day before his first Senate Estimates appearance — Greens say NACC deserves a fresh start

The Greens have welcomed the resignation of NACC Commissioner Paul Brereton, which came the day before he was due to face Senate Estimates for the first time.

The Greens have been calling for Commissioner Brereton’s resignation for years. Today he has resigned after sustained community and political pressure. 

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge: 

“Paul Brereton’s resignation is the right outcome for the NACC and is a step towards rebuilding trust in the Commission. 

“It is striking that he chose to resign today the day before his first planned appearance at Senate Estimates which was only scheduled following a successful Greens motion in the Senate last sitting week.

“The Robodebt victims, including the people who died as a result of that unlawful scheme, and the hundreds of thousands of Australians harmed by it, deserved better from NACC than they received under Brereton’s leadership. 

“Commissioner Brereton’s inability to appropriately manage conflicts of interest, including relating to the Robodebt scandal, has plagued the NACC and materially damaged public trust. 

“Repeated questioning in Parliament oversight committees has slowly drawn out details of Commissioner Brereton’s ongoing involvement with Defence and this has been essential in shedding light on the NACC.   

“The NACC was established because Australians demanded genuine, independent accountability in the Commonwealth public sector. That task is more important than any single Commissioner.

“The Albanese Government needs to learn from this experience and approach new appointments with a focus on transparency, accountability and with genuine oversight by the Parliamentary Joint Committee into the NACC. 

“The Greens will keep fighting to make sure the NACC becomes the integrity body this country so desperately needs.”