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Productivity Commission highlights need for GST overhaul

The Commonwealth Productivity Commission’s interim report into the GST distribution system is historic.

The Commission has rightly concluded that the Morrison Government’s 2018 changes have been an expensive failure. Leading to some Australians having an automatic entitlement to either better services or lower taxes, or in some cases both, than nearly every other Australian.

The Minns Labor Government’s position is simple.

An Australian living in Cabramatta in Sydney, Carlton in Victoria, Coober Pedy in South Australia or Cairns in Queensland is worthy of the same supports from their governments as an Australian living in Cottesloe in Western Australia.

We look forward to the Commission finalising its report.

And I look forward to attending next month’s public hearings to continue advocating for a system that makes for a stronger Australia and NSW.

Swansea Channel’s permanent fix hits the water

After years of campaigning for a permanent solution for dredging Swansea Channel, a new purpose-built dredge has arrived on Lake Macquarie and is preparing to get to work.

The Turkulliko is undergoing its final water trials ahead of its first major mission: removing around 83,000 cubic metres of sand from two of the channel’s most persistent problem areas.

It marks a major milestone in the delivery of a long-term strategy to maintain safe and reliable access to Lake Macquarie.

The critical fix is the result of a $10 million investment by the Federal Government through its Priority Community Infrastructure Program, which also includes upgrades to the Blacksmiths boat ramp.

The Minns Labor Government has contributed an additional $6 million to support the operation of the new system for the next five years, managed through Transport for NSW Maritime, establishing an ongoing dredging capability for Swansea Channel.

The purpose-built dredger has the ability to remove more than 1,000 cubic metres of sand a day, with material pumped by pipeline to Nine Mile Beach, south of Belmont Golf Club.

Its first major campaign will focus on the Dog Leg and Drop Over, establishing a navigational channel approximately 60 metres wide and three metres deep.

The dredge has been given the Awabakal name Turkulliko, meaning “to drag along” or “to draw”.

Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of August, with dredging planned to begin afterwards in September.

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:

“This is a huge win for boaties and the Lake Macquarie community.

“We have fought for years for a permanent solution to Swansea Channel. Now the dredge is here, it’s on the water and it’s about to get to work.

“Swansea Channel is the gateway between our lake and the ocean. Keeping it open and safe matters to boaties, local businesses and our entire visitor economy.

“We’ve had dredging campaigns before. What we haven’t had is a dedicated, long-term solution to keep on top of the problem. That’s what changes today.

“This community campaigned hard for this. I was proud to stand with locals at Swansea Yacht Club and fight for it, and I’m even prouder to see it being delivered.”

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:

“After years of advocacy, seeing a dredge on Lake Macquarie marks the start of a long-term approach to keeping Swansea Channel open and accessible.

“Having a dedicated dredge gives Transport for NSW the ability to manage sand build-up over the long term, rather than simply responding when navigation becomes difficult.

“For the thousands of boats using Swansea Channel each year, this is about creating a safer, deeper and more dependable passage into and out of Lake Macquarie.”

Backing Aboriginal-led sport to build safer communities

The Minns Labor Government is backing Aboriginal communities to lead local solutions to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence, with up to $625,000 available for Aboriginal-led initiatives that harness the power of sport and active recreation to drive positive change.

The Aboriginal Sport for Respect Grant Program will support culturally grounded, community-led programs that use sport to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV), promote respectful relationships and help create safer communities.

Sport plays a powerful role in communities across New South Wales, bringing people together, building strong connections and providing trusted environments where important conversations can take place.

The Minns Labor Government is investing in Aboriginal-led organisations that understand their communities and are best placed to develop programs that are culturally appropriate, locally relevant and capable of creating lasting change.

The Program is open to Aboriginal-led organisations, as well as eligible sport, recreation and local government organisations that can demonstrate strong partnerships with Aboriginal communities.

Successful projects will use sport and active recreation to deliver primary prevention messaging and activities, helping challenge the attitudes and behaviours that can drive violence before it occurs.

The Program forms part of the NSW Government’s $38 million Primary Prevention Strategy 2024–2028 to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence.

Under the Strategy, up to $1 million over two years will be invested to establish, expand and strengthen Aboriginal-led primary prevention initiatives through sport and active recreation, with a particular focus on grassroots communities.

Grants of between $3,000 and $25,000 are available to support projects ranging from local grassroots initiatives through to established programs seeking to expand their reach and impact.

Organisations can submit multiple applications, with total funding capped at $25,000 per organisation.

The Office of Sport has also partnered with Aboriginal-owned cultural awareness agency YarnnUp to provide culturally safe support to organisations throughout the application process.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to working alongside Aboriginal communities and backing local organisations with the knowledge, relationships and experience to deliver meaningful change.

By investing in Aboriginal-led prevention and using the reach of community sport, the Government is helping build stronger, safer and more connected communities across New South Wales.

To find out more and apply, visit Aboriginal Sport for Respect Grant Program.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Sport can play a key role in challenging norms and influencing behaviour and perceptions.

“The Aboriginal Sport for Respect Grant Program will support Aboriginal-led organisations and communities to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence through sport programs.

“Importantly, the Program recognises the leadership, strengths, culture and knowledge within Aboriginal communities to deliver culturally meaningful and effective prevention programs.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“This program leverages the power of sport and cultural knowledge to partner with Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations to address the causes of domestic, family and sexual violence.

“We know the best way to close the gap is by Aboriginal people shaping and driving safer communities for Aboriginal people in partnership with Government and the Aboriginal Sport for Respect Grant Program is an excellent example of this.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The Minns Labor Government is working to stop domestic, family and sexual violence before it starts.

“Sport has incredible influence in our communities so the Aboriginal Sport for Respect Grant Program is an important initiative of our primary prevention strategy.

“We want to see fresh ideas from grassroots organisations for Aboriginal-led prevention programs delivered where Aboriginal communities play sport and socialise, to change attitudes and behaviours that tolerate gendered violence, while also promoting healthy relationships and masculinity.

“By empowering Aboriginal-led organisations to deliver community-based sport programs that promote safety, respect and inclusion, we can prevent violence and create a safer state for Aboriginal families.”

Construction underway on Minns Labor Government’s 100th public preschool as Worrigee build begins

Shovels have hit the ground on the 100th new public preschool being delivered by the Minns Labor Government, marking a major milestone in the biggest expansion of public preschools in NSW history.

The 100th milestone will be marked at Worrigee on the South Coast, where a new public preschool for up to 120 children per week is being built alongside a new public primary school to meet the needs of the growing Worrigee and South Nowra communities.

The public preschool will feature three state-of-the-art learning spaces, dedicated staff facilities, a kitchen, and landscaped outdoor play areas. The preschool will also feature separate access, welcoming local young learners from next year as construction takes place for the new primary school.

The new primary school at Worrigee will accommodate 550 students when open on Day 1, Term 1 2028. It will include 24 modern classrooms, three support learning classrooms, a multipurpose hall and canteen, covered outdoor learning area (COLA), library, sports court and staff and administration facilities.

The new school and preschool will cater for local families amid significant growth in South Nowra, which has seen a 150 per cent increase in new homes over the past decade.

The new public school at Worrigee will alleviate pressure on Nowra Public School and Nowra East Public School while also easing traffic in the broader area by reducing the number of students and parents having to travel across suburbs.

This project forms part of more than $250 million invested by the Minns Labor Government in new and upgraded schools across the South Coast, including:

New public preschool at Greenwell Point Public School
New public preschool at Sanctuary Point Public School
Nowra East Public School upgrade
Milton Public School upgrade
Ulladulla Public School upgrade
Ulladulla High School upgrade and
Vincentia High School upgrade.

With work now underway at Worrigee, all 100 new public preschools being delivered through the Minns Labor Government’s $769 million investment are on track to open by early 2027.

Once the 100 new preschools, 49 of which are in regional NSW and 51 in Greater Sydney, are complete, up to 9,000 children across the state will be able to access fee-free high-quality early education in their local community.

The Minns Labor Government’s work towards delivering universal preschool access across the state is in sharp contrast to the former Liberal-National Government, which over 12 years failed to build a single public preschool.

The 100 new public preschool rollout forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education, backed by a record $9.2 billion school infrastructure funding, including $2.3 billion over the next four years for new and upgraded schools across regional NSW.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“With our 100th public preschool officially under construction, families on the South Coast are one step closer to having a brand new, free public preschool and a primary school next door.

“This milestone is part of the $769 million we’re spending across New South Wales to ensure every family has access to high quality early learning, no matter where they live.

“This is not just a line item in the budget. Every dollar we put into our public education system is an investment in the next generation and our state’s future.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Today marks a huge milestone for young families right across the state, delivering the biggest expansion of public early learning NSW has ever seen.

“Parents want to know their child is getting the best possible start in life, and that means investing in access to high-quality public education close to home.

“South Coast families are seeing that investment firsthand, with new public preschools and a brand new public primary school being delivered for the growing Worrigee and South Nowra communities.

“The Liberals and Nationals had 12 years and didn’t build a single public preschool – and we’re getting on with the job of delivering 100.”

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

“This is an exciting day for families in the South Coast, who are one-step closer to accessing world-class, free public early education right at their doorstep.

“We know how important early education is for giving kids the best start to life. This new public pre-school – the 100th delivered by the Minns Government – will deliver that for hundreds of families in the region.

“The Minns Labor Government is doing what the Coalition never did – investing in the essential services communities across the Illawarra and the South Coast need.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“This is a landmark day for our community. Families in Worrigee and South Nowra have waited a long time for a local public school, and today we are breaking ground on that promise.

“The Nowra community continues to grow, and investing in public education is one of the most important things we can do to support that growth and give every child the best possible start in life.

“I’m proud to be here today to see construction get underway and I look forward to welcoming students through the doors in the years ahead.”

Worrigee Public School foundation Principal Chris Klein said:

“Our new school and preschool will be a place where high expectations and academic excellence are at the heart of every classroom.

“Our students will learn to read well, think clearly, reason mathematically and approach the world with curiosity and confidence. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in school, work and community life.

“I am excited to be here today to mark the turn of the first sod and to develop authentic collaboration with Worrigee families, our local Aboriginal community members, our neighbouring schools, and the wider Shoalhaven community.”

Tamworth to host Aboriginal business leaders as NSW builds economic ‘Foundations of Tomorrow’

Aboriginal owners and entrepreneurs looking to grow their business are urged to register for the next NSW Government Aboriginal Business Roundtable in Tamworth to ‘Gather and Grow’.

Taking place on Thursday 10 September 2026 on Gomeroi Country, the theme for the free event is ‘Foundations of Tomorrow’.

It is the 10th NSW Aboriginal Business Roundtable, and the first to be delivered as a joint event alongside ‘Gather and Grow’, the NSW Government’s engagement series to connect First Nations businesses with Government buyers.

The event will bring together new and established Aboriginal business owners, industry leaders and government to connect, network, share knowledge and help shape the future of Aboriginal business in NSW.

Participants will hear keynote addresses from Minister for Finance, Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris, and the Co-Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Business Taskforce Phil Usher.

A panel discussion featuring the NSW Small Business Commissioner Kalina Koloff and leading executives from NSW Treasury and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will explore how the NSW Government can support Aboriginal businesses to grow.

Participants will learn how the NSW Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy supports increased participation in government supply chains, contracts and purchasing opportunities.

The Gather and Grow component will connect regional Aboriginal businesses with government buyers and industry representatives and showcase local Aboriginal business capability.

NSW is unique in having an ongoing Closing the Gap commitment – Priority Reform 5 – specifically supporting Aboriginal economic prosperity and growing a strong Aboriginal business sector.

The Tamworth region is an exemplar of Aboriginal people, organisations and businesses working in partnership with government to Close the Gap via the Tamworth Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (TACCO) and the Mara Ngali place-based partnership agreement.

The event will shine a spotlight on the strength and diversity of the Aboriginal business sector in the Tamworth region.

Supporting Aboriginal businesses has a proven multiplier effect, creating jobs and strengthening Aboriginal communities. There are more registered Aboriginal businesses in NSW than any other state or territory, with over 940 businesses, representing more than 31% of First Nations businesses nationwide (NSW Treasury report, 2025).

Participants are encouraged to attend in person but can join online via livestream.

To register please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal-business-roundtable

Minister for Finance, Natural Resources, Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting local businesses to succeed and grow. I look forward to meeting with Aboriginal organisations to hear more about what we can do together to create opportunities for investment and growth.

“The NSW economy is built on the hard work of business owners who provide local jobs and build stronger communities across the state. Events like “Gather and Grow” help to ensure everyone has the opportunity to do that.

“This event is a fantastic opportunity to help businesses, both new and established, come together and share their knowledge in order to benefit the NSW economy as a whole.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“Aboriginal businesses make a significant contribution to local communities, regional economies and the broader NSW economy.

“This event will celebrate the strength and innovation of the Aboriginal business sector while providing practical opportunities to learn, network and shape future government initiatives.

“I’m looking forward to joining Aboriginal business owners and entrepreneurs in Tamworth, a region with a strong and growing Aboriginal business community, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and how we can continue to support its success.”

Productivity commission interim report

The interim report of the Productivity Commission on GST distribution reforms shows what everyone in NSW already knew – the system is rigged against us and Western Australia is getting more than its fair share.

The $23 billion cost of the reforms has largely benefited Western Australia, while NSW receives just 82 cents in the dollar – the lowest since the introduction of the GST.

NSW deserves a better deal from the Albanese Labor Government in Canberra after being short-changed with record low GST relativities and just 17% of the nation’s infrastructure funding, despite having 31% of the population.

The test for Anthony Albanese, Chris Minns and Labor is whether they will deliver reforms to give NSW and the rest of Australia their fair share, or whether they will continue to provide a sweetheart deal to Western Australia and leave everyone else worse off.

Early comments from Western Australian Premier Roger Cook that the Prime Minister has promised to keep Western Australia’s deal in place are concerning and shows that genuine reform from an independent body will be put aside for the political interest of the Labor Party.

If the No Worse Off guarantee were to end, NSW would be facing a fiscal cliff, with data in the report showing the state’s fiscal position would be significantly diminished if this were not in place.

The report indicates it would cost $47 billion to provide all States with the same fiscal capacity as Western Australia. That exposes just how distorted the current arrangements have become and the NSW Liberals and Nationals call on Labor to address this inequity.

As the Productivity Commission has not endorsed the EPC+ model put forward by the NSW Government in their submission, NSW Treasury must urgently assess which of the three options for reform put forward by the Productivity Commission is in the best interests of NSW.

If Chris Minns and Daniel Mookhey are finally ready to stand up to Canberra and demand our fair share, the NSW Liberals and Nationals stand ready and willing to assist.

One Nation: Left-wing teachers must be held to account

Yesterday I decided to drop by the school/university protest against Pauline Hanson that was taking place outside the South Australian Parliament. I took the time to speak with some of the young people protesting. I largely feel sorry for the people who I met with. What was clear was that they were largely completely deluded and had been indoctrinated through an education system that we know for too long has been allowed to push a leftist agenda.

Though the protest was, on the face of it, about Pauline Hanson and One Nation, if you scratch beneath the surface, the true views and values of these protesters were fully on show. More often than not, the protesters hate the history and culture of the country in which they live. Despite benefiting from the advantages of being born an Australian, they’re very happy to denigrate its history, culture and values. They more often than not possess extreme, radical views when it comes to gender identity, and their desire is to live in a fragmented multicultural society. As is often the case, there was, of course, no acknowledgment of the glaring contradiction there is in simultaneously promoting highly progressive views on gender and sexual identity whilst also being sympathetic to radical Islam.

The thing is that we can’t just laugh all of this off. There is a serious point to what I encountered yesterday. Firstly, many of those at the protest in Adelaide were school-age children. They had bunked off school to attend the protest. There are increasing reports that very often teachers at these schools either turned a blind eye or actively encouraged children who should have been learning to attend a political protest. If there is evidence of teachers doing this, then it is of huge importance that robust action is taken against those individuals.

Secondly, the level of hatred and the threats of violence shown at some of these protests were chilling. I’ve seen multiple occasions of young Australians issuing death threats and threats of violence against Pauline and other leading members of One Nation. This is all deeply troubling.

It is important that we remember that the majority of those attending these protests were of school age. The vast majority of what they know and their worldview has come directly from their experience at school. Other than their home life, what they have experienced at school, from fellow pupils and their teachers, is all they know, other than what they see and experience in the online world. It has long been my view that the education system as a whole is indoctrinating many of our young people into a leftist worldview. If ever we needed evidence of this, it was all on show yesterday.

Following on from these protests, it is important that any leads suggesting that certain teachers and schools encouraged these protests are actively investigated and that, if evidence is provided, action is taken. One Nation is the only Party committed to eradicating leftist political indoctrination from our education system. As it stands, we have large numbers of young people leaving our education system hating Australia, its values and its culture. Our aim should be the opposite. We should aspire to have generations coming out of our education system proud of Australia and what it represents.

So yes, there was a slightly amusing side to some of what I saw yesterday. But there was a very serious side as well. We should all care about how the minds of our young people are being shaped and often poisoned by our leftist educational establishment.

Half a million cheaper home batteries bringing down bills for Australian homes and businesses

More than 500,000 Cheaper Home Batteries have now been installed under the Albanese Labor Government’s program – helping households and businesses store cheap solar, cut power bills and take pressure off the grid.

Australia already has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, with more than one in three Australian households having solar on their roof.

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is helping households get more out of that investment, by making it cheaper to install a battery and use more of the energy they generate at home.

More than three quarters of batteries installed under the program have been in outer suburban and regional communities.

The milestone was marked today at a local solar and battery installer in Castle Hill – a suburb in the postcode with the highest number of Cheaper Home Batteries installed anywhere in the country – underlining that this is suburban families, regional households, local tradies and small businesses taking up the program.

Some of today’s strongest battery electorates were nowhere near the top of the rankings before the policy began, particularly in Western Sydney. Mitchell, for example, ranked 108th nationally in 2024. It is now the third-highest electorate in the country for battery uptake.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s most recent quarterly report found that home batteries are reshaping demand in our grids, with batteries supplying household use after sunset, reducing the evening peak and putting downward pressure on bills for everyone, whether they have solar and a battery or not.

The milestone also reflects the work of thousands of local installers, small businesses and energy workers across the country delivering cleaner, cheaper power in suburbs and the regions.

The number of accredited battery installers in the country has doubled to 8,846 since the program commenced.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Australian households have led the world on rooftop solar, and now they are leading the world on home batteries too.

“This is about helping families store the cheap solar power they generate during the day and use it when they need it most.

“Half a million cheaper home batteries mean more households permanently cutting their bills, taking pressure off the grid and helping build Australia’s clean energy future.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen

“This is a huge milestone for Australian households, Australian tradies and Australian small businesses.

“Cheaper Home Batteries is doing exactly what we said it would do: helping households cut bills, store cheap solar and take control of their energy use.

“Every battery installed means another household getting more value from their rooftop solar, and another job for the local installers and small businesses delivering this rollout across the country.”

Greens celebrate news of the release of whistleblower David McBride from prison

The Greens join today with millions of Australians celebrating David McBride’s release from prison after he today became eligible for parole.

Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

“My friend David McBride has paid a terrible price for paying the truth. It’s a price no whistleblower should ever be made to pay again.

“The Albanese Government has had the power to free David since they got elected and refused to act.

“Labor’s Attorney General consented to the ongoing prosecution of David McBride and government agencies pressed for a serious jail sentence for him.

“Labor, just like the Coalition before them, wanted David McBride silenced and together they had him locked up for more than two years.

“David walks out of prison today and he holds his head high, having spoken the truth and faced the full force of the state.

“While David is free, the laws that put him in jail are still standing.

“The Australian Greens are committed to ensuring no more whistleblowers are prosecuted for the crime of telling the truth.

“What happened to David is a case study in why we need real whistleblower protections and how urgent these are.

“Until the laws are fixed, the persecution of David McBride will stand as a warning to every public servant who might one day consider speaking up.

“When I have visited him in prison during his more than 2 years locked up, David’s commitment to truth has been unwavering and I know he took immense comfort in the support he has in the community at large.

Thank you David, you went to jail so we could all know the truth.”

No public funds without a public stake: Greens demand that Australians get a share of Tomago Aluminium

The Australian Greens are demanding that Australians get a stake in the country’s largest aluminium smelter after the Labor federal and state governments today committed billions of public dollars to keep Tomago afloat.

A public stake would ensure Australians get to share in the wealth from our own resources and give workers the security they deserve, so that their futures aren’t tied to the whims of a multinational corporation.

Greens spokesperson on Transition & Regional Development, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“We can’t trust private companies with our workers, our resources, or our climate.

“Labor should be putting Australians first by protecting our workers and using every opportunity to turbocharge the renewable energy transition.

“The fate of workers should never be left in the hands of corporate boards. As soon as they’re able to, those corporations pull the rug out from underneath communities and run away with the profits.

“The big-business parties seem to love anything that privatises the profits from Australian resources. They endlessly funnel public funds into propping up the dying projects of multinational corporations, often the same corporations driving the climate crisis, with no return on investment for the everyday Australian.”