Category: NSW News

An innovative prototype room of the new and enhanced inpatient rooms to be delivered as part of the $110.2 million Cowra Hospital Redevelopment has been unveiled, which is giving staff a hands-on opportunity to test out its features.

Featuring an ensuite bathroom, the planned colour scheme, and equipment staff will use when the redevelopment is complete, the prototype room lets staff experience the design, technology and functionality of the new hospital spaces, as construction for the project continues.

The redevelopment once complete, will include a mix of single and double inpatient rooms, including multiple single rooms with access to a balcony. All inpatient rooms will have ensuite bathrooms, as well as a lounge area for families and carers.

The $110.2 million Cowra Hospital Redevelopment has been shaped by feedback from staff and the community throughout planning and design phase which has led to improved access, more onsite parking, new landscaped areas, and larger windows.

Health services are continuing to operate during construction, with the new hospital on track for completion at the end of 2025.

When complete, the new hospital building will provide a modern and purpose-built health facility for the region and will include:

• ​an emergency department
• a general medical and surgery inpatient ward
• a peri-operative service
• a maternity unit with a dedicated nursery
• ambulatory care
• a dental clinic
• renal dialysis
• oncology
• Community Health and Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol services
• the hospital’s first CT scanner.

Construction on the Cowra Hospital is well under way with work for the façade, internal fit out, and landscaping progressing.

For more information on the project, visit:

https://www.cowrahospitalredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“Our rural and regional communities, including the community of Cowra, deserve purpose-built and modern facilities to meet their present and future health needs.

“The feedback from the staff tours of the prototype room has already been extremely positive.

“The hospital has been designed in close collaboration with the community to create a welcoming and supportive environment for patients, visitors, and staff.”

NSW Government Spokesperson for Cootamundra, Stephen Lawrence MLC:

“It’s great to see local staff and clinicians having the opportunity to test out and provide feedback on the enhanced inpatient rooms planned for the redevelopment.

“The Cowra Hospital redevelopment will feature enhanced facilities that will significantly improve care and better support staff, patients and the community.

“The Cowra Hospital Redevelopment team is continuing to work with the community and hospital staff wherever possible to deliver a health facility tailored to the needs of the community it serves.”

We congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election and give him our best wishes as a leader in our turbulent world.

We welcome His Holiness’ messages of peace, bridge building, and compassion.

Australia will be inviting Pope Leo to Sydney in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress, and New South Wales would be honoured to host Pope Leo XIV.

The Minns Labor Government and Inner West Council are today announcing a key milestone in the delivery of the GreenWay with the project reaching 80% of construction complete.

The GreenWay is a 6 kilometre shared bicycle and pedestrian path that will connect two of Sydney’s most popular walks, stretching from the Cooks River in Earlwood through the Inner West to the Bay Run on Parramatta River at Iron Cove.

Running North-South across the Inner West, the GreenWay will also intersect with the new Sydney Metro Southwest that is transforming the 130-year-old former T3 Bankstown line into a modern, turn-up-and-go metro service.

These two projects together will revolutionise transport in the Inner West, connecting communities that previously were not directly connected by either walking, cycling or public transport.

Once complete, the GreenWay will attract local and visitors alike, featuring bike paths and foreshore walks, public art, cultural and historical sites, cafes, bushcare sites and a range of parks, playgrounds and sporting facilities that sit alongside the path.

The project has also supported the delivery of more green space including a new fully fenced off-leash dog park in Lewisham West and a new wetland area, supporting local habitat conservation.

As the Minns Labor Government continues to work to deliver more new homes and apartments for young people, including in the Inner West, the GreenWay will also provide more critical recreational greenspace.

Running alongside a 100-year-old rail corridor, the GreenWay project has required building underpasses and tunnels beneath major roads to create continual pathways. The Hercules Parklands and the New Canterbury Road underpass are the final sections of this path to be completed.

The delivery of the GreenWay is as a result of years of committed advocacy from local community groups, Labor councillors on Inner West Council and the Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen.

The GreenWay project is supported by over $41 million from the NSW Government with a $11 million contribution from Inner West Council and a further $6 million Commonwealth Government.

The GreenWay is expected to open to the public later in 2025.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“The GreenWay won’t just link two of Sydney’s most popular walks, it’ll become one in its own right, complete with a shared walking and cycling path, public art, playgrounds and cafes for everyone to enjoy.

“We are working hard to build much needed housing for young people and essential workers in the Inner West and the GreenWay combined with the new Metro Southwest will ensure they have access to world class public transport and great recreational green space.”

Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen said:

“I have been a strong and vocal advocate for the GreenWay project since my election as the Member for Summer Hill.

“The GreenWay’s shared pathway has a strong connection to the community and the environment. This iconic new path provides a great space for enjoying the outdoors and travelling across our community.”

Mayor of Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne said:

“The people of the Inner West have fought for years to bring the Greenway vision to life. Now that we’re nearing completion locals are hugely excited to see how it will transform our community.”

More women and children escaping domestic and family violence all across New South Wales will now be able to access support to end an abusive relationship and stay safely in their own homes, with the expansion of the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program.

As part of last year’s domestic violence Emergency Package, the Minns Labor Government has invested $25.9 million over four years to expand the program across all 128 LGAs.

This includes 12 new providers:

• Linking Communities Network Limited – Cootamundra-Gundagai, Hilltops, Snowy Valleys, Temora and Hilltops LGAs.
• Plus Community – Balranald and Wentworth LGAs.
• Ryde Family Services TA The Northern Centre – Hornsby, Ryde and Hunters Hill LGAs.
• Mary’s House Services – Northern Beaches, Lane Cove, Ku-Ring-Gai, Mosman, North Sydney, and Willoughby LGAs.
• Justice Support Centre – Canada Bay and Strathfield LGAs.
• Lithgow Community Projects Incorporated – Blue Mountains and Lithgow LGAs.
• St Vincent de Paul Society NSW – Wingecarribee and Wollondilly LGAs.
• Home-Start National – Goulburn-Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley LGAs.
• Monaro Family Support Service – Snowy Monaro LGA.
• Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council – Oberon LGA.
• Narrabri and District Community Aid (NDCAS) – Narrabri LGA.
• Gunida Gunyah Aboriginal Corporation – Gunnedah LGA.

One final service provider for Bourke LGA is still being finalised.

Last financial year, SHLV supported 6,500 victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, including 1,293 children who have experienced abuse.

A 2022 evaluation found the program to “effectively contribute to the long‑term safety and housing stability of women and families” and achieved enhanced wellbeing for women and children affected by domestic and family violence.

Under the program, local police make sure the perpetrator is removed from the home, while victim-survivors receive safety planning, security upgrades at properties where required, financial planning assistance and help navigating complex legal processes.

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to build a safer New South Wales by addressing domestic and family violence from all angles, from boosting crisis response, strengthening bail laws, and focusing on earlier intervention and primary prevention.

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

“Too often victim-survivors of domestic and family violence are forced to leave their homes in order to escape abuse.

“Staying Home Leaving Violence helps the victim-survivor to stay safely in their own home, or a home of their choice and to keep important connections in their own community. This program aims to support women to live in safety and to maintain housing stability.

“Keeping women and children connected to their families, support network, schools, workplaces, and neighbourhoods is so important for their recovery. People should not be forced to abandon those connections to escape a violent situation.”

Support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN on 13 92 76.

People in Wagga Wagga and surrounding communities can now access healthcare more quickly and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department, thanks to a new local urgent care service.

The Wagga Wagga GP-based Urgent Care Serviceoperates as a cooperative model, offering approximately 100 GP-based appointments per week across seven different practices in the Wagga Wagga region. Each practice is staffed by General Practitioners and nurses who are equipped to treat a range of urgent but non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. This service is delivered in partnership with the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network.

To access the Wagga Wagga GP-based Urgent Care Service, patients must call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse will assess the patient’s condition and guide them to the care they need, which may include booking an appointment on the patient’s behalf.

The Wagga Wagga GP-based Urgent Care Service is available year-round, operating Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. It complements the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Rapid Access Clinic which is a service operating from the hospital offering a range of services including diagnostics, allied health, Hospital in the Home, an Infusion Clinic, minor procedures and specialist team review.

Healthcare provided at Wagga Wagga Urgent Care Service will be bulk billed.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to enhancing access to care and reducing wait times through the half a billion dollar emergency department relief package announced in the FY2024/25 NSW Budget. This package includes support for urgent care services, offering alternative pathways to care outside of hospitals.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is expanding Urgent Care Services so communities such as Wagga Wagga can receive fast effective care close to home, while also easing pressure on our emergency departments.

“This service will enable members of the community to receive care quickly for conditions which can be safely and appropriately treated outside our hospitals, including minor wounds which need stitches, and suspected broken bones.”

Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr:

“This is a very welcome enhancement to local health services that will improve access to care and reduce wait times for local patients.

“By providing patients with non-life-threatening conditions with quality, bulk-billed care, it will ease pressure on the emergency department at Wagga Base Hospital and deliver a valuable healthcare alternative to people from Wagga and surrounding communities.”

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network CEO Stewart Gordon

“The Wagga Wagga GP-based Urgent Care Service is designed to deliver better access to timely healthcare when it’s most needed. 

“By making same-day GP appointments available at no cost, we’re helping residents get the right care quickly, and providing real solutions for our local communities.”

Attorney General Michael Daley has appointed former NSW Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable John Sackar AM KC, to review criminal law hate speech protections for vulnerable communities.

Mr Sackar will examine whether existing protections are sufficient and recommend any possible improvements, following the passage of the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act 2025 criminalising the intentional incitement of racial hatred.

The review will consider how protections for vulnerable communities interact with existing rights and freedoms, such as the implied freedom of political communication and freedom of religion.

It will also look at any other criminal law reforms that could enhance social cohesion.

Mr Sackar served as Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW between 2011 and 2024 and was Commissioner for the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ Hate Crimes.

He is due to report back to the Attorney General by 5 November 2025.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Hate speech is unacceptable and has no place in NSW.  

“The NSW Government has put in place a number of measures to strengthen social cohesion and has made it a criminal offence to incite hatred on grounds of race.

“This review by Mr Sackar will consider hate speech protections for vulnerable communities.

“It will look at how they interact with existing rights and freedoms and whether there are avenues for improvement.

“This is important to give vulnerable communities confidence in the effective operation of our laws.” 

Attorney General Michael Daley has appointed State Parole Authority Chair and former Supreme Court Justice, the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC, and former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mr Jeffrey Loy, to review the operation of doli incapax in NSW.

Doli incapax is a legal presumption that children between the ages of 10 and 14 do not sufficiently understand the difference between right and wrong to be held criminally responsible.

Doli incapax operates as a common law presumption in NSW and can be rebutted if the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt a child understood that what they did was seriously wrong.

The NSW Government has been considering the operation of doli incapax for some time and launched the review this month.

It comes as the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) released a new report finding a significant decline in the number of young people aged 10 to 13 years found guilty of a criminal offence following a 2016 High Court decision.

The 2016 decision in RP v The Queen clarified a number of matters in relation to doli incapax, including that the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the child understood their actions were ‘seriously wrong’.

Convictions fell dramatically from 2016, coinciding with the High Court decision.

The BOCSAR study found the proportion of 10–13-year-olds with a proven outcome in the NSW Children’s Court – either guilty or not-guilty – fell dramatically from 76 per cent in 2015-16 to 16 per cent in 2022-23. The prosecution withdrew charges in more than half of all cases in 2022-23.

Similar trends were observed in Victoria and South Australia following the High Court decision. Like NSW, these states rely on a common law understanding of doli incapax, instead of having it codified in legislation.  States that have codified doli incapax in legislation, such as Queensland and Western Australia, did not show a similar decline.

BOCSAR said the result raised questions about how best to support these young people to reduce future criminal involvement. Often, the young person is simply released from custody without support, back into the care of dysfunctional families and, too often, they engage in behaviour that endangers themselves and members of the community.

The review being undertaken by the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC and Mr Jeffrey Loy is considering how the presumption of doli incapax is applied in criminal proceedings, the impact of its operation on options for intervention, what improvements could be made and a framework for legislation.

They will also consider how doli incapax interacts with the Young Offenders Act 1997 and the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020, and other relevant matters including community safety and the interests of children.

Stakeholders including victims’ groups, local and regional communities, Aboriginal-led organisations and legal and government stakeholders will be consulted as part of the review.

They are due to report back to the Attorney General in the second half of 2025.

The Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC’s legal career spans more than 40 years and he served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW between 2012 and 2023.

Mr Loy spent 40 years with the NSW Police Force, including as Deputy Commissioner from 2017 until 2021, receiving the Australian Police Medal (APM) and National Emergency Medal.

He was appointed a member of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority in 2022.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“The common law presumption of doli incapax dates back hundreds of years. It operates across all Australian jurisdictions and its existence in the common law has been affirmed by the High Court.

“Recently, concerns have been raised about the operation of doli incapax. I commissioned this review to ensure close consideration of any improvements that can be made and possible legislative reforms.

“The Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC and Mr Jeffrey Loy are a highly respected experts in criminal law and law enforcement, particularly in the youth space. They are well-placed to examine how doli incapax is being applied in NSW and I look forward to considering their recommendations.”

The Minns Labor Government continues to streamline the NSW planning system with further reforms.

The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2025 was introduced into NSW Parliament on 19 February 2025 and passed through Parliament today.

The changes to the EP&A Act include:

·       Streamlining decision-making and cutting through red tape to assess housing State Significant Development (SSD) applications which have been recommended for the SSD pathway by the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).

·       Cutting through the red tape for additional housing SSD applications such as infill affordable and build-to-rent housing.

·       Allows flexibility to reduce the minimum mandatory exhibition period for certain housing SSD projects through changes to the Department’s Community Participation Plan.

·       Supporting consent authorities such as councils in making practical planning decisions including modifications to development consents, clarifying several court decisions.

·       Providing certainty on how submissions are counted and considered. The amendment makes it clear that only submissions received during a public exhibition period can be counted for particular purposes such as identifying the consent authority and appeal rights but late submissions can considered in assessments.  

·       Modernising the planning framework for affordable housing contribution requirements by enabling all types of environmental planning instruments to include requirements for affordable housing contributions and removing unnecessary tests to streamline the development assessment process.

·       Removing references to the ‘Six Cities Region’ and district plans which will enable a new regional strategic plan for Greater Sydney to be delivered and make the strategic planning framework consistent across NSW.

The changes will increase the efficiency of applications to be declared as SSD by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces by eliminating overlap in advisory functions with the IPC and providing recommendations to the Minister faster.

This is all part of the Minns Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have a place to call home and in the communities they choose.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is another step forward in our plan to tackle the housing and planning challenge head-on. We’re removing the barriers that slow down good development and focusing on what matters, building more homes.

“With these changes, we’re making it clear that NSW is serious about delivering more affordable homes and supporting councils to make practical, timely planning decisions.

“Since the Housing Delivery Authority was established, 86 proposals will now enter the State’s planning system, it only makes sense that we streamline this process through this bill and make it simpler and more efficient to assess.

“The amendments to the Act build on the other reforms which are cutting development application assessment times, speeding up construction approvals, supporting the rollout of renewable energy and encouraging the delivery of more housing, including affordable housing.”

Yesterday the Minns Labor Government agreed to the Opposition’s terms for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the exploding illegal tobacco trade that is endangering communities in NSW.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said the NSW Labor Government has been stalling in their response to the explosion of illegal tobacco in NSW.
 
“This inaction has led to a dramatic increase in tobacconists, and an outbreak of violent crime in our communities,” Mr Speakman said.
 
NSW Health data shows there has been an increase in the number of tobacconists opening, rising from 14,500 four years ago to more than 19,500 today.
 
Shadow Minister for Health Kellie Sloane said that we are seeing an alarming increase in the supply of illegal tobacco in NSW, which has been linked to organised crime syndicates.
 
“These criminals do not care about your health; they care about controlling the illicit market. There are violent and dangerous groups that are trying to ensure this trade continues,” Ms Sloane said.
 
On Saturday, a tobacco shop in Auburn was subjected to an arson attack. On Sunday, a truck rollover on the Pacific Highway near Grafton, led police to uncover 2.5 tonnes of illegal tobacco in the back of the vehicle. Earlier in January, a man’s toe was cut off during a foiled attempt to steal illegal tobacco from a warehouse in Condell Park.

It has become clear that the NSW Government has lost control of what is now known as the ‘Tobacco Wars’. This Parliamentary Inquiry is required to find out what has gone wrong.   

Shadow Minister for Regional Health Gurmesh Singh said the illegal tobacco trade is putting pressure on small businesses especially in the regions.

“This issue is having a heavy impact on regional, remote and rural areas where there’s often a lack of capacity to do compliance checks,” Mr Singh said.

“These illegal operators completely undercut the legitimate businesses our communities rely on and the Minns Labor Government has completely dropped the ball on compliance activities.”

The Great Lakes community and Manning Hospital are set to benefit from a $355,000 funding boost from the NSW Government that will deliver more inpatient rooms and a better equipped clinical care space.

The funding is part of the NSW Government’s $12 million investment in 61 projects under the Regional Health Minor Works Program.

The planned works at Manning Hospital include $105,000 to transform a non-clinical area into a new clinically supported three bed inpatient accommodation unit.

A further $250,000 has been committed to relocate the Chronic Care Service from the Manning Hospital campus and to refurbish the existing Nita Reed building which will deliver high-quality rehabilitation services for the community.

The upgrade works at Manning Hospital are in addition to the $180 million Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project which merges the Manning Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2 along with the planned investment towards public health services in Forster-Tuncurry. 

Enabling works to prepare the site for construction of the Stage 2 Redevelopment have begun which will involve the demolition of the administration building and a number of surrounding buildings. 

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“The NSW Government is committed to investing in health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

“The Regional Health Minor Works Program allows local health districts to upgrade equipment and health facilities to enhance the working environment for health staff and improve patient experiences.

“The Program is one of a number of investments the NSW Government is making to strengthen rural and regional health services, so people have access to the best possible care close to home.”

Government Spokesperson for Myall Lakes Emily Suvaal:

“This investment by the NSW Government will benefit the local community with new beds and a refreshed space to enable relocation of a community-based service from the Hospital campus.

“The community will also see work commencing as part of the $180 million Lower Mid North Coast Health Service project, that includes the Manning Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2 and Forster-Tuncurry health facility projects.”