Category: NSW News

The NSW Opposition called for a bipartisan roundtable to modernise New South Wales’ planning laws and address the state’s housing challenges. There is no time like the present to deliver practical solutions to get homes built faster and more affordably.
 
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the people of New South Wales expect leaders to work together on solutions that make a difference.
 
“We proposed a bipartisan roundtable to bring key players together and to deliver reforms that streamline approvals and unlock new housing opportunities. While we await the Government’s formal response to our written offer, we welcome the Premier’s positive comments and hope to work constructively to deliver outcomes that benefit families and communities across the state,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Leader of the NSW Nationals Dugald Saunders said a roundtable will provide an opportunity to address housing pressures right across the state.
 
“Housing challenges aren’t limited to Sydney—regional NSW is feeling the strain too. This roundtable would be a chance to develop reforms that support growth and opportunity for all communities. Regional families need certainty, and we’re ready to make that happen,” Mr Saunders said.
 
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow said bipartisan collaboration offers the best opportunity to deliver meaningful reform.
 
“Planning laws must be modernised to support faster approvals without compromising the infrastructure and green spaces our communities value. We see a roundtable as a positive step towards achieving reforms that work for families and businesses across New South Wales,” Mr Farlow said.
 
The Opposition proposes holding the roundtable at Parliament House in early February, bringing together housing industry leaders, local councils and other key stakeholders to identify barriers and deliver a plan for reform.
 
The focus is on delivering practical outcomes. Families need homes they can afford, and businesses need certainty to invest and grow. A roundtable is about achieving results and delivering reforms that balance growth with sustainability.
 
Regional voices must also be central to the discussion. Reforms need to reflect the unique challenges and opportunities in both city and regional communities, ensuring no part of New South Wales is left behind.
 
We need to deliver reforms that prioritise affordability, sustainability and liveability. A roundtable is about working together to make sure families have access to housing supported by the infrastructure and services they need to thrive.

More than a million revellers are expected to ring in the new year watching Sydney’s incredible fireworks at vantage points around the harbour – and public transport will provide the smoothest start to 2025.

With the Sydney Metro open from Tallawong to Sydenham for the first time for the new year’s celebrations, thousands of extra high-frequency train, bus and light rail services will be laid across the whole transport network to bring hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders and visitors into the city and home again as the new year ticks over. 

Sydney’s transport network will run continuously for almost 48 hours in what is its biggest operation of the year to make sure revellers have multiple safe and secure travel options, said Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins. 

“The extra services will spring into action from early afternoon on New Year’s Eve, and with widespread road closures and parking restrictions in place from early in the day, public transport will absolutely be the key to a stress-free celebration,” Mr Collins said. 

“But it’s essential to plan ahead, work out your options and be aware that the city is different on New Year’s Eve, with very large crowds, road closures and entry cut-off times at some vantage points to watch the fireworks.”

Most of the ever-popular vantage points around the harbour will not be ticketed this year and will open at various points during the day – meaning people can secure spots on a ‘first in, best dressed’ basis and spectators are encouraged to arrive early to avoid missing out.

Check the Sydney NYE website before heading out and during travel for the latest updates on vantage points. Once vantage points are full, they will be closed, so consider celebrating locally instead.

Mr Collins said customers should be aware of road and station closures that could necessitate a change of plans for their journey, especially those heading towards the Circular Quay precinct.

“There will be limited transport options to Circular Quay from mid-afternoon. From 2pm, buses and light rail services will not run to Circular Quay. Buses will end trips at Martin Place while light rail services will end trips at Town Hall.

“From 3pm, trains will not stop at Circular Quay. The last ferries arrive into Circular Quay around 5.30pm. Event goers heading to the harbour will need to catch transport to nearby Wynyard, Martin Place or Town Hall and continue on foot,” said Mr Collins.

“Also Barangaroo Metro Station will be closed from 5pm and reopen at 11.45pm to allow for the safe movement of people around the inner harbour precinct.” 

On the harbour, some ferry wharves will begin closing from as early as 10am, with all ferries to stop running by around 5.30pm. Limited services will run after the midnight fireworks.

Visitors should prepare to walk further than usual between transport hubs and vantage points and be aware of pedestrian fencing and changed access to major transport interchanges in the city and north sydney. After the 9pm and midnight fireworks, getting back to transport hubs to continue your trip home will be different to the way you arrived. These changes are to safely manage crowd flow and get everyone home as quickly as possible after the fireworks.

“Every year, we help hundreds of thousands of people come into and move around the city for the fireworks, and I promise you that planning your journey and aiming to get to your destination nice and early will be the best investment of your time,” Mr Collins added.

“If you must drive or are catching rideshare and taxis, be aware of road closure locations and timings, plan ahead and expect heavy traffic.

“Part of that is the major roads that will close from as early as 6am on New Year’s Eve, plus widespread parking restrictions in effect – so it’s definitely best to leave the car at home.”

NSW Police Central Metropolitan Region and Operation New Year’s Eve 2024 Commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, said officers would be patrolling for anti-social and dangerous behaviour.

“We want people to have a good time, to drink responsibly, know their limits and use public transport to avoid driving,” Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.

“New Year’s Eve is Sydney’s premier public event and as always we are expecting high numbers of spectators to come to the city to view the fireworks.

“A high-visibility police operation will be in place, with officers both in uniform and plain clothes out in force patrolling the CBD and foreshore areas.”

Major road closures to be aware of on New Year’s Eve:

•       The Cahill Expressway will be fully closed from 6am.   

•       Road closures in CBD North and The Rocks will start from 6am and continue through the day.   

•       From 2pm roads in Circular Quay and The Rocks will be closed. 

•       From 5pm major roads in Sydney CBD, Millers Point, Walsh Bay, North Sydney, Milsons Point and Kirribilli will be closed.   

•       By 7pm most roads in the Sydney CBD centre and some roads in Pyrmont will be closed. 

•       From 10pm major roads around Wynyard Station will close.  

•       The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be completely closed from 11pm until 1:30am, along with all major roads in the city, there will be no vehicle access after 11pm. The Sydney Harbour Tunnel remains open, as well as the Anzac Bridge. 

Key transport changes:

Transport passengers are reminded road closures on New Year’s Eve will impact buses and light rail services, while harbour fireworks exclusion zones will affect ferries. Trains, metro, buses and light rail will operate close to a 24-hour timetable. 

•       Trains will run additional services across most lines from 2pm, with frequent services after the midnight fireworks through until New Year’s Day. Trains will not stop at Circular Quay from 3pm. Trains from the city to the north will not stop at Milsons Point after 6pm. There is no planned trackwork on New Year’s Eve. Station access points may also change. 

•       Metro services will run every 10 minutes then every 4 to 5 minutes from midday through until 2am on New Year’s Day then resume running every 10 minutes. Barangaroo Station will close from 5pm to 11.45pm for the safety of crowds as surrounding vantage points are expected to reach capacity. Passengers can use Wynyard Station or Martin Place Metro instead. Access to Martin Place, Gadigal and Victoria Cross stations will change. 

•       Buses will be affected by road closures in the Sydney CBD from 2pm and in North Sydney from 3pm. Some local bus routes in the city and North Sydney as well as various other local council area buses will be affected earlier in the day. Additional services will run to and from the city and North Sydney on key routes. 

o   From 2pm buses that usually run to Circular Quay will relocate to Martin Place. 

o   From 3pm buses that usually run to North Sydney station will relocate to stops on Miller St and Berry St due to the closure of Blue St. 

o   From 5pm Martin Place buses will relocate to Hyde Park. 

o   From 7pm all buses will use stops at Wynyard, Town Hall QVB, or Hyde Park only.  

o   From 11pm to 1.30am buses will not travel across the Harbour Bridge while it’s closed for the midnight fireworks. Change for trains or metro to travel across the harbour during this time. 

o   From 11pm to 4am some buses will terminate at Central 

•      Ferries will not run to or from Circular Quay by 5.30pm. Some wharves will close earlier in the day. Limited ferries will run after the midnight fireworks only.  

•       Light rail services will run from 5am and be extended until 4am on all lines, L1, L2, L3 and L4 (the new Parramatta Light Rail from Carlingford to Westmead). On L2 & L3, from 2pm services will run to and from Town Hall only, from 7pm services will run to and from Central only, change for trains or metro to continue your trip to the northern end of the city. From 8pm to 2.30am L1 services won’t run between Central and Convention.

With many spectators taking to the harbour to enjoy a Sydney New Year’s Eve, boating restrictions will be in place including a 6 knots speed restriction on the harbour from 3pm and exclusion zones/restricted areas from 8pm. Please check Transport Maritime’s dedicated New Year’s Eve page before you hit the harbour. 

Check the Sydney NYE website before heading out and during travel for the latest updates on vantage points. Once vantage points are full they will be closed. 

For New Year’s Eve travel advice, visit transportnsw.info/sydney-nye. For real-time updates on traffic conditions, including road closures, visit livetraffic.com. 

PARRAMATTA LIGHT RAIL OPENS AS THE MINNS LABOR GOVERNMENT CELEBRATES WHAT THEY COULD NEVER DREAM OF DELIVERING

The NSW Opposition has welcomed the opening of the Parramatta Light Rail today—a transformative project that stands as yet another milestone planned, funded, and started by the former Liberals and Nationals Government. While the Minns Labor Government is eager to cut ribbons, they have made an art form out of celebrating infrastructure they never paid for, planned, or accounted for.
 
Connecting Parramatta’s CBD with key destinations like the Westmead Health Precinct, Parramatta River, and Carlingford, the light rail’s 16 stops provide reliable and sustainable transport for Western Sydney. But as Labor takes credit for the hard work of others, the real question looms that come 2027, when these completed projects run dry, what will this government have to show for it?
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, Natalie Ward said the Parramatta Light Rail is a proud achievement of the Liberals and Nationals Government—a vision we planned, paid for, and kicked off for Western Sydney.
 
“While Labor enjoys the photo ops, they’ve contributed nothing to this project or any meaningful infrastructure in this region,” Ms Ward said.
 
By the time we reach the next election, the Minns Labor Government will have spent four years cutting ribbons for someone else’s work. When these projects run out, what’s their plan? Western Sydney deserves better than a government that clings to borrowed glory.
 
Member for Epping, Monica Tudehope said this new light rail is transformative for my community, offering fast, efficient, and direct access to Parramatta’s CBD.
 
“It’s the kind of infrastructure that drives growth, creates jobs, and makes daily life easier for families and businesses. But the Minns Labor Government didn’t plan it, they didn’t fund it, and they have no credible pipeline of projects to meet the needs of Western Sydney’s growing population,” Ms Tudehope said.
 
The Parramatta Light Rail joins a list of transformational infrastructure delivered by the former Liberals and Nationals Government, including the Sydney Metro West and CommBank Stadium. These projects were the product of forward-thinking leadership and real investment in Western Sydney—not the empty promises and spin that define the current government.
 
NSW is worse off under the Minns Labor Government.

The Minns Labor Government is moving ahead with plans to improve management and maintenance of NSW roads by developing a new system for roads to be recategorised and run by appropriate authorities.

A proposed new system developed by Transport for NSW aims to make it easier for road managers such as councils to access data about road usage and function in a transparent way so it can be used to help make evidence-based decisions about who should have responsibility for roads.

Historically there has been an ad-hoc approach to road recategorisation requests and decision-making in NSW, with no clear framework in place for road managers to understand how their roads are being used and which categories of State, Regional or Local roads they best fit into.

Until now, road managers have also had to wait years or decades for ad-hoc reviews of road category change requests.

The new process proposed by the Government is designed to be managed within existing budget and resourcing parameters, while ensuring roads are categorised appropriately based on evidence.

This involves deploying a clearer, easier and more streamlined system for road managers, mainly councils, to propose recategorisations of roads.

One key benefit of the new system will be the introduction of an online portal which will provide road managers with a one-stop-shop of relevant data such as maps, freight routes and key infrastructure such as hospitals, to help them understand who is best placed to manage relevant roads.

Regardless of who manages a road, the proposed new system has been established to enable managers, such as councils, to evaluate their own networks, put forward robust proposals and have them assessed in a timely manner.

Importantly, there will be an ‘always open’ approach for applications, meaning road managers will be able to submit proposals for road category changes at any time.

Overall, it will be a more straightforward and transparent process for identifying, processing and implementing road category changes.

Transport for NSW is now seeking feedback and collaboration from road managers to ensure that this new approach is sound and provides the transparent solution needed.

New guidance notes to outline the process and other key considerations have now been released to road managers for review and feedback ahead of further consultation in 2025.

For more information, visit NSW Road reviews.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government has heard the concerns of road managers and understands a better system is needed to manage responsibility of roads in NSW.

“The NSW road network is more than 185,000 kilometres long and much of that in regional NSW so the changes proposed aim to deliver better roads management for our regional communities in particular.

“Councils manage over 85 per cent of this network and our government is committed to collaborating with them on an improved new system.

“I encourage councils and all road managers to have their say as we need to make this fit for purpose and their feedback is a key part to ensuring we get this right.

“The former Liberal and National Government made promises to councils it couldn’t deliver.

“Under the former government’s road classification review they promised councils the state government would take responsibility for up to 15,000 kilometres of council roads. That never happened and the final review report was never released to the public.

“By contrast we promised to release a proposed business-as-usual approach to road recategorisation by the end of the year and we’re delivering.

“We’re not promising the world and delivering very little, instead we’re promising a better approach that has evidence at its core and promotes transparent decision making to ensure the right responsibilities are sitting with the right road managers.

“We are now moving forward with plans to develop a fairer, more transparent evidence-based and sustainable business-as-usual approach to road recategorisation that will benefit all road users.

“It’s all about ensuring the NSW road network is fit for purpose and that roads across the state are correctly categorised as State, Regional, or Local, so they are maintained by the appropriate road manager.”

The new Lost City Walking Track is now open in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA), providing visitors with another great option to get out and explore the Lithgow region these summer holidays. The track is part of the $2.3 million Lost City Visitor Precinct project.

The 6km family-friendly walking track takes visitors on a memorable journey through pagoda rock formations and heritage sites, set against a backdrop of panoramic views.

Covering clifftop tracks, intricate creek crossings and diverse landscapes, the Lost City Walking Track is a moderate Grade 3 walk with an optional Grade 4 loop via the Miners Pass Link Track. This historic route features hand-carved steps once used by miners to access a valley mine shaft, offering a unique glimpse into the area’s mining heritage.

The track’s construction took 18 months and carefully balanced natural, cultural and heritage considerations while enhancing visitor access. The track is complemented by the Lost City Lookout, a new picnic and viewing area overlooking the iconic pagoda skyline.

The Lost City Walking Track is the first major visitor project as part of the $49.5 million Gardens of Stone SCA infrastructure establishment package.

The Lost City Visitor Precinct will be opened to the public in stages over the coming months. Works will continue on roads, lookouts and carparks after the school holidays.

Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and check NPWS visitor alerts before travel.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“The Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area is an area of profound beauty which will become more accessible to families and casual bushwalkers over the coming years thanks to the visitor infrastructure program.

“New facilities like the Lost City Walking Track will help showcase iconic landscapes while preserving environmental and heritage values which are unique to the area.

“This is an example of conservation in action and sets the tone for what’s to come in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, including new walking tracks, camping areas and recreational activities to encourage more people to get outdoors and enjoy nature.” 

In the early hours of December 20^th, 109 years ago, the guns fell silent in the ANZAC Sector at Gallipoli.

On this day in 1915, after nearly nine months of fighting, the last of the ANZAC troops evacuated with heavy hearts.

The Turkish forces were relieved that there would be no more fighting, that they could mourn many thousands who perished defending their homeland and that peace had finally prevailed at Gallipoli.

A commemorative service is taking place at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney at 12 noon today – 4am in Gallipoli, the time the last boat rowed away from ANZAC Cove.

More than 60,000 Australians served at Gallipoli during the eight-month campaign, 8,700 lost their lives and 18,000 were wounded.

There are 33 Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Türkiye, 21 are in the Anzac area and the major cemeteries include Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, Ari Burnu, the Beach, and Shell Green. To this day there are more than 7,200 Australians buried in cemeteries in Türkiye or listed as missing in Gallipoli.

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“Today is a significant day for Australian military history. We acknowledge the 109th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign which saw the withdrawal of the last of the ANZAC troops on 20 December 1915.

“The Gallipoli campaign holds a special place in mine and my family’s heart as my great great uncle Lieutenant Duncan Chapman was the first man to step ashore at Gallipoli in 1915.

“Today is an opportunity for us all to remember the service and sacrifice of our veterans who participated in this campaign 109 years ago.

“It is important that we continue to commemorate this day to ensure that the legacy of our veterans lives on for generations.”

The Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has been formally established by the Minns Labor Government.

Following consultation, the Minns Labor Government has established the criteria for the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the HDA, as well as the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARS) for successful proposals.

The EOI criteria and SEARs will make sure that projects that access this new state-led approval pathway are in line with the Minns Labor Government’s housing priorities of well-located homes, close to transport, amenities and services.

The HDA has been designed to speed up the assessment of well-located major residential projects through a State Significant Development (SSD) pathway and to also offer proponents a new streamlined concurrent assessment and rezoning pathway, with neither having to be approved by councils, cutting approval times and speeding up the delivery of new homes.

Under the SSD pathway, assessment timeframes could be cut, in some cases, by more than a year.

From 8 January 2025 applicants will be able to submit an Expression of Interest to the HDA for major housing developments above approximately $60 million in Greater Sydney and $30 million in regional NSW.

The HDA will meet monthly to consider proposals against the EOI criteria and make recommendations to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces on whether to declare these proposals as SSD.

Proponents can still choose to follow the existing regionally significant development pathway assessed by councils and determined by planning panels, but the establishment of the HDA and the new SSD pathway will give them another option for major residential developments.

This new assessment pathway will reduce the number of large complex development applications councils are required to assess each year, freeing up resources for councils to assess less complex development applications.

Delivering well-located homes close to transport, jobs and community amenity has been a priority for the Minns Government, and this pathway will significantly speed up the assessment of these projects.

The HDA will include the Secretary of the Premier’s Department Simon Draper, the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Kiersten Fishburn and the Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW, Tom Gellibrand.

More information about the HDA, EOI criteria and SEARS can be found at Housing Delivery Authority | Planning

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“These changes will help deliver the homes that young people, families and workers need by speeding up planning approvals and assessments for major housing developments.

“We have acted swiftly to make these latest reforms to establish the Housing Delivery Authority which represent a significant change to how we bring major housing developments to market across NSW.

“These changes are about making it easier to increase housing supply near existing infrastructure vital to supporting thriving, vibrant communities including more options for young people now and into the future.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Throughout the period of consultation, this reform has been welcomed with widespread acknowledgement that the HDA will speed up assessment allowing more new homes to be delivered more quickly.

“The Housing Delivery Authority will provide a consistent approval pathway for major housing projects with more rigour and less red tape.

“The Housing Delivery Authority builds on the Minns Labor Government’s recent planning reforms such as the Transport Oriented Development program, the Housing Taskforce and the International Pattern Book Design Competition.

“Councils will continue to support the state-wide commitment to increase housing supply by assessing housing developments submitted via the local and regionally significant development approval pathways.​”

The Minns Labor Government will significantly expand accessible housing options for people with disability thanks to NSW Housing Pattern Book designs that uphold industry standards for accessibility and adaptability. 

All NSW Housing Pattern Book designs will at least meet the requirements of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Liveable Housing Design Standard, which has been adapted from the silver level Liveable Housing Design Guidelines.  

Silver level core design requirements include:  

• a step-free path from the street entrance to the home
• bathrooms with showers flush with the surrounding floor level
• internal doors or corridors which offer comfortable and unimpeded movement between spaces. 

In addition, all mid-rise apartment buildings between three and six stories will also include a minimum of 10 per cent adaptable homes.

An adaptable home is designed to make it easy to modify parts of the home, such as kitchen, laundry, or bathroom, to meet the changing needs of the residents. 

The NSW Housing Pattern Book is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to increasing housing choice and making NSW more inclusive and accessible for people with disability.  

We’ve already made significant investments to improve disability inclusion across NSW Government services including: 

• Investing $800 million to upgrade public transport accessibility 
• Expanding disability support classes in schools, with 243 new support classes established this year
• Making the largest ever investment in silver-level accessible housing in the State’s history, with 8,400 new social homes being built through the government’s $5.1 billion investment in public housing 

The NSW Government will launch the Pattern Book technical designs in mid-2025. The pre-approved housing designs will be accompanied by a fast-track planning pathway to support speedier construction.  

For more information on the NSW Housing Pattern Book please visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/government-architect-nsw/housing-design/nsw-housing-pattern-book. 

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said: 

“The NSW Government is focused on building well-designed modern homes that can adapt to the needs of people and families, regardless of their abilities or stages of life. 

“This requires bold and innovative designs for terrace houses and mid-rise apartments that meet rigorous standards, and the NSW Housing Pattern Book is providing an important blueprint for achieving these standards across NSW. 

“These world class designs will play a crucial role in increasing the supply of housing in NSW so that more people have homes that meet their needs.” 

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said: 

“We’re making sure that more new homes will be accessible to more people by embedding accessibility standards into the NSW Housing Pattern Book designs.

“The NSW Housing Pattern Book reflects the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis while making our communities more inclusive and accessible for all.

“With these new designs and planning processes, we’ll be delivering what communities across the state desperately need – more places for more people to call home.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion Liesl Tesch said: 

“Enhancing access to broader scale inclusive housing is such an important next step in the NSW Government’s commitment to increasing accessible housing supply across our communities.

“People with disability have been calling for a focus on accessibility in the housing design process for decades. Ensuring that accessibility standards are embedded in the NSW Housing Pattern Book designs is critical in making inclusion a must-have for future housing investment.”

Government Architect NSW Abbie Galvin said: 

“Patterns catering to accessibility and gaps in the market, including intergenerational and family friendly housing, will be a feature of the designs in the NSW Housing Pattern Book. 

“This allows people to remain in their homes for longer and reduces the likelihood of having to relocate to alternative housing, which can cause significant disruption and break community ties.” 

Families planning to welcome a new cat or dog into their household this festive season are being urged to “Adopt, Don’t Shop”, and help pets in council pounds and rehoming facilities find fur-ever homes.

Adopting from a pound or rehoming facility rather than buying from a pet shop or breeder is a great way to welcome a new pet into your family and give them a brighter future.

It can also help take the burden off council pounds and rehoming facilities which are continuing to experience challenges with high numbers of animals being surrendered.

Data from the Office of Local Government shows more than 3,837 dogs and 4,473 cats found forever homes after being adopted through council pounds in the year to 30 June 2024.

To adopt a pet, contact your local council for information on council pounds, or visit the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Cat Protection Society or another approved rehoming organisation.

In the lead-up to the festive season, current and prospective pet owners are also being urged to ensure their pets are microchipped and registered.

Ensuring your details are correct is an important part of responsible pet ownership and can help reunite owners with pets if they go missing during a family holiday or get spooked by fireworks.

Registration is free-of-charge for desexed cats and dogs adopted from pounds, animal shelters and approved rehoming organisations.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“I’d strongly encourage anyone hoping to find a pet dog or cat under the tree this year to consider adopting.

“When it comes to Christmas presents, it’s hard to think of a better gift then giving a pet a second chance at life.

“There are many cats and dogs in council pounds and rehoming facilities and I hope everyone looking to buy a pet will consider adoption instead.

“It’s important to remember that owning a pet is a significant responsibility and I urge anyone who does get a pet for Christmas to make sure they’re ready to take on that commitment.”

NSW Ambulance has today welcomed 16 new paramedic interns and 18 trainee emergency medical call takers after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony at the State Operations Centre in Sydney.

Joining the 518 paramedics and 140 emergency medical call takers who have already been inducted into the service this year, these new recruits will further boost frontline health services across the state, when they start their roles from tomorrow.

The new recruits joining the service come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including trainee call taker Jamie Wales, who has five years call taking and dispatch experience with London Ambulance Service. Originally from Sydney, she is coming home to be with her family and looking forward to continuing her profession at Sydney Control Centre.

The paramedic interns will be posted across NSW to complete the on-road portion of their 12-month internships before taking permanent positions in metropolitan and regional areas. 

The emergency medical call takers will be posted to the Sydney, Northern and Western Triple Zero (000) control centres.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting our paramedic workforce, investing in a record pay increase for paramedics in December 2023 making them among the highest paid in the country and rolling out of 500 additional paramedics in regional, rural and remote communities.

Each year, NSW Ambulance receives more than 1.1 million Triple Zero (000) calls for assistance and our ambulance vehicles travel more than 46 million kilometres to keep the community safe.

NSW Ambulance provides high quality clinical care, compassion, relief of pain and suffering and rescue and retrieval services to the more than 8.1 million people of NSW.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Today, we celebrate the graduation of our new paramedics and trainee call takers, who are now equipped to respond to the needs of our communities.

“Their commitment to service is commendable, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make as part of NSW Ambulance.

“The dedication they have shown to caring for others is truly commendable. I wish them all the best as they embark on your careers with NSW Ambulance.” 

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:

“Our newest paramedics and emergency medical call takers are becoming a vital part of NSW Ambulance’s mission to provide compassionate, emergency care.

“As I welcome our graduates, I would like to acknowledge their dedication and compassion as they celebrate this important milestone in their careers, which combined with their highly skilled training, will be vital in saving lives and providing comfort in difficult times.”

Jamie Wales:

“I love being a part of frontline emergency healthcare, in particular the teamwork and engaging with patients to provide the first line of comfort and care.

“I am from Sydney originally, so to move back here and do a job I love with NSW Ambulance, is very exciting for me.”