Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is today marking an important milestone in its reform of the foster care system with the release of a landmark report that calls for sweeping changes.

The ‘System review into out-of-home care,’ commissioned by the Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington MP, examined the outsourced foster care system, and investigated how taxpayer money is being spent by non-government providers.

The report found that the $2 billion out-of-home care (OOHC) system, created under the former coalition government, is:

• not fit for purpose and fails to meet the needs of children and young people at an efficient cost
• characterised by a profound lack of accountability and ineffective oversight
• overly complex, fragmented, and slow to respond in the best interests of children and young people
• largely devoid of robust evidence-based practices

The review’s authors were often unable to follow the dollar to determine if taxpayer funds were being used to meaningfully support vulnerable children and young people.

The final report provides a roadmap for rebuilding system accountability and oversight; improving contractual and financial management; collaborating with and elevating the voices of children, families and carers; and building a stronger workforce.

The 13 recommendations include:

• ceasing the current practice of outsourcing case management to non-government providers before final orders are made by the Children’s Court
• mandating greater financial transparency between OOHC providers and foster carers (including relative and kinship carers), so that carers are aware of the significant taxpayer funding being provided to their case management agency
• requiring OOHC providers to clearly identify the direct services and supports provided to children and young people as a result of taxpayer funding
• boosting accountability in the outsourced sector through key performance indicators, comparative analyses, and regular financial and performance audits
• ensuring all OOHC placement types are evidence-informed, reducing the reliance on High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs)

The review was commissioned following a harrowing report by the Advocate for Children and Young People that details the first-hand experiences of the state’s most vulnerable young people in emergency accommodation. This type of accommodation can cost upwards of $2 million a year for each child, costing taxpayers more than $38,000 a week.

The system review was led by former Assistant Commissioner with NSW Police, Gelina Talbot, and former executive director of the Department of Communities and Justice, Lauren Dean. Their report sets out a blueprint for change and provides important insights into a system that often fails to meet the needs of children and young people. 

While considering the report in its entirety, the NSW Government is already getting on with the job of implementing many of the recommendations, including:

• Announcing a total ban on Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs) by March 2025
• Reducing the number of children placed in ACAs by 81 per cent since November 2023, down to just 27 children
• Reducing the number of children placed in all types of HCEAs by 33 per cent since November 2023
• Opening the Waratah Care Cottages to better support children and sibling groups who are currently stuck in HCEAs
• Implementing Active Efforts legislation, meaning DCJ must do everything practical to ensure children are safe and connected to their family, culture and community; as well as undertake extensive family finding processes if a child is removed
• Finding safe homes for 849 children by commencing recruitment of more than 200 emergency foster carers after the former government stopped recruiting
• Signing an historic deal to increase caseworker pay to attract and retain more caseworkers
• Increasing workforce capability by redeploying casework specialists back to the frontline, so more families are seen by highly skilled caseworkers

The NSW Government acknowledges the important contributions of the hundreds of stakeholders, caseworkers, foster carers, families, and children and young people whose valuable contributions made this report possible.

The NSW Government is closely reviewing the findings and recommendations of the report and will formally respond in the coming months.  

Read the ‘System review into out-of-home-care.’

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington said:

“I thank Gelina Talbot and Lauren Dean for their clear and decisive report that lays out a significant roadmap for reform.

“The Minns Labor Government has been open and honest about the spiralling out-of-home care system we inherited. Now we have the evidence and the recommendations we need to start turning the ship around so that vulnerable children and young people get the supports they need.

“It’s shocking that some out-of-home care providers are failing to provide basic supports to children, despite being paid hundreds of thousands, and in some cases, millions, of taxpayer dollars to do so.

“Right now, we know taxpayer money is not always flowing to the children who need it.

“As a government, we are committed to ensuring every dollar invested in the child protection system goes to the vulnerable children who need it.

“Over the past 18 months, the Minns Labor Government has been stabilising the system, now we will begin rebuilding the foundations so that we can invest in better outcomes.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure increased accountability and transparency translates to better outcomes for children and young people.

Private health insurers will resume paying single room rates when their members use the public system.

Following months of negotiations with the NSW Government, all 53 private health funds in NSW will pay single room rates from January 1, 2025.

The successful resolution means the NSW Government will not need to increase the Health Insurance Levy (HIL) in order to recover costs.

The decision of some funds to stop paying the single room rate had been costing the public health system $140 million a year. 

By resuming the payment, the sector is ensuring that the state’s world class public hospitals and the people who rely on them, will no longer miss out on critical funding.

The Minns Labor Government passed legislation in October, mirroring the approach taken by then-Treasurer Mike Baird when private health funds first stopped paying the correct room rate in 2013.

The legislation allowed for the government to cost recover through an increase to the HIL, which could be enacted if funds did not resume paying the single room rate.

The NSW Opposition refused to support the reintroduction of this bill, with the Opposition Leader, Shadow Treasurer and Member for Vaucluse instead backing ongoing taxpayer funded subsidies to private insurers.

The NSW Government commends the private health insurance sector for reaching a resolution to this issue. 

The government will continue working with insurers on improved data sharing to increase transparency for private patients who use single rooms in the public system.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Over months of negotiations, the NSW Government kept the door open to reaching a resolution with private health insurers.

“We now have an agreement that’s good for our public hospitals and the millions of people who rely on them every day.

“The NSW Liberal Party will be recorded as being on the wrong side of this issue – backing subsidies for private health insurers instead of fighting for the public system.”

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“This agreement means private funds resume paying their fair share and our public hospitals are better off.

“This is welcome news for patients and public hospitals and I am grateful we’ve been able to reach an outcome.

“We said we’d work with funds to resolve this and that’s what we did.”

The Minns Labor Government has confirmed, on Saturday December 7^th, Penrith Beach will be reopen for summer, providing access to a swimming spot for locals and visitors to cool down, relax and swim.

After it was kept locked up and out of reach under the former Liberal-National Government for twelve years, the beach’s second season since it was established by the Minns Labor Government is less than a week away

More than 215,000 people visited Penrith Beach from 19 December 2023 to Anzac Day 2024, and this summer’s swim season promises to be bigger and better with upgraded accessible facilities for beachgoers.

The Minns Labor Government invested $2.5 million to fund amenities and staffing for a second year, to make sure locals and visitors can soak up stunning views of the Blue Mountains while enjoying a dip at this unique Western Sydney swimming spot.

Beachgoers travelling to Penrith Beach will not need to book parking with more than 300 parking spaces available this year.

Penrith Beach operating hours will be from 10am to 7pm, commencing Saturday, 7 December and will be open every day including Christmas through to Sunday, 27 April 2025.

Water safety remains the top priority this summer with trained lifeguards from Surf Life Saving Australia on duty to patrol the beach and offer first aid services to visitors. The Royal Life Saving Society will also patrol the beach and lead community education and learn-to-swim opportunities.

In addition to reopening as a swim spot there will be further activations at the site over the course of the summer.

For more information, including hours of operation and available programs, visit Penrith Beach | NSW Government

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“It is fantastic to see Penrith Beach will open its gates again in one week’s time, so our community has somewhere to relax and cool off in our local area.

“The Liberals and the Nationals left this site locked behind gates for more than a decade, making empty promises and achieving nothing for the people of Western Sydney.

“This is about equity. A place like Penrith Beach is critical for the people of Western Sydney. Hundreds of thousands of Western Sydney locals showed up and enjoyed Penrith Beach last year, and I cannot wait to join them for another summer season.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Penrith residents previously needed to travel 40km to swim in Lake Parramatta, 63km to get to Bondi Beach, or 75km to get to either Cronulla or Manly.

“Bringing back this beach for another summer shows that our Government remains committed to providing access to great places to swim.

“We had huge numbers visit Penrith Beach last season and we look forward to welcoming even more people this summer.”

Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said:

“New and improved facilities are exactly what locals and visitors to our beach deserve.

“That is why we have taken the time to make this site special for our community and families with plenty of new fun and free activities.”

This afternoon the new Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul will hit the tarmac at Sydney Airport, officially opening an exciting new route to Europe and a boost in the number of visitors to New South Wales.

From today, this new route will offer four flights a week with one of the world’s leading carriers. In the first year alone, this will deliver an additional 68,620 inbound seats to Sydney Airport, support more than 290 jobs and generate an estimated $53 million for the NSW visitor economy.

This new route was made possible with significant financial support from the NSW Government’s Aviation Attraction Fund. Attracting new routes and building aviation capacity is part of Minns Government’s plan to rapidly grow the NSW visitor economy.

As outlined in the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy review released last month, the Minns Government plans to grow the state’s tourism industry from the current annual expenditure of $53 billion to $91 billion by 2035.

The arrival of Turkish Airlines to Sydney marks a new phase of growth in passenger numbers arriving in NSW. Over the next ten years capacity is expected to grow by 8.5 million seats to support the new $91 billion growth target. This will be driven by big growth at Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport, the opening of

Western Sydney International Airport in 2026 and the Newcastle Airport international terminal in 2025.

Tourism is already the state’s fifth biggest employer, and the projected growth will take the total number of jobs from 300,000 to 450,000. The growth in revenue and jobs in tourism will play an important role in sustaining economic growth as other industries decline.

The Aviation Attraction Fund, administered by Destination NSW, has helped land more than 40 routes and is currently supporting Newcastle Airport to attract new international routes, and has supported Sydney Airport to land a new Shanghai-Sydney route with Juneyao Airlines that will commence next month.

Premier for NSW Chris Minns says:

“This flight route will open an exciting new destination for people who want to book overseas trips, and for visitors who want to see what our incredible state has to offer.

“Sydney was voted the world’s top destination for a reason and we are supporting our airports to get more people visiting the state, spending money and creating jobs across NSW. “

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham says:

“Turkish Airlines’ arrival in Sydney is a landmark moment that offers a new high-quality option for local travellers to Europe and a boost in visitor numbers to Sydney.

“This exciting new route from Istanbul was made possible by a financial incentive from the Minns Government.

“We are backing our airports to increase capacity and bring more visitors to NSW, creating jobs and economic growth in our tourism destinations right across the state.

“Bringing more passengers into our airports is part of the Minns Government’s plan to boost jobs and growth in our statewide visitor economy.”

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton says:

“We’re proud to welcome our 50th airline partner Turkish Airlines as they launch their inaugural flight to Sydney, strengthening our international network and offering passengers even more choice and connectivity to Europe and beyond through their extensive hub in Istanbul.

“The arrival of Turkish Airlines not only strengthens their offering in our region but also highlights the vital role Sydney plays as a global aviation gateway. We’re also delighted they have chosen Sydney to host their inaugural non-stop services in the years ahead.

“Turkish Airlines has been recognised as the best airline in Europe by Skytrax, and it’s fantastic that so many passengers from Sydney will now have the opportunity to experience their world-class service first-hand.

“I’d like to thank and acknowledge the significant support of the NSW Government and Destination NSW in helping make this possible. Their collaboration continues to be instrumental in driving tourism and international connectivity for Sydney and the broader region.”

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi says:

“This momentous occasion marks Turkish Airlines’ longest flight path in history, as we happily add our second Australian city to our flight network.

“The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connect travellers across the globe, providing a seamless gateway between Europe and Australia with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines.

“Once we receive our aircraft capable of conducting the journey in a single leap, we look forward to further expanding our offering in the near future with Australia’s first non-stop flights to Istanbul.”

The NSW Government welcomes the Federal Government’s ban on social media for children under 16.

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 passed both houses of Parliament this week.

The laws place the onus on social media platforms – not young people or their parents – to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years of age from having accounts, and ensures systemic breaches will see platforms face fines of up to $49.5 million.

The minimum age will apply to ‘age-restricted social media platforms’ as defined in the Bill, which includes Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X and others.

The Minns Labor Government is pleased that we have a national approach to social media bans. It means we have consistent rules across the country.

This follows the joint social media summit held by the NSW Government and the Government of South Australia – the first of its kind.

The Summit in Sydney reached consensus that social media, if left unchecked, uncensored, un-supervised, poses a threat, particularly to young people in our community.

Evidence shows us the links between increases in social media use and greater instances of mental health issues, loss of sleep, less in person interaction, and less practice of social skills.

The social media ban is a welcome measure for many parents, and another of the many measures now in place to help minimise the negative impacts of social media and devices on young people including:

• Banning mobile phones in all NSW Public schools, with a recent survey showing that 86 per cent of principals believing socialising has improved since this came into effect.
• Developing a statewide approach to address bullying in New South Wales schools.
• A $2.5 million research fund to investigate the impacts of excessive screen time, video games and mobile phone use on young people and their learning.
• Recruiting 250 additional school counsellors as part of the NSW Labor Government’s election commitment to student wellbeing.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“I want to congratulate the Albanese Government on passing these laws. They are world leading.”

“I’ve said before, social media is this giant global unregulated experiment on children, and we have to change that.

“The parents I speak to and certainly the evidence acknowledges that social media is doing an enormous amount of harm to young people.

“By making this law, at the very least we empower parents to be able to say no to their kids when it comes to social media because it’s now against the law.

“It also means kids can focus on being kids, talking to each other face to face, spending time outdoors and not fixated on their screens.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib will today welcome 286 new firefighters to the ranks of Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) at a graduation ceremony in western Sydney.

The new intake includes 61 permanent firefighters and 225 paid on-call firefighters, with graduates hailing from diverse backgrounds including skydiving, carpentry, architecture, teaching and defence.

The graduation will take place at the Emergency Services Academy at Orchard Hills.

The new recruits have spent up to 12 weeks learning to deal with fire emergencies, as well as training in search and rescue, first aid, heavy vehicle driving and dealing with hazardous materials (HAZMAT).

In the past year, FRNSW has responded to 140,000 emergency incidents, conducted more than 24,000 safety visits and provided fire safety education to more than 40,000 children.

The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding Fire and Rescue NSW. The 2024-25 NSW Budget saved the jobs of almost 300 firefighters left unfunded by the former Coalition government. The Government is also building new fire stations in Byron Bay, Charlestown and Badgerys Creek.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build stronger, safer communities across the state.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“I congratulate the graduating recruits and welcome them into the emergency services family.

“It takes a special kind of person to put the safety of others ahead of their own and to help those in need.

“That is the very best definition of public service.

“Our recruits will now put their training into action, joining metropolitan and regional fire crews across the state.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“I thank this group of recruits for making the commitment today to protect lives in communities across the state by joining Fire and Rescue NSW.

“Having been trained to prepare for anything, I am certain these new recruits will have a positive impact on the people of NSW for many years to come.

“It’s a special day for our newest recruits and their families, and I wish them all long and safe careers as NSW firefighters.”

Commissioner of FRNSW Jeremy Fewtrell said:

“FRNSW is leading the way when it comes to equipping and training firefighters.

“While today’s graduates come from diverse backgrounds, they have one thing in common – a drive to protect the irreplaceable.

“From today they are part of an organisation where the safety and trust of the community is at the heart of everything we do.”

Firefighter profiles

Firefighter Charly Rusconi

Former skydiving instructor, Charly Rusconi, who has over 9,000 jumps under his belt. He completed his training in September and is now stationed at Silverwater Fire Station.

In his first months, Firefighter Rusconi and his crew responded to variety of incidents including structure fires, motor vehicle accidents and an animal rescue.

Firefighter Charly Rusconi said:

“The training we received was so interesting yet intense.

“Given my skydiving experience, I was comfortable with the ‘working at heights’ and ‘ropes’ components, but everything else was brand new.

“Since being stationed at Silverwater, I’ve completed 14 shifts and attended 10 structure fires.

“It’s unfortunate that often we come across people during times of distress, but I love that we can make their day a little better.

“Most of my crew are parents, so we love being able to engage with kids in the local community, whether that’s talking to them on the street or visiting schools for fire safety education sessions.”

Firefighter Atanesi Tia

On-call Firefighter Atanesi Tia, from Griffith, juggles her new role alongside a busy family life.

Firefighter Atanesi Tia said:

“I was looking for a career change that let me balance caring for my three children.

“A family friend invited us to a drill night at Griffith Fire Station last year as my husband was initially interested in joining, but I ended up signing up instead.

“My background is Samoan, so family and community are extremely important to me, and the flexibility of being an on-call firefighter allows me to spend more time with my son before he starts kindergarten next year.

“This job can be challenging, but it gives me a great sense of purpose and I love that I can be there for my local community during their time of need.”

A $30 million election commitment from the Minns Labor Government to provide a much-needed boost to rental options in the Northern Rivers is now a step closer to being realised.

Landcom’s plans for 50 build-to-rent apartments near the Southern Cross University at East Lismore have been approved by the Northern Regional Planning Panel – just 68 days since they were lodged with Lismore City Council.  

Part of the NSW Government’s build-to-rent pilot program to increase rental supply in regional communities affected by rising rents and low housing availability, the plans will provide important additional housing for the Northern Rivers region, which was impacted by major floods in 2022.

The development will feature a mix of apartment sizes to suit the needs, lifestyles and budgets of different households. Close to shops, schools, open space and other community infrastructure, 20% will be affordable rental housing, supporting essential workers and people with low and moderate household incomes.

The project site at the corner of Crawford Road and Military Road is not flood prone and has been designed with sustainability and climate-resilience in mind, maximising solar access and cross ventilation for the wellbeing of residents. Other features include private off-street parking, outdoor communal spaces, landscaping featuring subtropical plants, and views to bushland in the east.

The plans were informed by community and stakeholder feedback, planning controls, and site investigations, including studies related to local traffic, the natural environment and urban design. 

Landcom seek construction tender responses early next year. Subject to approvals, construction should begin in 2025, with the aim of residents moving into their new homes in 2026.

This follows the recent approval of Landcom’s 50 build-to-rent homes in Bomaderry on the NSW South Coast.

To learn more about the project, visit landcom.com.au/eastlismore.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:

“Housing affordability and availability is one of the biggest pressures facing NSW residents, with regional communities like Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers region doing it particularly tough.

“The build-to-rent project at East Lismore will help to boost the supply of much-needed rental stock, while providing greater housing choice, security and affordability for future residents in well-located, well-designed and well-built homes.

“Continuing the NSW Government’s ongoing efforts to support flood recovery in the Northern Rivers, the build-to-rent project will also support jobs during and beyond construction.”

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson:

“Having access to affordable and secure housing is a basic human right. We need safe, good quality, accessible homes for people in regional areas, particularly in places like the Northern Rivers which have been hit hard by devastating floods in recent years.

“Projects like these are an important step towards delivering affordable rental housing for the people of regional NSW.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:

“The build-to-rent project at East Lismore is a welcome investment by the NSW Government to provide secure and affordable rental options for the Lismore community.

“Landcom’s build-to-rent project will help to fill gaps in the housing market, where there is a need for a greater mix of housing, with more smaller homes and housing suited to smaller households.

“I am pleased to see the pace of progress being made by Landcom, with support from Lismore City Council, to help local renters to put a roof over their head as soon as practical.”

Landcom CEO Alex Wendler:

“Our vision is to transform the unused East Lismore site with much-needed homes that are well-designed, sustainable and climate-resilient, while also celebrating the region’s architecture and lifestyle.

“We want future residents to be proud to call the development home, benefiting from easy access to open space, shops, services, schools and jobs.

“The speed at which we’ve reached this milestone is a testament to working collaboratively with Lismore City Council and other key stakeholders to fast-track home delivery.” 

A revitalised Wollongong Health Precinct is one step closer following the release of an Engagement Outcomes Report detailing the community’s views on the proposed development following community consultations in 2024.

The key issues detailed in the Engagement Outcomes Report, focused on parking and transport links to access the site, public safety upgrades, an expansion of general and specialised healthcare services, more local housing for key health workers such as cleaners, and more public open space.

The engagement program undertook extensive consultation with the local community, including eight information sessions, online surveys, written submissions and targeted workshops with culturally and linguistically diverse groups.

Feedback was also sought from local Indigenous community groups, along with research and education providers, as well as industry and peak bodies.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has been using its findings from the report to prepare the Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy.

The Draft Wollongong Health Precinct Strategy will incorporate future planning for NSW Health’s Master Plan for Wollongong Public Hospital, Transport for NSW’s Wollongong Station Master Plan and Access Strategy and Wollongong City Council’s Local Housing Plan and Integrated Transport Strategy.

The Strategy will be publicly exhibited early next year, giving the community, landowners and other stakeholders a further opportunity to provide more feedback.

To view the report visit – Engagement Outcomes Report – Wollongong Health Precinct

Minister for Health, Regional Health, Illawarra & the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“As the demand for health services grows in the Illawarra, we recognise Wollongong Hospital needs to meet that increased pressure.

“As the largest hospital in the area Wollongong provides a comprehensive range of services for the community, and this process enables our government to shape the future of this important healthcare precinct.

“I am delighted to see the interest the community is taking in this hospital. Valuable feedback provided for this report about Wollongong Hospital will go a long way to ensuring it continues to meet the healthcare needs of the Illawarra for decades to come.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“As Wollongong continues to grow and change, it continues to attract world class public and private investment to the area.

“This new opportunity will see investment in Wollongong’s housing supply and choice, creation of new jobs and improved public spaces, infrastructure and services.

“Wollongong’s emerging Health Precinct will play a vital role in contributing to this growth.

“The Engagement Outcomes Report is a key piece of information, along with the Hospital Masterplan, Wollongong Station Masterplan and Council’s local housing plans, in the development of the Wollongong Health Precinct.”

The Minns Labor Government is renewing calls for employers, employees and home renovators across the state to remain vigilant to the dangers of asbestos.

With asbestos still present in one-in-three Australian homes, as well as in public and commercial buildings and more than 4,000 Australian lives claimed annually, National Asbestos Awareness Week serves as a timely and important reminder to access information and register for safety courses before working with asbestos or any building material which might contain asbestos,

Worth $4.5 billion, December 2024 marks the 20-year anniversary of the biggest compensation agreement ever struck in Australia on behalf of people with asbestos-related illnesses directly caused by the actions of the building-products manufacturer, James Hardie.

It was the Carr Labor Government that instituted the judicial inquiry into James Hardie. It was the findings of this inquiry and the subsequent public pressure on the company which resulted in the establishment of the compensation fund for the victims of their deadly product.

The 2004 deal struck with James Hardie was a landmark agreement, and its benefits have resonated across the country, raising awareness, education and investment in medical research into asbestos diseases. The agreement also ensured current and future victims of asbestos-related diseases would be fully compensated for years to come.

Some practical steps to follow when it comes to dealing with the toxic material include:

• If the home or building you are working on was built before 1990, then it is likely to contain asbestos.
• If you’re not sure whether asbestos might be present at a site, don’t do anything until you’ve had it checked by a licensed asbestos professional.    
• If you’re working on a commercial building that was built before December 2003, ask to see a copy of the asbestos register before doing any work.
• For renovators and tradies working with asbestos or removing small amounts of asbestos        (less than 10sq m), SafeWork NSW has launched an online asbestos awareness and safety course which will help meet your training obligations and provide workers the skills they need to stay safe when working with asbestos.

To find out more about the SafeWork NSW asbestos safety course, Register Here.

For more information about asbestos safety, visit the SafeWork NSW asbestos page.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis says:

“Employers must ensure their workers follow safe processes when working with asbestos to prevent exposure.

“Equally, DIY renovators should be aware of the potential risks, stay educated and leave it to the experts.

“All workers have the right to go home to their loved ones at the end of their workday.”

Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin says:

“If asbestos is disturbed, it can release dangerous fine particles of dust containing asbestos fibres which can cause serious and fatal illness when inhaled.

“This National Asbestos Awareness Week, it’s important to remember that if your home or commercial building was built or renovated before 1990, it may contain asbestos. If in doubt, contact a licensed asbestos assessor or refer to the SafeWork website which offers further guidance, resources and information on the asbestos awareness and safety course.”

Shoppers are being urged to know their rights and to shop smart ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.

The annual Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas shopping, Boxing Day, and January sales can give consumers many opportunities to snap up a bargain if they shop carefully, but shoppers need to do their research and be on the lookout for scams.

Last financial year (FY) online shopping complaints to NSW Fair Trading surged by 70 per cent to 18,232, with retail complaints in clothing, footwear, accessories, and jewellery recording a notable jump from 796 in FY 2023, to 2742 in FY 2024.

Complaints also rose in categories such as electrical goods (1,473 in FY 2024 compared with 982 in FY 2023), and furnishings (1,157 in FY 2024) indicating ongoing consumer concerns with product quality and delivery delays.

Fair Trading has a range of compliance and enforcement options available to help protect consumers.

These options include education, public warnings, and/or enforcement action including penalties up to a maximum of $22,000 for individuals, and $1.1 million for companies.

Consumers are urged to follow these key tips to protect themselves this festive shopping season:

• Know your rights during sales: Under Australian Consumer Law, consumers are entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement if a product or service doesn’t meet the description. This applies to both online and in-store purchases. Make sure you ask for a receipt and keep it somewhere safe.
• Research before you buy: Take the time to compare prices, read reviews, and confirm that a sale really is a bargain before making a purchase. Some businesses may offer discounts that don’t always represent true savings.
• Check delivery and returns policies: Make sure you understand the store’s return policies, particularly for sale items. Businesses are not legally required to provide refunds if you change your mind, but many do so as a courtesy. When purchasing online, check delivery cut-off dates to ensure your items arrive on time.
• Beware of scams: Scammers often take advantage of busy shopping periods by creating fake websites or ads. Always check that the website is secure, ensure the web address is correct, and save copies of your receipts or confirmation emails for any future disputes.

For more information on your rights and tips for staying safe this shopping season visit: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-services.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong:

“With the holiday shopping season upon us, shoppers need to know their rights and be on guard for dodgy products and scams.

“Under Australian Consumer Law, consumers are entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement if a product or service doesn’t meet the description, and these rights apply to both online and in-store purchases.

“Fair Trading has a range of compliance and enforcement options available to help protect consumers.

“These options include education, public warnings, and/or enforcement action including penalties up to a maximum of $22,000 for individuals, and $1.1 million for companies.”

Financial Year Total Complaints
FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023	FY 2024
7,965	7,517	9,631	10,429	9,819	10,568	18,232

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2018
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\Jewelry	886
Retail – Mobile\Smart phones and\or accessories	702
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	580
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	438
Retail – Ticket Selling\Re-selling Platform	411

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2019
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\Jewelry	851
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	604
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	604
Retail – Furniture\Furnishings\Manchester	483
Retail – Ticket Selling\Re-selling Platform	381

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2020
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	1629
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\jewelry	978
Retail – Entertainment (Incl bookings)	732
Retail – Furniture\Furnishings\Manchester	486
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	457

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2021
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	2109
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\Jewelry	900
Retail – Furniture\Furnishings\Manchester	817
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	590
Retail – Homewares	498

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2022
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	1035
Retail – Furniture\Furnishings\Manchester	989
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\Jewelry	942
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	776
Retail – Ticket Selling\Re-selling Platform	511

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2023
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	1624
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	982
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\Jewelry	796
Retail – Ticket Selling\Re-selling Platform	769
Retail – Homewares	730

Top 5 Product Name	FY 2024
Retail – Clothing\Footwear\Accessories\Jewelry	2742
Other Services – Travel\Tourism	1830
Retail – Electrical, Electronic, Whitegoods and Gas Appliances	1473
Retail – Furniture\Furnishings\Manchester	1157
Retail – Homewares	840