Category: NSW News

Changes to inmate intake and remand operations across metropolitan Sydney will improve the movement of prisoners through the correctional system, support police operations and help manage growing demand across correctional centres.

The Minns Labor Government is strengthening the state’s correctional system, announcing a major overhaul of remand reception and prisoner intake operations in metropolitan Sydney to better manage the state’s prison population.

The changes will improve the movement and management of inmates, helping Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) support the Government’s commitment to holding serious offenders accountable while maintaining a safe, secure and efficient correctional system.

As more serious offenders are being held on remand, the current intake system is no longer fit for purpose. The state’s main reception centre, the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (MRRC) at Silverwater, stops accepting new inmates each afternoon, meaning police can be left holding bail refused prisoners until space becomes available.

From 1 October 2026, MRRC will become the central 24-hour, seven-day-a-week metropolitan intake hub allowing police to transfer bail refused prisoners directly into the correctional system at any time, improving the movement of inmates, reducing pressure on police cells and making better use of prison capacity across metropolitan Sydney.

The changes come as the NSW prison population continues to grow, with more than 1,100 additional inmates entering custody since December 2025 and an increase in the number of people being held on remand.

This growth reflects stronger action across the justice system, with police, courts and Corrective Services NSW continuing to hold more serious offenders to account, particularly domestic and family violence offenders, following the Minns Labor Government’s tougher laws.

With the transition of MRRC to 24/7 operations, the much smaller Amber Laurel Correctional Centre, which currently operates as a 24-hour intake and transit facility for people on remand, will cease operations.

Additionally, Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre will transition to a 30-bed facility, as previously announced on 20 March 2026, and Mary Wade Correctional Centre will transition back to housing female prisoners with a focus on external leave and work release for women.

Parklea Correctional Centre will operate as a predominantly remand-focused facility once it transitions from private to public management on 1 October 2026.

Together, these operational changes will deliver a more coordinated and efficient remand network, improving the management of inmate admissions and movements while ensuring correctional capacity is available where and when it is needed most.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“The first responsibility of any government is keeping the community safe, and that means ensuring serious and violent offenders are held accountable and kept off our streets.

“Police are arresting more serious offenders, the courts are remanding more people into custody and we’re making sure Corrective Services has the capacity to respond. That’s what these reforms are about.”

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Community safety comes first, and these reforms will ensure our correctional system has the capacity and flexibility it needs to meet growing demand.

“More offenders are being held on remand and more serious criminals are being taken off our streets, including perpetrators of domestic and family violence.

“That’s a positive outcome for community safety, and these changes will support the system by improving efficiency across our correctional centres and ensuring resources are being used where they will have the greatest impact.

“This is about planning for the future, so we can continue holding serious offenders accountable and keeping communities safe.”

CSNSW Commissioner Gary McCahon PSM said:

“This plan represents a bold and crucial step toward building a correctional system that recognises and responds to the unique needs and experiences of people entering custody.

“This new model has been designed in consultation with government agencies, non-government partners and other important voices.

“By addressing the systemic issues we are facing, we envision a future where these operational transformations support staff as they work help keep our community safe.

“Due to the significance of the changes at MRRC, we will focus on workforce readiness, safety and operational excellence to ensure the centre is prepared to meet current and future correctional needs.”

The Minns Labor Government has unveiled the final concept design for Anzac Park in West Ryde, delivering on a $6 million election commitment to transform the treasured 90-year-old park into a vibrant and accessible green space for the growing community.

The Minns Labor Government has unveiled the final concept design for Anzac Park in West Ryde, delivering on a $6 million election commitment to transform the treasured 90-year-old park into a vibrant and accessible green space for the growing community.

The upgrade will revitalise one of West Ryde’s most valued open spaces while protecting the ANZAC memorial at its heart, making sure it remains a place for recreation, reflection, and community connection for generations to come.

Key features of the park will include:

• upgraded pedestrian paths,
• more seating, shade, and gathering spaces,
• a new fitness zone,
• a welcoming park entrance,
• improved BBQ facilities, and
• a new, modern, and accessible amenities building.

The final concept design was developed in close collaboration with City of Ryde Council, with two rounds of community consultation undertaken to inform the park’s masterplan.

More than 300 community submissions, together with detailed technical site investigations, have helped shape the final park design, creating a more welcoming and connected park for residents and visitors while meeting the needs of a growing population.

Anzac Park forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s broader investments in delivering more open spaces and community infrastructure that keeps pace with housing growth and helps create liveable neighbourhoods where people can stay active, connected, and close to nature.

The Minns Labor Government is investing in parks and open space across the state with:

• $520 million for open space and active transport in Transport Oriented Development precincts to complement broader investments in liveable communities,
• $200 million through the Faster Assessments Incentive Program to support councils in high- and medium-growth areas over the next three years, and
• $40 million through the Better Open Spaces program for parks, sports fields, swim spots, and town squares.

City of Ryde Council will manage and deliver construction of the upgrades, with completion expected in 2028.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“Ryde is continuing to grow, with thousands of new homes expected over the coming years, and projects like this help existing and future residents have access to the quality green spaces that make neighbourhoods great places to live.

“Delivering the Anzac Park masterplan was a key election commitment and reflects our commitment to creating communities where people can stay active, connect with others and enjoy the benefits of quality open space close to home.

“This upgrade will enhance the park’s recreational facilities while preserving its important heritage values, ensuring it continues to serve as both a place of remembrance and a vibrant community gathering space for generations to come.”

City of Ryde Councillor, Lyndal Howison said:

“I’ve heard from so many local families about how much this park means to them, and it’s fantastic to see that feedback reflected in the final design.

“Ryde is growing fast, and projects like this are exactly what our community needs, quality open space that keeps pace with new housing and gives people somewhere to stay active and connected.”

New legislation introduced to Parliament will strengthen the powers of police and the NSW Crime Commission to investigate organised crime, access critical evidence and disrupt criminal networks.

The NSW Government is today introducing new laws into Parliament to modernise the fight against organised crime, giving the NSW Police Force and NSW Crime Commission stronger powers to investigate sophisticated criminal networks, disrupt their operations and hold offenders to account.

The reforms respond to the changing nature of organised crime, with criminal syndicates increasingly outsourcing violence, relying on encrypted technology, exploiting the illicit tobacco market, recruiting children to carry out offending and using layers of associates to distance themselves from the crimes they orchestrate.

These tactics are designed to frustrate investigations and shield offenders from accountability. The new laws will ensure law enforcement has the modern powers it needs to respond to these evolving threats.

Strengthening police investigations

Digital Evidence Access Orders

Police increasingly rely on mobile phones and other digital devices to investigate organised crime. However, current laws can delay access to critical evidence.

In an Australian-first, a new Digital Evidence Access Order will allow police to compel an individual to supply access information for digital devices suspected to be associated with organised crime.

Currently, a device can only be ordered to be unlocked if it is seized as part of a Search or Crime Scene warrant. This significantly limits the circumstances in which police can access devices.

Our bill extends these orders for prescribed serious offences linked to organised crime, including drug supply, the illicit tobacco trade, fire-bombings and public place shootings.

This means police can quickly access digital devices and gather critical evidence to assist with fast-moving investigations.

The bill also increases the maximum penalty for non-compliance from five to seven years.

Access to unredacted images captured by toll cameras on public toll roads

It will also enable police investigating suspected serious indictable offences, or responding to missing person cases, to access unredacted images captured by toll cameras on public toll roads.

If the Bill passes Parliament, the Government will commence preparations for a staged implementation of these reforms, beginning with cameras on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

The changes are targeted and will not affect law-abiding motorists, with access to unredacted toll camera images only available for investigations into suspected serious indictable offences or missing person reports.

These proposed changes are the latest in a suite of reforms and funding aimed at giving NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission the tools they need to disrupt and dismantle organised crime networks.

They recognise that organised crime today rarely involves a single offender. Instead, criminal networks increasingly rely on third parties and technology to try and evade the law.

Doubling penalties for obstructing Crime Commission investigations

The legislation will also strengthen the powers of the NSW Crime Commission by doubling the maximum penalties for failing to comply with Commission orders – including refusing to answer questions, providing false or misleading evidence, or obstructing investigations – to up to 10 years imprisonment, while streamlining contempt processes.

NSW to participate in the Commonwealth face-matching service

The Bill will enable NSW to participate in the Commonwealth’s national Face Matching Services to help prevent stolen identity documents being used for organised crime purposes, including being sold on the dark web.

NSW will join Western Australia and South Australia, which are already connected to the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution, strengthening the national effort to combat identity crime.

This works by allowing Transport for NSW to securely share driver licence and photo card images through the National Driver Licence Facial Recognition Solution, in accordance with Commonwealth identity verification laws.

If a person’s driver licence, Medicare details or other identity information are exposed in a data breach and obtained by organised criminals, the Face Matching Service can help prevent those documents being used to create fraudulent identities.

For example, where a criminal attempts to use stolen identity documents to open a bank account, facial verification can identify that the person presenting the documents does not match the legitimate owner, preventing the fraud attempt.

About 1 in 4 Australians every year are impacted by identity theft, which costs Australian business about $2.2 billion annually. Face Matching Services provide a critical tool to combat identity theft.

Backing police with stronger laws and greater capability

The package builds on the Minns Labor Government’s work to combat organised crime, including:

• Cracking down on ‘kill cars’ and targeting public shootings and fire-bombings
• Introducing new offences targeting the recruitment of children into organised crime
• Providing law enforcement with additional powers to tackle emerging criminal threats

This includes a $126.6 million investment in the 2026/27 NSW Budget, $108.8 million to continue our nation-leading ICT infrastructure and capability to fight criminals through major enhancements to cyber security, vital policing technology systems and digital evidence management, and $17.4 million for the NSW Crime Commission to disrupt organised violence and confiscate proceeds of crime. 

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“Organised crime has changed, and our laws need to change with it. Criminal syndicates are exploiting encrypted technology, the dark web and layers of intermediaries to distance themselves from the violence they commission.

“Often, the people directing serious offences are nowhere near the crime scene. They’re recruiting others to steal cars, source weapons or carry out shootings while they hide in the background. We are making it harder for those criminals to operate.

“We’re giving police stronger powers to access critical evidence stored on encrypted devices that have been lawfully seized, ensuring technology can’t be used to shield organised criminals from justice.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“The operating model of organised crime is evolving and we’re ensuring police have the powers they need to stay ahead of threats.

“Criminals are increasingly facilitating and coordinating their crimes online, thinking they can distance themselves from the law. This couldn’t be further from the truth: the NSW Government is giving police every tool to come after them hard.

“We’ve listened to NSW Police, we’ve listened to the NSW Crime Commission and this is what they’ve told us they need to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks and keep our streets safe.

“We will continue to be informed by law enforcement and support them with the tools, laws and budget necessary to continue targeting serious and organised crime.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Organised crime is evolving and we need to make sure that our laws keep up.

“These are innovative measures that will give investigators strong and effective powers to combat the threats posed by new technologies that can be exploited by criminals.

“Our Government’s message is clear: If you try to block the Crime Commission’s work in disrupting and reducing organised crime, you will face significant penalties. If you engage in or facilitate organised crime in this State, you can expect to be caught and prosecuted.”

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Our toll road network generates information that can be valuable to police – supporting investigations into serious criminal offences, organised crime, coronial matters, and helping to reunite missing people with their families.

“These changes will give investigators access to another important source of evidence when examining serious crimes, strengthening their ability to identify offenders, progress investigations and help keep the people of NSW safe.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals are calling on the Minns Labor Government to expand veteran housing support to stop former ADF members falling through the cracks.
 
An estimated 5,800 former Australian Defence Force members experience homelessness over the course of a year.
 
During Homelessness Week, Shadow Minister for Veterans Tim James said it was a national disgrace that Australians who had served their country faced the risk of homelessness almost three times higher than the broader population.
 
“These are people who were prepared to risk their lives for our country. We should not accept veterans who have finished their service being left without a safe place to live,” Mr James said.
 
“NSW already has valuable programs and support staff, including Rent Choice Veterans and RSL LifeCare’s Homes for Heroes. But the continuing rate of veteran homelessness tells us we need to do more. Existing programs cannot be the limit of our ambition.”
 
Mr James called on the NSW Government to expand the capacity of veteran-specific services and provide more pathways into secure, long-term housing.
 
“Veterans face unique challenges and are at particular risk when they transition to civilian life. Some leave Defence without a conventional rental history. Others are dealing with injuries, unemployment or the breakdown of a relationship,” Mr James said.
 
“Homelessness is getting worse across NSW under Labor and veterans are among those at particular risk,” Mr James said.
 
Mr James also called for the potential conversion to veterans housing to be considered before the Commonwealth moves to divest dozens of Defence properties.
 
“Where Defence land is genuinely surplus and suitable for housing, governments should consider setting aside part of it for veterans before simply selling it to the highest bidder,” Mr James said.
 
“A home provides the foundation for recovery, employment and rebuilding family relationships. Veterans have already served Australia. Supporting them when they need a home is the very least Australia can do.”
 
Shadow Minister for Homelessness Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the Minns Government has failed to get a grip on the homelessness crisis, with a 42 per cent increase in the number of people sleeping rough across the state since 2023. 
 
“Rents are skyrocketing, homelessness services are at breaking point, and tens of thousands are trapped in a system that can’t cope.”
 
The 2026 NSW Street Count recorded 2,308 people sleeping rough across the state, a five per cent increase in one year. The number has risen by more than 40 per cent from the 1,623 people recorded in 2023.
 
The next Census will be held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 and will provide the next national snapshot of veteran homelessness. This will be a key statistic that policy makers must take note of and action.

The 2026 NAPLAN results for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 released today show the Minns Labor Government is failing our students on the basics of reading, writing and numeracy.
 
Some of the damning NAPLAN results include:
·        the number of NSW Year 3 students needing additional support for numeracy increasing by over a quarter in the three years since NSW Labor came to office
·        increases over last year, and in the three years since NSW Labor came to office, in the numbers of students needing additional support in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 for reading and writing
·        around 30 per cent of NSW Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students not meeting national benchmarks for reading, writing and numeracy.
·        NSW being outperformed by Victoria, the closest comparable state, on 11 of the 12 NAPLAN averages for reading, writing and numeracy.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said the Minns Labor Government should stop congratulating itself and focus on the children who are being left behind.
 
“Every parent expects their child to develop strong foundations in reading and writing, but almost one in ten Year 3 students in NSW now require additional support in reading, with the proportion also rising in writing,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Improvement at the top cannot be used to ignore a growing problem at the bottom.”
 
Shadow Minister for Education Mark Speakman said the Government’s failure to improve reading, writing and numeracy outcomes is undermining confidence in public schools.
 
“The Government seems to have thrown in the towel – this year’s Budget cuts education employee expenses by around five per cent after inflation and assumes falling public school enrolments and teacher numbers,” Mr Speakman said.
 
The Government must snap out of its complacency and urgently review its approach across the board including:
·        teaching methods for mathematics
·        initial and ongoing training of teaching maths
·        ensuring explicit teaching and phonics policies are actually being implemented
·        ensuring teachers are being given enough support for classroom behaviour management
·        ensuring technology is not being counter-productive in classrooms
·        support for children with disability
·        the primary school mathematics curriculum.

This morning, the Minns Labor Government has voted with the Greens against giving police the power to conduct knife wanding operations anywhere, anytime, making the job of our hardworking police harder, not easier.
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals moved an amendment in the Legislative Assembly which would have removed the bureaucratic requirement for police to make a formal declaration before commencing a knife wanding operation, while retaining the existing safeguards governing the exercise of those powers.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said Labor had chosen bureaucracy over backing frontline police and making it easier for them to keep the community safe.
 
“Knife crime doesn’t wait for paperwork, and neither should police,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Police don’t have to tell motorists where RBT is being conducted because this would simply encourage drink drivers to avoid detection while failing to keep the community safe.”
 
“Labor’s insistence that police tell those carrying concealed knives where a wanding operation will be conducted helps criminals and fails to protect the community.”
 
Acting Shadow Attorney General Susan Carter said Labor had sought to create a false choice between police powers and safeguards.
 
“Our amendment retained the existing safeguards governing knife wanding powers, including requirements for police to identify themselves and explain the search,” Ms Carter said. 
 
“The only safeguard Labor is really defending is unnecessary paperwork.”
 
“Every day police exercise discretion across a wide range of powers. There is no reason to suggest they cannot be trusted to exercise the same professional judgement when deciding where knife wanding is needed.”
 
“Arising from the inquest into the six knifing deaths at Bondi Junction, the Coroner recommended considering allowing wanding without any prior declaration in crowded places.”
 
“Yesterday the Attorney General claimed the Government had accepted this recommendation – by considering this idea and then rejecting it. Instead the Government gave in to calls from groups that oppose wanding entirely by retaining the unnecessary, clumsy, declaration system.”
 
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism Anthony Roberts said Labor’s argument that police had already issued hundreds of declarations simply demonstrated the administrative burden was unnecessary.
 
“If police have already been required to make hundreds of declarations, that doesn’t prove the process is essential. It proves they’re spending time repeatedly completing paperwork before getting on with protecting the public.”
 
“The question is simple: should police be filling out declarations, or should they be focusing on finding knives before they’re used? Labor’s answer is more paperwork.”:

The Minns Labor Government has ensured coal projects will continue to be approved in-house instead of by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) after voting against Greens amendments to the “Net Zero Future Committee Report: Emissions from the fossil fuel sector” to recommend coal projects must be independently assessed.

Greens MP and spokesperson for Climate Change and Planning Sue Higginson says:

“I moved this very simple amendment to this report to make good Labor’s own pre-election commitment to have coal projects independently assessed – I was shocked that they’ve teamed up with the Nationals and voted against their own position,”

“Coal exported from NSW is causing significant harm here and around the world. People are losing their lives, homes and landscapes because of the impacts of climate change. It’s astounding that Labor and the Nationals voted to let these deadly projects keep being approved without independent oversight,”

“Since the Minns Labor Government legislated our emissions reductions obligations in NSW, six mines totalling six million tonnes of collective greenhouse gas emissions have been approved without being referred to the Independent Planning Commission. This is despite Labor promising that new coal projects would be assessed independently,”

“This Committee was specifically established to have oversight of the Minns Labor Government’s legally enshrined obligations to reach net zero emissions, but they’ve stacked it with their own numbers and now the Nationals are helping keep coal approvals rolling along out of public view,”

“There should not be any new, expanded, or extended coal in NSW, and this report contains the evidence that approving any is actually against the law,”

“The Minns Labor Government cannot claim to be taking action on climate or staying true to the commitments they have made to the people of NSW when they have stopped this report from recommending all coal projects at the very least be independently assessed. It’s literally two-faced duplicity, with dire consequences” Ms Higginson said.

For media contact: Sue Higginson on 0428 227 363

Pre-election commitment by Labor for independent oversight of coal projects on page 31 of the transcript: Minister for Resources Courtney Houssos: I’d just make a couple of points in relation to coalmining and expansions. We were really clear before the election that we support the independent planning assessment process of resources projects, and that is the important overarching principle.

The Minns Labor Government is acting to crackdown on illegal catches of the state’s precious seafoods such as abalone, lobster and mud crab by bolstering the compliance powers for NSW’s Fisheries Officers.

The Minns Government’s reforms will strengthen the ability of Fisheries Officers to respond to illegal fishing, disrupt black market seafood supply chains, and tackle aquatic habitat offences that threaten the long-term sustainability of NSW’s fisheries.

The Fisheries Management Amendment (Enforcement) Bill 2026 is being introduced to Parliament this week and represent the most significant modernisation of powers in some time.

The Minns Government’s reforms are critical for ensuring Fisheries Officers have the tools they need to do their jobs more effectively and safely.

The community expects that NSW has the regulatory powers required to protect our natural aquatic resources and remain fit for purpose to deter or investigate criminal activities.

After the Bill passes the new provisions will allow Fisheries Officers to:

• Act against people knowingly buying fish from illegal sellers, this will have a direct impact on dampening black-market sales
• Identify and question boat owners when their boat has been suspected to have been involved in illegal activities such a vessel observed by a fisheries drone undertaking illegal fishing
• Make it harder for illegal fishers to evade fisheries officers and empower Fisheries Officers to demand the identity of suspected offenders
• Proactively check that seafood being transported and sold by mobile seafood vendors has been sourced legally.

Along with the boosting of compliance powers the Minns Government is ensuring there are boots on the ground to protect our fisheries.

Eight Supervising and District Fisheries Officers are being recruited and a recruitment drive for a new cohort of up to 11 First Year Fisheries Officers to be stationed right across the state is underway.

The Government’s Bill will deliver the following outcomes:

• Enhance powers to address the risks posed by black market fish sales to the sustainability of fisheries resources and enhance traceability through the seafood supply chain
• Increased penalties of up to $44,000 to deter would-be offenders from stealing aquaculture stock for black market sale or damaging aquaculture infrastructure
• Improved enforcement powers and tools so Fisheries Officers can operate safely and effectively, in line with community expectations of modern natural resource regulators.

The NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty commissioned a review of the Part 9 of the Fisheries Management Act, that covers compliance and investigation powers, in response to the recommendations of an independent review of fisheries compliance powers.

The independent review was initiated in response to concerns from Fisheries Officers about their powers in relation to safety.

These new powers will enable the state to better protect the aquaculture sector which has recorded a farm gate value of $107 million, contributed almost a quarter of a billion dollars to the state economy, and supports around 2,200 jobs along our coastline.

In a separate regulation change, the Government will soon introduce of a ‘fit and proper person’ test for commercial fishing licences in line with community standards, including the completion of a National Police Check.

The fit and proper person test will allow the refusal, suspension or cancellation of a licence where an applicant or licensee has been convicted of serious indictable offences, including assaulting or intimidating a public officer, serious violence offences, fraud, offences involving criminal groups, or serious offences related to fishing activities.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“With these reforms to compliance powers we are protecting the livelihood of hard working and honest commercial fishers and ensuring the sustainability of our resources for future generations.

“The Minns Government is putting in place a stronger and better way of protecting our valuable fisheries resources such as abalone, lobster and mud crabs.

“Fisheries Officers undertake important work protecting our state’s aquatic environments and fisheries resources on the water, at the beach, at wharves and on the road, and they need modernised powers to better do their job.

“Like all workers in NSW, we are committed to ensuring that Fisheries Officers are able to feel safe and appropriately empowered to do their job and public service everyday across the state.”

“The introduction of the new ‘fit and proper person’ standard for commercial fishing licenses aims to protect the working environment of Fisheries Officers and for ensuring our natural resources are better protected from fraud or criminal interests.”

NSW statewide NAPLAN results released in today’s 2026 National Report reveal promising signs of improvement amid the state’s explicit teaching push, while there is more for schools in all sectors to do in areas needing targeted support.

NSW continues to exceed the national averages in all year groups and domains, with more than two thirds of results either strong or exceeding for most year groups and domains.

Signs of growth continue to emerge following the Minns Labor Government’s sustained and targeted investment in teaching quality, curriculum reforms and tailored student support, driving meaningful improvements in literacy and numeracy across NSW schools.

That work includes investing in early literacy and numeracy checks, targeted intervention, ambitious learning targets and evidence-based support for teachers rolling out the new NSW Curriculum, so more students can build strong foundations and move into higher levels of achievement.

While NSW results are relatively stable overall, there is growth in the proportion of students in Years 5 and 7 exceeding in spelling, grammar punctuation, and numeracy, compared to their previous NAPLAN results. This suggests that phonics, explicit teaching and early intervention are making a difference. Examples of this improvement include:

• Year 5 grammar and punctuation is up 8.9 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same cohort’s Year 3 results in 2024.
• Year 5 spelling is up 8.6 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same cohort’s Year 3 results in 2024.
• Year 5 numeracy is up 6.8 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same cohort’s Year 3 results in 2024.
• Year 7 spelling is up 4.9 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same cohort’s Year 5 results in 2024.

These results are consistent with the upward trends reported in 2025 and reflect steady and sustained progress in foundational skills vital for long-term academic success.

The results also reinforce the need to remain focussed on delivering targeted support to students who are still developing proficiency in one or more key learning areas. This includes writing for Years 5, 7 and 9 and grammar and punctuation for Years 7 and 9.

NSW will also take steps to address a concerning national trend of declining writing results, including the delivery of professional learning focussed on strengthening writing across the curriculum for all NSW public schools at the start of next year.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in evidence-based programs and quality teaching to improve learning outcomes, with a comprehensive suite of initiatives reaching tens of thousands of public school students across NSW including:

• The Year 1 Number Screening Check introduced statewide in 2026 to assess 60,000 Year 1 students and identify gaps in their number skills, so targeted support can be provided.
• The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check supporting foundational literacy, complemented by an expanded targeted phonics program for students and schools where it is needed.
• The Small Group Tuition Program, rolled out to every NSW public school, is delivering targeted literacy and numeracy support for students needing targeted support.
• New curriculum resources and professional learning supporting teachers to deliver explicit, knowledge-rich K-12 English and Mathematics syllabuses, with mandatory writing professional development for all NSW public schools in 2027.

The full 2026 NAPLAN National Report is available from ACARA’s website.

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

“This year’s results show NSW students are continuing to perform at a high level while demonstrating growth in key literacy and numeracy skills.

“The performance of NSW students reflects the commitment of our teachers, alongside the Minns Labor Government’s investment in targeted programs like small group tuition and Year 1 phonics and number screening checks, to ensure every student can reach their potential.

“While this year’s results are largely stable, they also show there is more to do, and highlight where schools need to continue to focus their efforts with evidence-based teaching and targeted programs.

“With mandatory professional development in teaching writing next year, and further initiatives in the pipeline, we are laying the groundwork to further lift literacy outcomes.

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring every student has access to a world-class public education with strong teaching, a high-quality curriculum and the support needed to build essential literacy and numeracy skills.”

The Minns Labor Government must allow its dangerous three strikes drug driving bill to be properly examined by a Parliamentary Committee before allowing cannabis users onto our roads. 
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals are calling for the Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Medical Cannabis and Driving Offences) Bill 2026 to the NSW Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (STAYSAFE), should Labor continue to refuse to abandon it altogether.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said the Premier should not ask Parliament to approve such significant reforms without first allowing them to be independently examined by Australia’s oldest and most respected parliamentary road safety committee.
 
“STAYSAFE helped shape reforms including random breath testing, graduated licensing, stronger drink-driving laws, school zone safety and fatigue countermeasures. It exists so that Parliament can hear from scientists, police, medical experts, road safety specialists and victims before major changes to road safety laws are made,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“This Bill has profound implications for every family that uses our roads and it should be properly examined in a transparent way.”
 
“If the Minns Labor Government is confident these changes are supported by the evidence, he should have no hesitation referring the Bill to STAYSAFE for independent scrutiny.”
 
Shadow Minister for Roads Mark Coure said STAYSAFE was created specifically to investigate complex road safety issues and has played a pivotal role in many of New South Wales’ most significant road safety reforms over the past four decades.
 
“This is precisely why STAYSAFE was established.  Its role is to investigate road safety issues, hear evidence and provide Parliament with independent recommendations before decisions are made that could affect the safety of every road user,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Every family expects road safety to come before politics. Chris Minns should refer this Bill to STAYSAFE before asking Parliament to weaken NSW’s drug-driving laws,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Chris Minns now has a simple choice – allow independent scrutiny or explain to the people of New South Wales why he knows better than the parliament’s expert Committee deliberately set up to examine issues such as this”.
 
The Opposition is calling on the Premier to allow STAYSAFE to receive evidence from:
·        road safety experts
·        medical specialists
·        police
·        trauma surgeons
·        victim support organisations
·        industry representatives; and
·        other key experts before the Bill proceeds.