Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to improve rental laws and help make renting fairer, announcing new laws to end no-grounds evictions.

This change will be the one of the biggest reforms to the rental market in a decade and will help to ensure we get the balance right between renters and homeowners.

We have a housing crisis in NSW. In fact, housing is the largest single cost of living issue facing the people of NSW.

More people are renting than ever before, with around 33 per cent of the NSW population renting, an increase of 17.6 per cent since 2016.

However, the current rental market in NSW is the toughest that renters have seen for decades with historically low vacancy rates, median rent prices increasing by around 7 per cent over the last 12 months, and a system that leaves them vulnerable to eviction at any time.

These changes bring NSW into line with other states including the ACT, South Australia and Victoria who have legislated their own model to end no grounds evictions.

Ending no grounds evictions

Under the existing law, the owner of a rental property can choose to end a residential periodic lease at any time for any reason or no reason at all.

This creates insecurity and financial pressure for renters whose lives can be upended at any time.

Under our proposed reforms, homeowners will now need a reason to end a tenancy for both periodic and fixed term leases.

These will include commonsense and reasonable reasons such as:

• The existing rules where the renter is at fault, because of a breach of lease, damage to the property, or non-payment of rent.
• Where the property is being sold or offered for sale with vacant possession.
• Where significant repairs or renovations make inhabiting the property too difficult, or it will be demolished.  If a homeowner seeks to renovate or repair a home, it cannot be relisted for a period of at least 4 weeks.
• If the property will no longer be used as a rental home, i.e. a change of use.
• Where the owner or their family intend to move into the property.
• If the renter is no longer eligible for an affordable housing program or if the property is purpose-built student accommodation and the renter is no longer a student.

If the homeowner wishes to end a lease, evidence must be provided with a termination notice, with penalties payable by homeowners providing non-genuine reasons.

For those on fixed term agreements of less than 6 months, the termination notice period to tenants will be increased from 30 days to 60 days.  For fixed term agreements of more than 6 months, the termination notice period will be increased from 60 days to 90 days.

There will be no change to notice periods for those on periodic agreements.

The package follows a comprehensive consultation process with more than 16,000 submissions and survey responses received from the general public and multiple sector-based roundtables.

The Minns Labor Government will now begin stakeholder engagement on these reforms and will aim to introduce new legislation in the September sittings of Parliament to end no grounds and provide more security and stability for renters.

The new reforms are set to begin early next year, subject to this consultation.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Bad tenants will still be able to be evicted. We don’t want homeowners to have to put up with bad behaviour.”

“But anyone who rents in NSW knows just how anxious and challenging renting can be at the moment. We’ve all seen the lines on a Saturday morning with hundreds of people waiting to inspect new properties.

“We believe this reform gets the balance right, but importantly, this will give both homeowners and renters more certainty, more peace of mind, so they can build a home and a life on surer ground.”

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Around a third of the people in NSW rent and they deserve secure and fair housing.

“Getting this model right has been a long journey but the overwhelming message from the community has been that people rent a home, not just a house.

“There’s no national consistency on these rules, so we’ve been careful to design a package that works for the NSW market.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Minister for Youth Rose Jackson said:

“Creating a fairer rental system in NSW is crucial to rebuilding our housing system.”

“For too long renters have faced an unprecedented amount of uncertainty – making it harder to secure jobs, start families and develop community links.

“Renters who do the right thing – pay their rent, look after the house – should not have to be in a constant limbo with the possibility of an eviction for no reason just around the corner.

“They deserve more security and ending no grounds evictions is an important first step.”

NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said:

“Putting together this package has required bringing together renters, owners, agents, advocates, and industry leaders to make renting fairer in NSW.

“The commitment to ending no grounds evictions is a major step in a broader effort to create a fair, quality, and affordable rental market where both tenants and landlords are treated with respect and fairness.

“It’s about striking a balance that upholds the rights and responsibilities of all involved.”

Teacher vacancy numbers in NSW public schools have fallen to a three-year low under Labor as the Minns Labor Government works to address the teacher shortage, with 24 per cent fewer vacancies at the start of Term 3 than the same time last year.

The continuing improvement in teacher numbers comes alongside new data indicating resignations and retirements have dropped, as changes made by the Minns Labor Government stem the flow of teachers leaving NSW schools.

It follows a 20 per cent drop in teacher vacancies at the start of this year compared with the previous year, indicating a firm downward trend.

With teacher vacancies across the state’s 2,200 schools now numbering 1,698, there is more work to do to turn the shortage around – but it’s a 35 per cent drop in vacancies compared to the same time in 2022 when the Liberals and Nationals were in office, and the lowest number since 2021. 

At the height of the teacher shortage crisis under the former Liberal National government, vacancies rose above 3,000 and resignations outstripped retirements for the first time. Now, the rate of attrition is trending down for both as more teachers – including those with decades of experience – see the value of remaining in the profession.

The numbers also reflect the success of the Government’s election commitment to provide permanent roles to more than 16,000 temporary teachers and support staff, who were left with insecure work by the Liberals and Nationals.

Permanent teachers now make up 72 per cent of the teaching workforce, up from 64 per cent in 2022.

The Minns Government is pulling out all the stops to address the teacher workforce shortage, including by:

• Delivering NSW public school teachers the biggest pay rise in a generation.
• Improving teachers’ workload and conditions, including by making more than 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contracts permanent.
• Attracting and retaining teachers through programs such as the Grow Your Own Teacher Training program, which supports aspiring teachers to study while working in a local public school, and the Teachers in the Field program, which supports regional, rural and remote schools to access teacher relief cover.
• Expanding the department’s Priority Recruitment Support model from 79 to more than 110 schools, including an additional 26 in regional, rural and remote areas, providing targeted support to fill vacancies.

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

“Labor was elected to rebuild essential services after a decade of neglect under the former Liberal National government, and while we still have much to do to turn around the teacher shortage, we have seen a sustained drop in vacancies since the start of this year.”

“These further improved figures show the steps we are taking to address the teacher shortage crisis, ignored by the former Liberal National government, are making a difference.”

“These include delivering a once-in-a-generation wage rise to NSW public school teachers, focussing on easing teacher workload, and improving student behaviour.”

“The drop in resignations and retirements shows teachers are hearing that we value their work and are supporting them to focus on delivering quality teaching and learning.”

“Having a qualified teacher at the front of every classroom is vital to delivering improved academic outcomes for our students.”

The Minns Labor Government’s $189 million Bulk-Billing Support Initiative commences today, helping ensure the cost of seeing a GP remains accessible for families and households across NSW.

Introduced in the 2024/25 NSW Budget, the program protects bulk-billing for people needing a GP and reduces the strain on our emergency departments. It is the first time the NSW Government has made a direct intervention to protect bulk-billing rates.

The package provides a new, ongoing payroll rebate to clinics for contractor GPs that meet the bulk-billing thresholds of 80% of services in metropolitan Sydney, and 70% in the rest of NSW.

Clinics will also benefit from the waiving of $104m of historical payroll tax liabilities, which began accruing for contractor GPs under the previous government.

There are more than 2,300 GP clinics across NSW. The NSW Government’s Bulk-Billing Support initiative will protect the bulk-billing rates at GP clinics for families across the state, saving households money and reducing the strain on emergency departments.

NSW Health estimates that a 1 per cent decrease in bulk-billing equates to around 3,000 additional emergency presentations.

For large clinic networks like ForHealth, with 37 clinics across NSW, the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative will enable them to continue to serve their communities and keep bulk-billing rates high. ForHealth bulk-bills roughly 5 million patient visits each year around Australia, 2.5 million of which are in NSW. They are the largest bulk-biller in the country.

GP clinics in metropolitan Sydney must bulk-bill at least 80% of their patient services to be eligible for the ongoing payroll tax rebates. For GP clinics outside of metropolitan Sydney, a lower bulk-billing rate threshold of 70% applies to ensure broader access to the initiative.

Since the announcement in June, Revenue NSW, the AMA and RACGP were engaged in a specially formed working group to develop a practice note to assist clinics, their accountants and legal advisors.

Following these discussions, Revenue NSW released a comprehensive list of LGAs and suburbs in NSW where the 80% threshold is applied, as well as the Commissioner’s Practice Note and a flow-chart to assist clinics.

Previously, the AMA’s Dr Michael Bonning said of the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative that: “Legislating ‘no retrospectivity’ will provide certainty for practices and will minimise the risk of more closures of general practices in NSW.”

With this Initiative, the Minns Labor Government is keeping GP clinics open and appointments bulk-billed for families and households amid the cost-of-living crisis, while also reducing the strain on emergency departments.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We know that the federal Coalition’s freeze on Medicare rebates as well as the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ inaction on GP payroll tax had severe consequences for the access of GPs in NSW.”

“With GPs becoming more difficult to access, people are either putting off seeing a doctor and allowing their conditions to deteriorate, or they are presenting to hospitals with non-urgent conditions.”

“The lack of GP access is having severe impacts on our emergency departments.”

“The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative will stem declining bulk-billing rates, and foster greater access to GPs, and in turn, relieve pressure on our busy hospitals.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative comes after extensive consultation and cooperation with the peak-bodies to deliver a solution that alleviated financial stress for GP clinics and delivered real cost-of-living relief for families.”

“This is the first-time the NSW Government is making a strategic investment to support bulk-billing rates and protect family budgets.”

CEO of ForHealth Andrew Cohen:

“At ForHealth we understand how important access is in healthcare, and especially in the current economic context. We are proud to be one of the largest bulk-billing general practice providers in NSW with roughly 2.5 million bulk-billed patient visits each year.”

“This initiative from the NSW Government will help protect bulk billing accessibility at clinics like ours, throughout outer metropolitan and regional NSW. In many of these practices we are expecting the level of bulk-billing to increase as a result.”

“The removal of any retrospective payroll tax liability for all medical centres is a weight off the shoulders of the industry as clinics will no longer be at risk of closure due to large historic tax bills.”

Jennifer Black has been appointed as the new Mental Health Commissioner. With over 30 years of experience in mental health advocacy, policy development, and service reform, she will lead the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales in its efforts to improve mental health outcomes across the state.

The Commission, an independent statutory agency, works with government and communities to ensure accessible mental health support, particularly for those at risk. Central to its mission is amplifying the voices of individuals with lived mental health experiences and their families.

Ms. Black previously served as CEO of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, where she championed greater collaboration between government agencies, service providers, and the community to improve mental health services across Queensland.

In addition, Ms. Black held leadership roles as the Victorian Deputy Mental Health Complaints Commissioner, to help improve accountability and transparency in the mental health system, and she was seconded to the Victorian Ombudsman’s office, focusing on systemic reform and advocacy for individuals facing mental health challenges.

Her appointment is expected to bolster the Commission’s leadership in improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes across the state by strengthening mental health services and policies in NSW, ensuring that people have access to the support they need during times of distress.

Ms. Black will begin her role as Mental Health Commissioner on Monday, October 14, 2024.

About the Mental Health Commission of NSW
Established under the Mental Health Commission Act 2012, the Commission promotes collaboration among public agencies to provide comprehensive services for those with mental illness, reporting directly to the Minister for Mental Health.

Passengers arriving at Sydney Airport’s T1 International terminal will have faster and smoother journeys when Uber PIN technology launches on 24 September.

The new feature comes as Sydney Airport is set to introduce a dedicated kerbside Uber pick-up zone closer to the international terminal exit to reduce wait times, relieve congestion and improve pedestrian safety ahead of the school holidays.

Uber PIN allows passengers arriving at Sydney Airport’s T1 International terminal to request an Uber X by generating a code on their smartphone, heading to the new Uber pick-up zone and getting right in, rather than having to request, wait and locate their driver. While the current pick-up area is up to 200 metres from the terminal doors, the new spot will be located less than 20 metres away.

The upgrade puts Sydney Airport in line with other global airports, including Melbourne Airport, where the technology has been found to slash wait times in half for Uber customers, reduce crowding and enhance passenger and driver satisfaction.

Journeys from the airport in rideshare vehicles have surged by more than 10 per cent in the last year alone, now representing around half of all pick-ups.

To allow the 12-month trial to go ahead, the NSW Government has listened to key stakeholders calling for the change, putting in place an exemption to existing point to point transport regulation.

The Point to Point Transport Commissioner is requiring a number of controls to keep people safe, including new signage and barriers, a traffic supervisor, and clear reporting of trial outcomes.

Based on data and modelling, Sydney Airport is confident the new pick-up zone and PIN technology will result in better traffic flow and more organised pick-ups. The changes also mean Uber drivers have a dedicated area to wait for passengers, which is expected to reduce congestion and parking in local roads and streets.

Existing rideshare arrangements at domestic terminals will remain the same. If the trial is successful, the government will consider amending the regulation on an ongoing basis, with the option to roll out Uber PIN and dedicated pick-up zones at other terminals.

Taxi ranks, other rideshare operators and private vehicle areas will continue to operate as normal.

New Sydney Airport pick-up maps can be access here.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“Terminal 1 is Australia’s global gateway, and we want to roll out the welcome wagon for our international guests and returning travellers.

“After a long flight the last thing you want is a long wait. It’s unacceptable that people are copping chaos to get a ride, especially early in the morning or late at night with heavy luggage in tow.

“This is about giving people as many transport choices as possible after a long flight. Whether you’re taking an Uber, a taxi, or a train from the airport – the last leg of your trip should be as smooth as possible.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy all the great things Sydney has on offer, and I’m pleased to announce an additional way the NSW Government is helping to improve the airport experience.”

Point to Point Transport Commissioner Anthony Wing said:

“Safety is my priority, and I have directed Uber to put in place a number of controls ahead of the Uber PIN 12-month trial at Sydney Airport T1.

“Throughout the 12-month trial, my team will continually monitor safety and compliance at the pick-up zone.

“Our regulatory framework is intended to allow service providers the flexibility to respond to consumer preferences by adopting new technology and business models – while ensuring the safety of passenger services is not compromised.”

The NSW Government has today released a review of the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) response to mental health incidents in the community, developed by the NSW Police Force.

The NSWPF responds to more than 60,000 mental health incidents in the community every year and this figure has increased by around 10 per cent annually since 2018.

In most cases a criminal offence has not been committed, there is no threat of violence and a weapon is not involved.

Last year, the NSWPF commissioned a review into its role and response to mental health incidents within the community. The scope included:

• Examine the demand on the NSWPF in responding to mental health incidents in the community;
• Review the training officers receive;
• Define the role of police in responding to mental health incidents in the community;
• Review the current operational model;
• Review potential options for alternate response models.

As part of the review, Senior Police travelled to the United Kingdom to consider its ‘Right Care, Right Person’ model which ensures the right agency – that being the agency that can help the most – responds to mental health related incidents.

To be clear, in incidents where a weapon or a direct threat to life is involved, police respond.

The NSWPF’s report notes that while police are best equipped to respond to incidents involving criminality and public order, other health professionals are able to provide more appropriate care for people experiencing mental health crises.

It also acknowledges that police as the primary responder can potentially escalate a situation and that the high volume of police deployment to mental health related matters can also have flow on impacts to other community safety issues, limiting resources of police to respond to other matters.

The NSWPF and NSW Ministry of Health share the same goals: safer care for people experiencing mental health in the community, the safety of health professionals who provide care, and reserving police involvement in their care to situations when it is necessary for the safety of the person or community.

The NSWPF and NSW Ministry of Health have set up a working group of senior officials to consider the findings of the report and to develop options for an alternative response.

Additionally, the NSWPF has newly established the Mental Health Command to strengthen engagement and enhance police interventions when responding to mental health incidents.

The Command will provide oversight, strategic guidance and advice as well as engage with external stakeholders.

The Mental Health Command is part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing policing services and the safety and support of the community.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“There is consensus that people experiencing mental ill health need appropriate medical care.

“This is a complex issue and it’s important we have the right processes and support in place to address mental health incidents within the community.

“The NSWPF is responding to an extraordinary number of mental health-related calls each year, these officers go above and beyond to serve the community.

“We want to explore an alternate model so police can respond to crime first and foremost, and those experiencing mental ill health can receive the right care.”

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said:

“The wellbeing and safety of NSW residents will always be a priority for the NSW Government. We are witnessing a shift in the prevalence and type of mental illness, as such a new response must be considered.

“We hear the calls for change from the sector and the recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into community mental health, and we know action cannot wait. This report is our first step in exploring the pathway forward to an alternative model.

“It takes a whole of Government approach to address mental health – NSW Health will continue to work with the NSW Police to identify changes to the state’s emergency response for people experiencing mental health crisis.”

The new 14-storey Paediatric Services Building (PSB) at the $619 million Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW) Stage 2 Redevelopment has reached its full height of nearly 70 metres.

As the centrepiece of the hospital’s redevelopment project, the new 14-storey Paediatric Services Building (PSB) will provide new and expanded critical and acute healthcare services.

Minister for Health Ryan Park and Member for Parramatta Donna Davis will visit the site today for a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony to mark the significant construction milestone.

The building will include:

• A new and expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• A new and expanded Paediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Cancer services including a new day oncology treatment centre and inpatients units
• New perioperative unit containing operating theatres, cardiac catheterisation labs and interventional laboratory
• Statewide service for burns, offering inpatient and outpatient facilities
• A new pharmacy and oncology pharmacy
• A new Surgical Short Stay Unit

Internal and external works for the new building are well underway, including installation of facade panels, designed to illustrate the movement and reflections of the local waterways and riverbanks adjacent to the hospital.

Around 300 workers are currently working at the site each day, and this is expected to increase to around 500 a day at the peak of construction and fit out. The building is due to be completed in 2025.

The redevelopment also includes a new multi-storey car park, a revitalised ‘KidsPark’ forecourt with new food and beverage options for staff, patients and their families, an Aboriginal Gathering Space, three new playgrounds to suit children of all ages and abilities, a pet park, and refurbishment of existing spaces within the hospital, including:

• Relocation of the Clinical Research Centre, Gait Analysis Laboratory and Pathology Collections into new fit-for-purpose spaces
• Expansion of pathology laboratories
• Pathway upgrades for improved pedestrian movement through the health precinct

The Stage 2 Redevelopment of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, with Roberts Co as the principal contractor.

The NSW Government is committed to delivering on the health infrastructure and technology for communities across NSW, in particular, focusing on the parts of the state that need it most.

It will invest $3.4 billion in 2024-25 to upgrade hospitals and health facilities across the State as part of the 2024-25 NSW Budget ensuring patients continue to receive high-quality care in their local community.

Of this, nearly $1 billion will be allocated towards rural and regional health capital works projects, and over half a billion towards Western Sydney hospitals in 2024-25 alone.

Key investments in the 2024-25 NSW budget include:

• a further $47.8 million in the upgraded Ryde Hospital to deliver expanded and upgraded health services for Ryde and surrounding communities, which will include a new emergency department, inpatient wards and cutting-edge imaging and diagnostic services;
• hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding to deliver ongoing hospital redevelopments at Eurobodalla, Temora, Liverpool, Integrated Mental Health Complex at Westmead, Moree, Nepean, Cessnock and Shellharbour Hospitals
• $265 million for the upgrade of Port Macquarie Hospital to provide a greater range of clinical services, including emergency and maternity services for the communities of the Mid North Coast
• $250 million in a critical maintenance program at hospitals and health facilities across NSW.

The NSW Government is committed to continuing to build on our previous investments in important infrastructure projects for the State, including:

• Canterbury Hospital redevelopment;
• Fairfield Hospital redevelopment;
• Additional beds for Mount Druitt Hospital & Blacktown Hospital; and
• A brand new $700 million hospital to be built at Rouse Hill.

The delivery of the Children’s Hospital at Westmead Redevelopment also builds on the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering Brighter Beginnings for the children of New South Wales.

Part of the Government’s $40 million Family Start Package in the 2024-25 NSW Budget will boost the public paediatric allied health workforce with an additional 32 staff, providing access to allied health services for 3,600 more children each year, of which the Children’s Hospital at Westmead play a role.

Find out more information the redevelopment of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The construction of the new hospital building and the significant investments to enhance existing health services will ensure The Children’s Hospital at Westmead continues providing world-class facilities for children and their families from all over NSW, as well as clinicians and researchers.

“These new, cutting-edge healthcare facilities will set the standard nationally and globally for paediatric healthcare.

“One of my key priorities in Government has been to improve the first 2,000 days of a child’s life. This project helps to achieve this goal through ensuring kids have high quality healthcare infrastructure”.

“Once complete, the new 14-storey building will support children requiring acute and critical healthcare across multiple departments, combining cancer services, operating theatres, intensive care, pharmacy, and inpatient units in one place.”

Donna Davis MP:

“The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is a key driver of growth in this area, and its significant expansion will help bolster an environment for deeper collaboration and innovation through all aspects of health care delivery.

“The completion of the redevelopment will establish the Westmead Health Precinct as one of the largest health, research, education and training precincts in the world.” 

Cathryn Cox PSM, Chief Executive, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network:  

“This significant investment in redeveloping The Children’s Hospital at Westmead will provide our leading healthcare and research professionals with access to modern healthcare facilities, technology and equipment.

“The redevelopment is creating contemporary facilities to revolutionise frontline medicine while fostering improved healthcare outcomes for children across the country to live their healthiest lives.”

NSW Surf Life Saving Clubs are set to receive a boost with the NSW Government opening the latest round of its Surf Club Facility Program.

Surf live saving clubs can apply for $5.4 million in funding for new and upgraded facilities with grants up to $1 million available.

The Program aims to keep surf life saving clubs modern and accessible, helping surf life savers to better protect beachgoers.

Projects that encourage the participation of women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ are a priority of the Program.

Grants will be awarded across three categories for projects that involve the upgrade, restoration or construction of new surf life saving facilities.

Category 1 offers grants up to $100,000 for facility improvement projects and closes on 14 October 2024. Category 2 offers grants up to $400,000 for small-medium construction projects and Category 3 offers grants up to $1 million for large construction projects with both closing on 11 November 2024.

Find further information and apply.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“With the surf life saving season just a few weeks away, we’re providing an additional $5.4 million to our surf life saving clubs to help them protect swimmers and keep people safe at the beach.”

“This is part of a four-year $16 million commitment from the NSW Government to ensure NSW Surf Life Saving Clubs continue to deliver a world-class service.

“This program is making a real difference with more people from all sections of the community now participating in surf life saving.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“As the weather warms up we know that the red and yellow flags on our beaches will be a welcome sight and this investment will support our volunteers by providing them with club facilities they need to support communities.

“The NSW Government is investing in new equipment, safety campaigns and upgraded facilities to support surf lifesaving volunteers and the work they do to keep swimmers safe.”

President of Surf Life Saving NSW Peter Agnew said:

“We are pleased to see the NSW Government acknowledge and support the amazing contribution made by our volunteer lifesavers and surf clubs in NSW.”

“Our lifesavers and Nippers deserve safe, secure, and accessible facilities. We have 129 clubs across the state, with over 78,000 members, and this program allows those members, who do such important work volunteering at our beaches, to focus on saving lives.”

Sydney’s bid to become the world’s seventh Marathon Major host city could boost the NSW visitor economy by up to $300 million over a decade, according to projections.

The benefits of joining the big six world marathons: New York, London, Boston, Tokyo, Chicago and Berlin is becoming clearer as the Sydney Marathon prepares for the starter’s gun this Sunday.

Assessors from around the world are in Sydney to evaluate the delivery of the marathon and its overall participant experience before deciding whether to bestow Sydney Marathon with Abbott World Marathon Major status in 2025.

Sydney marathon has grown rapidly from 5,300 entrants to 25,000 this year, but major status will send interest to another level, drawing runners from across Australia and all around the world.

Analysis undertaken by Destination NSW suggests major status for Sydney would be worth an extra $300 million to the state’s visitor economy over a decade as runners flock to add another star to what is currently known as the “six stars” – those who have completed all six major marathons.

Entrants would grow from 25,000 to an estimated 33,300 in 2025, delivering visitor economy expenditure of $22.8 million.

By 2027, Destination NSW estimates that expenditure would grow to $26 million in 2027, with 37,800 local and international runners.  

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham:

“Becoming a World Marathon Major is not just about the prestige of the Sydney Marathon joining the big six – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. It is about becoming a bucket-list city for runners around the world and the ongoing visitor and economic boost that will provide for NSW.

“More than 840,000 people have applied to run in the London Marathon next year and 320,000 in Tokyo. If Sydney is to join this group, we expect runners from interstate and across the world wanting to take their place on the start line – every one of whom will need a hotel room, may bring family and other support with them and will likely want to enjoy a holiday while here in NSW.

“This is the critical year for Sydney to gain Marathon Major status and I urge Sydneysiders to get out and cheer on the runners, raise the atmosphere and back the event towards the next level.”

“I am so excited about the prospect of the Sydney Marathon becoming a World Marathon Major. How could competitors not want to run the most beautiful course in the world? Good luck to all runners.”