Category: NSW News

New data reveals more than 82,000 first home buyers have been given a helping hand by the Minns Labor Government, saving an average of $20,475 off the cost of their first home.

That’s an average of 80 new first homes buyers every single day under the Minns Labor Government.

The program provides a full stamp duty exemption of $30,412 for first home buyers purchasing a property up to $800,000 and a concession for homes priced between $800,000 and $1 million.

It replaces the previous Liberal-National Government’s forever tax on first-home buyers, which left first-home buyers paying an annual tax back to the Government.

In total, 82,174 first home buyers have saved a combined $1.7 billion since July 2023. Of those, 58,111 people paid no stamp duty at all, while 24,063 individuals paid a reduced amount.

Western Sydney buyers benefited the most, claiming nine spots on the top 10 suburbs list. More than 30,000 first home buyers putting down their roots in suburbs like Liverpool, Campbelltown and Paramatta.

Across regional NSW, more than 8,000 people were helped in the Hunter and Newcastle and 3,000 in the Illawarra.

The scheme also works with the Albanese Labor Government’s 5% Deposit and Shared Equity schemes, making it even easier for people and families to buy their first home.

Housing is the number one cost-of-living pressure on young people, families and downsizers.

Helping first home buyers is a critical piece of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to address these cost-of-living pressures and make sure NSW can be an accessible and affordable place to live.

That’s why the Minns Labor Government is delivering more homes to rent and buy, re-building essential services that families rely on, and providing long overdue investment in critical infrastructure across Western Sydney.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Dashboard has more statistics by suburb and Local Government Area and can be accessed at https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/statistics/fhba-dashboard.

More information about First Home Buyers Assistance is available at https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/assistance-scheme.

Premier Chris Minns:

““For more than 80,000 people, this has meant paying less upfront and getting into a home sooner.

“We’re backing first home buyers because everyone deserves a fair shot at owning a home in NSW.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“More than 82,000 people have got the keys to their first home faster thanks to this program.

“As our landmark planning reforms deliver more homes, we will continue making it easier for first-time buyers to make them their own.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“This is a critical piece of the puzzle in the Government’s plan to help families plant their roots across the state.

“Saving up to $30,000 on stamp duty means more money in the pockets of families and more opportunities for them to achieve the dream of home ownership.”

 

New data reveals that 3,078 first home buyers in the Illawarra have been given a helping hand by the Minns Labor Government, saving an average of $22,502 off the cost of their first home.

The program provides a full stamp duty exemption of $30,412 for first home buyers purchasing a property up to $800,000 and a concession for homes priced between $800,000 and $1 million.  

It replaces the previous Liberal-National Government’s forever tax on first-home buyers, which left first-home buyers paying an annual tax back to the Government.

In the Illawarra, the top suburbs to benefit are Wollongong (618 first homes), Albion Park (519), Dapto (517) and Warilla (231).

It includes 2,103 first home buyers in the Wollongong LGA, 947 in Shellharbour LGA, and 28 in Kiama LGA.

Across NSW, 82,174 first home buyers have benefited from the First Homebuyers Assistance since July 2023. Of those, 58,111 people paid no stamp duty at all, while 24,063 individuals paid a reduced amount.

The scheme also works with the Albanese Labor Government’s 5% Deposit and Shared Equity schemes, making it even easier for people and families to buy their first home.

Housing is the number one cost-of-living pressure on young people, families and downsizers.  

Helping first home buyers is a critical piece of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to address these cost-of-living pressures and make sure NSW can be an accessible and affordable place to live.

That’s why the Minns Labor Government is delivering more homes to rent and buy, re-building essential services that families rely on, and providing long overdue investment in critical infrastructure across the Illawarra.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Dashboard has more statistics by suburb and Local Government Area and can be accessed at https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/statistics/fhba-dashboard

More information about First Home Buyers Assistance is available at https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/assistance-scheme

Minister for the Illawarra Ryan Park:

“The Illawarra is a growing region, and I’m proud more people are choosing to call it home.

“This stamp duty relief is making the dream of homeownership a reality for thousands of young people and families across the Illawarra.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“For more than 80,000 people, this has meant paying less upfront and getting into a home sooner.

“We’re backing first home buyers because everyone deserves a fair shot at owning a home in NSW.

“As our landmark planning reforms deliver more homes, we will continue making it easier for first-time buyers to make them their own.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“This is a critical piece of the puzzle in the Government’s plan to help families plant their roots across the state.

“Saving up to $30,000 on stamp duty means more money in the pockets of families and more opportunities for them to achieve the dream of home ownership.”

Sydney’s iconic new fish market has welcomed more than 230,000 people and traded more than 160 tonnes of seafood through its world-class auction, trading and retail facilities in its first week of operating.

Delivered by the Minns Labor Government, the new Sydney Fish Market is already on track to become one of Australia’s most visited destinations with hundreds of thousands of people visiting since opening last Monday.

The new Sydney Fish Market is expected to welcome over six million visitors a year and deliver a major boost to Sydney’s tourism economy and jobs sector.

As the state’s newest landmark and a striking new icon on Sydney Harbour, it is on track to receive global recognition on par with the Sydney Opera House.

This must-see waterfront experience will further secure Sydney’s reputation as a global food and tourism destination.

Seafood lovers, industry and the broader community are now enjoying double the retail space of the old fish market, with the spectacular new building offering 40 food and retail operators, from casual takeaway to premium waterfront restaurants.

The precinct features 6,000 square metres of public domain including a water play art feature, creative installations and a waterfront promenade where locals and visitors are relaxing, eating and connecting.

Additional light rail services will support the new Sydney Fish Market with even more public transport options to follow, including a new ferry wharf, upgrades to Wentworth Park light rail and the upcoming metro at Pyrmont.

The Minns Labor Government has also partnered with Mirvac to revitalise the old fish market site at Blackwattle Bay, where 1,400 new homes will be built, along with 2.6 hectares of public space as well as a new promenade completing the 15-kilometre foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Sydney’s new fish market has been an instant hit for locals and visitors alike welcoming more than 230,000 people through its doors in the first week of trade.

“As Sydney’s latest iconic waterfront destination, the bumper visitor numbers show the demand for beautiful public spaces like this which provide a place for people to gather, relax and celebrate with family and friends.

“The unique mix of wholesalers, retail and dining all housed under one roof is proving to be a successful formula.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“What a success to welcome over 230,000 people through its doors in the first week – a testament to the beautiful building, and the quality and diversity of the retail offering.

“Locals and visitors alike are flocking to the new markets, and these numbers give us great confidence that we will surpass the expected six million visitors in its first year.

“We knew this would be a hit and we expect that these strong numbers will continue and people will be drawn back time and time again to try everything this icon has to offer.”

Sydney Fish Market CEO Daniel Jarosch said:

“We are absolutely thrilled with how Sydney has embraced our new Sydney Fish Market. The spectacular response from the community reinforces how important this place is to our city’s culture and identity.

“People are discovering a stunning new building, and a more diverse market experience, with an unparalleled range of seafood, dining and retail options catering for everyone, from those looking for every-day great value to an unforgettable waterfront experience.”

A single front door for all major planning projects is taking shape with the Minns Labor Government putting the proposed regulatory changes to create the Development Coordination Authority (DCA) on public exhibition.

These changes will make navigating the planning system faster and easier for applicants and councils by centralising State agency advice and decision-making so applicants no longer need to navigate at times conflicting and confusing advice from up to 22 different areas of Government.

Through the DCA, the NSW Government is putting a stop to unnecessary delays ending a system which saw a DA with just one referral take an average of 60 days longer to assess than a DA without one, and where each additional referral added up to 100 days to assessment timeframes.

This is the first public exhibition to implement the landmark Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 which passed parliament with almost universal support in November 2025.

Under proposed regulatory changes the need for expert advice from the DCA and other bodies on local DAs will be consolidated from more than 800 dispersed, duplicative and inconsistent requirements across 175 planning instruments into a single list aligned with State priorities.

This list will sit in State Environmental Planning Policy (Planning Systems) 2021, making it easier to access and understand for all users of the planning system and safeguarding areas like the environment, heritage, bush fire management and infrastructure operation with the DCA as a single point of contact on all State matters.

The DCA will be required to meet strict timelines.

The DCA and other bodies will have 28 days to provide feedback on development applications (DAs), providing consistent response times and helping speed up assessment times.

The DCA, began initial operations in December and is already helping connect applicants to the right areas of Government and providing post-development consent support so projects can begin construction sooner.

Its main functions – to bring together experts from a broad range of state agencies so conflicts can be resolved quickly and allow a single, coordinated response – will begin on 1 July. Find out more here.

The proposed changes are part of a landmark overhaul of the State’s planning system designed to tackle delays and complexity adding to construction costs and create a faster, fairer and modern planning system in NSW.

How DCA will work and proposed regulatory changes, will be exhibited from Thursday, 29 January to Wednesday, 25 February 2026. To have your say, visit https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/draftplans/exhibition/have-your-say-establishing-development-coordination-authority-dca

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Minns Labor Government is cutting confusion and unnecessary delays in the planning system to support more homes, jobs and improve environmental outcomes.

“The Development Coordination Authority is one part of the Minns Labor Government’s reforms to make NSW’s planning system faster and easier to navigate.

“There is nothing more frustrating for applicants than having their DA bounced from one department to another and then getting conflicting answers as to what they need to do. It has often meant that a proponent gets to the front of one queue only to be told to join another one.

“Delivering a single front door for applicants and councils needing input from NSW Government agencies on local DAs will result in clear, consistent advice supporting better outcomes for NSW.”

Families across New South Wales are being slammed by the cost-of-living crisis showing no sign of relief because it is being driven squarely by Labor’s mismanagement of the economy.
 
Figures released for the 12 months to December 2025 show that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in NSW has jumped to 3.7%, up from 3.4% in November.
 
This surge is being driven by the very essentials that every household relies on, with Labor failing to keep a lid on skyrocketing costs, including:
 
·         Water and Sewerage: up 19.4%
·         Utilities (General): up 12.4%
·         Electricity: up 11.5%
·         Gas: up 8.7%
 
Shadow Treasurer Scott Farlow said these figures prove the Minns Labor Government has no grip on the economy.
 
“NSW Families are paying the price for Labor Governments in NSW and in Canberra. With inflation running at 3.7% families and small businesses will be looking squarely at an interest rate rises that will put more pressure on struggling household and small business budgets,” Mr Farlow said.
 
“Under Chris Minns and Labor the cost of utilities and essentials have spiralled out of control. As an example, electricity is up 11.5 per cent, and Federal Government electricity subsidies expired at the end of last year, leaving NSW families to pay higher bills for Labor’s failure.”
 
“Borrowers will be watching the Reserve Bank next Tuesday anxious, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Families simply cannot afford another hit to their monthly repayments, yet Labor’s lack of fiscal discipline continues to drive the inflation that puts rates at risk.”
 
“While the cost of everything is going up, under the Minns Labor Government taxes have increased by 30% and the NSW economy is at the back of the pack, with growth in our Gross State Product at 0.9% – the lowest in the Nation.”
 
“Labor is mismanaging the economy – and NSW families are paying the price.”

Cyber security experts from across NSW Government have collaborated to deliver a new Cyber Security Strategy to better protect essential services and ensure NSW stays ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

With more people relying on digital government systems, stronger cyber security is essential to protect people and the services they rely on every day.

The 2026–2028 NSW Government Cyber Security Strategy will reinforce all-of-government coordination to protect against key risks, with a strengthened focus on securing critical infrastructure and third-party supply chains.

The strategy is designed to be responsive, with a two-year planning cycle that allows agencies to focus on today’s risks while adapting quickly as technology evolves, including through AI-enabled attacks and rapidly sophisticated global tactics.

The strategy will lift the public sector’s capacity to identity threats sooner and better coordinate response efforts through Cyber Security NSW, incorporating ID Support, ensuring NSW Government systems are better protected.

It reshapes how government protects and oversees its systems by establishing clearer roles and tighter coordination between government agencies and stronger central supports to deliver faster, more consistent and more resilient cyber defences across NSW.

The strategy also outlines a new assurance framework, strengthened audit responsibilities and faster, standardised reporting of cyber incidents, building on mandatory 24-hour reporting that commenced in August 2025.

With the ever-changing nature of the cyber security landscape, the NSW Government is committed to continuous progress to underpin trust and the digital services used by the community.

For more information, please visit: 2026–2028 NSW Government Cyber Security Strategy | Digital NSW

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib:

“Cyber threats are evolving faster and becoming more sophisticated, that’s why multiple government agencies have collaborated on this strategy, so NSW is more resilient and better placed to stay ahead.

“With more people relying on digital government services than ever before, protecting data and maintaining trust is essential.

“As cyber threats become more complex, ‘set and forget’ is not an option. This strategy allows us to adapt and respond to the ever-changing cyber risk landscape.”

Cyber Security NSW Executive Director, Marie Patane:

“This strategy is based on strengthening our approach to cyber resilience and draws on deep interagency collaboration to ensure we work together across government to protect systems and citizens’ information.

“In the past 12 months we have focused on collaborating closely with Chief Information Security Officers, which has made this strategy possible.

“With the strategy now in place, we have strengthened our foundations to meet the current risk environment and support ongoing security measures to meet whatever the future may hold.”

A State Funeral for Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO will take place on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 at St James’ Church, King Street, Sydney at 10:30am.

Dame Marie Bashir served our state with distinction as the 37^th Governor of New South Wales from March 2001 to October 2014 and was the first woman to be appointed to the role.

She bought immense dignity and compassion to the role.

She passed away in Sydney on 20 January 2026, aged 95, surrounded by family.

She was a distinguished psychiatrist and a long-standing advocate for mental health, education and social inclusion.

The people of New South Wales held Dame Marie in great respect and affection, reflecting the trust and goodwill she earned over a lifetime of service.

A large screen will be available in Martin Place for members of the public wishing to pay their respects and watch the State Funeral.

The service will also be available to watch online on the NSW Government website.

All details of the State Funeral can be found at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/mariebashir

The Minns Labor Government is investing $38.3 million over four years to overhaul skills training on the Central Coast, delivering modern, industry-aligned facilities across TAFE NSW Gosford, Ourimbah and Wyong.

The investment will deliver industry standard training spaces that mirror real workplaces and prepare students for real jobs in the region’s fastest-growing industries.

TAFE NSW Gosford will receive a major upgrade with a new state-of-the-art simulated health hub for ageing, disability and nursing training, a dedicated Aboriginal Yarning Circle, and relocated student support services to improve access and engagement.

The Ourimbah campus will be transformed with new simulated hair and beauty salons, fitness and remedial massage facilities, upgraded horticulture training spaces, a refreshed library, enhanced student support services, and modern general-purpose learning spaces.

TAFE NSW Wyong will become a stronger trades powerhouse with new engineering, machining and fabrication facilities, building on existing electrotechnology, plumbing and automotive training, alongside new learning spaces and staff work areas.

These works will be delivered in consultation with TAFE NSW teaching delivery teams to ensure facilities are practical, fit for purpose and support high-quality, industry-aligned training.

Staged works will commence in early 2026, with benefits for local students and community to be delivered progressively.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan said:

“This is a big investment in skills that lead directly to jobs on the Central Coast.

“We’re bringing training together in modern hubs and making sure students are learning in facilities that reflect real workplaces and real employer needs.

“It means better training, stronger outcomes and more opportunities for people to build careers close to home.”

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong, David Harris said:

“This investment is about backing local workers and local industry with the skills they need to grow.

“The new engineering, machining and fabrication facilities at TAFE NSW Wyong will strengthen our growing region’s trades pipeline and give people the chance to train for secure, well-paid jobs right here on the Central Coast.”

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch said:

“This is a significant boost for health training in Gosford.

“A dedicated simulated health hub means students training in ageing, disability and nursing can develop hands-on, job-ready skills locally, supporting both our workforce and our community.

This is about transforming TAFE NSW to deliver the best vocational outcomes for our Coasties.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:

“Ourimbah is a key training campus for the Central Coast, and this investment takes it to the next level.

“Upgraded hair and beauty, fitness and remedial massage facilities, improved horticulture spaces and better student services will make a real difference to students and their learning experience.”

The Minns Labor Government will establish the State’s first High Volume Planned Surgery Centre at Northern Beaches Hospital, expanding the hospital’s role and helping reduce surgery wait times across NSW.

From 1 July 2026, up to an extra 5,000 surgeries will be performed at the hospital each year through the newly established Planned Surgery Centre.

It will focus on high-demand specialties such as ophthalmology, orthopaedics, ear, nose and throat (ENT), general surgery and gynaecology, to help reduce surgical wait lists while easing demand on hospitals across the state and giving patients more choices in their care.

Patients will be referred to the Planned Surgery Hub from some of the busiest areas across NSW, including Western Sydney, the Central Coast and the Illawarra.

Patients can be directly referred to the Centre by their treating specialist if they are accredited to work at Northern Beaches Hospital or can choose to be transferred from a waitlist at their ‘home’ facility.

Information on how to be referred to the NBH will be released ahead of the Centre’s opening.

The new Planned Surgery Centre builds on the Minns Labor Government’s decision to return Northern Beaches Hospital to public ownership later this year, reversing one of the state’s most damaging privatisation experiments.

The hospital will come under the management of Northern Sydney Local Health District and part of NSW Health by mid-2026.

Under the agreement for transition of the hospital:

• The entire 494-bed hospital will return to public ownership
• All clinical and support staff currently working at Northern Beaches Hospital have been offered jobs by NSW Health at the facility, and
• Staff entitlements to annual, long service and sick leave will transfer across from Healthscope to NSW Health.

NSW Health appointed health sector leader David Swan to provide independent expert advice on future private health opportunities at Northern Beaches Hospital.

More than 1,800 existing Northern Beaches Hospital staff – including nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and support staff – have been offered roles with NSW Health at Northern Beaches, with offers to medical staff commencing in February 2026.

The Minns Labor Government continues to repair the damage caused by the former Coalition Government’s failed privatisation agenda, which also included the attempted privatisation of hospitals at Maitland, Wyong, Goulburn, Shellharbour and Bowral.

The passage of Joe’s Law now protects NSW communities from future privatisation of public hospitals.

Premier Chris Minns:

“This will improve access to healthcare by speeding up planned surgeries across the state.

“By adding a high-volume planned surgery centre, we’re increasing capacity across the whole system, reducing wait times and easing pressure on busy public hospitals.”

“We’ve brought Northern Beaches Hospital back into public hands, and now we’re expanding the services it can deliver for patients right across NSW.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“This is the next step in reversing the Liberals’ epic privatisation failure at the Northern Beaches Hospital.

“This critical health service is being returned to what it should have been from the start – a publicly run facility that puts people before profit.

“This failed experiment cost $190 million to fix. It stands as a stark warning of the risks that come when the Liberals privatise essential services.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The aftermath of the Liberals’ legacy of privatisation has been seismic, and if they had it their way, five other hospitals around the state would have been subject to PPPs.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we have acquired this hospital in record time.

“Overdue surgeries peaked under the Liberals, and the health system has been working to reduce these as quickly as possible.

“I’m so pleased that the state’s new High Volume Planned Surgery Centre will boost our health system’s surgery capacity to help patients receive the care they need more quickly.

“This is a win for the Northern Beaches community and for patients right across NSW.

“With the establishment of the Centre, we will be able to offer thousands more patients each year the choice to have their surgery quicker, while providing some much-needed relief to hospitals around the state.”

Northern Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM

“Northern Beaches Hospital boasts world-class surgical facilities and a wealth of surgical expertise.

“This Planned Surgery Centre will not only benefit the community of the Northern Beaches but patients right across the state who will experience quicker access to elective surgery.”