Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to support the wellbeing of the people of New South Wales, with a Parliamentary Inquiry into the rising issue of loneliness across the state to begin this year.

Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson has written to Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Issues, the Hon Dr. Sarah Kaine, to request the Committee undertake an Inquiry into Loneliness in New South Wales.

The first of its kind Inquiry in New South Wales, will:

• Examine the extent, causes and impacts of loneliness
• Review how other regions are addressing loneliness
• Assist in identifying those most at risk of social isolation in the state
• Identify steps for the NSW Government and community can take to reduce its prevalence and impacts

Loneliness occurs when a person experiences distress from greater levels of social disconnection than they desire. Whilst isolation or being alone does not necessarily mean a person is lonely, recent studies have highlighted loneliness as a growing experience.

In 2022, a Community Wellbeing Survey, by the Mental Health Commission found that nearly 40% of NSW residents experience loneliness at varying degrees, with those facing mental health challenges almost twice as likely to feel isolated.

Sydney has also been identified as the city with the most singles with 1.7 million Sydneysiders living alone or currently single.

Further, loneliness is not just an emotional burden, with studies highlighting its link to premature death, poor physical and mental health and increased psychological distress.

The Committee will work with mental health experts, advocates, and those with a lived experience of loneliness while undertaking this Inquiry.

Terms of Reference can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3WScRrA

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“Loneliness is more than just an emotional experience; it has profound impacts on our mental and physical health. This inquiry will help us better understand the issue and pave the way for practical solutions to bring our communities closer together.

“With this NSW Government inquiry, we aim to delve deeper into loneliness, which has emerged as a significant public health issue following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The NSW Government cares deeply about this issue, this inquiry shows our political leaders are sitting up, taking notice and want action to support people who might be struggling.

“While some people call loneliness the silent epidemic, it doesn’t have to be suffered in silence. If you are experiencing loneliness, please speak up and reach out—there are supports available across NSW.”

Sarah Kaine MLC, Chair of Loneliness Inquiry:

“The face of loneliness is often unexpected and touches many in our community. Almost everyone has felt alone at some point in their lives and I think it is important our political leaders are taking notice and taking action.

“I’m looking forward to hearing directly from experts and the community about what we can do better to support people who need support.”

Bran Black, Chief Executive Business Council of Australia:

“There is growing evidence that loneliness is having a measurable impact on our society and economy, and it is becoming increasingly important we examine ways to prevent people feeling isolated.

“Loneliness can cause many other conditions and this inquiry will assist in identifying what more can be done to address this growing problem, particularly in our workplaces and communities.”

Elisabeth Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Relationships Australia – NSW:

“Humans are social beings. We vary in how much human contact we need, but we all need others to survive and thrive, emotionally and physically. Intimate or familial relationships, friends, neighbourhoods, workplaces and interest groups all play a part.

“You can be lonely due to lack of social connections, and you can be surrounded by others and feel deeply lonely. The ramifications of loneliness can be life threatening.

“Loneliness is an experience we all have from time to time. When it becomes chronic is can lead to further impoverishment in terms of identity, life experience, confidence, and can even shorten your lifespan.”

Martin Blake, Groundswell Foundation Chairman

“A growing body of evidence demonstrates how prevalent loneliness is in Australia and around the world – and its harmful consequences if left unaddressed. The impacts of loneliness are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes or having six alcoholic drinks per day.

“Loneliness has a measurable economic impact – in Australia, the healthcare costs associated with loneliness are estimated at up to $2.7 billion each year in a 2021 report from Curtin University.”

The Minns Labor Government is pursuing innovative solutions to address the housing and homelessness crisis with the use of 3D printing to deliver more housing.

This groundbreaking method of construction aims to reduce costs and cut construction time by 50 percent and will be used to build the first social housing property of this type in New South Wales.

Housing affordability and availability are the biggest pressures facing the people of NSW. As social housing waitlists continue to soar, the implementation of this rapid construction method promises to significantly accelerate the delivery of desperately needed social and affordable homes across the state.

Construction is expected to be completed within 16 weeks, a stark contrast to the roughly 40 weeks required by traditional methods.

The NSW Government has engaged Aboriginal Sustainable Homes, who will work in partnership with Contour3D to harness 3D printing technology. Together, they will transform a vacant block of land in Dubbo into two two-bedroom duplexes, providing Aboriginal Housing Office tenants with a safe and secure place to call home.

3D printing produces significantly less waste, and the concrete mix uses eco-friendly, high-recycled materials to produce robust and energy-efficient homes with substantially reduced life cycle maintenance costs. This revolutionary technology heralds a new era in construction and could form part of the solution to provide homes sooner for people who need them most.

Construction of the first 3D printed social home in New South Wales is expected to commence in late September 2024.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“Using cutting edge technology for this project is a prime example of the NSW Government’s commitment to ‘think outside the box’ by exploring every possible option when it comes to delivering more housing for those who need it.

“Utilising Modern Methods of Construction like this 3D printing technology is critically important to delivering social and affordable homes sooner, especially in regional and remote areas.

“Our government is leading the way with this project. The construction of a 3D social housing property is the first of its kind in the country. For it to be led by the AHO reflects their dedication to exploring new and efficient ways of building more quality homes for community.

“The success of this project will help to determine whether this construction method becomes one of the many ways we can deliver more social housing right across the state in a bid to help us tackle the growing crisis.”

Member of the Legislative Council, Stephen Lawrence said:

“This trial by the state government of 3D printing of social housing is very exciting. The results will be carefully examined and used to guide future use of the technology where appropriate.

“It is entirely appropriate for the state government to trial the use of this technology for larger scale building such as houses, where there is substantial evidence to suggest the technology is appropriate and represents value for money.”

Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson said:

“Dubbo Regional Council is supportive of this project that is embracing new ways of construction with the objective to boost housing availability in our region.”

Managing Director of Aboriginal Sustainable Homes (ASH) Brad Draper said:

“ASH is delighted to be involved in this project and applaud the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) for pioneering new ways to deliver social housing. As an Aboriginal company, we are proud to deliver these quality homes that will have far-reaching benefits for residents long into the future.

“ASH has a strong track record in working with the AHO and we look forward to delivering another successful project for the local community.”

Founder and CEO of Contour3D Nick Holden said:

“We’re excited to showcase our innovative building method that prioritises sustainability, design freedom, and efficiency by bringing automation to the forefront of housing construction.”

Property owners impacted by coal mine subsidence will get stronger protection following the passage of new laws to provide better support and boost transparency.

Mine subsidence is the movement of the ground that can be caused by underground active or historical coal mining activities, which may cause damage to structures built above.

The Coal Mine Subsidence Compensation Fund lets responsible miners in NSW support any residents impacted by current, historic or former mining activity.

In NSW, mines subsidence areas exist across Newcastle and the Greater Hunter, as well as the Wollondilly Shire in Sydney’s southwest. Residents affected by damage to buildings and other structures are assisted by Subsidence Advisory NSW.

Under the new laws, Subsidence Advisory NSW can provide residents with temporary accommodation, payments for relocation costs and, where necessary, direct people to evacuate in a mine subsidence emergency.

While previously only property owners were entitled to compensation, the new laws give tenants reasonable relocation and short-term accommodation expenses where the property they are leasing is uninhabitable, under repair or under construction due to subsidence.

Other changes include the requirement for pre-mining property inspections to take place for areas which may be at risk of subsidence damage and giving Subsidence Advisory NSW clear powers to obtain the required information from mining companies, to ensure a comprehensive and accurate claim assessment.

In the five years to 2023, 168 mine subsidence compensation claims were paid out in NSW, which included 89 claims in active mining areas and 79 claims in non-active mining areas. In addition, 381 mine subsidence safety issues reported through Subsidence Advisory’s 24 Hour Emergency Hotlines were remediated. The hotline predominantly supports the Hunter & Lithgow regions where potholes from historical coal mining can appear on road surfaces.

The Coal Mine Subsidence Compensation Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced to NSW Parliament on 20 June 2024 following a statutory review of the Act, and a consultation process allowing residents and mine operators the chance to have their say on the amendments.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Mining is essential to the NSW economy. These changes ensure that the residents impacted by subsidence are protected.

“These important changes ensure people living above primarily historic and former mining activity get the support they need if the worst should happen.

“Whether it’s a recent mine or one from 150 years ago, these changes will grant further powers to Subsidence Advisory NSW to better assist residents.”

The Minns Labor Government has reached a significant milestone in delivering one of the largest social housing renewal projects in Australian history, with the announcement of delivery partners for Waterloo South.

Following a tender process, the NSW Government has selected Stockland, Link Wentworth Housing, City West Housing, and Birribee as the preferred partners to build homes and lead the Waterloo renewal. 

Waterloo Estate is one of the largest social housing estates in the country, it will be renewed in stages, starting with Waterloo South where 750 older public housing properties with be replaced with new, well-designed and fit-for-purpose homes. 

The delivery team is tasked with delivering a substantial increase in social and affordable housing in inner-city Sydney, with 50 percent of all new homes in Waterloo South dedicated to social and affordable housing. This adds 500 homes beyond what the previous government committed.

This is significant increase in social and affordable homes compared to the former government’s plans.

Committed to building better communities, the mixed-tenure Waterloo South project will deliver approximately 3,000 new social, affordable, and private homes, along with new facilities, retail precincts, and public open spaces. 

Homes NSW will now start negotiating contracts with the building partners to plan, design, deliver and fund the development over the next 10-15 years, as well as ongoing operations. The negotiations are expected to take six months, and are the final step in the competitive, multi-stage procurement process.  

This will ensure Homes NSW and the building partners are aligned on roles and responsibilities, a program for renewal and how the partnership will work with the community to deliver better outcomes for the people of Waterloo.

Residents of Waterloo remain the priority throughout this process, Homes NSW will work with the local community through the staged relocation process. All impacted residents will be given at least six months’ notice before having to move and provided with dedicated support every step of the way. All residents will be given the right to return when the renewal is complete. 

Homes NSW and the delivery partners will work together to support residents through change and create a vibrant and mixed inner-city community with a genuine sense of place.

For more information visit: nsw.gov.au/homes-nsw/waterloo

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“We are proud to be building Australia’s largest ever social housing project – modern, accessible and better homes to confront the housing crisis head on.

“This is another step forward in addressing the state’s housing crisis, the announcement of our delivery partners for Waterloo South means we are closer to building 1500, new and sustainable social and affordable homes.

“This has been a hugely competitive process and we look forward to continuing to partner with the sector to deliver our vision for a stronger and vibrant community for the people who need it most.

“We are especially proud to be working Birribee to deliver dedicated homes for our Aboriginal community.

“Tenants deserve to be with us every step of the journey, which is why we will continue  
our efforts to be out and about in the community, and I want to thank people for their patience.”

Member for Heffron, Ron Hoenig said:

“I have been fighting to improve the conditions of my constituents living in Waterloo Estate for more than a decade. The most important thing for me has always been ensuring the more vulnerable members of our community can live in safe and healthy homes.

“This announcement brings us a step closer to vastly improving the quality of life for these residents, many of whom have lived in their homes for many years and have built a community with their neighbours.

“Importantly, we are making sure these residents are given every right to return to their new homes once the renewal is complete so they can maintain these community ties.

“We desperately need more social housing in NSW and I am proud we are delivering the country’s largest social housing renewal project in my electorate.”

The Minns Labor Government has ensured Central Coast Council has a clearer, simpler and less costly regularity framework for its water supply and sewerage services, and protects against privatisation.

Until now, Central Coast Council was the only local body in NSW providing water services under two legislative Acts.

The passing of a Bill through Parliament yesterday ends that anomaly by removing the regulatory double-up and complexity, paving the way for better governance.

The legislative changes provide a streamlined regulatory framework for incoming Councillors following next month’s local government elections, while reducing costs and freeing Council up to perform its core role of providing essential services for the Central Coast.

Additionally, it will help resolve some of the complexity that contributed to Central Coast Council being placed in administration in October 2020.

Central Coast is the third largest water utility in the state after Sydney Water and Hunter Water. and This will bring Council’s provision and regulation of water supply and sewerage services in-line with all other local governments across regional NSW.

The Bill retains Council’s control of water services and infrastructure, and the changes will not have any impact on customers, other than positive benefits that should flow from a better governed water and sewerage utility.

The changes are also specific to Central Coast Council and do not affect other councils or local water utilities across the state.

The Bill comes off the back of a 2022 Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council which included widespread public consultation, and a Departmental review into the Council’s water utility legislative and regulatory framework in 2023.

These changes align with stakeholder feedback, as well as the review’s findings and recommendations to simplify the framework and make it more efficient.

Specifically, the Bill:

• Removes Council as a water supply authority under the Water Management Act
• Aligns the regulation of Council’s water supply and sewerage services more closely with the regulatory framework which applies to all other councils
• Retains IPART as the regulator of Council’s water supply and sewerage service prices to ensure adequate oversight of Council’s pricing and ensure fees stay fair for local residents
• Exempts Council from unnecessary and inefficient restrictions on money transfers between the water supply fund and the sewerage fund, to improve effective management of cash flow and debt funding.

Importantly, the Bill also further commits to protect our water utility on the Central Coast from privatisation, by repealing the Central Coast Water Corporation Act and Central Coast Water Corporation Regulation.

This will ensure Central Coast water remains in the hands of our community.

Minister for Water, Rose Jackson said:

“I am thrilled this Bill has passed parliament to finally give residents greater confidence that their water services are being properly managed.

“It comes after a Public Inquiry and a thorough review into Council’s administrative operations, and after listening to feedback from the entire community.

“This Bill is a great outcome and fantastic news for people across the Central Coast.”

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

“The passing of this Bill will give Central Coast Council more clarity to efficiently go about its job to best serve residents, businesses and customers.

“Importantly, the Bill protects our water utility on the Central Coast from privatisation to ensure water and sewerage remains in the hands of our Council and our community, which is great news for everyone.”

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea, Yasmin Catley said:

“The NSW Government has fulfilled its commitment to listen to and address the concerns of locals.

“Eliminating unnecessary obstacles will pave the way for more time to deliver the things that matter most to the people of the Central Coast.

“Locals can now enjoy peace of mind, knowing that their water bills are being managed with care and transparency.”

Member for The Entrance, David Mehan said:

“The great thing about our Bill is that it ensures our water service will remain locally owned and controlled.

“The simplification of regulation and IPART price oversight will make sure we are paying no more than we should for our water and sewer service.”

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch said:

“With the passing of this Bill, the NSW Government has simplified the legislation controlling Central Coast water and sewerage services, taking the complexity out of Council governance and decision making.

“I welcome the passing of this Bill, which streamlines Council’s regulatory structure and allows Council to get back to their core function, providing essential services to our community.”

Expressions of Interest are being sought for suitable sites to build new ambulance stations as part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

The NSW Government is delivering 30 additional ambulance stations and more than 2,500 additional staff across the state as part of its commitment to boost frontline emergency care for communities.

As part of this program, Health Infrastructure is working with NSW Ambulance and other key stakeholders across government to identify potential sites for additional ambulance stations and prioritise delivery.

This includes conducting a thorough land search to identify potential locations that best meet the needs of the community for ambulance operations.

To progress this planning, an Expressions of Interest process for land will be undertaken at 10 locations including: Cherrybrook, Kincumber, Raby, Edgeworth, Glenmore Park, Dee Why, Sutherland, Bargo, Berkeley Vale and Doonside.

Locations for new stations are determined by NSW Ambulance following a comprehensive service planning process using best practice modelling software which maps Triple Zero calls.

The exact locations of the new stations will be confirmed once the land search and acquisition process is finalised. Construction and operational timeframes will be determined as the project planning progresses.

The infrastructure rollout for the $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program is progressing with land purchased for new ambulance stations at North Sydney, South Windsor, Oran Park and Berowra.

To find out more, or lodge an Expression of Interest visit: www.hinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/ambulance-infrastructure-program

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

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

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We are progressing with planning to identify suitable sites to deliver new, modern and purpose-built ambulance stations which will support local paramedics to provide the best emergency medical care now and into the future.”

“This new infrastructure will improve network coverage and support the existing stations in the ambulance network in NSW.”

“These new ambulance stations will bolster emergency care for growing communities across the state and provide a first-class purpose-built workplace for our hardworking paramedics.”

The NSW Government is inviting members of the community to share their experiences, concerns, and suggestions regarding social media use ahead of the Social Media Summit, at which Frances Haugen, meta whistleblower and advocate for accountability and transparency in social media, will be a keynote speaker.

The two-day summit, a joint initiative between the NSW Government and Government of South Australia, will take place in Sydney on October 10 and in Adelaide on October 11.

The “Have Your Say” survey invites all NSW residents to offer insights and feedback which will directly inform the discussions at the summit and help the government formulate practical solutions to address the issues posed by social media, particularly for young people.

By engaging with the community through this consultation, the NSW Government is committed to making informed decisions that reflect the needs and concerns of its citizens.

The Social Media Summit will bring together a diverse group of experts, policymakers, academics, young people, and the wider community to explore key areas including the impacts of social media on children, online safety, social media’s role in disinformation and misinformation, addressing online hate and extremism, and how social media is changing the way government delivers services.

It comes in response to increasing concerns about the harmful effects of social media on young people, including exposure to inappropriate and illegal content, cyberbullying, and negative impacts on their mental health and development.

Day one of the summit in Sydney will explore key themes including:

• Formulating a public health response to social media harm minimisation
• Opportunities to address social media harms within educational settings
• Understanding the role of social media in identity, belonging and worldviews
• Unpacking links between extremism, misogyny and social media
• Reclaiming the digital town square – creating positive digital communities

Frances Haugen, prominent whistleblower and advocate for transparency in social media, will be a keynote speaker on day one.

Ms Haugen is internationally recognised for her courageous efforts to expose the inner workings of social media companies and her advocacy for accountability and ethical practices by the digital giants.

Further information about additional speakers, panellists and detailed event schedules will be made available later in the year.

The “Have Your Say” online consultation survey is now live and accessible at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/social-media-usage-and-impacts

For more information about the Social Media Summit, please visit www.nsw.gov.au/socialmediasummit

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Social media presents serious risks. We need to ensure that our policies keep pace with the rapid changes in technology.

“We are committed to listening to particularly young people about their experiences online and creating a safer and more positive online environment for everyone.

“The insights gathered from the ‘Have Your Say’ survey will help us shape effective policies and programs to support the community.

“I’m pleased that Frances Haugen has accepted our invitation to deliver an address at the summit.

“I enjoyed meeting with her recently to discuss the critical issues surrounding social media’s impact on our society. Her insights and expertise will be invaluable at the summit.”

Frances Haugen said:

“We have stood by, for more than a decade, as unaccountable American social media companies have experimented on Australian children. The time has come for us to demand more from our online public squares for children and ourselves.

“We can have social media that brings out the best in us – but only if we fight for it.”

More than 30 emergency services personnel and youth volunteers have been recognised for their commitment and outstanding efforts over the past year at the 10^th NSW Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA).

Minister for Health Ryan Park and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib congratulated all 28 finalists across the emergency services agencies and the four finalists of the Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship, for volunteers between 18 and 25 years of age, in a ceremony at Bankstown Sports Club last night.

The awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the community service of personnel from agencies including NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW, and VRA Rescue NSW.

The Rotary awards are community nominated, with seven winners across the agencies, two overall winners, and one recipient of the youth scholarship.

The winners by emergency service agency are:

• NSW Ambulance: David Press – Clinical Volunteer – Community Emergency Response Team, Manildra
• Fire and Rescue NSW: Jen Sullivan – Wellbeing Officer – Mental Health East
• Marine Rescue NSW: Nancy Weatherman – Deputy Unit Commander, Eden
• Surf Life Saving NSW: Mollie Murphy – Club Director of Lifesaving, Umina Beach
• VRA Rescue NSW: Malcolm Barry – Captain, Narooma Rescue Squad, Narooma
• NSW Rural Fire Service: Michael Carey – Group Captain 3, Southern Tablelands Zone, Wee Jasper
• NSW State Emergency Service: Benjamin Power – Land Search Operations Instructor, Ku-ring-gai

The officer named overall winner in a volunteer capacity was Michael Carey, Group Captain 3 of the Southern Tablelands Zone with the NSW Rural Fire Service based at Wee Jasper. The officer named overall winner in a paid capacity was David Press, Clinical Volunteer Community Emergency Response Team with NSW Ambulance based at Manildra.

The overall winners go on to represent NSW at the AusRESCA (Australian RESCA) ceremony in Canberra in October.

The recipient of the $1,000 Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship winner was Kayla McKenzie, Patrol Captain with Surf Lifesaving NSW based in Wollongong.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“I’m immensely proud of the endless dedication and efforts to go above and beyond from all our paramedics and emergency services individuals who make it their life’s work to provide us with care in some of our darkest moments.

“These awards are an opportunity to celebrate the tremendous contributions these special individuals give to our health system, and to communities all over NSW.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“It is a privilege to be the Minister for Emergency Services and to meet the incredible people on the frontline who keep our communities safe, often in the face of personal risk.”

“It’s the sense of volunteerism and the eagerness to lend a hand that make emergency services personnel so worthy of celebration, and that’s what these awards are about – recognising the vast community contributions these individuals make.”

The Minns Labor Government has today made a winning play by delivering on its election commitment to invest $500,000 in NSW Rugby League to carry out community competitions in Far West NSW.

Confirmation of the funding was announced at the Outback v Ocean games at Lightning Ridge on Saturday, 10 August.

This funding will support the delivery and growth of rugby league and league tag in the Outback and Barwon Darling Rugby League competitions.

This funding will support associations and clubs with the costs of registration, insurance, junior transport, referees and referee travel.

Additionally, the funding supports the engagement of staff dedicated to junior and social competition support and capacity building, as well as community development programs.

Rugby league competitions play a critical role in many rural and remote communities, providing young people with the opportunity to play competitive team sport with their peers while opening up the door to future sporting opportunities.

Importantly, this funding will provide targeted relief to many young people hoping to participate in rugby league competitions at a time when cost of living is a significant concern.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“We are incredibly proud to be making this practical investment that will go straight to helping players and clubs across the Far West of NSW.

“Sport, especially in our regions, is a fantastic vehicle for bringing people together and providing people with an opportunity to get out and get active.

“With the cost of living going through the roof, particularly in rural and regional NSW – supporting these players and clubs financially will help more people play the sport they love.”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“In regional communities, sport is the glue that holds them together. Sport offers many benefits, including physical, mental and social.

“The NSW Government’s funding of community competitions in Far West NSW will enable more people in the region to enjoy the all-around benefits of rugby league.”

Minister for Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“The Government is committed to improving community life for Western NSW and sport plays many roles in making that real. Targeted funding like this makes a big difference.

“Getting juniors and referees out to games across long distances is critical to keeping rugby league going and people playing. The Far West deserves this support.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“In Far West NSW, rugby league plays a vital role in community engagement and promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly among Indigenous communities.

“This funding will enable the rugby league’s rich history and legacy across Far West NSW to continue.”

NSW Rugby League CEO Dave Trodden said:

“As the focal point for community spirit in Far West NSW, rugby league has a crucial role to play in community wellbeing, encouraging all participants, players coaches, officials and volunteers, to participate and enjoy our great game.

“I thank the NSW Government for this funding package which will enable the NSWRL to continue our support of Far West clubs and competitions.

“We are proud to be able to be able host the Outback Challenge in Lightning Ridge, rewarding and recognising many of our shining stars from the Far West.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals have stood up for vulnerable regional residents, questioning the Minns Labor Government over its decision to cut support for long distance coach services.
 
This move impacted routes between Eden and Bomaderry, as well as Lismore and Tweed Heads, meaning passengers paying $2.50 for a Regional Excursion Daily (RED) ticket would be forced to pay up to $65.
 
After sustained pressure by the Coalition, the Government has backflipped on its reckless decision and has decided to reinstate the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) subsidies.
                                     
We have always offered vital support to country communities, including the Regional Seniors Travel Card, because we understand that when you live in the bush it’s harder to travel.
 
We also couldn’t stand the fact Labor chose to rip more money from people’s pockets in the middle of a cost-of-living-crisis.
 
Common sense has prevailed, and our regional residents will finally get the support they need.

Authorised by Richard Shields, Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division, Level 2, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.