Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is marking Cyber Security Awareness Month and Small Business Month this October with a new resource for small businesses to help them prevent identity theft and data breaches.

There is a growing need for businesses to better understand their risks online and to be proactive against scams, email attacks, and malicious software.

ID Support NSW has developed a webpage containing information and tips on how to stay cyber secure, as well as free interactive learning modules and printable checklists to help businesses regardless of their size or budget.

ID Support NSW also runs a free fortnightly webinar where business owners can learn directly from experts on how to keep customers’ personal information safe.

Digital technology gives small businesses a unique opportunity to expand their reach, communicate with customers, track trends and allocate resources. However, if not managed appropriately, it can also open the door to cyber criminals and allow them to access private and personal information.

According to an Australian Cyber Security Centre survey released in 2020, 62 per cent of small businesses across Australia have experienced a cyber security incident.

Almost half of those surveyed also rated their cyber security understanding as ‘average’ or ‘below average’ and had poor cyber security practices.

Cyber security incidents are often costly to business owners and challenging to recover from. In the national Annual Cyber Threat Report, it was found that more than $98 million was lost because of business email compromise in 2021/2022 and customers took 34 hours on average to recover their identity. 

For more information on how small businesses can stay cyber secure visit small business.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“For small businesses, even a minor cyber security incident can have devastating impacts. It might even prove to be something a business can’t recover from, so taking steps to learn how to keep information secure is important.”

“ID Support NSW is making it easier for small businesses to find the information and resources that might make the difference in preventing a cyber security incident.”

“In this highly digital world, keeping clients’ personal information secure is incredibly important to businesses. It makes sense that small businesses would want to arm themselves with information to stay cyber secure, and ID Support NSW has done the work to make it easier to find the right resources in one place.” 

Minister for Small Business Stephen Kamper said:

“The theme of this Small Business Month is ‘My Small Business,’ with events tailored to help small business owners and operators learn new skills and strategies to improve their business.”

“In an ever-evolving landscape, cybercrime is constantly changing and becoming more intelligent, making it imperative for businesses to stay vigilant and informed about new scams to safeguard their operations.”

“I encourage all businesses to ensure they understand cyber security and make it a priority to utilise the resources on ID Support NSW so they are set up for success.”

The Blue Mountains’ historic Zig Zag Railway is now back on track thanks to a $3.6 million restoration of its locomotive workshop.

The official grand reopening is today thanks to local councils choo-choo-choosing to work together collaboratively with Crown lands and the Zig Zag Railway co-op.

The workshop restoration, funded by the NSW Government through Crown Lands, has included replacement of major structural components, new cladding for walls and roof, installation of stormwater drainage, and fire safety upgrades.

The complex project has been chugging along through a range of challenges, requiring teams to work through difficult logistic and access issues given the workshop’s location alongside the main Sydney train line.

Passenger services have resumed at the Zig Zag Railway to the delight of locals and visitors, but reinstatement of the workshop was key to the railway’s continued operations and maintenance of its locomotives and carriages.

The railway has been moving for 154-years and first opened on 18 October 1869 as part of the Main Western rail line serving mountain runs until 1910 when a track deviation was installed.

The not-for-profit Zig Zag Railway Co-op resurrected the heritage-listed railway in 1975 but was stalled by severe bushfire damage in 2013 and 2019 and storm damage.

The fires and storms damaged the locomotive workshop, trains, passenger and accommodation carriages, rail lines, about 3,500 sleepers, electrical equipment and the railway’s office including decades of records.

Zig Zag Railway and its dedicated volunteers restored the railway and rebuilt its safety management system, network rules, procedures and rail policies to get accreditation to resume passenger services by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The NSW Government contributed over $5.9 million through Crown Lands and the Department of Regional NSW, which includes $3.6 million to help restore the locomotive workshop, as well as additional funding to construct a car park, pedestrian crossing and amenities block to support the fantastic work of the railway’s volunteers.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said: 

“I was lucky to attend the re-opening of the Zig Zag railway in May this year and it was great to see this iconic tourist attraction welcome back families and rail enthusiasts alike after several setbacks including bushfires, floods and storm damage.

“The restoration and opening of its locomotive workshops today will ensure this much-loved historic railway will be able to showcase Australia’s steam train era to a new generation of young trainspotters.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Heritage Trish Doyle said:

“It’s great to see the Zig Zag railway’s workshop back on track, keeping its trains and carriages running so this restoration project was critical to its continued operations.”

“This tourism icon attracts up to 80,000 visitors each year so having it back in full operation will boost tourism, business and jobs in the Blue Mountains and Lithgow regions.”

Zig Zag Railway CEO Daniel Zolfel said:

“Rebuilding of the workshop has been a special project not only for Zig Zag Railway but the people who delivered the work. Without this team we absolutely wouldn’t have been able to undergo such a large scale and intricate project.”

“Having the workshop back to its former glory will allow Zig Zag to maintain its rolling stock including steam locomotives, diesel locomotives and carriages and give it the ability to recommission additional locomotives and carriages in its fleet.”

The Minns Government will introduce an industrial manslaughter offence in NSW.

The new laws will ensure the most serious work health and safety breaches carry a severe penalty, sending a clear message that those who place a worker’s life at risk will be held to account in the event of a workplace death.

Despite years of campaigning by the families of those killed at work, NSW is the last mainland state without an industrial manslaughter offence or legislation in parliament.

In February 2023, the former government, with other states and territories, agreed to amend model work health and safety laws to allow for jurisdictions to introduce industrial manslaughter.

Industrial manslaughter allows a corporation to be held liable for the death of a person caused by that corporation’s employees within the scope of their work. Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being.

SafeWork will begin an extensive consultation process which will include work health and safety experts, business groups, unions, legal stakeholders and families of people who have been killed at work.

The NSW Government will formally begin the consultation process in coming weeks and intends to introduce a bill to parliament in the first half of next year.

Workers in NSW deserve the right to feel safe at work and these laws are designed to make the state’s workplaces safer.

Minister for Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis said:

“I hope these laws act as such a strong deterrent that no one ever needs to be prosecuted. We must prevent fatal injuries in the workplace.”

“These penalties acknowledge the significant pain and suffering of families and loved ones of workers who have died in preventable workplace incidents.”

The Minns Labor government is removing red tape to bring back live music and encourage local entertainment zones that are as vibrant and diverse as traditional precincts like the Sydney CBD – especially at night.

The government is also overhauling regulatory frameworks to prevent single complainants from shutting down venues.

A package of reforms to be introduced to Parliament will put the age of lockouts and over-regulation behind us, with venues that host live music empowered to trade 2 hours longer under streamlined licensing laws.

The vibrancy package will strip back the current tangle of red tape to allow just one set of laws for noise disturbance complaints against live music and performance venues, with higher hurdles imposed for complaints to progress and no avenue for a single complainant to close venues.

Currently, there are 7 agencies that accept noise complaints. The government’s proposed changes will streamline the process by making Liquor and Gaming NSW the lead in managing noise complaints against licensed venues.

The ‘order of occupancy’ will be made a central consideration in disturbance complaints to address the situation in which newcomers to a neighbourhood work to shut down or wind back the entertainment offerings and/or operating hours of established venues.

The changes will be delivered through 6 areas of reform:

Sensible venue sound management

A single noise complainant will no longer be able to shut down a venue.

Liquor and Gaming NSW becomes the lead regulator of formal entertainment sound-related complaints for licensed premises, removing complex and highly subjective noise tests.

Vibrant, coordinated precincts

The success of the Enmore Road Special Entertainment Precinct, now rated one of the best going-out districts in the world, will be expanded to other areas via a new framework for councils that makes it easier for them to deliver vibrant, safe going-out destinations supported by adequate and reliable transport and good lighting.

An activated outdoors

COVID-19 showed us that Sydney is a city that does alfresco well.

The reforms will permanently relax the rules for outdoor dining allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor space with a quicker, light-touch application process.

Councils will also be supported to ease the way for creatives and community groups to stage pop-up events and festivals, including street closures and global pre-approvals for event sites.

Empowering the 24-hour economy commissioner to deliver a sustainable, thriving night-time economy

NSW is the first jurisdiction in the world to appoint a 24-hour economy commissioner, and the role will now be made a statutory appointment with an expanded remit beyond Greater Sydney, to include Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast to make this a permanent priority for the government.

The statutory appoinment solidifies the night-time economy’s standing within government and allows the commissioner to work across government to ensure these reforms benefit a range of industries across the sector.

The commisioner will continue to be responsible for ensuring that as these reforms are implemented, fun doesn’t come at the expense of a safe night out.

Licensing

A common-sense approach to risk will be adopted in relation to liquor regulation, removing outdated rules, and beginning work to streamline planning and licensing processes.

More efficient consultation will make it easier for venues to open and diversify, and for communities to have their say. Plus, meaningful incentives for venues to feature live music and performances will drive new employment opportunities for creatives and entertainment options for audiences.

Improving the night-time sector for workers

The amenity of the city shouldn’t be reduced because of the hours people work. The 24-hour economy commissioner will develop a plan to make our state a better place to work for those who don’t work 9 to 5.

Existing legislation will be amended to support the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms, including the Liquor Act 2007, the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the Local Government Act 1993, and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

A new Bill will be introduced for the statutory appointment of the 24-hour economy commissioner.

The NSW Government is spending in excess of $58 million in 2023–2024 on supporting this work and will be seeking co-funding from the hospitality and entertainment sector.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“The vibrancy package is a whole-of-government priority and we expect to deliver the initial reforms ahead of summer so that venues have the chance to respond and communities, including those in western Sydney, will have more options for music and live entertainment.

“Western Sydney has a multitude of thriving and varied night-life cultures, from areas like Lakemba, which has recently been recognised with a Purple Flag accreditation, to Parramatta, where the Parramatta Lanes festival is showcasing the best in music and food. This package will give businesses the certainty they need to open and continue to entertain Western Sydney residents and visitors.”

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“As a government we know we need to change the laws in this state to value music, to value creativity, to support community and to bring back vibrancy.

“We need to change the rules in the planning and liquor laws to save the music and cultural venues we have, and to build more.

“We need to change the rules around outdoor and street activation so that music, culture and entertainment can spill outdoors.

“We especially need to change the rules for sound and noise complaints that allow a single neighbour to make serial complaints to close a long-running venue they have just moved in next to. 

“We are stopping the great NSW sport of single-neighbour serial complaints that close down venues.

“We want to encourage businesses to innovate and put on live performance, by giving them certainty. We want to create a safe and diverse set of options for people when they go out, to go to a pub, to see a show, to get a late-night meal. We want to activate our streets – see people milling on pavements after an exhibition or show, or dancing in the streets at a festival.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The current outdoor dining exemptions have given the hospitality industry much-needed flexibility and allowed greater productivity.

“We made an election commitment to make outdoor dining permanently available across NSW, supporting the hospitality sector and boosting the economy and we are delivering it.

“It means pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants won’t have to submit a detailed development application – just a faster and more cost-effective complying development certificate.

“The proposals include safeguards with development standards for permissible locations, restrictions on smoking and gaming machines and the amount of outdoor space used.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“If you speak to any venue, they’ll tell you the regulatory frameworks for sound management and liquor licensing are incredibly confusing and complex and prevent them from trading at their full potential.

“Our reforms slash red tape and streamline processes so businesses can focus on what’s important – delivering a great experience for their customers.

“The number, viability and growth of venues and entertainment and performance spaces has been unduly reduced and restricted by planning, licensing and noise regulatory frameworks that are duplicative, outdated and complex. It’s time to change that.”

Find more information about the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms.

The NSW Parliament has today passed a Bill that will help support and ensure an efficient, fit-for-purpose justice system in NSW.

The amendments in the Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2023 form an essential part of the NSW Government’s commitment to a healthy program of legislative maintenance and review. This Bill introduces several amendments to improve, clarify and update legislation across various areas of the justice system, and plays a key role in good governance.

This Bill introduces amendments that address developments in case law, close gaps, provide clarity and updates where needed, and support operational improvements. Key features of the Bill include:

• Amending the Fines Act 1996launch to allow for the completion of prescribed activities to be treated as payment of a penalty notice. This change allows for the making of a regulation to facilitate the Pre-Court Diversion Scheme, announced last week. The Scheme will enable $400 criminal infringement notices (on-the-spot fines) to be issued for the possession of small quantities of drugs and for personal use, with the fine to be considered paid if the person completes a tailored alcohol and drug health intervention.
• Amending the Bail Act 2013launch to permit a court to impose a pre-release bail condition requiring the accused to be accompanied by a specific person upon release from custody.
• Amending the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002launch to allow the continued use of email applications for search warrants, following a trial period, improving efficiency and justice system processes.
• Amending the Terrorism (Police Powers) Act 2002launch to implement recommendations of the statutory review of that Act. This includes an amendment to extend the preventative detention scheme for a further three years, and amendments to ensure that a person on a preventative detention order has the right to contact the Ombudsman and is informed of that right.

Read the full Bill here: Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2023 (nsw.gov.au)launch

The most recent substantial Justice Miscellaneous Bill was passed in 2020.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“This Bill is an investment in our justice system. It ensures that legislation is fit for purpose and introduces reforms to make our justice system more efficient and easier for everyone, from judicial officers who apply the law to the people who come before the courts and the wider community.”

“The justice system is dynamic and evolves over time. It is important that the legislation that underpins it is kept up to date and clear in its intention and application.”

“The Bill amends a number of Acts and seeks to address multiple elements of the justice system quickly and efficiently.”

Major construction is underway on the $940 million redevelopment of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPA), which will deliver the biggest transformation in the hospital’s 140-year history.

Premier Chris Minns, Health Minister Ryan Park and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully joined health workers at the site for a traditional sod-turn event to mark the important milestone.

The major milestone follows the recent approval of the State Significant Development Application for the project.

The $940 million RPA Hospital Redevelopment, with over 700 acute beds available at the end of the project, includes:

• expanded and enhanced emergency department and intensive care units. With the hospital’s Emergency Department to expand from 42 treatment spaces to 91 treatment spaces
• more than a 50% increase in the adult intensive care bed capacity from 49 adult intensive care unit (ICU) beds to 74 adult ICU beds
• state-of-the-art operating theatres.
• expanded and improved adult and paediatric inpatient accommodation/beds
• increased interventional and imaging services
• enhanced maternity services and neonatal services. With the Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nurser increasing capacity by more than 30% from 34 beds to 45 beds
• improved signage and landscaping throughout the hospital campus
• a new open garden courtyard.

Work on the redevelopment is being carefully planned to ensure clinical services remain operational during construction, while staff and the community will continue to be updated as the project progresses.

The start of major construction marks the completion of enabling works on site, which includes the temporary relocation of the helicopter landing site to the roof of a multi-storey carpark located off Hospital Road and Grose Street, on RPA’s western campus.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“RPA is one of Australia’s leading hospitals, renowned for its excellence in providing innovative health care and education.

“It is exciting to see the redevelopment taking shape in the heart of Sydney not only for local inner west residents but for patients right across the state who may require the complex healthcare and cutting-edge services that RPA is renowned for.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“The RPA Hospital redevelopment is a once-in-a-generation project which will continue to deliver world-class healthcare facilities to our communities right across the state.

“This major investment will enhance access to vital health services including construction of a new 15-storey clinical services building, an expanded emergency department and intensive care unit, more inpatient beds, as well as medical imaging, operating theatres and neonatal areas.

“I want to thank all the clinicians, staff and the community who have been engaged in the planning and design of the redevelopment every step of the way.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This state significant development approval will deliver the biggest transformation in the RPA hospital’s 140-year history of caring for the community.

“It is an investment in our future to ensure the growing populations have access to the highest quality health care for years to come.

“The project will generate 1400 construction jobs and 900 additional health related jobs when it’s complete. I am pleased it will be not only be able to provide high-quality health care it will also be able to give the local economy a boost in the process.”  

Get more information on the Royal Prince Alfred hospital redevelopment.launch

War widows in New South Wales were honoured today with events across the state to commemorate the second annual War Widows Day.

War Widows Day is held annually on 19 October, the birthday of Mrs Jessie Vasey OBE CBE (1897-1966), founder of the Australian War Widows Guild.

Mrs Vasey, widow of Major General George Vasey who was killed en route to New Guinea during the Second World War, founded the NSW War Widows Graft Guild, a self-help organisation to support women widowed in the War to come to terms with their loss, while creating opportunities to support themselves and their children financially.

There are more than 15,000 war widows in NSW. Over 1,200 veterans transition from the ADF into NSW annually, and many of these veterans have a family that has supported them through their service.

This year, the Guild, now known as Australian War Widows NSW, is partnering with Legacy to recognise war widows and celebrate their contributions to their families, their communities, and the nation.

Minister for Veterans David Harris will join war widows and the defence and veteran community at a commemorative service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place.

Get more information on how to support War Widows Day.launch

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“From the Great War and Second World War, through to more recent conflicts and peacekeeping operations, the service of our veterans is acknowledged and commemorated at various times throughout the year.

“Yet, every veteran has a family, and we must not forget the important role that family plays in thelives of veterans, and the sacrifices that families also make that allow veterans to serve their country.

“Families of our veterans are their primary support network, and families too can be affected by the service of their loved ones.

“It is wonderful that we now have a War Widows Day. The NSW Government designated this day last year, and it is great to see this gaining traction around the country.

“NSW is leading the way in many aspects of veteran support, and with thanks to Australian War Widows NSW we are now paving the way for support to families too.”

CEO of Australian War Widows, Ms Renee Wilson said:

“Today is a special day as war widows from around New South Wales have come together to acknowledge War Widows Day, in honour of our founder, to celebrate the contributions to our families, our communities and our nation.

“I invite you to continue to stand with our war widows and widowers, and to show your support through purchasing a limited release lapel pin or support our ‘Buy a Widow a Coffee’ campaign, to help raise much needed funds to help us to deliver our social connections program.” 

The NSW Government has announced that work is underway on a new single digital patient record (SDPR) system.

The current system for recording health records is complex, cumbersome and outdated.

Currently we have 9 systems used for electronic medical records, 10 patient administration systems and 5 pathology laboratory information manage systems in use across NSW Health.

NSW Health is now working on a single streamlined system to record patient records to replace and consolidate what is currently available.

The current system(s)

Currently, these systems are not connected statewide.

Data is routinely collected but is often unable to be shared or integrated in real time.

This can create duplicative data collection or create information gaps in decision making.

As a result, patients may have to recall and repeat complex medical information when they’re feeling unwell.

Often this is when patients are receiving care at different locations or from separate treatment teams and impacts the experience of care they receive.

Benefits to patients

The new system will improve patient experience through better continuity of care.

The SDPR will reduce the need for patients or their carers to recall and repeat health information.

It will provide patients with secure access to relevant medical data to help them make informed care choices and self-manage their own health and wellbeing.

And it will also facilitate more informed consultations.

Benefits to clinicians

The SDPR will provide clinicians with access to full patient clinical information in any location, supporting better continuity of care for patients.

The new system will promote clinical safety and quality, reducing unnecessary duplication of care.

It will also reduce the amount of manual administration, streamline record keeping and give clinicians more time at the bedside.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“The NSW Government’s new single digital patient record, will deliver healthcare workers and their patients with consistent, timely and secure health information.

“A consolidated and centralised record keeping system will provide a holistic and integrated view of the care a patient receives right across the NSW public health system.

“As Health Minister, one of my priorities is to embrace innovative solutions to find efficiencies in the way we deliver care.”

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM said:

“We can now move into the next exciting phase of this project, which is to work together across all of NSW Health on the design, build and testing of the Single Digital Patient Record, so we can create a world-class digital platform that meets the diverse needs of our clinicians, staff, patients and carers.

“The Single Digital Patient Record will support NSW Health’s ongoing commitment to delivering safe, timely, high quality, equitable and patient-centred healthcare for the people of NSW.”

Local residents in Western and South Western Sydney, Dubbo, Queanbeyan, and the Murray region will be encouraged to take up secondary careers in teaching under a new program targeting areas with high demand for teachers.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the Grow Your Own: Local Teacher Pipeline (LTP) program would help to address the state’s teacher shortage by providing participants financial and other support to complete a secondary teaching qualification.

In return participants would teach at a local public high school for at least 3 years.

The new pipeline program expands on the existing Grow Your Own initiative, which supports non-teaching NSW public school staff to gain their professional qualifications as teachers.

Eligible schools will help identify local people with teaching potential for the LTP program, including potential career changers, school administration and support staff, high school leavers, and existing initial teacher education students.

The team will work with interested schools to identify which areas are most in need locally, with participants’ studies starting from term 1, 2024.

Up to 75 applicants will be offered a place in 1 of 3 paths to qualification:

• undergraduate pathway, with a $30,000 training allowance over 4 years
• postgraduate pathway, with a $30,000 training allowance over 2 years
• industry experience pathway, with a $30,000 training allowance over 2 years and a retention incentive of up to $30,000 paid over the first 3 years of teaching in a NSW public school in an agreed location.

Participants will work 1 day a week to benefit from in-school experience in a local NSW public high school while completing their studies.

Applications are now open until Tuesday 31 October for participants to begin study in term 1, 2024.

To apply, visit Grow Your Own Local Teacher Pipelinelaunch.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car said:

“This program is tailor-made to help schools where the demand for teachers is particularly high, by tapping into existing local talent within these communities.

“Alongside our once-in-a-generation wage rise for teachers and moves to ease teacher workload, this is another step the Minns Labor government is taking to restore teaching as a career of choice and lift student academic outcomes.”

Football fans will be treated to a jam-packed 4-day schedule in January 2024 with the A-League’s first ever Unite Round.

Unite Round is a coming together of all 13 A-Leagues men’s and women’s clubs, as well as grassroots competitors from under-8 to under-18 age groups.

The Unite Round is being introduced for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, as the Australian Professional League’s partnership with Destination NSW enters its second year.

As part of the updated partnership, the hosting rights for the finals series from season 2023-24 will revert to previous arrangements whereby the final is hosted by the highest placed qualifier from the Semi Finals.

During Unite Round, grassroots tournaments for junior boys and girls will take place at venues across Sydney from Thursday 11 January, while double-header A-Leagues matches will be hosted at Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium and Leichhardt Oval between Friday 12 and Sunday 14 January.

There will be a festival of football surrounding the A-Leagues fixtures with activations, a fan festival and other events taking place across four days.

The Unite Round will provide more opportunity for all players and fans to be part of an inclusive football celebration in Sydney, and strong economic and community benefits for the people of NSW.

Tickets for A-Leagues Unite Round will be on sale from Monday 6 November.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Unite Round is great news for the football community, and for NSW.

“This will bring fans and players from around the country together in Sydney.

“I encourage fans to get involved in this festival of football.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“This is a chance for fans and players from right around Australia to come together, be united and be part of something special right here in Sydney.

“The Unite Round is a win-win for fans, the game and NSW as it will provide more opportunity for all players and fans to be part of an inclusive football celebration in Sydney.

“Unite Round will also deliver strong economic and community benefits for the people of NSW – it is estimated Unite Round will attract more than 42,000 people to Sydney for the event and generate more than $10.2 million in visitor expenditure for the state’s economy.”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Sydney has more football fans and players than any other state and our culture of celebrating major sporting milestones is second-to-none.

“We can’t wait to welcome Australia’s football family to Sydney for the debut A-Leagues Unite Round next January and to see this tradition grow.

“This will be the first sporting code to celebrate a full men’s and women’s round in a single city in Australia.”

Australian Professional Leagues Chair the Hon Stephen Conroy said:

“We saw record crowds in the men’s and women’s finals series last season, and we again saw the appetite for professional football in NSW during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Having all of our teams in one place, over one weekend, is a fantastic way to serve up the best of the A-Leagues for our fans. 

“We are one of the only leagues in the world where almost every club has both men’s and women’s teams, so we are uniquely positioned to create an event like this.

“We thank Premier Minns, the NSW Government and Destination NSW for this fundamentally important partnership and for their continuing support for the development of football in Australia.”

Australian Professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend said:

“The Unite Round is a brand-new experience which brings together all A-Leagues clubs, fans and grassroots players together for the very first time in Sydney in an unprecedented celebration of football. With the women’s domestic attendance record already broken twice on the first day of this season, we are looking forward to welcoming A-Leagues fans, old and new, to experience our leagues.”

“We have worked closely with our clubs and fans to ensure that there are suitable constructive mechanisms for the voices of fans to be heard. Many of the resulting conversations have included the hosting of the Grand Finals, and the strong sentiments around that, and we thank Destination NSW and Premier Minns for their partnership in creating a truly inclusive experience for our game.”