Category: NSW News

Tonight, I made the decision to light the Sydney Opera House with candles on the Menorah, marking the second day of Chanukah.

In the wake of this horrific attack, it is more important than ever that the Jewish community in NSW knows they do not stand alone.

We cannot, and we will not allow Jewish Australians to feel they must hide their faith, their traditions, their religious celebrations or their identity.

Lighting the Opera House is a simple but powerful gesture: a message to the world that we cherish our Jewish community, that we honour their courage, and that we stand with them in solidarity and love.

Tonight, those candles are a symbol of resilience and a reminder that even in darkness, we choose to stand with one another.

Addressing the General Meeting of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Board in Canberra today, ACN President Kath Stein FACN offered condolences to all victims of the tragic terror event at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening.

Ms Stein said Australia’s nurses support the families of all those affected by the shooting and its aftermath and stand with Australia’s Jewish community during this period of grieving and recovery.

On behalf of the ACN Board and our members, I praise the nurses and their colleagues who are working around the clock caring for the innocent victims and the first responders who were injured in the attack,” Ms Stein said.

ACN also acknowledges the bravery and professionalism of the ambulance personnel, paramedics, doctors, police, lifesavers, and other health professionals who gave their all during and after this horrific attack.

There were local heroes, too – members of the local Jewish community and members of the public who put themselves in danger to help others.

There will be many others with injuries and trauma that we cannot see.

The nursing profession is here to care for everyone affected. It is important that we all care for ourselves and each other,” Ms Stein said.

People hoping to welcome a four-legged friend to the family this Christmas are being encouraged to adopt from council pounds and shelters to give dogs and cats in need a loving furr-ever home.

Pets are part of the family in thousands of NSW households, with over 78,000 dogs and 37,000 cats registered across the state this year alone.

But for those animals that don’t have a home, adopting from a council pound or rehoming organisation rather than buying from a breeder or pet shop, gives them a second chance at life. 

In the year ending 30 June 2025, 5,043 cats and 4,301 dogs were adopted from council pounds, up more than 10 per cent on the previous year.

Adopting takes pressure off animal rehoming organisations, many of which are run solely by volunteers who give their time to care for some of the most vulnerable animals in the state.

The Minns Government is providing a much needed boost to animal rehoming organisations committing $6 million in funding over the next four years to help these organisations continue caring and rehoming animals across NSW.

This funding complements further work the NSW Government is doing in this space including the first comprehensive review of the Companion Animals Act in more than 20 years. The Minns Labor Government has also banned puppy framing in NSW, with tougher laws for dog breeders coming into effect on 1 December this year.

To adopt a pet contact your local council for information on council pounds, or visit an approved rehoming organisation (PDF 207.52KB).

Pet owners are also being reminded to ensure their dog and cats are microchipped and registered on the NSW Digital Pet Registry. Registration is free-of-charge for desexed cats and dogs adopted from pounds, animal shelters and approved rehoming organisations.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“It’s fantastic to see an increase in the number of pets adopted from council pounds over the last year.

“While this makes a huge difference, there are still so many loving dogs and cats waiting for a family and a home to call their own this Christmas.

“Adopting a pet doesn’t just change their life, it can change yours. Pets bring love and companionship and are cherished members of the family in so many NSW households.

“I’d encourage anyone who is thinking about welcoming a pet to the family this Christmas to contact their local council or find their nearest rehoming centre.

“Bringing a pet home is a long-term commitment so it’s important anyone who is thinking of adopting understands this responsibility and is ready to provide the love and care their new pet needs.”

Animal Welfare League NSW Acting CEO Mark Seymour said:

“The Animal Welfare League NSW supports the Minister’s call to adopt rather than shop this Christmas.

“Every year we see how life-changing adoption can be, both for the animal and the family who welcomes them home.

“In 2024/25, Animal Welfare League NSW helped rehome more than 3,500 cats and dogs across New South Wales. Every one of those animals deserved a second chance, and thousands more across the state are still waiting for theirs.

“Choosing adoption eases pressure on local shelters and pounds, keeps vulnerable animals safe, and gives families a loyal companion who will bring years of love and joy.

“We encourage anyone considering a pet this Christmas to visit their local shelter and give a rescue animal the home they deserve.”

More than $330 million in commercial agreements between NSW businesses and businesses from Guangdong Province were secured last week during the 30th NSW–Guangdong Joint Economic Meeting (JEM) in Guangzhou, strengthening NSW’s economic ties with China’s largest provincial economy.

Led by NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong, the trade mission focused on Health and Life Sciences, Trade, including food and beverage manufacturing and Net Zero and the Energy Transition.

Leading these outcomes was the announcement of a research collaboration between the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Genesis Australia, aimed at driving innovation in sustainable agriculture through the development of microalgae-based organic fertilizers.

NSW based global hearing solutions leader Cochlear also secured a substantial long-term export pipeline into the Greater Bay Area, showcasing its latest cochlear implant technologies and reinforcing NSW’s reputation for advanced medical ingenuity. This is a direct result of the 2023 JEM, held in Sydney, which led to a nation-first agreement for Cochlear to supply medical devices across Guangdong’s Greater Bay Area hospitals.

Other key outcomes include:

• Memorandum of Understanding between Guangdong’s National New Energy Storage Innovation Center and Australia’s Smart Energy Council, paving the way for collaboration on battery technology R&D, industrial supply chain integration and market opportunity exploration.
• Highstar Sodium Battery secured a $130 million supply contract with Highflow Energy to deliver 1GWh of sodium-ion products into the Australian market over three years.
• Probev International established a $10 million long-term partnership with AusTiger to leverage its domestic sports event platform to introduce more high-quality Australian sports nutrition products to the sports community in Guangdong.
• MingMed Biotechnology partnered with Emerald Clinical Trials on a Phase II clinical trial valued at over $4 million.
• Dartsbio and Tigermed Australia signed a multi-million agreement to conduct early-stage clinical trials in NSW.
• Launch of the Greater Bay Area–NSW Innovation Channel to accelerate technology commercialisation and expand two-way flows of capital, talent, and research.

The mission included strategic bilateral and sector-specific meetings, as well as engagements in Hong Kong and Shanghai, expanding opportunities for NSW businesses across Greater China.

It also contributed to the bold vision to grow exports by $100 billion, attract $25 billion in investment, and create 30,000 new jobs by 2035 set out in the NSW Trade and Investment Strategy.

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“This mission has delivered on the objectives of the NSW Trade and Investment Strategy 2035 to create jobs, attract investment, and diversify our trade base.

”NSW is a trading state and China is a major trading partner.

“The outcomes achieved in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong demonstrate the strength of our long-standing sister-state relationship with Guangdong and the opportunities that flow from collaboration in net zero, health, technology and agriculture.

“From clean energy innovation, to clinical trials and sustainable farming, these partnerships will deliver tangible benefits for NSW businesses and communities.”

Pat Casey, Strategic Sourcing Director, Blackmores:

“The Joint Economic Meeting has provided Blackmores with a unique platform to deepen our collaboration with Sirio Pharma and represents a significant step forward in combining Blackmores’ R&D innovation with Sirio’s world‑class supply chain capabilities.

“This partnership strengthens our ability to innovate, expand our product portfolio, and meet growing demand in Asia’s largest health market.”

Frances Cui, Chief Representative, Greater China, Genesis:

“The NSW–Guangdong Joint Economic Meeting—and our 46‑year sister‑state agreement—give partners like us the trusted platform to move faster from lab to paddock.

“Through our collaboration with the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, we’ll scale microalgae‑based organic fertilisers to strengthen sustainable agriculture across NSW and the Greater Bay Area.”

Barry Irvin, Executive Chairman, Bega Group:

“The JEM is an invaluable platform for food and beverage businesses like ours. It opens doors to markets and creates opportunities to build strong, long-term relationships with partners across Greater China.

These connections help us showcase the quality of NSW products and position our brand for sustainable growth in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.”

Bodie Lazar, Managing Director, Probev International:

“Participating in JEM has been a game‑changer for Probev.  Our partnership with AusTiger opens the door to Guangdong’s dynamic sports nutrition market, enabling us to showcase Australian innovation and quality to millions of new consumers.

“The mission has given us the confidence to pursue ambitious export goals and demonstrated the real value of NSW’s sister‑state relationship with Guangdong in driving business success.”

NSW Regional Exporter of the Year 2025, Flavourtech CEO and Chairman Leon Skaliotis said:

“Returning to JEM has progressed initial meetings into trusted partnerships for Flavourtech. For a regional manufacturer such as ourselves, it has helped accelerate projects through market access and opened doors across Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area.”

Bullying incidents will be triaged, recorded and responded to with urgency and care, under the NSW Anti-Bullying Framework released today by the Minns Labor Government.

All 3,120 government, Catholic and independent schools have committed to implementing anti-bullying policies consistent with the NSW Anti-Bullying Framework – the first sector wide approach to tackling bullying in the country.

For the first time, schools will only be registered if they have policies that clearly set out how they prevent bullying, how they support affected students in a timely way, typically within two school days, and how they record actions taken.

Schools must also introduce a triage process, so urgent cases are addressed immediately with student safety coming first.

Schools will begin implementing the framework next year and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) will conduct spot checks from Term 1, 2027, to ensure all schools are meeting the requirements.

The new approach follows a directive in late 2024 from Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car, asking NESA to work with the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Schools NSW and Independent Schools NSW to develop an evidence-based, best-practice model.

The work was guided by leading behaviour expert Professor Donna Cross OAM and shaped through extensive consultation – including input from more than 370 individuals, over 40 groups of parents, students, teachers and school leaders, and advice from 20 international experts across 10 countries.

The Framework aligns with recommendations from the Australian Government’s Rapid Review, ensuring NSW schools meet both state and national expectations. It means all NSW schools will have anti-bullying policies built on the same four mandatory criteria: prevention, response, implementation and community partnerships.

To support the rollout, NSW government, Catholic and independent school sectors have committed to sharing resources, materials and professional learning to help teachers and principals implement this nation-leading approach.

From Monday, the Anti-bullying Framework and supporting resources, including practice examples and recommended actions, will be made available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/school-regulation/nsw-anti-bullying-framework

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“Our government is committed to addressing the scourge of bullying and will continue to work with all schools to stamp it out.

“Deputy Premier Prue Car established a process, so bullying is addressed for all students, no matter which school they attend.

“Under our approach, for the first time, every NSW school will follow a common, evidence-based approach to preventing and responding to bullying.

“Thanks to the work of Professor Donna Cross and our partners in the Catholic and Independent school sectors, along with the Commonwealth Government, we now have a framework built on extensive local and international expertise.

“This means schools can identify the strategies that work best for their students, backed by high-quality research and evidence, and put them into practice where they’ll make the most difference.”

Emeritus Professor Donna Cross OAM said:

“There is strong evidence, both locally, nationally and internationally that shows some approaches to reducing bullying are more helpful than others.

“In meeting with teachers, principals, students and families, it’s clear that schools in NSW have been working hard to reduce bullying in their communities.

“This Framework is designed to support schools with high quality evidence to identify where they should focus their efforts and resources to reduce bullying behaviour, and to stop doing what the research tells us is ineffective.”

Safe drivers and motorcyclists across NSW are set to receive an early Christmas present, with the Minns Labor Government today announcing the Demerit Point Reward Program will be made permanent.

The program removes one demerit point from unrestricted licence holders who stay offence-free for a 12-month period, offering a practical incentive that recognises safe behaviour over time.

Since the first trial began in 2023, more than 1.7 million licence holders have benefited from having at least one point removed.

This year alone, more than one million NSW licence holders are eligible to have a point wiped if they continue to do the right thing and remain offence-free.

Making the program permanent is another example of the Minns Government backing commonsense on NSW roads and recognising the millions of motorists who choose safer, more responsible driving every day.

The announcement comes as NSW roads will see increased traffic during the Christmas and summer holiday period, reinforcing the importance of safe decisions behind the wheel.

The Minns Government will introduce legislation to support the permanent Demerit Point Reward Program in early 2026, when Parliament resumes in February.

Once legislated, the permanent program will sit alongside the Minns Government’s broader road safety agenda, which sees a record investment of $2.8 billion over four years, with a focus on education, essential infrastructure upgrades, targeted enforcement, and rebuilding a stronger culture of safety and personal responsibility on our roads.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“Road safety programs should recognise and reinforce safe, responsible behaviour, especially where people have made mistakes in the past, but have improved their road safety behaviour on the road over the past year.

“The Minns Labor Government will always back commonsense reform on our roads.

“We want people who have made poor choices in the past to develop and sustain safer habits in the future. This is adopting a “carrot” approach to encourage people to engage in safe, responsible behaviour every time they drive.

“In addition to this reform, we have invested $2.8 billion in road safety which is helping to strengthen enforcement, identified ways to strengthen the demerit point system, boosted road safety infrastructure programs and leveraged new technologies to catch dangerous behaviour.

“With the Christmas break and school holidays approaching and some of the busiest weeks on our roads ahead, I’m urging everyone to drive so others survive: slow down, put your phone away, buckle up properly, and never drive tired or after drinking alcohol or using drugs.”

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has commenced an investigation into a mass causality public place shooting that resulted in 16 people dying and 40 people being injured in Sydney’s east yesterday evening.

About 6.40pm (Sunday 14 December 2025), emergency services were called to Bondi Beach, following reports of a public place shooting.

Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, surrounding commands and specialist police immediately responded and located two men using long arms to fire into crowds of people.

Multiple officers exchanged fire with the two men with two officers – a constable and probationary constable – suffering gunshot wounds.

During the incident one shooter – a 50-year-old man – was shot by police and died at the scene.

The other shooter – a 24-year-old man – suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.

Both men are known to each other.

As a result of the incident 14 people died – including the 50-year-old shooter – at the scene and 42 people – including four children and the 24-year-old shooter – were taken to hospitals across Sydney

Police have since been told two other people – a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man – have since died in hospital.

Those who died are yet to be formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87.

Six people remain in critical conditions with 27 people remain in serious and stable conditions.

Both officers remain in serious but stable conditions.

A declaration by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon APM has deemed the incident terror related.

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation will be led by the NSW Police Force under Operation Arques.

The NSW JCTT comprises members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

Following initial inquiries, JCTT detectives located and seized three firearms and two improvised explosive devices (IED) from the scene. They will all undergo forensic examination.

Detectives have attended two homes in Bonnyrigg and Campsie overnight as part of ongoing investigations.

During these searches, detectives located and seized a number of additional items including two additional firearms. All items seized will undergo forensic examination.

Following further inquiries, a sixth firearm and third IED were located at the Bondi crime scene today (Monday 15 December 2025). Both are undergoing forensic examinations.

A critical incident team from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad has commenced Strike Force Belen and will lead the investigation into the circumstances of the police involvement in the incident.

The investigation will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and oversighted by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC).

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

Police are continuing to investigate a mass shooting that resulted in 16 people dying and 40 people being injured in Sydney’s east yesterday evening.

About 6.40pm (Sunday 14 December 2025), emergency services were called to Bondi Beach, following reports of a public place shooting.

Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, surrounding commands and specialist police immediately responded and located two men using long arms to fire into crowds of people.

Multiple officers exchanged fire with the two men with two officers – a constable and probationary constable – suffering gunshot wounds.

During the incident one shooter – a 50-year-old man – was shot by police and died at the scene.

The other shooter – a 24-year-old man – suffered critical injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.

As a result of the incident 14 people died at the scene and 42 people – including four children – were taken to hospitals across Sydney

Police have since been told two other people – a 10-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man – have since died in hospital.

Those who died are yet to be formally identified; however, police believe their ages range between 10 and 87-years-old.

Five people remain in critical conditions with the others remaining in serious and stable conditions.

Both officers remain in serious but stable conditions.

A significant crime scene has been established closing Bondi Beach and surrounding roads, and detectives from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team have commenced an investigation into the incident.

Following initial inquiries, detectives have located and seized three firearms from the scene. They will all undergo forensic examination.

Investigations are continuing.

The Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIIC) has been activated to support the multi-agency response to the Bondi Beach incident.

The Public Information and Inquiry Centre can be contacted by calling

1800 227 228

Members of the public can contact the Public Information and Inquiry Centre for information relating to people impacted by this afternoon’s incident.

It will operate on a 24-hour basis for as long as is necessary.

The NSW Police Force has also activated the ‘Register Find Reunite’ capability, to assist in the registration of those who have been affected by the incident.

Police are encouraging those impacted to register their movements using the Australian Red Cross’ ‘Register, Find, Reunite’ service.

The Register, Find, Reunite website – https://www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/about-register-find-reunite/ –is a National system managed and operated by Australian Red Cross.

It is a service which registers, finds and reunites family, friends and loved ones after an emergency. It allows people to,
Register to let people know they are safe,
Find people who may be affected by an emergency and know they are safe, and
Reunite through a matching process which enables police – with consent – to share details of family and friends with each other.

The PIIC will also be the place to register for people who were forced to leave personal possessions – including vehicles – behind during the emergency. Police warn if may be some days until these can be returned to their owners.

A memorial site is being arranged and will be shared once confirmed.