Category: NSW News

Running a café or restaurant in NSW will be made easier as the Minns Labor Government looks to reduce paperwork, simplify approvals, and make compliance clearer and fairer.

The goal is to ensure the state’s more than 50,000 food retail operators can focus on coffee and cake, cooking and customers, not forms and filing.

After examining barriers to business in the night-time economy, the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner will undertake a review to identify the interactions with government that can frustrate small day-time hospitality operators.

Lessons that are now breathing life into businesses after dark, will provide the basis for lifting productivity during daylight hours from Newtown to Narrabri, Bankstown to Ballina.

The review will focus on areas where cafés, restaurants and local shops may encounter unnecessary red tape, such as licences and permits, reporting, and inspections.

Regulation plays an important role in fostering equity, safety and consumer protections. However, we want to ensure small businesses are not being negatively impacted by duplicative or unnecessary administration and red tape.

Potential changes will be about cutting repetition, not cutting standards, safety or consumer protections.

Understanding and responding to red tape concerns is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government, as it supports NSW businesses to grow and thrive.

Today’s announcement builds on work already done, including:

• Launching the state’s first Charter for Small Business.
• Addressing rising insurance premiums through workers compensation reforms.
• Legislating Vibrancy Reforms to revitalise the night-time economy.
• Simplifying planning processes for outdoor dining.

The Productivity and Equality Commissioner will engage directly with relevant businesses and deliver a final report and recommendations to Government in late August 2026.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Our job is to make government easier to deal with.

“This review will look for duplicated reporting, provide clear guidance, and limit unnecessary disruptions for small hospitality operators.

“When we cut red tape, we free up time, reduce costs, and let small businesses focus on what they do best — creating jobs and keeping our local economies vibrant.”

Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin said:

“Small businesses like cafés and restaurants are an incredibly important part of local communities, adding vibrancy, social amenity, boosting the local economy and creating a place for people to meet.

“We want our business owners focusing on their customers and their craft, not spending more time than they need to on paperwork.

“Our government is committed to working with the small business community to make their life a bit easier, and this review will help us understand how we can best achieve that.”

The Minns Labor Government is today unveiling the new-look Moss Vale fire station, following a $2 million upgrade to strengthen emergency services in the Southern Highlands.

The refurbishment fulfils an election commitment and provides the station’s firefighters with modern facilities, more than 50 years after it was first built in 1971.

The works increase the safety and capability of the station, including enhancements to accommodate larger fire fighting vehicles.

Key improvements at the Moss Vale station include:

• An extension of the rear of the station and engine bay to accommodate large, modern fire trucks.
• A new building to accommodate the station’s bushfire tanker.
• Better equipment storage rooms improving safety for crews, including new personal protective clothing room, breathing apparatus storeroom and laundry facilities.
• New locker rooms, bathrooms and kitchen facilities.

This financial year the Government is investing $98.5 million to keep people safe and better serve the community with upgraded fire stations and new firefighting fleet.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its long-term plan to rebuild our essential services by investing in physical infrastructure and in the frontline workers who deliver the services the people of NSW need.

Work continues to upgrade and build new fire stations across NSW, including new stations at Badgerys Creek, Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Charlestown, Goonellabah, Lithgow and Wentworthville.

Premier Chris Minns:

“This investment is part of rebuilding essential services for the Southern Highlands.

“This improved station will meet the needs of Moss Vale firefighters and locals now and into the future as we build a better NSW.

“We are backing our firefighters by delivering modern facilities to help protect this community.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“We are boosting firefighter numbers to record levels and investing in modern fire stations and the firefighting fleet.

“Our investment in Fire and Rescue NSW not only protects communities, it also makes a worthwhile profession even more attractive by delivering improved equipment and infrastructure for firefighters.

“The Moss Vale Fire Station upgrades bring it in line with modern standards and support safe and effective emergency response.”

FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell:

“Times have changed since the building went up in 1971. Fire trucks are bigger, our workforce is diverse, and health and safety considerations have come a long way.

“For the crew, this is more than a building – it’s where they train and serve the community. A modern, safe building helps our people protect the irreplaceable.”

The Minns Labor Government continues its investment in bush fire trail upgrades on Crown land across the state to strengthen emergency access, support hazard reduction operations, and improve community safety, particularly in remote high-risk bush fire areas.

The works span regional, remote and metropolitan fire trails, supporting fire season preparedness as part of the Government’s broader $14 million bush fire mitigation program on Crown land.

These upgrades ensure firefighters have safe, reliable and fast access when responding to bush fires, while also improving the long-term resilience of fire trail networks.

Crown Lands, within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, is responsible for maintaining about 2,120 km of fire trails and 670 hectares of Asset Protection Zones across NSW, providing essential access for emergency crews and their firefighting appliances.

Fire trail upgrades and maintenance projects underway, or recently completed, include:

• An additional allocation of $1 million to capital works for the installation of fire trail infrastructure across metropolitan Sydney to prevent unauthorised access; as well as surface, drainage, capping and structural improvements to fire trails in the Lithgow, Shoalhaven, Queanbeyan, Palerang, Upper Lachlan, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Cobar, and Bega local council areas.
   
• $600,000 in resurfacing, capping, drainage improvements, vegetation clearing and the installation of fire truck turning and passing bays along the Barrier Fire Trail at Cobar in Far West NSW. This is the second stage of the Barrier Fire Trail network upgrade and completes the Barrier to Lerida and Barrier to Kidman fire trail segments, ensuring standard-compliant, all-weather access for heavy firefighting vehicles across this more than 30km network.
   
• $683,000 in improvements to the Carisbrook Fire Trail at Morton in the Shoalhaven. This includes the installation of a new 13 metre concrete bridge to replace a flood-damaged log bridge over Carisbrook Creek, providing safer access for firefighters. Additional works include upgrading 2.26 km of fire trail to meet NSW Fire Trail Standards and environmental assessments to protect sensitive vegetation.
   
• $1 million in upgrades to Sutherland Shire fire trails at Still Creek, Still Creek Branch Bunyan, Loftus Creek, Viburnum, Turrella, Fremantle, Cranberry, Camp Wanawong, Pipeline (Forbes Creek) and Kingswood over the past two financial years. Works included widening trails, crushed sandstone capping, landslide prevention, culvert repairs, vegetation management, and the installation of truck turning and passing bays.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Protecting communities from bushfires means investing in the infrastructure that keeps people safe. These upgrades, from new bridges to improved trail surfaces, are practical, effective measures that strengthen access for firefighters and enhance the resilience of local communities.

“We’re committed to building better, safer communities, and that includes ensuring fire trails are well maintained, reliable and environmentally responsible.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Having clear and accessible fire trails allow crews to reach fires quickly, carry out hazard reduction work safely, and protect lives and properties.

“These improvements strengthen our frontline capability, bolster our state’s preparedness and support the dedicated emergency personnel who put themselves on the line to keep communities safe.”

The escalation in gangland violence across Sydney is a predictable consequence of the Minns Labor Government taking its eye off community safety. 
  
The kidnapping and death of Chris Baghsarian and shootings in St Clair and Guildford West and Greenacre are the latest in an upswing in violence in Sydney’s West, North West and South West.  
  
Under the watch of the Minns Labor Government organised criminal networks have been left unchecked, and communities left anxious as we pay the price for the failure to take decisive action sooner.  
  
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism, Anthony Roberts, said while welcome, today’s announcement about the expansion of Operation Shelter raises questions about resourcing. 
  
“NSW and law-abiding members of the community deserve better than a reactive approach to law and order in this state,” Mr Roberts said. 
  
“These criminals have been emboldened to continue with the tit for tat violence as a direct result of the Minns Labor Government’s failure to act.” 
  
“There are critical questions as to whether NSW Police have the resourcing they need to staff this new unit without diverting officers from critical frontline policing roles particularly in Sydney’s West, South West and North West,” Mr Roberts said. 
  
“The Minns Labor Government needs to invest in our police to ensure they have the capability to respond to incidents, threats and high-risk areas as well as combat the criminals that are running rampant in parts of Sydney.” 

The Richmond Road upgrade will today reach a major milestone with the first sod turned, marking the start of major work on the project.

The $720 million upgrade will ease congestion, improve safety and support future housing, development and connectivity across this growing region in Western Sydney.

Up to 89,000 vehicles use Richmond Road each day, with traffic volumes forecast to increase significantly in the years ahead as the region continues to grow.

Traffic modelling shows the upgrades are expected to cut average travel times by around 21 per cent during the morning peak and 34 per cent in the afternoon peak once complete.

The Richmond Road Upgrade includes three major projects.

$520 million M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade:

• The M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade will widen Richmond Road between Colebee and Marsden Park to reduce congestion, improve safety and support future housing and development across Sydney’s North West.
• Approximately 2.2 kilometres of Richmond Road will be expanded from four lanes to six lanes, including a new concrete bridge over Bells Creek with travel lanes and a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.
• A new flyover bridge will be built from the M7 Motorway Rooty Hill Road North off-ramp to Richmond Road northbound, bypassing two sets of traffic lights and reducing congestion and queuing on the motorway.

$150 million Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade:

• The 1.6 kilometre upgrade of Richmond Road between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road will improve access for the growing Marsden Park community and nearby suburbs, strengthening connections to Blacktown.
• This work will widen Richmond Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided carriageway and deliver a wider central median to allow for future expansion to six lanes if required.

projects are equally funded by the Albanese and Minns governments.

The $50 million Richmond Road Corridor planning project will investigate further investment opportunities along the corridor from the M7 Motorway to The Driftway, securing the future of one of the region’s busiest and most congested arterial roadways.

The Australian Government has committed $37 million toward this planning work.

The upgrades also include a new bus priority signalised intersection, an extended shared path connecting into Marsden Park, and improved flood resilience along this busy corridor.

The contracts awarded in October last year cover the M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade and Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade.

The Richmond Road upgrade is part of the North West Growth Centre Area Road Network Strategy to support development in this fast-growing precinct.

These projects are part of the Australian Government’s $18 billion infrastructure pipeline for Western Sydney and builds on the $7.4 billion the Minns Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023.

For more information, go to:

• nswroads.work/richmondrd-m7-townsonrd
• transport.nsw.gov.au/richmond-road-upgrade
• transport.nsw.gov.au/richmond-road-elara

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:

“This is exactly the kind of practical infrastructure we’re focused on delivering to support growing communities in Western Sydney.

“Richmond Road is a critical corridor, with around 89,000 vehicles using it every day.

“These upgrades will cut travel times, reduce pressure on local roads and make daily trips safer and more reliable. They will mean less time stuck in traffic and more time spent with families.”

Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car:

“State and Federal Labor Governments are working to deliver much-needed relief on one of the most congested roads in Sydney.

“We’re widening chokepoints on Richmond Road to ensure residents in our community can spend less time on the road and more time with their families.

“For far too long rapidly growing areas in North West Sydney were neglected by the Liberals and endured years of traffic congestion because of their poor planning.

“After years of broken promises, we’re getting on with the job of delivering the vital road upgrades our community deserves.”

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“The Albanese Government is investing in the roads, rail and infrastructure Western Sydney needs to set it up for success.

“Our $18 billion pipeline of Western Sydney Infrastructure projects includes Sydney’s new airport, and key road infrastructure like the Richmond Road upgrade.

“By partnering with the NSW Government on upgrades like this, we are reducing congestion, improving safety and supporting the delivery of new homes and economic growth across the region.”

NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This is a project that sat on the shelves under the former Government. They threw it in the ‘too hard’ basket, and the people of North West Sydney have paid the price.

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering the road infrastructure Western Sydney needs to keep pace with rapid growth and rising traffic volumes.

“Growing communities, including those in North West Sydney and the lower Blue Mountains who rely on Richmond Road every day, will benefit from safer journeys, reduced congestion and more reliable travel times.”

Federal Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland:

“The Albanese Government is delivering the vital infrastructure our growing community in North West Sydney needs.

“These Richmond Road upgrades will provide real, everyday relief, ensuring local residents can spend less time on the road, and more time with their families.”

Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic:

“The wait is over, the work has started, the relief is real – people out here will be stoked to see that the upgrade to Richmond Road is finally happening.

“And the fact is it was the Albanese and Minns governments that actually stepped up to fund work that had been neglected for years in one of Western Sydney’s fastest growing areas. It’s a great to see this upgrade finally happen.”

State Member for Mount Druitt Edmond Atalla:

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering for local families who rely on Richmond Road every single day.

“This upgrade will make journeys safer and smoother, while ensuring the corridor can support future growth in our community.”

State Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali:

“Our community has been calling for improvements to Richmond Road for years, and the Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job.

“These upgrades will improve access between Marsden Park and Blacktown and support the continued growth of Western Sydney.”

State Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby:

“Richmond Road is a lifeline for the rapidly growing suburbs of Riverstone and Marsden Park.

“The Minns Labor Government is investing in practical improvements that will reduce congestion, improve safety and deliver better connections for our local community.”

Women in eight regions in New South Wales will have access to practical wellbeing and self-care training with the launch of free Women’s Wellbeing Workshops ahead of NSW Women’s Week.

The NSW Government is supporting regional and rural women’s mental health with this partnership with Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP), especially in areas where access to such care can be harder.

The workshops will discuss:

• stress and how it can impact rural women,
• how women may manage and respond to stress,
• values and how they impact wellbeing
• self-care, assessing the effectiveness of strategies, and learning how to develop an action plan.

Funding of $10,000 for this program is through the Rural Women’s Network, which works to support and empower regional, rural and remote women.

RAMHP is a program that provides mental health education, with a focus on regional, rural and remote communities. Coordinators are regional, rural and remote people and understand the specific strengths, challenges and characteristics of rural life.

The one-day workshops will run in:

• Wee Waa (1 March)
• Manilla (17 March)
• Finley (31 March)
• Mudgee (14 April)
• Yamba (28 April)
• Narromine (12 May)
• Walcha (19 May)
• Urana (4 June).

Register for the Women’s Wellbeing Workshops here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/women-nsw/rural-womens-network/rwn-events/womens-wellbeing-workshops#toc-dates-and-locations

These workshops complement the popular two-day Rural Women’s Skills Roadshow, run in partnership with St John’s Ambulance, that continue to make their way around the state. Registrations are still open for these workshops at https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/women-nsw/rural-womens-network/rwn-events/rural-womens-network-skills-roadshow-2026

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“Mental health is an important and ongoing conversation across regional NSW where the stress of drought and other natural disasters can really take a toll.

“Mental Health and wellbeing support services are a vital lifeline and these workshops, specifically tailored for women, can really make a difference.

“They offer rural women the chance to pause, share experiences with others and focus on their own health and wellbeing. Something regional women rarely get the chance to do.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“Regional and rural women play many different roles in their communities – as business-owners, farmers, carers and volunteers. Like many women, they are often selfless and put others ahead of themselves.

“But sometimes, the stresses can be overwhelming. These one-day workshops are a great way for women to stop and learn how to prioritise self-care so they and their families can thrive.

“This is part of our wider work to support women’s health and wellbeing, empower them, and boost their participation in the community.

“I encourage regional women in these eight towns to register quickly for these workshops, as places will fill up fast.”

Kate Arndell, Service Manager for RAMHP said:

“RAMHP is thrilled to be working with Rural Women’s Network NSW to create welcoming workshops where women feel heard, supported and reminded that their wellbeing truly matters.”

“These workshops are a chance for women to step away from the busy-ness of daily life, spend time with other women who understand rural pressures, and focus on their own wellbeing in a relaxed and supportive space.”

As scammers increasingly target older Australians, the NSW Government is bringing free, practical digital safety support directly into communities throughout March.

As scammers increasingly target older Australians, the NSW Government is bringing free, practical digital safety support directly into communities throughout March.

Seniors across NSW will be able to build their digital confidence and learn how to stay safe from scams with ID Support NSW offering dedicated assistance during the 2026 NSW Seniors Festival.

ID Support NSW will kick off its NSW Seniors Festival roadshow in the Blue Mountains on 2 March before hosting a series of sessions across regional and metropolitan NSW, including at the Seniors Festival Expo at the ICC Sydney on 11-12 March.

In 2025 alone, people aged 55 years and older collectively reported more than $53 million in losses, with almost 85 per cent of people aged 50 and older believing they have come across or been a victim of a scam.

Some of the most common scams targeting this age group include parcel delivery scams, overdue payment scams, phishing scams, impersonation scams and tech support scams; these can often lead to identity theft.

Low digital literacy is a major factor leaving older people vulnerable to scams. Australians aged 75 and over reported to have the lowest digital abilities, scoring 32.1 points below the national average, while those aged 65 to 74 are 15.5 points below, according to the Australian Digital Inclusion Index.

To help close key digital gaps, the Minns Labor Government launched the NSW Digital Inclusion Strategy last year – the first comprehensive framework aimed at strengthening digital literacy and reducing vulnerabilities across the community.

The strategy is built around five pillars of connectivity, affordability, digital ability, accessibility, and digital trust and safety, and aims to ensure all people can participate online regardless of age, income, background or location.

With action led by ID Support NSW, the strategy supports seniors at risk of digital exclusion by helping them build the skills and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly digital environment.

At an ID Support NSW session, attendees will learn what support is available from the NSW Government, test the strength of their passwords, and have one-on-one support to uplift their online security and improve the privacy controls on their devices.

To find an online or in-person session across the state, head to the ID Support NSW website.

Residents can also test their passwords online and learn if it’s been involved in a data breach via the ID Support NSW Password Strength tester.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said:

“We want NSW seniors to feel confident navigating the digital world. Whether it’s recognising a scam, managing passwords or accessing essential services online, the ID Support NSW team can help you build your digital skills.

“This program will make a difference by delivering support directly to seniors across NSW; we’re committed to helping people stay safe, independent and informed.

“Improving digital literacy is a core pillar of the NSW Government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy which aims to close the digital divide and strengthen cyber resilience across the community.”

Minister for Seniors, Jodie Harrison said:

“The ID Support NSW Seniors Festival roadshow is about empowering older people in metro, regional and rural NSW to brush up on digital skills and boost scammer awareness.

“Holding the roadshow as part of the NSW Seniors Festival from 2-15 March will give more NSW Seniors the opportunity to improve their cyber security knowledge to prevent a potential scam.

“This initiative builds on NSW Government programs to support older people to develop their digital literacy, including Tech Savvy Seniors, which runs regular digital sessions on a range of topics at over 70 libraries and community colleges statewide.”

NSW Chief Cyber Security Officer, Marie Patane said:

“As life becomes increasingly digital, it is important no one gets left behind. ID Support helps seniors gain confidence and tools to stay safe online.

“With more than $53 million lost to scams by people aged 55 and older in NSW last year, our commitment to digital inclusion is not just timely, it’s essential.

“These sessions give seniors practical, real-world skills to recognise threats before they cause harm.”

The latest data reveals that households and businesses in regional NSW are leading the charge in rooftop solar adoption, accounting for nine of the top ten electorates for installations. 

NSW leads the country in rooftop solar with more than 1 million homes and businesses that now have rooftop solar – a third of all NSW homes.

When the sun is shining, rooftop solar is producing more power than all of our coal fired power stations. In the final quarter of last year, rooftop solar and solar farms combined provided 32% of our state’s electricity.

The Barwon electorate in the state’s north-west has emerged as the leader with 24,537 homes and businesses with rooftop solar, followed closely by the Northern Rivers region with 22,743 in Ballina and 22,162 in Lismore. 

While Riverstone in Sydney’s Northwest ranks as the fifth highest electorate in NSW for solar uptake, it takes the number one spot for battery installations in the country with around 1,500 households opting to capture their rooftop solar for use around the clock.  

The top 10 solar electorates in NSW:

Electorate	Solar PV installation
Barwon	24,537
Ballina	22,743
Lismore	22,162
Tweed	22,161
Riverstone	21,037
Dubbo	20,584
Clarence	20,506
Oxley	19,790
Port Macquarie	19,457
Albury	19,161

An average 4-person household with a 6.6kW solar system could save up to $1,400 per year.

Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe:  

“From the Far West to the Northern Rivers, regional NSW is leading the charge on rooftop solar.

“In the final quarter of last year, solar farms and rooftop solar provided 32% of our state’s electricity.

“Families and businesses are saving on their bill with solar, and the highest concentration is in the regions and Western Sydney.”

According to media reports, high-level briefings between the Federal Government and NSW Government agencies have been underway for months regarding the repatriation of Australian women and children from Syria.

If these reports are accurate, the people of NSW deserve full transparency from the Minns Labor Government.

Anyone who has left Australia to align themselves with ISIS has betrayed Australia and should not be welcomed back.

Questions now arise about what the NSW Government knew and when.

If planning has been underway for months, why is the public only learning about it now through media reporting?

The public will rightly ask where these individuals will be residing, what safeguards are in place, and if any costs of settlement and security will be borne by NSW taxpayers.

There must also be a comprehensive plan to ensure that any children involved are protected from radicalisation and are given every opportunity to be properly reintegrated into Australian society. That requires structured intervention, ongoing oversight and coordination between federal and state authorities.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals call on the Premier to answer the following questions to satisfy the NSW public that community safety has been put first:

1. When was the NSW Government first formally briefed about plans to repatriate these individuals?
2. Did the Premier personally receive briefings, and on what dates?
3. Why has the public only learned now if planning has been underway for months?
4. What risk assessments have been conducted for individuals returning to NSW?
5. Have security agencies raised any concerns about specific individuals settling in NSW?
6. What monitoring or control measures will be in place upon arrival and who pays?
7. How many individuals are expected to settle in NSW specifically?
8. Have local communities been consulted or informed?
9. What specific protections and support are in place for the children?
10. Has the Premier picked up the phone to the Prime Minister and demanded that every possible action be taken to prevent the re-entry of these individuals?