Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is delivering for families this Vivid Sydney, with more than 80 per cent of the festival free and an even bigger and brighter program set to light up the Harbour City as the lights switch on tonight across the Harbour City for Sydney’s biggest Vivid Sydney yet.

New this year, the festival extends into the day with daytime activations across the city, giving families and visitors more opportunities to experience the festival from morning through to night.

The Minns Labor Government is also proud to bring back the biggest drone show program in Vivid Sydney history, with a record 22 drone performances across 11 nights at Cockle Bay, the most the festival has ever delivered.

More than 80 per cent of Vivid Sydney is free to enjoy, including the iconic 6.5-kilometre Light Walk stretching from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour, featuring more than 40 spectacular light installations along the route.

Millions of people are expected to visit the city over the next three weeks, providing a major boost for local businesses, restaurants, bars and hotels during the winter months while continuing to drive growth in the NSW visitor economy.

Now in its 16th year, Vivid Sydney continues to evolve as one of the world’s leading celebrations of creativity, culture and connection across Light, Music, Minds and Food.

Across the harbour, renowned French artist Yann Nguema will unveil a major new work, Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi by Yann Nguema, reflecting on the transformations found in nature and the forces that inspired Sydney Opera House architect Jørn Utzon.

World-leading culinary experiences will take centre stage through the Vivid Food program, celebrating the flavours, people and stories that define NSW. The inaugural Regional Dinner Series will bring leading chefs together with regional producers and ingredients from across the state, including ‘A Shared Table with Yotam Ottolenghi’. Collaborations across the series include Mindy Woods with Danielle Alvarez at Sydney Opera House, Ben Devlin with Lennox Hastie at Firedoor, and Christine Manfield with Sander Nooij at Yellow.

Meanwhile, the Vivid Fire Kitchen will debut at its new home in Barangaroo where the fusion of food and theatrics will take over, delivering a full sensory journey where the sights, smells and sounds of open-fire cooking and live music transform the precinct into far more than a place to eat.

Creativity and conversation will come together through a reimagined Vivid Minds program, designed to place bold ideas and world-leading cultural voices at the centre of the festival. This year’s line-up includes Academy Award-winning filmmakers Sean Baker and Chloé Zhao, influential music commentator Zane Lowe, Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz and bestselling author Roxane Gay.

Vivid Music will once again energise the city after dark, with Tumbalong Nights returning for free live performances celebrating the diverse musical cultures that shape Sydney. The program includes headline shows from Matt Corby, Nigerian afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Melbourne garage rock royalty Eddy Current Supression Ring, K-pop singer SHAUN, Chinese rap sensations Billionhappy + SEBii with Korean producer Kimj, alongside Mallrat, Coterie, Boy Soda and more.

At the Sydney Opera House, Vivid LIVE will welcome more than 50 international and Australian artists, including singer-songwriter Mitski, Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai and Detroit techno icon Jeff Mills revisiting his legendary Liquid Room set.

Running from 22 May to 13 June 2026, Vivid Sydney continues to power NSW’s visitor and night-time economies while reinforcing Sydney’s reputation as a global leader in immersive cultural experiences. Major events such as Vivid Sydney play a key role in the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which aims to grow the state’s visitor economy to $91 billion over the next decade.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Tonight, Sydney becomes the canvas for one of the world’s greatest arts festivals, as Vivid Sydney once again transforms our city through Light, Music, Minds and Food.

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to deliver a bold new creative direction in 2026 — an immersive, accessible program spanning 23 unforgettable nights, with more than 80 per cent of events free to attend.

“From the iconic Light Walk and the festival’s biggest-ever drone show to world-class music, food and cultural conversations, this year’s program gives locals and visitors more reasons than ever to experience Sydney in completely new ways.”

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said:

“This year marks the start of an exciting evolution of Vivid Sydney. We’ve expanded the program across all pillars and have opened up the brief for artists and removed the creative limitations of needing to centre around one key theme.

“Visitors can expect a more immersive and interactive experience that will encourage them to explore new locations, unexpected installations, and spend more time enjoying the festival – both after dark and during the day.

“We’ve gone back to the core of what Vivid Sydney is all about which is tapping into creativity, and through this, there’s this incredible platform to showcase leading Australian talent as well as a chance to bring legendary international talent to the Sydney stage too.”

Private landholders across NSW are making a powerful impact by protecting the state’s threatened species and environment.

Data from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust shows how landholders are not just protecting the environment, they’re actively improving it.

The Biodiversity Impact Report | Conservation on Private Land: 2018 to 2025 clearly shows that Private land conservation is delivering fantastic conservation outcomes across the state. The Biodiversity Conservation Trust and participating landholders have:

• Established almost 3,000 permanent biodiversity monitoring sites
• Prevented the loss of approximately 35,000 hectares of native vegetation
• Protected habitat for at least 304 threatened species
• Safeguarded 41 threatened ecological communities
• Contributed nearly 40% of the total area added to NSW’s protected area network since 2018.

Landholders participating in the Biodiversity Conservation Trust program manage their properties for conservation and work with expert ecologists who track environmental changes over time.

The properties managed under conservation agreements are supporting a greater variety of species and stronger, healthier ecosystems, helping reduce risks to some of NSW’s most threatened plants and animals.

The Report is available to read at: nsw.gov.au/bct-impact-report

Minister for Environment Penny Sharpe said: 

“Biodiversity is the cornerstone to a healthy environment, from the microorganisms in our soil to the largest tree on the horizon.

“80 per cent of land in NSW is privately managed. Biodiversity protection can only be done by working closely with private landholders.

“These results show how successful this partnership between landholders and the Biodiversity Conservation Trust can be. I would encourage anyone interested to investigate this rewarding partnership for their land.”

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust Principal Ecologist and report author Dr James Brazill-Boast said:

“When we support landholders with the right incentives and support, conservation on private land can be planned, implemented and measured with confidence.

“Long-term monitoring is essential because it tells us not just what we’re doing, but what’s actually working.”

The Minns Labor Government has failed to get a grip on homelessness in New South Wales, with the latest Street Count showing a 42 per cent increase in the number of people sleeping rough across the state since 2023.
 
Shadow Minister for Homelessness, Natasha Maclaren-Jones, said the 2026 Street Count numbers show the most vulnerable in our community are being let down
 
“After the NSW Liberals and Nationals called on the Government to stop hiding the homelessness figures, they have finally been released, and they reveal homelessness has increased by 42 per cent since the Minns Labor Government were elected,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“The Minns Government’s housing and homelessness crisis just keeps getting worse, with a record 2,308 people sleeping rough recorded this year. That is an additional 685 people since March 2023.”
 
“As the housing and cost-of-living crisis continues to escalate, more people are experiencing homelessness for the first time.”
 
“Rents are skyrocketing, homelessness services are at breaking point, and tens of thousands are trapped in a system that can’t cope.”
 
“This surge in rough sleeping comes as social housing waitlists have jumped 22 per cent to over 68,000 households, showing the system is failing people before they reach crisis point.”
 
“Specialist Homelessness Services are stretched to the limit and are being asked to do more with less. NSW needs more housing, alongside proper wraparound support services,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

Mrs Maclaren-Jones is also calling on the Minister for Homelessness to broaden reporting to capture all forms of homelessness, including couch surfing and other forms of insecure housing that are not counted in the Street Count.
 
“People are experiencing many forms of housing stress, from rough sleeping to couch surfing and overcrowded accommodation. To address homelessness effectively, we need accurate and timely data that reflects the true scale of the problem,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
The 2026 NSW Statewide Street Count Technical Paper is available here.

The Minns Labor Government has shown a shocking lack of judgement by funding a women’s refuge next to accommodation for transitional prisoners, raising significant safety concerns for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.
 
Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Natasha Maclaren-Jones, said the decision should never have been made.
 
“Women and children escaping violence deserve refuges that are safe, secure and properly assessed, not locations that raise red flags before they even open,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“This is not a minor oversight, it’s a total lack of judgement and failure by the government of their most basic responsibilities.”
 
“Putting vulnerable women and children next to accommodation for former offenders shows a failure to apply basic common sense.”
 
“The Minister owes victim-survivors, service providers and the wider community a full explanation as to why this site was ever considered appropriate.”
 
Mrs Maclaren-Jones said the issue reflects broader mismanagement of the Core and Cluster program.
 
“In a rush to get money out the door, the Minns Labor Government has treated women’s safety like an afterthought, ignoring the most basic principle of service delivery, safety first.”
 
The former NSW Liberals and Nationals Government committed record funding of $484.3 million to expand the Core and Cluster Program for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.
 
This was the largest single capital investment in domestic and family violence in NSW history. Labor has delayed and mismanaged the rollout, with only 15 of the 49 refuges currently operational.

Our youngest children have been failed by the early childhood education and care system in NSW, according to the report of the Legislative Council’s Education Portfolio Committee Inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in New South Wales.
 
After years of feedback from families and educators, and a number of concerning incidents of harm to children coming to light, this report offers us all an opportunity to revisit the regulatory framework imposed on educators without resourcing to support capability and prevent costs being passed onto already overtaxed parents.
 
Shadow Minister for Early Education, Felicity Wilson, welcomed the publication of the report and thanked those who participated in the inquiry for their commitment to quality education for children across NSW.
 
“We welcome the spotlight on safety and quality which is the foundation of a system which is child-centric,” Ms Wilson said.
 
“Regulation without resourcing is failing families and educators. Reform must come with real, practical support, not just added costs and compliance burdens, or our best educators will walk, and parents and children will pay the price.”
 
“The report highlights how much more there is to do to ensure that early childhood education and care in NSW is high quality, safe, affordable, accessible, and ensures parental choice.”
 
“NSW should be leading the nation, but right now, families and providers are under pressure, and government is making it harder, not easier.”
 
Deputy Chair of the Legislative Council’s Education Portfolio Committee, the Hon. Rachel Merton MLC, said that families should be at the heart of decision-making.
 
“I have worked for over a year to ensure the committee reflects on the experience of families, children and educators in the sector,” Ms Merton said.
 
“Parents are crying out for more choice, it is critical that this is recognised.”
 
Ms Wilson called on the Government to listen to the insights shared and take action.
 
“What concerns me is that educators and providers are being asked to do more, without the support to do it, and it is families who are paying the price, including through higher fees expected following the Minns Labor Government’s up to tenfold annual service fee increase starting from July,” said Ms Wilson.
 
“Families and educators aren’t asking for much; they want a system that is appropriately regulated and adequately funded. The Minns Labor Government now has the opportunity to deliver a system that is clear, consistent, and focused on what matters, quality outcomes for children,” said Ms Wilson.
 
The committee’s report can be found here

People passionate about improving healthcare in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW are invited to apply to join the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel.

Expressions of interest (EOIs) are now open due to the conclusion of the current Panel’s three‑year term in July 2026.

The Panel is an independent advisory body that provides strategic advice to the Minister for Health and Regional Health, and the NSW Health Secretary.

Its role is to identify opportunities and solutions that improve healthcare access, outcomes and service delivery across hospitals and health support services in regional, rural and remote NSW.

The Panel also plays an important role in strengthening community engagement and ensuring local perspectives inform the design and delivery of healthcare services.

Applications are encouraged from people who can represent the interests of regional communities, including Aboriginal people, and those who have knowledge, experience, or expertise in one or more of the following areas, aligned with the NSW Government’s priorities for regional, rural and remote health:

• Strengthening and supporting the regional health workforce
• Enabling better access to safe, high-quality, and timely health services
• Keeping people healthy and well through prevention, early intervention and education
• Keeping communities informed, building engagement and seeking feedback
• Expanding integration of primary, community, and hospital care across regional, rural and remote settings
• Harnessing and evaluating innovation, technology, and digital solutions to support a sustainable regional health system.

The Panel members may be appointed for a term of up to three years and will meet at least every three months.

For more information, including how to apply, visit EOI Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel or contact MOH-ODS-Regional@health.nsw.gov.au. Applications close on Friday 29 May 2026.

For more information on regional health initiatives, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/regional.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The NSW Government is investing in regional health services so communities across the state can get the care they need, closer to home.

“No matter where people live, they deserve access to safe, high‑quality healthcare. Listening to our local communities is central to tailoring our health services to what families need.

“That is why the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel is so important. Its members bring the voices of regional, rural and remote communities to the table, helping us deliver safe, sustainable and high‑quality healthcare with real outcomes for people who live outside our major cities.”

Land purchased through the Resilient Homes Program at sites in the Northern Rivers and Central West will now have more flexible land uses, allowing them to be repurposed for community benefit.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) will work with local councils to plan the future of these buyback areas as parklands, community hubs, or environmental projects. In specific cases where flood risk is strictly managed, some sites may also be used for commercial or industrial purposes. Meaning valuable land can continue to serve a public purpose.

However, the fundamental requirement remains: buyback land cannot be returned to residential use.

RA is partnering with local councils to ensure the future of these sites is informed by the community. Over 1000 parcels of land will be integrated into local planning, with work already progressing in key areas:

• Lismore – Planning is underway for more than 600 properties across four precincts. Residents will be invited to share feedback on preferred land uses and locally supported outcomes to ensure the transition reflects community needs.
• Tweed Shire – Work has begun on a resilience-focused master plan for South Murwillumbah. A specialist consultant has been appointed to lead a comprehensive design and engagement process with the local community.
• Northern Rivers Expansion – Future planning will also extend to buyback clusters in Richmond Valley, Kyogle, Byron, Ballina, and Clarence Valley.
• Central West – RA is working with Cabonne Shire Council on future land use for Eugowra and Molong, ensuring outcomes reflect the unique character of these towns.

Community members are encouraged to participate in upcoming consultations and track the progress of these projects at nsw.gov.au/resilienthomesprogram

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said:

“The Albanese and Minns Governments are continuing to work constructively through the Resilient Homes Program to help ensure Northern Rivers and Central West communities thrive in their recovery.

“Our aim is to move people out of areas that are prone to flooding so that they, their families, and their homes are safer and better prepared during the next flood emergency.

“This change to the Resilient Homes Program will ensure these communities will also benefit from new community and commercial spaces.”

Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said:

“Our recovery continues in the North Coast following the devastating 2022 flooding event.

“As your strong voice in the Albanese Labor Government, I’m proud to be working with the NSW Government and local councils to unlock this land for community use.

“This ensures we can build back better for our community and improve our resilience against future flooding events.”

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“The Resilient Homes Program has already given hundreds of families across our regions certainty and peace of mind.

“Now that we are moving into a vital new phase – we are giving this land back to the community in a way that is safe and sustainable.

“We are creating space for new opportunities. Whether it’s parklands, community hubs, or environmental projects, the future of these sites will be shaped by the people who live there.

“It is essential that the community has a direct say in how we restore these connections and grow our local communities and economies.”

NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Kate Fitzgerald said: 

“We welcome the Australian Government’s confirmation that flood buyback land can be used for things other than housing, such as community spaces, environmental projects, businesses, or industry, if planning rules allow it and the flood risk is manageable.

“It’s an important next step in the recovery for the Northern Rivers and the Central West communities.

“This decision shows the value of the existing planning and flood risk management frameworks in NSW, which guide what can be built in flood-prone areas.

“We will make these decisions with councils and communities, with the main focus on reducing future flood risk and supporting strong local communities.”

Work is now underway on a major upgrade of the Golden Highway at Merriwa, making one of regional NSW’s key freight routes safer forlocals and freight operators.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $23.7 million to deliver a new westbound overtaking lane on the Golden Highway near Merriwa.

For more than a decade, the Liberal–National Government failed to deliver the safety improvements communities along the Golden Highway desperately needed, leaving residents of the Upper Hunter languishing.

This project gets on with delivering the improvements that should have happened years ago.

The Golden Highway is a critical east–west link connecting communities, industry and freight between Newcastle and Dubbo, playing a central role in supporting the Upper Hunter’s economy.

Transport for NSW has been progressively upgrading the Golden Highway since 2016, investing $109 million as part of the NSW Government’s Regional Freight Pinch Point and Safety Program with an additional $24 million contribution from the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safey and Productivity Package.

The ongoing investment into the Golden Highway will ensure the corridor is able to support safer and more efficient journeys for all road users.

This $23.7 million commitment includes $12 million announced during the 2023 election campaign and a further $11.7 million allocated in the 2025–26 NSW Budget.

The investment builds on the more than $133 million jointly invested by the NSW and Australian Governments to improve the Golden Highway between Newcastle and Dubbo.

Site establishment will start from today (Tuesday, 19 May). Construction is expected to take around ten months to complete, weather permitting.

Acting Minister for Roads, John Graham:

“Communities along the Golden Highway spent years hearing the same promises from the former Government, while critical safety upgrades were left sitting on an ever-growing list of projects that never got off the ground. We’re getting on with the job to make sure that changes.

“Investments like this are about more than a single overtaking lane or safety upgrade – they are part of a broader effort to strengthen and future-proof critical regional roads like the Golden Highway for decades to come.

“We said we would invest in safer, more reliable regional roads, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here in Merriwa.”

Minister for the Hunter, Yas Catley:

“Hunter locals know better than anyone the significance of the Golden Highway for the region.

“From coal, grain, livestock, fertiliser and other goods, this stretch of road is part in parcel of the Hunter’s booming economy. It connects towns like Merriwa, Denman and Dubbo to jobs, services, markets and most importantly, to each other.

“This new overtaking lane will help locals and freight operators move more safely and reliably across the region at a time when demand on this road continues to grow.

“The Minns Labor Government said we would invest into this road, and that is absolutely what we are doing.”

Labor Spokesperson for the Upper Hunter, Emily Suvaal:

“Communities across the Upper Hunter have been calling for upgrades to the Golden Highway for years, and this project is finally delivering those long-overdue improvements.

“This upgrade will make daily journeys safer and less stressful for the thousands of motorists and heavy vehicle operators who rely on this route every day.

Family First NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has re-committed Family First to restoring fairness and safety in girls’ and women’s sport by banning biological males from female sporting competitions if elected next March.
 
Mr Shelton said the issue had again exploded into public debate following revelations on Sydney radio today that biological males are competing in women’s community AFL competitions in NSW under policies which allow self-identification alone to determine eligibility.
 
“These policies are madness and Family First has been saying this for years while both sides of politics have remained silent,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“Women and girls should not have to wait until someone is seriously injured before sporting administrators and politicians rediscover biological reality.”
 
Mr Shelton said it was deeply unjust that his friend, women’s rights advocate Kirralie Smith, would next week be back in the NSW Supreme Court appealing a $95,000 vilification penalty after publicly raising concerns about biological males competing in women’s soccer competitions.
 
“Kirralie Smith simply highlighted publicly available information about men playing in women’s sport, yet she has been dragged through the courts and hit with a crippling fine,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“That should alarm every Australian who believes women deserve fair competition and safe changerooms.”
 
Mr Shelton said NSW Premier Chris Minns was attempting to straddle both sides of the debate while refusing to confront the consequences of his government’s gender ideology agenda.
 
“Chris Minns talks tough about protecting women’s sport one day, yet his government changed birth certificate laws so biological sex can effectively become a matter of personal declaration.”
 
Mr Shelton also criticised NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison after she refused this week to define what a woman is.
 
“It is absurd that the Minister for Women cannot tell the public what a woman is,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“If Labor politicians cannot define womanhood, they cannot protect women’s rights.”
 
Mr Shelton said there was also little reason for confidence in the Liberal Party under Kellie Sloane.
 
“Kellie Sloane marched in the Mardi Gras political parade — an event explicitly designed to pressure politicians and institutions into embracing radical LGBTQA+ ideology, including gender fluidity,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“The major parties have enabled this madness for years. Family First will be the clear voice for common sense, biological reality and the rights of women and girls.”
 
Mr Shelton said Family First would pursue legislative protections for female-only sport, changerooms and other sex-based spaces if elected to the NSW Parliament next March.
 
“Women and girls should never be forced to surrender fairness, privacy or safety to satisfy ideological activism,” Mr Shelton said.
 
“Family First will fight to restore common sense to NSW law and public policy.”

The Minns Labor Government is calling for more recruits to join the NSW Police Force, with a new Police Academy class to be added this year, giving more people the opportunity to join the force and protect their communities.

In a major boost to recruitment, the NSW Police Academy will move from three attestation classes to four, creating a larger, faster pipeline of new probationary constables for commands across NSW.

This follows the recent attestation at the Police Academy of another record-breaking class, with Class 368 being the largest in more than 13 years – underscoring the Government’s commitment to rebuilding and strengthening frontline policing across the state.

The new class will be backed in with a new advertising campaign, calling on the community to sign up and be a part of the best police force in the country.

The new recruitment program is just one part of the Government’s effort to rebuild the NSW Police Force after more than a decade of neglect, underinvestment and the Liberal-National’s wages cap that made it harder to recruit and retain officers.

Since coming to office, the Minns Labor Government has:
Delivered a historic pay rise for police
Introduced paid study for recruits, resulting in a 70 per cent increase in applications
Established the Be a Cop In Your Hometown program to allow regional recruits to return to or near their community after training
Established new recruitment pathways for experienced officers from interstate and New Zealand.

The Government has been clear, NSW needs more police and we will pull every lever to make it happen.

Recent months have shown us that our police are being asked to do more than ever: responding to domestic and family violence, confronting organised crime, keeping roads safe and protecting communities in every part of the state, sometimes on their darkest days.

This additional class is about getting more recruits through the Academy, curbing the attrition of retiring and experienced officers and placing more probationary constables into commands in every corner of New South Wales.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

NSW needs more police, and this addition means more recruits coming through the Academy and onto the frontline every year.

This is about opening the door to more people who want to serve their community and making sure we can get them trained and into the field as quickly as possible.

We know we can’t make the job of a cop safe, you just need good, brave people willing to step up.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

We are putting more police through the Academy and onto the frontline.

This is about rebuilding the force, strengthening the pipeline and getting more boots on the ground in communities right across New South Wales.

We have worked hard to recruit and retain more officers, be it with better pay, paid study at the Academy, and new pathways for experienced police to join our police force.

Under the Coalition’s decade of neglect our police were treated as a spreadsheet. Their wages were capped, their conditions worsened and our force was not adequately invested in. We are turning that around each and every day we govern.

We will keep backing them, because keeping NSW safe starts with a strong, supported and growing police force.”