Category: NSW News

Just days after the Police Minister denied organised crime was out of control, a man has been killed in another suspected underworld attack, the third shooting in NSW in a week.
 
Police are reportedly investigating whether the killing was gangland-related, which would make it the 52nd gangland shooting this year, after the man was shot dead in the car park of the Punchbowl Community Centre on Wednesday, near a primary school and church.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said her thoughts were with those affected as police investigated the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
 
“People across Sydney would understandably be fearful after reports of another suspected underworld shooting, this time in a public car park directly opposite a primary school,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“This latest killing exposes the gulf between the Minns Labor Government’s reassurances and the violence unfolding on Sydney’s streets.”
 
“At a time when communities are looking for leadership and reassurance, the Police Minister is nowhere to be seen. She needs to front up and explain how she can continue to claim organised crime is not out of control.”
 
Shadow Minister for Police Anthony Roberts said communities deserved an honest assessment of the violence occurring across NSW.
 
“The Police Minister may be on leave, but the violence has not taken a break,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“People should not have to fear that they or their children could be caught in the crossfire while going about their daily lives.
 
“Keeping people safe is the most basic responsibility of government, yet Labor repeatedly voted against tougher measures proposed by the NSW Liberals and Nationals before the violence reached this point.”

International testing by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows NSW students are struggling with the basics, with reading and mathematics results at or near record lows after three years under Labor.
 
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment, measuring 15-year-olds’ ability to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to meet real-life challenges.
 
The 2025 results show:
·        Reading scores have fallen since 2022 with results at the lowest levels recorded since testing started in 2000.
·        Mathematics scores have also fallen to the lowest on record.
·        Only 50 per cent of NSW students are meeting the national proficiency standard in mathematics and 56 per cent in reading.
·        NSW is being outperformed by Victoria, the closest comparable state.
 
The results follow disappointing NAPLAN results last month which showed the number of NSW year 3 students needing additional support for numeracy increased by over a quarter in the three years since NSW Labor came to office.
 
Around 30 per cent of NSW students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are also not meeting national benchmarks for reading, writing and numeracy.
 
Shadow Minister for Education Mark Speakman said the NSW Labor Government’s failure to improve student outcomes was undermining confidence in public schools.
 
“Student numbers in government schools rose by over 40,000 under the Liberals and Nationals but fell by over 260 under the first two years of the Labor Government,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“This year’s Budget cuts education employee expenses by around five per cent after inflation and assumes further falling public school enrolments and teacher numbers.”
 
“These results should concern every parent who expects their child to leave school with strong reading, writing and mathematics skills.”
 
“After more than three years in government and all the talk, Labor has failed to improve student outcomes and students can’t afford more of the same.”
 
Mr Speakman said that the Government must snap out of its complacency and urgently fix its approach across the board, including:
·        ensuring evidence-based, explicit teaching methods for reading and mathematics, which have been shown to produce the best results, are actually being used in all classrooms
·        initial and ongoing training of teaching reading and mathematics
·        giving teachers the training and support they need for effective classroom behaviour management
·        ensuring technology is not being counter-productive in classrooms support for children with disability

Households across NSW will get more help to cut their energy bills, access rebates and make energy-saving upgrades, with the Minns Labor Government investing $4.7 million in 12 community and not-for-profit energy organisations.

This funding will support trusted local organisations to provide practical advice and help households understand the options available to reduce their energy costs.

Through this investment, households and communities across NSW will benefit from a range of practical support including:

• Advice to help households cut energy bills and manage cost‑of‑living pressures
• Workshops and one‑on‑one support to improve energy literacy and confidence
• Guidance on home upgrades including energy‑efficient appliances, insulation, draught-proofing, rooftop solar and home batteries
• Help to access rebates, concessions and government energy saving programs
• Tailored support for renters, apartment residents and low-income households
• Training and resources to help local community organisations expand the support they provide.

The following organisations have been awarded funding through the Community Energy Activation Program:

• Asian Australians for Climate Solutions Ltd – Western Sydney
• Community Power Agency Co-Operative Limited – Statewide
• Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated – Central West
• Electrify Bouddi Incorporated – Central Coast
• Energyze North Shore Inc – Northern Sydney
• Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand – Statewide
• Illawarra Multicultural Services Inc – Illawarra
• Owners Corporation Network of Australia Ltd – Inner West and Western Sydney, regional centres including Newcastle, Wollongong and Shellharbour
• Pingala Community Energy Incorporated – Hunter, Central Coast and Inner Sydney
• Repower Shoalhaven Incorporated – South Coast
• Rewiring Australia Research and Advocacy Limited – Statewide (based in Thirroul)
• Southern New England Landcare Ltd – New England

This funding will help these organisations reach more households, expand successful local programs and provide more people with trusted, practical support to make informed energy choices. It builds on the Minns Labor Government’s $2 million Inclusive Energy Outreach Grant, which is funding ten community-based organisations to deliver culturally appropriate energy education that improves energy literacy for vulnerable people and groups.

These programs are key actions under the NSW Consumer Energy Strategy, helping ensure all households can benefit from lower bills and cleaner, more efficient energy technologies.

For more information, visit: www.energy.nsw.gov.au/community-energy-activation-program.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“Households are looking for practical ways to bring down their energy bills, and this funding will help put trusted advice and support within easier reach.

“There are more options than ever to save energy and reduce costs, but people don’t always know where to start. These organisations can help them understand what is available, access rebates and support, and make changes that work for them.”

Rewiring Australia Director of Strategic Programs Kristen McDonald said:

“At Rewiring Australia, we hear from households every week who want to cut their energy bills and go electric but don’t know where to start.

“Support through this grant enables us to strengthen the capacity of 15 community groups across NSW to give people that missing piece: trusted, local advice that reaches and empowers more households.

“It’s exactly the kind of practical support that makes the switch to cheaper, cleaner energy faster and fairer for every NSW household.”

Pingala Community Energy Operations Manager Nigel Hancock said:

“Apartment residents are often locked out of clean energy benefits, as strata environments face far greater complexity and wider information gaps than other households.

“Armed with practical advice and expert guidance, we look forward to supporting more strata communities in unlocking opportunities for solar, batteries, and EV charging, giving residents better and more equitable access to the financial and environmental benefits that renewables provide.”

Electrify Bouddi Steering Committee Chair Mark Ellis said:

“This funding gives us the opportunity to scale up local, community-led action across the Central Coast, giving households access to trusted advice, practical resources and local expertise to make informed energy choices.

“The energy transition is exciting but many in the community are struggling to navigate their way through the many choices presented to them, which is where local energy groups like ours can play an important part.”

Repower Shoalhaven Chairman John Clark said:

“Receiving this grant will allow us to build on our work across the South Coast, helping more households to make informed decisions and take practical steps to reduce energy costs, switch to efficient electric technologies and play an active role in the region’s energy transition.”

Thousands more people could have the opportunity to call Woollahra and Edgecliff home under the Minns Labor Government’s new vision to deliver up to 9,400 new homes around Sydney’s first new heavy rail station in more than a decade.

The detailed draft rezoning proposal being revealed today will help tackle the state’s housing challenge by opening up more housing close to the CBD, jobs and a new station, while rebalancing growth across Sydney after years in which too much of the burden was pushed onto Western Sydney.

On public exhibition from today the draft proposal sets a vision for how the 168-hectares of prime land in Sydney’s east will evolve over the next 20 year to support more homes, jobs and open space, and make the most of nearby transport, infrastructure and services.

The NSW Productivity Commission found that Woollahra is the most feasible Local Government Area in New South Wales to build new housing and despite this, housing approvals in Woollahra consistently lag well behind other LGAs.  

The proposal will concentrate new development around the existing Edgecliff station and the new station at Woollahra, with up to 40 percent of new dwellings to be located within 200 metres of a train station.  

Once operational in 2029, the new Woollahra station will connect people on the T4 Eastern Suburbs Line to the Sydney CBD in just eight minutes.

Key features of the proposal include:  

• Varied buildings heights of up to 34 storeys around Edgecliff Station and 32 storeys around Woollahra Station.
• Plans for 7 new parks and up to 9 kilometres of new walking and cycling connections.
• A requirement for diversity of new homes – including studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.  
• 3 percent affordable housing contribution, with up to 15 percent applied to certain sites in perpetuity.
• An expanded mixed-use Edgecliff Centre and a new Woollahra local centre, delivering around 1,000 new local jobs, services and amenities

The proposal strikes the right balance of greater density without sacrificing liveability, with approximately 3.5 hectares of new and upgraded open space planned across 13 parks, a new Edgecliff plaza, and a commitment to make sure there is no net loss of overall tree canopy within the precinct.  

Ninety-five per cent of the new homes will be within 400 metres of open space of 3000 square metres or larger.

Importantly new development will be supported by upgrades to local infrastructure, including roads, water and electricity networks, while local public schools will provide capacity for additional students.

The proposal also recognises the importance of protecting the area’s heritage, with heritage items retained and carefully integrated into the design of the surrounding area.

As part of the proposal, value capture will be used to ensure windfall gains from the rezoning help pay for the cost of delivering the new station. Development within 800 metres of Woollahra Station will be subject to a Transport Project Component contribution of $15,000 per dwelling or $200 per square metres of new commercial gross floor area.

This is another example of the Minns Labor Government unlocking new housing opportunities in the communities young people, families and key workers want to live.  

It is the latest of 67 state-led rezonings across NSW that will deliver approximately 240,000 new homes and 170,000 jobs.

Of these, 24 rezonings have already been completed, unlocking more than 79,000 homes and 56,000 jobs, with a further 43 rezonings currently progressing.

The proposal is on public exhibition from 8 September to 5pm 7 October 2026. Members of the community can submit their feedback via the NSW Planning Portal.

Drop-in sessions will also be held at The Lawns of Double Bay between 17 September 2026 and 29 September 2026. For more information and to register, visit NSW Planning.  

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“For the last decade, we’ve asked a small number of communities to carry the lion’s share of Sydney’s housing growth while other parts of the city have barely changed.

“We can’t keep pushing all of Sydney’s growth to the west and the urban fringe while established suburbs close to jobs, transport and services are locked away from new housing.

“We’re not asking Woollahra to solve the housing crisis on its own. We’re asking Woollahra to make a fair contribution, just as we’re asking communities right across Sydney to do.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“We’re building homes close to transport right across Sydney, with this rezoning and the construction of the train station, Woollahra is now becoming part of the transport orientated housing solution.  

“The future residents of these homes will be eight minutes from the CBD on train line that was built decades ago.  

“As we get to work on the rezoning, we’re also working on the design of the new Woollahra train station which we expect to start building next year. “

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“While Sydney’s population has grown Woollahra’s has shrunk, this rezoning will help to rectify that by unlocking thousands of new homes in the heart of Sydney close to transport, jobs, open space and services.  

“This proposal will make the most of existing infrastructure capacity, a new Woollahra train station and an area ripe with housing opportunity, that’s been locked away for far too long.  

“The proposal is consistent with the aims of the recently released Sydney Plan and Sydney’s long-term growth which supports increasing housing supply in the east, close to jobs, transport, services and green space, while accelerating jobs growth in the west.

“This is another example of the Minns Labor Government matching a transport infrastructure investment with housing growth in a community young people, families and key workers want to live in.”

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said:

“This proposal will open up Woollahra for thousands of new residents, with a new station on the way, more open space, and close links to the CBD.

“We’re doing this for our young people and for our essential workers, who have felt the dream of living and working in the greatest city in the world slipping through their fingers.

“Importantly, this includes affordable housing so that people on lower incomes don’t get locked out.”  

People living in regional and remote NSW will have greater access to training, support and employment opportunities closer to home, as the Minns Labor Government continues to rebuild TAFE NSW and restore pathways into skilled careers across regional communities.

From Semester 1 2027, TAFE NSW will expand course offerings and support services across 10 campuses in some of the state’s most remote communities, like Broken Hill and the Far West, helping more people gain practical skills, industry licences and qualifications without having to leave their community.

For many people living in regional and remote NSW, accessing training can mean travelling long distances or relocating altogether to continue their studies. By bringing more opportunities closer to home, the Minns Labor Government is helping remove barriers to education while ensuring regional communities share in the state’s economic opportunities.

Under the Regional and Remote Campus Delivery Model, training will be shaped by local communities and employers, with courses tailored to community priorities and workforce demand.

This includes foundation skills, digital capability courses, accredited training pathways, industry-relevant licences and tickets, as well as nationally accredited and community-based short courses in priority areas such as construction, hospitality, business basics and community services.

Over the next five years, TAFE NSW will establish onsite support teams at participating campuses and continue working with communities and businesses so students can access training, build skills and connect with employment opportunities close to home.

The participating campuses are Boggabilla, Bourke, Brewarrina, Condobolin, Coomealla, Lake Cargelligo, Coonabarabran, Menindee, Walgett and Wilcannia.

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“Regional communities deserve access to the same opportunities as people living in our cities, and that starts with making sure people can access training and build their careers close to home.

“This investment will help regional people gain the skills they need for local jobs, while giving businesses a stronger pool of skilled workers to draw on.

“By listening to local communities and employers, we can make sure TAFE NSW is delivering the training regional communities need, where and when they need it.

“Strong local workforces are essential to the future of regional NSW, and this is about giving people the opportunity to build those workforces from within their own communities.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“After years of underinvestment in TAFE NSW under the former Liberal-National Government, too many regional communities like Broken Hill and the Far West were left without the opportunities they needed into skilled careers.

“The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding these pathways and making it easier for people in regional and remote communities to gain skills that work, build their confidence and take the next step into further study or employment.

“This is a guarantee of a core service from TAFE NSW in remote communities – a 100% contrast to the closures and cuts the Liberals and Nationals delivered.

“By working with local communities and businesses, we’re delivering training options that meet local workforce needs and support the next generation of tradies, skilled workers and professionals.

“Our regional and remote campuses at the heart of their communities. Strong regional communities need a strong local workforce, and that’s exactly what this initiative is helping to build.”

Member for Barwon, Roy Butler MP said:

“I often hear people from Barwon say they would like more opportunities to learn new skills and get qualifications without having to leave town. For instance, many apprentices have to travel hundreds of kilometres just complete the study component of their trade certificate.

“This initiative will help make a significant difference in communities across Barwon by bringing more training closer to home and helping people get the skills they need for local jobs.

“Whether it’s someone looking to pick up a new qualification, or to get a licence for work, or to take the first step towards a trade, having these opportunities available locally is incredibly important for our communities. Saving time, money and a lot of the headaches associated with having to travel long distances to get things done.”

Communities across the Central Coast are continuing to benefit from more timely access to urgent care, with the Long Jetty Urgent Care Service providing more than 32,700 patient attendances since opening in December 2023.

Minister for Health Ryan Park visited the service yesterday and acknowledged its important role in reducing pressure on the Central Coast’s emergency departments and providing patients with a convenient alternative for urgent but non-life‑threatening conditions.

The service provides timely care for a wide range of conditions that can be safely treated in a community setting, including sprains, strains, minor fractures, plaster care, respiratory illnesses, infections, minor injuries, rashes, bites and stings.

Open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm, including public holidays, the Long Jetty Urgent Care Service is staffed by general practitioners, nurses and allied health clinicians, supported by onsite diagnostic services.

The multidisciplinary team provides high quality, safe care and can connect patients with additional support when needed, including Central Coast Local Health District’s Hospital in the Home program and other community-based services.

Patients who have a non-life-threatening condition can call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free advice, anytime of the day or night. A registered nurse will assess their condition and connect them to the right care, which can include referral to a UCS.

Patients needing language support can call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.

The NSW Government is investing in a suite of ED alternative pathways in an effort to ease pressure on busy hospital EDs and ensure the people of NSW receive the most appropriate care.

This includes:

• $171.4 million to introduce additional virtual care services helping 180,000 avoid a trip to the ED.
• $100 million to continue funding our urgent care services for a further two years to provide a pathway to care outside of our hospitals for an estimated 114,000 patients
• $70 million to expand emergency department short stay units to improve patient flow to reduce ED wait times by nearly 80,000 hours
• $15.1 million for an ambulance distribution matrix that provides real time hospital data to enable paramedics to transport patients to emergency departments with greater capacity and reducing wait times
• $31.4 million to increase Hospital in the Home across the state allowing over 3,500 additional patients each year to be cared for in their home rather than a hospital bed
• $53.9 million to improve patient flow and support discharge planning by identified patients early on that are suitable to be discharged home with the appropriate supports in place

The Minns Labor Government also delivered a record investment into healthcare through the 2026-27 Budget, which included an additional $130.7 million to further expand short stay units by up to 30 additional treatment spaces aimed at improving wait times.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“This Urgent Care Service at Long Jetty provides an important alternative for Central Coast patients with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, while helping reduce pressure on our busy hospitals.

“Services like this are making it easier for people to get the right care, in the right place, at the right time, saving them from unnecessary long waits in an emergency department.”

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris:

“It’s fantastic to see so many people on the Central Coast continuing to benefit from the Long Jetty Urgent Care Clinic.

“The high-quality care for the wide range of conditions delivered by a skilled multi-disciplinary team is meaning people can be treated close to home while freeing up our busy hospital EDs.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan:

“The community has embraced this service because it provides a convenient and trusted option for people who need urgent medical attention but don’t require emergency care.”

Central Coast Local Health District Acting Chief Executive Jude Constable:

“The Long Jetty Urgent Care Service is making a real difference for our community by improving access to timely care and helping patients avoid an unnecessary visit to the emergency department.

“I’d like to acknowledge the dedicated staff at the Long Jetty Urgent Care Service for the exceptional care they provide to our community every day. Their commitment and expertise are helping more people access the right care at the right time, closer to home.”

NSW Ambulance has today welcomed 16 new paramedics from interstate and overseas, providing a further boost to frontline health services across NSW.

The qualified and experienced paramedics, from a wide range of locations including, the UK, Canada, USA, New Zealand and interstate, have completed a comprehensive induction program at the NSW Ambulance Education Centre and will begin their nine week on-road training from tomorrow.

This cohort includes Paul Dowling who worked as a paramedic for British Columbia Emergency Health Services in Canada for six years, and Billy Britton, who served with the London Ambulance Service for six years.

The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding essential services by recruiting more health staff, including paramedics, doctors, nurses, and allied health workers.

This includes strengthening ambulance services in regional, rural and remote communities by rolling out an additional 500 paramedics across the state, through the Regional 500 initiative.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“I’m pleased to welcome these experienced paramedics to join NSW Ambulance as they begin the next stage of their careers serving communities across the state.

“The skills and experience they have gained in ambulance services around Australia and overseas will be a valuable addition to our frontline workforce and help support patients when they need it most.

“Attracting qualified clinicians who have worked around the world is one of the ways we are continuing to strengthen our health workforce and ensure communities across NSW have access to timely emergency care.”

NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech:

“These paramedics arrive with a broad range of clinical experience, and we are excited to welcome them to the NSW Ambulance family.

“Over the past four weeks, they have completed an intensive induction program designed to prepare them for working in NSW Ambulance and meeting the unique demands of emergency care across our state.

“We look forward to the contribution they will make to our patients and teams in the years ahead.”

paramedic inductee Paul Dowling:

“Over the past four weeks we’ve been learning the clinical scope, equipment and procedures used by NSW Ambulance. There are a lot of similarities to what I was doing in Canada, but it’s been a great opportunity to learn a new way of working.

“I’m excited to be starting on road and learning from experienced paramedics in Armidale as I begin this next chapter of my career.”

paramedic inductee Billy Britton:

“Joining NSW Ambulance is an exciting opportunity, and I’m looking forward to serving the Hunter community while building on the experience I gained with the London Ambulance Service.

“What I enjoy most about being a paramedic is meeting people and supporting them when they need help. Several former colleagues spoke highly of NSW Ambulance, and I’m looking forward to growing my career here and working towards specialist paramedic roles in the future.”

Today NSW and Commonwealth Ministers gathered with a shared mission to address the rise of sexual violence and misogyny involving and impacting young people in New South Wales.

An urgent Roundtable convened by Acting Premier Prue Car and facilitated by NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin, brought together victim survivors, school leaders, frontline services, researchers, policy makers, and other experts to discuss this pressing issue.

The Roundtable examined how online environments and algorithms are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping harmful attitudes towards gender, relationships and consent, and are contributing to sexual violence among young people.

Attendees welcomed the leadership of Commonwealth Ministers in considering the impact that harmful algorithms are having on young people and the remedies that have been legally imposed through the courts in other jurisdictions.

The Roundtable also examined the critical role of families, schools and the broader community in challenging harmful social norms and supporting trusted adults to have open conversations with young people about respect, consent, healthy relationships and online influences.

Participants identified several priority opportunities to strengthen existing efforts to address sexual violence, including:

• increasing the reach of Respectful Relationships Education in public and non-government schools;
• supporting parents, carers and other trusted adults to have conversations with young people about online influences and healthy relationships;
• working with the Commonwealth Government to explore giving social media users more control over what they see on social media;
• improving coordination and responses to online misogyny, pornography and technology-facilitated abuse;
• expanding evidence-based prevention; and
• strengthening support for victim-survivors of sexual violence.

Today’s Roundtable is the first step in a wider program of ongoing work the NSW Government is doing to address sexual violence. The Roundtable will inform immediate work on developing a contemporary NSW Sexual Violence Plan, due for release in 2027.

The Sexual Violence Plan will build on the most up to date evidence, insights from recent consultations, best practice and lived experience. Consultation with the broader community and sector will be undertaken to develop a contemporary plan to address the serious issue of sexual violence.

In addition, Commonwealth Women’s Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner, Micaela Cronin, and her NSW counterpart, Dr Tonkin, will commence a program of work focused on the experiences of young women and girls, including discussions in partnership with lived experience advocates.

Today’s meeting reinforced the importance of a coordinated, whole-of-community approach to preventing sexual violence, promoting respectful relationships and improving safety for young people across New South Wales.

Marking six months of the Minns Labor Government’s Name and Shame Register, NSW Fair Trading’s Strata and Property Taskforce has covertly blitzed open homes across NSW to identify agents engaging in underquoting and other breaches of property sales laws.

Underquoting is where a real estate agent advertises a property at a price which is lower than their reasonable estimate of its selling price. This is done to attract more interest, which creates fake competition and pushes prices up. It wastes buyers’ time, effort and money.

Ahead of the spring selling season, the Taskforce has attended almost 80 open home inspections over the past two months. This has resulted in 10 agents being issued with fines valued at a total of $20,900, alongside five warnings and 16 education directives.

Posing as prospective buyers, inspectors attended open homes before reviewing agency sales records, vendor feedback and advertising material to determine whether price information provided to consumers was accurate and consistent with agency records.

The operation identified a range of alleged underquoting, consumer protection and record-keeping breaches.

In one matter, an agent was fined for telling prospective buyers a property was expected to sell for $3.65 million. However, a review quickly discovered the agency’s own records estimated the property’s value at between $4 million and $4.4 million, while online advertising used a $4 million search price.

Meanwhile, another agent was issued a warning for recording and reporting purchaser feedback that did not accurately reflect conversations which took place during an open home inspection. Behaviour like this has the potential to mislead the seller about buyer sentiment and price expectations.

This operation builds on the Minns Labor Governments reforms to strengthen the state’s underquoting laws which recently passed NSW Parliament. Consultation on the regulations for these laws is currently underway with industry stakeholders.

It also marks the first six months of the Name and Shame Register, which has recorded 118,000 visits since February. Launched earlier this year, the Register provides a central, publicly accessible record of disciplinary and enforcement action taken against real estate agents, strata managers and agencies, helping consumers make informed decisions before they sign on the dotted line.  

The Government has invested $8.4 million in the Strata and Property Taskforce to bring together specialist inspectors, investigators and dispute resolution experts to crack down on misconduct and lift professional standards to support consumers.

While most property professionals do the right thing, NSW Fair Trading will continue to target those who fail to meet their obligations and undermine consumer confidence in the sector.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to create a fairer, more transparent property market.  

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“When the Minns Labor Government established the Strata and Property Taskforce, this is exactly the kind of work we envisioned they would do.

“Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you can make, and people deserve confidence that price information is accurate and transparent.

“This operation shows that NSW Fair Trading is actively monitoring the market and taking swift action where real estate agents are not meeting their obligations.”

Strata and Property Services Commissioner Angus Abadee said:

“Strong compliance benefits consumers, but it also benefits the many agents who do the right thing by ensuring they are not competing against businesses willing to cut corners or ignore the rules.

“The overwhelming majority of property professionals do the right thing, but those willing to push the boundaries should be on notice that Fair Trading officers could be at their next open home.”

States and territories will today raise the growing issue of bed block across the country with the Commonwealth Government at the Health Ministers Meeting in Sydney.

There are now over 3,600 patients stranded in state hospitals across Australia waiting for Commonwealth Government aged care placements.

The national number increased from over 2,700 in mid 2025 to over 3,600 in mid 2026:

• Queensland – from 1076 to 1272
• NSW – from 750 to 1,027
• South Australia – from 245 to 476
• Western Australia – from 230 to 423
• Victoria – from 226 to 302
• Tasmania – from 55 to 78
• NT – from 76 to 74
• ACT – from 78 to 80

When patients are unable to be discharged to appropriate care, beds in wards cannot be used, surgeries cannot be undertaken and patients wait longer in emergency departments.

Ultimately, in Australia’s joint funded health system, the accessibility of aged care services rests with the Commonwealth.

Public hospitals were not designed as alternatives or substitutes to aged care facilities, and patients waiting indefinitely in hospital face poorer prospects for recovery.

States and territories will work with the Commonwealth on this issue and today will call for a commitment to more Support at Home packages facilitate the return of stranded patients to home settings. There are almost 100,000 people waiting for Support at Home packages.

NSW Minister for Health and Chair of the Health Ministers Meeting Ryan Park said:

“I am concerned the prevalence of bed block is accelerating and is far beyond sustainable. We acknowledge the Commonwealth has pledged investment into aged care builds, but we know that can take some time. We will work constructively with the Commonwealth including on issues such as seeing a more immediate response to this crisis, including the delivery of more Commonwealth Support at Home packages.”

ACT Minister for Health Dr Marisa Paterson said:

“Older Australians should not have to spend extended periods in hospital when their care needs could be better met in the community or in residential aged care. These delays are difficult for patients and their loved ones and contribute to increasing pressure across the broader health system. People deserve timely access to the right care in the right setting, and we will continue engaging with our federal counterparts to help make that a reality.”

NT Minister for Health Steve Edgington said:

“The NT Government is delivering more beds, more nurses, and more equipment in a record NT Health budget with one new ward opening this week and another later this year to help deal with capacity issues. Our hospital pressures are exacerbated by Commonwealth failure to invest in aged care fast enough as we wait for a promised new facility in the Top End. We could potentially free up another 70 beds and this would make a significant difference to bed block, pressure in the ED and the health system in general in the Territory.”

Queensland Minister for Health Tim Nicholls said:

“Queensland remains ground zero for stranded older patients, with more than 1,270 stuck in our hospitals and interim care through no fault of their own. Our message has been very loud and clear and that is that the Commonwealth needs to honour its commitments and invest in more aged care supports in Queensland, and across the country. These vulnerable patients need to be moved out of our busy, noisy hospitals and into more appropriate settings so they can get the care they deserve.

SA Minister for Health Blair Boyer said:

“Nationally, we need an additional 10,000 aged care beds each year – last year we had just 800. And this crisis is only going to get worse with current projections showing the total population aged over 70 in South Australia will nearly double over the next 30 years – from 226,568 to 441,395. There are currently 476 older South Australians who are ready to leave hospital but cannot access an aged care placement. That’s up from 60 in late 2022. That number of aged care patients waiting for a bed is about the same as the number of patients at the Lyell McEwin hospital – one of our largest metro hospitals. If we were able to get them into an aged care bed, it would free up a whole hospital so we could treat those patients that need it. This is putting a huge demand on our healthcare system as the new beds we’ve added to the system are being taking up by aged care patients. Older people should not have to spend weeks, months, or even years in some cases, in hospital waiting for aged care support – and we need the Federal Government to act now.”

Tasmania Minister for Health Bridget Archer said:

“Too many Tasmanians remain stuck in our hospitals, sometimes for weeks and even months at a time, because the Federal Government has not provided them with the aged care or NDIS supports needed. These Tasmanians are not just statistics, they are Tasmanians who deserve dignity, compassion and a proper place to recover. While the Tasmanian Government will always provide high-quality care, the ongoing lack of leadership and support from the Federal Government is unacceptable.”

Victoria Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt said:

“Every older Victorian deserves to age with dignity – and no one should stay in hospital longer than they need to. We’ll continue to advocate strongly to the Commonwealth to ensure its aged care reforms are properly funded and no Victorian misses out.”

WA Minister for Health Meredith Hammat said:

“The number of older Australians awaiting aged care in public hospital beds during winter reached worrying new heights in Western Australia. That’s about 100 more than we had 12 months ago, and another 100 fewer beds available for acutely unwell patients. Older Western Australians deserve a more dignified care setting when they’ve been cleared for discharge.”