Category: NSW News

This Minns Labor Government is transforming mental health care in Kempsey, with two new initiatives improving access to critical mental health support.

A free, walk-in mental health service has today opened its doors on Wide Street, offering accessible, stigma-free and culturally responsive suicide prevention support to the local community.

Kempsey has also been chosen for an innovative pilot program, with Mental Health Hospital in the Home launched in February this year.

Together, these initiatives are redesigning mental health services in Kempsey to better meet the needs of the local community and remove common barriers that prevent people from accessing support, like stigma and hospital-related trauma.

Safe Haven

The newly-renovated, Aboriginal-led Safe Haven is a free, non-clinical space where people can walk in without an appointment or referral to receive immediate mental health support.

Safe Havens offer an alternative to accessing mental health services through a hospital emergency department.

The Kempsey Safe Haven will be staffed by Aboriginal peer workers who bring cultural knowledge, lived experience and strong community connections to their support while also working alongside the existing Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service.

Located on Wide Street in Kempsey, the service is now open Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 4pm and is available to everyone in the community.

Mental Health Hospital in the Home (HiTH)

Mental Health Hospital in the Home is an acute mental health service that provides hospital level care to voluntary patients in the comfort of their own home or community.

This type of care is proven to prevent the impacts of prolonged inpatient stays like physical and cognitive decline and is designed to give patients more options and improved continuity of support.

As part of the pilot, capacity has increased at Port Macquarie Base Hospital’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit where people requiring hospital admission can continue to receive high-quality care.

Two reviews will assess the effectiveness of the HiTH pilot at the 6-month and 12-month marks.

The transformation in Kempsey is another step in the Minns Labor Government’s plan to modernise and improve access to mental healthcare in New South Wales, including:

• Building a network of Medicare Mental Health Centres, where anyone can access free, walk-in mental health support.
• Investing in more than $64 million in community mental health programs, to help people with mental health challenges live independently in the community.
• Embedding suicide prevention into government decision making, with our world-leading Suicide Prevention Act 2025.

The Mental Health Line is available 24/7 on 1800 011 511 to connect people with mental health services. For crisis support, call 13YARN (139 276) or Lifeline 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“People should be able to get the right care at the right time, in the least restrictive setting possible. That is exactly what we are delivering in Kempsey with the Mental Health Hospital in the Home pilot and the new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven.

“By investing in free, walk-in community-based services we are redesigning mental health services to improve outcomes and to better meet the needs of the local community.

“We’re still in the early days of the HiTH pilot but I’m excited to see how that model can improve outcomes for the patients in the Kempsey community who may not be suited to traditional inpatient care.

“The new Aboriginal-led Safe Haven is another powerful example of what better mental health care looks like — culturally-led, inclusive, and designed by Aboriginal people, for Aboriginal people. It reflects a commitment to services grounded in culture, community and lived knowledge, where people feel safe, respected and understood.

“That matters, because when someone is in distress, getting help early and locally can make all the difference.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin:

“Kempsey has been chosen as a key site for these transformative programs because we recognize the vital need for enhanced mental health support in our regional centers. This pilot is a major win for the North Coast, putting our community at the forefront of modern, compassionate healthcare.”

“For the people of Kempsey and the Macleay Valley, these services are a gamechanger. They remove the traditional barriers to care—like the stress of a hospital emergency department—and provide support that is local, accessible, and culturally safe.

“By delivering hospital-level care at home and opening an Aboriginal-led Safe Haven, we are ensuring that the people of the North Coast have more options to receive the right help, in the right place, at the right time.”

Kempsey Shire Mayor Kinne Ring:

“Our community deserves services that are welcoming and easy to access, and I’m pleased to see this new approach shifting toward more community-based support and greater choice in how our residents can access care.

“The Safe Haven is a genuinely important addition. A free, walk in space where anyone can access support without an appointment or referral. Being local, accessible and culturally safe will make a real difference in helping people feel comfortable seeking help when they need it.

“The Hospital in the Home program also represents a meaningful shift in how care is delivered, bringing hospital level support directly to patients in their homes or community. Kempsey is a close-knit and supportive community, and this model opens up new opportunities to deliver mental health services in a way that genuinely improves access for local residents.”

Mid North Coast Local Health District Chief Executive Jill Wong:

“The launch of the new Mental Health Hospital in the Home model of care is a significant milestone for our region, allowing people to receive intensive, high-quality mental health care safely at home and in their community, close to family, culture and supports.

“Most people seeking mental health support don’t need to be admitted to hospital and in Kempsey we now have a full suite of supports from the walk-in options at our Safe Havens to Mental Health Hospital in the Home and stronger community mental health services. This ensures people receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

“The Safe Haven is more than a building, it’s a welcoming front door to compassion and hope, a place for community to connect and to feel safe, enabling clinical teams, working alongside Mental Health Hospital in the Home, to connect people to the support they need, when they need it most.”

Mid North Coast Local Health District Acting Aboriginal District Coordinator Tianna Bailey:

“The Aboriginal led Safe Haven will be vital to support the healing and wellbeing of the Aboriginal community members in Kempsey and across the Macleay Valley, as part of the broader network of community-based care that includes community mental health teams and Mental Health Hospital in the Home support.

“Operating alongside the Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service and complementary models such as Mental Health Hospital in the Home, the Safe Haven will ensure mob have access to culturally safe suicide prevention and wellbeing support.

“This is a significant step forward for Aboriginal led services and programs and reflects the Mid North Coast Local Health District’s strong commitment to listening to Aboriginal voices and delivering culturally appropriate, responsive and community driven models of care.

“The inclusion of Aboriginal stakeholder and community governance groups is central to this model, ensuring the cultural integrity of both the Aboriginal Specialist Wellbeing Service and the Aboriginal led Safe Haven, while strengthening connections with broader mental health services and ensuring continuous improvement is aligned to community priorities.”

Last night, the Opposition and the Legislative Council crossbench voted to support amendments to the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Good Character at Sentencing) Bill 2026 which would prevent good character evidence from being used at sentencing for any and all sexual offences, and to give courts discretion to ignore good character evidence at sentencing for all other offences.
 
These important amendments were introduced to Labor’s bill by both the Opposition and The Greens to address the serious concerns raised by key victim-survivor support groups through the parliamentary inquiry which the Minns Labor Government tried to block.
 
Not a single member of the Legislative Council crossbench voted with the Government against the sensible amendments to the Bill.
 
Shadow Attorney General, Damien Tudehope, welcomed the widespread support for the amendments in the Parliament and called on the Minns Labor Government to pass the bill immediately in the Legislative Assembly next week to protect victim-survivors of sexual offences.
 
“The Attorney General Michael Daley should speak with the Premier today to make passing this bill in the lower house an immediate priority for when Parliament resumes next Tuesday,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
“Any attempt to delay it by playing parliamentary games now only risks more victim-survivors of sexual offences having their perpetrators benefit from good character evidence.”
 
“Disgracefully, Labor wanted to ignore the serious concerns raised by key stakeholders, like Domestic Violence NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service and Public Defenders, about removing good character evidence altogether.
 
“We chose to listen to those concerns and strike a balanced approach that excluded good character evidence for sexual offences and gave the courts the ability to ignore good character as it sees fit.”
 
“A key example of why Labor’s blanket approach was wrong, is the example called out by Domestic Violence NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW and Public Defenders where a female victim of domestic violence who, after years of abuse, may commit an out of character domestic violence or other violent offence where  that kind of offender should not be deprived of the opportunity to have someone speak to their otherwise good character.”
 
“The Government did not attempt to speak with the Opposition before bringing the reform in and has not engaged in good faith negotiations through the entire process.”
 
“Now is the time for them to act and pass the laws that the Upper House has passed and not delay it any further.”
 
The Australian Lawyers Alliance’s spokesperson, Greg Barns SC, has welcomed the sensible amendments secured by the Opposition and Legislative Council Crossbench.
 
“Every person and every criminal case is unique,” said Mr Barns SC.
 
“Enforcing blanket rules that apply across the board denies procedural fairness to individuals and removes the discretion of the courts.”
 
“The removal of the use of character references for every crime limits the ability of the court to make informed sentencing decisions.”
 
The Bill now returns to the Legislative Assembly which is due to meet again on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.

The Australian Alliance for Animals has welcomed the introduction of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026 into the NSW Parliament, while expressing disappointment that the reforms fall well short of the NSW Government’s commitment to modernise the state’s outdated animal welfare laws.

The proposed amendments introduce a number of sensible enforcement and operational improvements to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, including refinements to existing offences and compliance powers. However, the legislation does not replace the nearly 50-year-old Act with a new contemporary animal welfare framework, as promised by NSW Labor prior to the 2023 election.

Alliance Policy Director Dr Jed Goodfellow said the reforms represented a missed opportunity for more meaningful change.

While we support measures that strengthen enforcement and improve the operation of the existing Act, these amendments do not deliver the comprehensive modernisation that was promised to the NSW community,” Dr Goodfellow said.

NSW still has the oldest animal welfare legislation in Australia. The community expects animal welfare laws that reflect contemporary science, modern community values, and current understanding of animal sentience and welfare.”

The Alliance noted that animal welfare reform has been the subject of extensive consultation processes over many years, with strong engagement from community members, animal welfare organisations, industry stakeholders and experts.

Over 7,000 submissions were made to previous consultations processes aimed at delivering a new Animal Welfare Act for NSW, yet it now appears this work has simply been shelved,” Dr Goodfellow said.

There is overwhelming public support for stronger animal welfare protections in NSW. People want laws that move beyond simply prohibiting cruelty and instead establish clear, modern standards for the care and treatment of animals.”

The Alliance said key reforms still absent from NSW law include recognition of animal sentience and a modern duty of care framework placing proactive obligations on people responsible for animals.

We remain hopeful that the NSW Government will continue the reform process and build on these amendments to deliver the modern animal welfare framework it committed to introducing,” Dr Goodfellow said.

In a major assault on feral deer in western NSW, the Minns Labor Government is targeting large swathes of private land and national park to proactively prevent the spread of the destructive pest.

In a joint effort, Local Land Services and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will undertake aerial culling across some 726,000 hectares of mostly flat, open terrain in Western NSW.

Western Local Land Services is currently delivering a targeted aerial shoot across private land in the Hillston-Euabalong area until 19 May, through the NSW Government’s Good Neighbours Program.

This will be followed by a series of shoots delivered by the NPWS throughout May and June in the neighbouring Hunthawang, Nombinnie, Round Hill and Yathong national parks.

Western Local Land Services is working with about 60 private landholders to coordinate control efforts through the Good Neighbours Program, which aims to increase collaboration between public and private land managers to more effectively manage pests and weeds across the state.

Feral deer compete with livestock for pastures, trample vegetation, degrade water quality and pose a public safety risk on roads.

They are listed as a priority pest in the Western Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan, with fallow deer being the most widespread species.

All land managers in NSW have a general biosecurity duty to manage pest animals on their properties, including feral deer.

Local Land Services provides advice and support to land managers to manage feral deer and helps facilitate landscape-scale coordinated control programs, such as the western NSW program.

Landholders are encouraged to participate in coordinated control programs and report feral deer activity to their local biosecurity officer or via FeralScan.

Visit the Local Land Services website for more information about the Good Neighbours Program.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

“Deer are a feral pest that are destroying public and private land across NSW.

“These operations are about preserving our natural environment, improving safety for regional communities and protecting agricultural productivity.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The Minns Government is taking decisive, coordinated action to get on the front foot and stop feral deer from spreading further across western NSW.

“While there are fewer species of feral deer established in western NSW compared to other regions, that doesn’t mean we can become complacent. In fact, it presents an ideal opportunity to work together to keep on top of feral deer populations and prevent the spread.

“That’s why we’re taking proactive steps now to bring together public and private land managers to bridge borders and set them up for success.”

Information for media

NPWS West Branch has conducted more than 480 hours of aerial shooting so far this financial year.

This has removed just over 27,000 feral animals, including 22,000 goats and 4,000 pigs.

NPWS also uses ground baiting, mustering, ground shooting and trapping to remove feral animals.

Main works construction for the $50 million Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment is officially underway marking a major milestone in delivering new and enhanced health services for Glen Innes and surrounding communities.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring communities across NSW have greater access to healthcare services closer to home.

The Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment will deliver a new acute services building on the existing hospital campus, housing an expanded emergency department, medical imaging, ambulance drop-off and bays, back of house, mortuary and new main entry.  

Health staff from Glen Innes Hospital, along with stakeholders and members of the community joined project team members for a traditional sod turn to celebrate the start of main works construction.

To support construction, a temporary internal access road is being built on the eastern side of the hospital campus. The next phase of works will include the creation of the new ambulance access.

The Glen Innes Hospital will continue to operate as normal during construction, providing care for the Glen Innes and surrounding communities, and will remain as a District Hospital, networked to Armidale and Tamworth hospitals for access to specialist health services.

Access to the hospital via Taylor Street remains unchanged and will continue to be available during construction. The driveway from Ferguson Street/Gwydir Highway is reserved for Ambulance and mortuary access, construction activities and access for the Museum volunteers.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2028.

Consultation with staff, community and stakeholders will continue to ensure the new hospital building is a welcoming environment that reflects the heritage and culture of the region.

The project is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with Hunter New England Local Health District and main works contractor, TCQ Construction.

The Minns Labor Government is investing $12.4 billion to deliver 32 new or upgraded hospitals, including $3.5 billion over four years for hospitals across regional NSW.

A community forum was held in April 2026 to provide local businesses with information on opportunities to support and participate construction for the redevelopment. For more information email sariah@tcqconstruction.com.au or visit: https://gateway.icn.org.au/projects/17890

Further information on the redevelopment is available by visiting the project website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/glen-innes-hospital-redevelopment

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“Ensuring rural and regional communities have access to the best healthcare is a key priority for the Minns Labor Government, and this $50 million investment in the Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment will deliver modern health facilities to support our hardworking health staff and the local community.

“In the coming months, the community will see construction ramp up as the acute services building starts to take shape.

“Importantly, all hospital services will continue to operate as normal during construction, so the community can be assured they will continue to receive the care they need when they need it.”

Labor Spokesperson for Northern Tablelands Peter Primrose:

“The redevelopment of the Glen Innes Hospital ensures that communities in and around the Glen Innes Severn region have access to modern facilities that are better equipped for hardworking health workers to provide necessary health care to patients.

“The commencement of the construction for the Hospital is a significant milestone as it delivers a high-quality health facility that has been purpose built for patients, visitors, and staff that will serve the surround region for year to come.

“It has been fantastic to see local trades and businesses being given the chance to play a key role in the Hospital’s redevelopment, supporting the local community, local economy, and workforce.”

The Productivity & Equality Commission will undertake a review into older patients stranded in hospital, including assessing the costs and impacts of stranded patients.

This review comes after the latest Health Ministers Meeting, where the NSW Government successfully led a push for a national Hospital Discharge Joint Taskforce to address discharge delays in Australia’s public hospital system.

The Productivity & Equality Commission review will deliver recommendations on ways to reduce discharge delays; improve access to suitable care; and relieve pressure on hospitals. The commission will conclude its review within six months.

Stranded aged care patients increasing

The number of patients ready to be discharged but unable to leave a NSW public hospital because they are unable to obtain a Commonwealth aged care placement is surging, from 300 in December 2023 to 776 in 2025. The number of days stranded in a hospital bed by these patients has also escalated from 11,943 in December 2023 to 44,487 in 2025.

Productivity & Equality Commission review

NSW Health will assist the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission to understand what can be done inside and outside of hospitals for patients to receive the most appropriate care; improve access and supply of that care; and provide NSW Health staff to the review team to help develop robust, evidence-based recommendations.

Interstate taskforce

The national Hospital Discharge Joint Taskforce, co-led by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments, will commence alongside the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission review. It will help deliver policy and improve outcomes for patients exceeding their estimated date of discharge due to delayed access to aged care and NDIS placements.

While access to aged care placements is a Commonwealth responsibility, the NSW Government has had to step in to provide a range of measures to protect patients from being stranded including aged care outreach initiatives in which doctors visit aged care patients in their home or residences potentially sparing them a visit to the ED.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey:

“The current situation is unfair for patients and unsustainable for the broader hospital system.

“It’s blocking the beds we badly need for more critical cases.

“We need to find a better way to help patients who are becoming stranded, while they wait to get the Commonwealth aged care support they need.

“While this is a national problem, we cannot simply wait for the Federal response.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Every day in New South Wales, there is the equivalent of an entire hospital taken offline because people cannot access Commonwealth aged care placements.

“Hospitals were not designed for indefinite stays and these people deserve better.

“Today, I am announcing that the Productivity and Equality Commissioner will undertake a review into this alarming and unsustainable trend which has tripled in just the past three years.

“While we continue to advocate to the Commonwealth, we can’t afford to wait for them.

“We already have a range of initiatives in place to try to protect patients from being stranded and if there’s more we can do, this review will uncover it.”

The Minns Labor Government will today introduce a new law to speed up the delivery of key renewable energy projects, to power large energy users as coal-fired power stations exit the system.

The proposed legislation will allow the NSW Energy Minister to identify the highest-priority renewable energy projects in the planning pipeline, and prioritise them for streamlining.

It will result in more streamlined approvals for generation, storage and network projects that will power homes, industry and economic growth.

The proposed law will not remove any environmental or community assessment requirements. Developers will still need to meet all relevant planning, environmental and consultation obligations.

Priority energy projects must demonstrate best practice in how they work with landholders and communities, particularly in regional NSW.

The NSW energy grid is undergoing its biggest transformation in decades, with the Minns Labor Government supporting new energy infrastructure to replace our retiring power stations, support the ongoing operation of heavy industry and power new economic growth across the state.

Renewable energy already provides about 36 per cent of NSW’s annual electricity supply. In a first for NSW, there were multiple periods in summer when renewable energy accounted for more than 80 per cent of the electricity supply mix, contributing to keeping lights and air conditioners running.

The proposed law is designed to build on this progress, by accelerating the infrastructure needed to generate, store and move clean energy across the state.

The Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026 will also support the effective and consistent implementation of the NSW Benefit-Sharing Guideline, ensuring councils and communities hosting projects receive associated benefits.

More than $180 million in benefits have been committed to communities since the guideline’s introduction in November 2024. This is in addition to the Renewable Energy Zone community and employment benefit funds coordinated by EnergyCo.

Further reforms are also in development to improve the way projects are referred to the Independent Planning Commission for determination, to ensure NSW residents continue to have a strong voice while avoiding unnecessary delays to energy projects that are critical to NSW.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring reliable, affordable energy for our heavy industries like the Tomago aluminium smelter, and to power economic growth across the state.

“This new legislation will mean infrastructure projects that are critical for manufacturing jobs, economic growth and energy affordability don’t get stuck in the queue.

“No matter where you live in this state, you will benefit from us getting on with the job and delivering quality renewable projects as fast as we can.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“With a growing pipeline of energy projects ahead of us, we need a planning system that can support achieving our ambitious energy targets.

“Since 2023, we’ve already reduced assessment times for renewable energy projects by almost 20 per cent while delivering 50 per cent more approvals.

“These reforms build on that success by enshrining the community benefit scheme and streamlining prioritised projects in the planning system with the most potential to power our state’s future, making sure the right projects are delivered at the right time in the right places in line with our energy goals.

“These reforms will also make sure critical projects are not being delayed by objections from people thousands of kilometres away who will never be impacted by them – NSW locals should and will have the loudest voice.”

Scientists from the NSW Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are taking the lead on multi-million-dollar research projects focussing on tackling soil-borne diseases that are costing Australian crop farmers more than a billion dollars a year.

The projects are part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Soilborne Disease Initiative, a coordinated $34.6 million, five-year, Australia-wide research program. GRDC estimates soil-borne diseases cause $1.71 billion in lost grain production annually nationwide, including $1.23 billion in wheat alone.

The research projects are part of the Minns Labor Government’s record $1 billion biosecurity investment to protect and boost the economic growth of the state’s $25 billion primary industries sector.

The research, which is focused on fusarium crown rot in grains and cereals and Sclerotinia stem rot in broadleaf crops will provide growers with integrated disease management strategies to minimise yield loss and economic impacts.

Integrated disease management strategies could include a combination of crop rotation, stubble management, varietal disease tolerance, strategic fungicide use and novel strategies such as application of biological control agents.

• Fusarium crown rot mainly affects winter cereal crops including wheat, barley, durum wheat and triticale and is a major issue in dryland farming systems across Australia, including NSW. It is estimated to cost growers in NSW and Queensland around $112 million annually.
• Sclerotinia stem rot, often called “white mould”, is a major fungal disease that affects a range of broadleaf crops, particularly in higher rainfall or irrigated systems, including canola, chickpea, lupin, and faba bean. It is estimated to cost NSW southern region growers around $70 million annually.

The projects will also have a strong focus on skills transfer of research methodologies and capacity building to support the management of future soil-borne disease issues.

NSW DPIRD plant pathologist Dr Steven Simpfendorfer, a national expert on Fusarium crown rot, is leading the state’s contribution to that disease theme and DPIRD broadleaf crop pathologist Dr Kurt Lindbeck is leading the national theme on Sclerotinia stem rot.

The importance of managing soil-borne diseases has increased as growers adopt conservation cropping practices, in particular stubble retention, which has associated environmental benefits of reduced soil erosion, reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, increased water use efficiency, and improved drought resilience.

Soil-borne diseases also reduce nitrogen use efficiency, which not only increases the economic impact to farmers but also elevates greenhouse gas emissions through the need to apply more artificial fertiliser to compensate.

Recent crop vulnerability studies have highlighted that the impact of soil-borne diseases will increase further under future climate scenarios making this is a priority area for future sustainable land use and nature positive research.

Visit the GRDC website to learn more about the Soil-borne disease initiative.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Cropping is worth $11.6 billion to the NSW economy, so this research partnership between the NSW Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation is vital to provide growers with the knowledge and tools to tackle soil-borne diseases on their farms.

“This initiative will provide crop producers with the scientifically proven disease management strategies so they can remain productive as part of the state’s annual primary industries output worth $25.5 billion.

“These projects will bring wider benefits to the economic growth of NSW and maintain regional biosecurity expertise to respond to endemic and exotic crop disease issues.”

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Director Cropping Systems Guy McMullen said:

“NSW growers need regionally proven integrated disease management strategies so that soil-borne diseases do not become an economic barrier to continuing and further adoption of environmentally beneficial farming practices.

“Without such intervention, growers may have to resort to more aggressive stubble management practices such as burning and cultivation, which have associated negative impacts on the environment from soil erosion, air pollution through increased frequency of dust storms, and greenhouse gas emissions.

“The capacity building part of these projects is critical to ensuring the availability of expertise to respond to sporadic issues with endemic diseases and regional biosecurity capacity in the event of exotic incursions.”

Grains Research and Development Corporation Board Chair Sharon Starick said:

“Soil-borne diseases are responsible for more than half of total yield losses from disease in Australian grain crops.

“Through this initiative, GRDC will invest $20 million nationally, complemented by an additional $14 million from collaborating research partners.

“As part of the program, which builds on past research, we aim to equip Australian grain growers with practical, economic and innovative soil-borne disease management strategies that reduce the financial impact of these diseases on their farming businesses.”

Grains Research and Development Corporation Managing Director Nigel Hart said:

“We know this is a critical area for growers and advisers, which is why we have committed to bringing current and new research together in a highly effective multi-disciplinary way.

“By bringing together Australia’s leading researchers and communication and extension specialists, we’re ensuring growers and advisers have the information, support and confidence they need to adopt and implement new and improved disease management strategies.

“To help address the specific needs of the northern cropping regions, nodes will be developed in partnership with NSW DPIRD, University of Queensland, and the University of Southern Queensland.”

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we mourn the loss of two brave Marine Rescue NSW crew members who have died in a tragic incident at Ballina.

Our emergency services are the first to rush to the rescue of people in danger and last night two of our courageous volunteers made the ultimate sacrifice.

Along with four of their crew mates, the volunteers were heading to the aid of a yacht in distress when their Marine Rescue NSW vessel capsized.

In difficult and dark conditions, additional emergency services then raced to their assistance.

Sadly, the mariner on board the yacht has also lost their life, and we offer our condolences to their family.

Four of the Marine Rescue crew are receiving medical treatment, and we give heartfelt thanks for their safety and their courage throughout these terrible events.

The loss of these members of our emergency services is a tragedy for their families and friends, as well as the communities they helped protect. It is a loss that is deeply felt across all our emergency services, especially throughout the Marine Rescue family.

My heart goes out to their loved ones and fellow crew members at the Marine Rescue Ballina unit. Our thoughts and thanks are also with the emergency service members who came together to assist them.

This is a very difficult and heart-breaking time for such a tight knit community.

Background:

Two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from Ballina have lost their lives while coming to the aid of a stricken yacht on the State’s North Coast last night.

At approximately 6.15 pm on Monday evening, a Marine Rescue NSW crew from Ballina was responding to the distressed yacht off the South Ballina break wall when their boat capsized in heavy seas crossing the bar. The Marine Rescue NSW vessel had six crew members on board, four of whom made it to shore. Another person who was on board the yacht has also died.

Marine Rescue NSW is providing support to the volunteers’ families, unit members and rescue community through its wellbeing and chaplaincy services. Support for the community is also available through the 24/7 Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. For crisis support, call 13YARN (139 276) or Lifeline 13 11 14.

NSW Police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Minister for Emergency Services will travel to Ballina this afternoon.

Scientists from the NSW Government’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) are taking the lead on multi-million-dollar research projects focussing on tackling soil-borne diseases that are costing Australian crop farmers more than a billion dollars a year.

The projects are part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Soilborne Disease Initiative, a coordinated $34.6 million, five-year, Australia-wide research program. GRDC estimates soil-borne diseases cause $1.71 billion in lost grain production annually nationwide, including $1.23 billion in wheat alone.

The research projects are part of the Minns Labor Government’s record $1 billion biosecurity investment to protect and boost the economic growth of the state’s $25 billion primary industries sector.

The research, which is focused on fusarium crown rot in grains and cereals and Sclerotinia stem rot in broadleaf crops will provide growers with integrated disease management strategies to minimise yield loss and economic impacts.

Integrated disease management strategies could include a combination of crop rotation, stubble management, varietal disease tolerance, strategic fungicide use and novel strategies such as application of biological control agents.

• Fusarium crown rot mainly affects winter cereal crops including wheat, barley, durum wheat and triticale and is a major issue in dryland farming systems across Australia, including NSW. It is estimated to cost growers in NSW and Queensland around $112 million annually.
• Sclerotinia stem rot, often called “white mould”, is a major fungal disease that affects a range of broadleaf crops, particularly in higher rainfall or irrigated systems, including canola, chickpea, lupin, and faba bean. It is estimated to cost NSW southern region growers around $70 million annually.

The projects will also have a strong focus on skills transfer of research methodologies and capacity building to support the management of future soil-borne disease issues.

NSW DPIRD plant pathologist Dr Steven Simpfendorfer, a national expert on Fusarium crown rot, is leading the state’s contribution to that disease theme and DPIRD broadleaf crop pathologist Dr Kurt Lindbeck is leading the national theme on Sclerotinia stem rot.

The importance of managing soil-borne diseases has increased as growers adopt conservation cropping practices, in particular stubble retention, which has associated environmental benefits of reduced soil erosion, reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, increased water use efficiency, and improved drought resilience.

Soil-borne diseases also reduce nitrogen use efficiency, which not only increases the economic impact to farmers but also elevates greenhouse gas emissions through the need to apply more artificial fertiliser to compensate.

Recent crop vulnerability studies have highlighted that the impact of soil-borne diseases will increase further under future climate scenarios making this is a priority area for future sustainable land use and nature positive research.

Visit the GRDC website to learn more about the Soil-borne disease initiative.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Cropping is worth $11.6 billion to the NSW economy, so this research partnership between the NSW Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation is vital to provide growers with the knowledge and tools to tackle soil-borne diseases on their farms.

“This initiative will provide crop producers with the scientifically proven disease management strategies so they can remain productive as part of the state’s annual primary industries output worth $25.5 billion.

“These projects will bring wider benefits to the economic growth of NSW and maintain regional biosecurity expertise to respond to endemic and exotic crop disease issues.”

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Director Cropping Systems Guy McMullen said:

“NSW growers need regionally proven integrated disease management strategies so that soil-borne diseases do not become an economic barrier to continuing and further adoption of environmentally beneficial farming practices.

“Without such intervention, growers may have to resort to more aggressive stubble management practices such as burning and cultivation, which have associated negative impacts on the environment from soil erosion, air pollution through increased frequency of dust storms, and greenhouse gas emissions.

“The capacity building part of these projects is critical to ensuring the availability of expertise to respond to sporadic issues with endemic diseases and regional biosecurity capacity in the event of exotic incursions.”

Grains Research and Development Corporation Board Chair Sharon Starick said:

“Soil-borne diseases are responsible for more than half of total yield losses from disease in Australian grain crops.

“Through this initiative, GRDC will invest $20 million nationally, complemented by an additional $14 million from collaborating research partners.

“As part of the program, which builds on past research, we aim to equip Australian grain growers with practical, economic and innovative soil-borne disease management strategies that reduce the financial impact of these diseases on their farming businesses.”

Grains Research and Development Corporation Managing Director Nigel Hart said:

“We know this is a critical area for growers and advisers, which is why we have committed to bringing current and new research together in a highly effective multi-disciplinary way.

“By bringing together Australia’s leading researchers and communication and extension specialists, we’re ensuring growers and advisers have the information, support and confidence they need to adopt and implement new and improved disease management strategies.

“To help address the specific needs of the northern cropping regions, nodes will be developed in partnership with NSW DPIRD, University of Queensland, and the University of Southern Queensland.”