Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to support communities affected by recent bushfires, announcing today that recovery hubs will be established and hardship payments made available for individuals and families whose homes were destroyed or damaged or who are facing severe hardship due to the recent fires.

Recovery Hubs will be open in Woy Woy and Buledelah this Friday 12 December with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Vinnies, Salvation Army, Legal Aid, Red Cross and GIVIT, on hand to provide personal support to impacted communities.

The Minns Labor Government is partnering with local charities to deliver personal hardship payments of $900 to households where their home has been destroyed or severely damaged and up to $180 for households experiencing hardship as a result of the bushfires.

Recovery support is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the NSW Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Natural disaster declarations have been announced for seven Local Government Areas – Central Coast, Mid Coast, Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Warrumbungle, Dubbo and Lake Macquarie, with emergency services and local councils working alongside the NSW Reconstruction Authority to confirm the extent of damage and ensure residents can access help as quickly as possible.

Residents, businesses, primary producers and councils in the declared LGAs are now able to access a range of support including:

• Emergency accommodation and essential support for people whose homes have been damaged
• Clean up assistance for eligible property owners
• Grants for low income, uninsured residents to replace essential household items and undertake structural repairs needed to make homes safe and habitable
• Freight subsidies to move livestock and fodder and small business and primary producer low interest loans
• Assistance for councils and emergency services for counter disaster operations and essential public asset repairs

Information, including how to apply for payments and support for impacted communities, can be found by visiting a Recovery Hub or at nsw.gov.au/firerecoveryupdates.

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to deploy personnel and resources into impacted communities as the full extent of damage and support needs becomes clearer.

Community members wishing to support impacted residents can donate through GIVIT, which is coordinating goods, services and financial donations on behalf of the NSW Government to ensure help reaches communities in need. Visit givit.org.au for more information.

Central Coast Recovery Hub

• Location: Peninsula Community Centre, 98 McMasters Rd, Woy Woy
• Open: 1pm to 5pm – Friday 12 December
• Support services: NSW Reconstruction Authority, Central Coast Council, Service NSW, Vinnies, Legal Aid NSW

Bulahdelah Recovery Assistance Point

• Location: Bulahdelah School of Arts, 76 Crawford Street, Bulahdelah
• Open: 1pm to 5pm – Friday 12 December

To keep up to date on recovery support visit nsw.gov.au/firerecoveryupdates

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“These communities have faced fast moving and destructive fires, and our focus right now is making sure people have somewhere safe to stay and can access the essential support they need.

“Teams are on the ground working with combat agencies and councils to confirm damage to homes, businesses and public assets and support is already being delivered across all seven LGAs.”

The Minns Labor Government has enabled one of the world’s largest land transformation projects to get underway finalising the rezoning of BlueScope’s Port Kembla site to pave the way for a new high-tech precinct.

The Port Kembla Land Transformation Precinct, which matches the size of Sydney’s CBD, has been rezoned to deliver a future-focused hub that will support up to 20,000 jobs on top of the more than 10,000 jobs supported by the steelworks, and will help to drive Wollongong’s economic growth for decades to come.

This ambitious transformation began with the state’s first Cabinet-endorsed Working Group and has been finalised in just 7 months since being called in as a state-assessed rezoning in April.

The 200-hectare precinct will attract new industries across advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, sustainability-focused technology, education, creative sectors, data and logistics which will help position the Illawarra as a leader in next-generation industry.

The rezoning received an overwhelming positive response when put on public exhibition with 90% of the 209 submissions providing positive comments about the benefits of the project, including increased economic growth, new jobs, and improved public transport links.

The ongoing operations of the steelworks and the port will continue uninterrupted, with existing infrastructure and transport connections at the site to be leveraged to support new development.

The precinct will be developed in stages over the next 20 to 30 years. Development applications will be lodged for individual sites as these are progressed.

The Minns Labor Government fast-tracked the rezoning through a State Assessed Rezoning Proposal process, recognising its strategic importance for the region and the state.

To find out more, visit: NSW Planning.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is both one of the world’s largest land transformation and the biggest change to Illawarra’s industrial landscape since steelmaking commenced nearly 100 years ago.

“The finalisation of the rezoning enables the precinct to become a hub of innovation bringing up to 20 000 new jobs, new industries and opportunities to Wollongong, shaping our economy for the coming decades.

“This project will deliver major opportunities for not only Wollongong but the entire state and it’s clear the community recognise the importance as their strong community support has helped it move through the planning system in just 7 months.”

BlueScope Head of Property Development Michael Yiend said:

“The rezoning of Port Kembla’s non-operational land is a game-changer for the Illawarra, unlocking new possibilities for investment and development.

“We would like to thank Minister Scully and the NSW Government for supporting this accelerated pathway to rezoning. The community’s positive feedback has played a vital role in shaping the outcome, and we express our appreciation to the community for their support.

“We were overwhelmed to have received over 200 supportive submissions for the project while on public exhibition, with only 4 opposing. It is rare to have this level of alignment and support across industry, government, business and the community.”  

The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitments to protect human rights in government supply chains by issuing a Ministerial Direction that will require NSW Government agencies to take stronger action to address modern slavery risks.

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos has directed all NSW Government agencies to include modern slavery tender clauses in procurement categories identified as ‘high risk’. It will come into effect next month with a six month transition period, giving agencies time to adjust their procurement processes.

This means that any supplier bidding for high-risk government contracts will need to clearly demonstrate the steps they are taking to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.

It demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to improving procurement practices to address modern slavery.

Model clauses have been designed by the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner as a resource for agencies implementing the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner’s Guidance on Reasonable Steps. Agencies will have flexibility in how they comply – such as using supplier assessment questionnaires – while ensuring the Direction’s effectiveness.

This reform reflects collaboration between the NSW Procurement Board and the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner. The Minns Labor Government has already delivered significant reforms to protect human rights in procurement, including:

• Strengthening the Supplier Code of Conduct to clarify expectations on modern slavery and human rights.
• Rolling out education modules on managing modern slavery risks to more than 4,000 government personnel.
• Supporting 20 of 22 recommendations from the Parliamentary Inquiry into procurement, including mandating modern slavery clauses and incorporating modern slavery standards into compliance checks.
• Implementing the Guidance on Reasonable Steps and develop practical tools such as the Inherent Risk Identification Tool.
• Committing to the establishment of a debarment regime to ban suppliers engaging in serious misconduct from doing business with the NSW Government.

The Ministerial Direction is part of a broader procurement reform agenda that includes increasing the threshold at which government agencies can award contracts to small businesses without going to tender to $250,000 and mandating local market testing for government contracts above $7.5 million.

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“The NSW Government is committed to addressing modern slavery risks in our supply chains. This Direction is an important outcome of the Government’s ongoing work with the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner.

“The NSW Government spends around $40 billion on goods and services each year. This buying power gives us a unique opportunity to influence supply chains, demand ethical practices, and dismantle systems of exploitation.

“Job creation should go hand-in-hand with ethical sourcing. We want to see new jobs that are sustainable, and supply chains managing the risk of exploitation.”

NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner Dr James Cockayne said:

“This Direction is an important step towards establishing NSW as a model contracting party on anti-slavery issues. It will help NSW Government entities take reasonable steps to manage modern slavery risks in their supply-chains.

“Mandating the Model Tender Clauses for high-risk procurements means that agencies must, from 1 July next year, assess suppliers against the Guidance on Reasonable Steps I issued two years ago.

“I look forward to continuing to work with NSW Government to further progress implementation of this Guidance, including in contracting, in months ahead.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals have secured important improvements to Labor’s Workers Compensation proposals. 
 
The outcome balances three imperatives: affordability for employers, protection for injured workers, and long-term sustainability of the scheme. 
 
Significantly the agreement will see: 
·                 iCare premiums frozen at the current rate for 18 months  
·                 Improved protections for the most injured workers with an additional 12 months of medical benefits and income support and  
·                 Increased funding for return-to-work programs, including retraining, mentoring and specialist case workers  
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said from the outset the NSW Liberals and Nationals mounted a case against Labor’s original plan to cut entitlements for injured workers, particularly those with permanent psychological injuries. 
 
“Our consistent position has been that reform should focus on the front end of the scheme, targeting rorts, inefficiencies, and poor return-to-work outcomes that drive premium increases and productivity losses. That remains our position today,” Ms Sloane said.  
 
However, prolonged uncertainty was no longer sustainable.  
 
“Small businesses and charities should not be heading into Christmas facing unknown premium shocks, and injured workers must have certainty of support and recovery pathways. NSW must also have a sustainable Workers Compensation system,” Ms Sloane said.  
 
“As new Leader, my priority was to reset negotiations with the Treasurer to stabilise premiums for business while strengthening protections for workers with psychological injuries,” she said. 
 
“Neither side achieved everything it sought. But this agreement represents a clear and material improvement on the Government’s original position.” 
 
Ms Sloane said the resolved framework delivers stronger protections for the most seriously injured workers, including enhanced return-to-work support and increased access to medical benefits.  
 
The arrangements will remain in place while the State’s Chief Psychiatrist develops a new, clinically robust test for permanent psychological injury. 
 
However, Ms Sloane made clear the Opposition does not endorse Labor’s broader handling of the workers compensation system. 
 
“This agreement resolves immediate instability, but it does not fix the underlying structural weaknesses in the scheme,” she said. 
 
“The Opposition does not support the Government’s overall approach, and we remain committed to pursuing meaningful, long-term structural reform to ensure NSW has a Workers Compensation system that is fair, compassionate, and financially sound.” 
 
“We will continue to hold the Government to account until that reform is delivered.” 
 
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said this deal is a win for business, and a win for injured workers.  
  
“Small business is the lifeblood of regional NSW, and right now they’re doing it tough. Premiums have increased significantly under the Minns Labor Government, putting pressure on bottom lines,” Mr Singh said.  
  
“The Liberal and Nationals amendments put a firm limit in the legislation, making sure the government can’t approve any rise in premiums. It’s a safeguard for employers and a reminder that affordability must stay front and centre. 
  
“More work is needed to shield businesses from bogus claims, but our amendments give employers some certainty as we head into the Christmas period.” 
 
Under the NSW Liberals and Nationals proposal, the NSW Government has agreed to the following: 
1.               The Whole Person Impairment (WPI) thresholds at 25% (in July 2026) rather than the original 31% proposed by the Government.  
2.               The reasonable management action defence may be triggered where it is the significant cause of injury. 
3.               A legislated restriction on iCare premiums, under which no average premium increases may be approved. Existing premium settings will apply with no additional increase. 
4.               A legislated cap on iCare premiums, which will sunset in 18 months, by which time the Chief Psychiatrist’s report is expected to be completed. 
5.               The Treasurer will be given a regulation-making power to adjust the WPI threshold to present settings below the legislated cap where it is in the public interest. 
6.               The establishment of a new “Return to Work Intensive” year, under which a worker with 
7.               WPI above 20% but below the maximum WPI threshold will receive: 
1.               An additional 52 weeks of medical benefits 
2.               An additional 52 weeks of income replacement at 60% of PIAWE 
3.               Appropriate training, mentoring, and other supports to facilitate a return to work 
8.               Increased funding for return-to-work programs, including retraining, mentoring, and specialist case workers. 
9.               The development of a successor program to Business Connect with a comparable budget, informed by expert consultation.  

Today’s second damning report from the Commonwealth Ombudsman into the administration of the “mutual obligations” welfare system should leave Labor with no choice but to halt all suspensions of Centrelink payments and compulsory activities, The Greens say.

The “mutual obligations” system, familiar to anyone who has been on JobSeeker, forces hundreds of thousands of people to participate in harmful and time-wasting activities which do nothing to help people find work, but cost taxpayers billions in contracts to private providers to administer every year. 

Today’s Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report into the Targeted Compliance Framework (which operationalises “mutual obligations”) found that privatised employment service providers regularly make inappropriate decisions resulting in a high rate of decisions being overturned, that oversight of job service agencies is poor and lacking in transparency, that communications about income support penalties from DEWR are misleading.

The Ombudsman also affirmed the pointlessness of this punishing and costly system, citing evidence that there are not enough jobs for majority of JobSeekers:

“Stigmatisation of unsuccessful job seekers as people who are reluctant to accept employment may contribute to the limited oversight of providers and possible narrow administration of the program, despite the evidence telling us that the majority of the 652,300 current job seekers are in fact unlikely to find ongoing employment no matter how hard they try, given that current unemployment in Australia is close to the natural level of unemployment with respect to the inflation rate.” (p5)

Under mutual obligations, over a hundred thousand income support suspensions are issued by private providers each month, with dismal accountability and at arms length from the government. 321,995 payment suspensions have been inflicted on 205,870 JobSeekers under this system between May and July of this year alone (14:56)

A previous review of the Targeted Compliance Framework conducted in September found that the lawfulness of these payment suspensions cannot be assured (pg7).

In Senate Estimates in October, the Minister for Youth Jess Walsh, representing the Minister for Employment, refused to say she had confidence that the system was operating lawfully (14:52). Yet thousands of decisions to take essential payments away from JobSeekers continue under this system every day.

Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens spokesperson for Social Services:

“Today’s report confirms what any JobSeeker already knows: the ‘mutual obligations’ system is pointless, cruel, and rather than helping people, treats people on income support as disposable.”

“For too long, dodgy companies like Sarina Russo and APM have cashed in millions of dollars on the outsourcing of massive parts of our welfare system.”

“Private job agencies take food off the table of thousands of JobSeekers with almost no accountability, transparency or oversight, and meanwhile Labor doesn’t seem to care if the system is even lawful.”

“Nothing in this report will fix the rotten soul of this system, which grants dodgy private job agencies extraordinary power over people’s lives with no oversight or accountability. The mutual obligations system needs to be abolished.”

“We can’t keep punishing people for not finding jobs which don’t actually exist.”

The Minns Government’s new Drought Coordinator has hit the ground running and will play a key role in strengthening support for communities in southern NSW most affected by drought.

In addition, the NSW Government is also launching a major direct electronic mail, print, radio and social media campaign designed to ensurefarmers and communities in southern NSW are aware of the drought support available from both the State and Federal Governments.

Ray Willis has stepped into the role of Drought Coordinator and brings extensive experience and local knowledge as the General Manager of Riverina Local Land Services.

By hearing firsthand about local drought impacts and the challenges communities face, he will provide on-ground feedback to government, helping to ensure support meets local needs.

Since being appointed in late November, he has met with several key stakeholders, including Snowy Valleys Council, the Drought Innovation Hub and representatives from the Rural Financial Counselling Service and a range of financial institutions.

Over the coming weeks and months, community members can expect the Drought Coordinator to be travelling across southern NSW, attending local events, convening roundtables, and working closely with service providers to strengthen support networks.

He will also bring together government agencies to improve collaboration and enhance how information on drought support is communicated with communities.

In addition to the appointment of the Drought Coordinator the Minns Government will, over the coming weeks, undertake a major communications campaign focused on ensuring farmers, businesses and locals have a full understanding of both Federal and State drought support available.

The communications will include:

• Radio and print advertising: A two-week campaign commencing in January to raise awareness of drought support.
• Social media campaign: Running from 15 December through January and February, highlighting government assistance available to communities.
• Direct mail outreach: A special edition electronic mailout sent to 7,864 recipients in the Riverina and Murray regions, providing detailed information on drought support and outlining the role of the Drought Coordinator.
• Local Land Services offices: Drought support flyers available in offices to ensure information is accessible at the community level.

Support available for farmers through the NSW Government includes:

• Low-interest loans through the $250 million Drought Ready and Resilient Fund
• Farm management tools like MyStockPlanner designed to assist farmers manage variable pasture nutrition, a key challenge in a green drought.
• On-ground support and advice is available through Local Land Services including the Drought Adoption Officer Program.
• Better recognition of drought conditions through the Seasonal Conditions Monitoring Program.
• Mental health services such as the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.
• $41.5 million has been allocated 2025-26 Budget to support research and development, with a key priority to improve climate resilience.
• Co-funded resilience programs including the Farm Business Resilience Program and Regional Drought Resilience Program.
• Access to a range of other online resources through the NSW DroughtHub.

The Drought Coordinator has been appointed for six months initially. However, the role may extend and expand its reach as needed into other parts of NSW as drought conditions evolve.

Those interested in reaching out and engaging with the Drought Coordinator can contact drought@lls.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting rural and regional communities in times of drought and has a wide range of support available for farmers.

“The appointment of a Drought Coordinator is one way we’re making sure that impacted communities have a direct line to government about the challenges they’re facing and how support can better meet their needs.

“Our major communication campaign will also ensure everyone who needs to know is fully across the drought assistance that is on offer.

“Ray will provide regular updates on local conditions, highlight emerging issues and challenges, and share advice based off community experience and local expertise to help shape government decision-making.”

Drought Coordinator Ray Willis said:

“Having a dedicated drought coordinator on the ground to serve impacted regions across NSW is another touchpoint for landholders to access the help they need to get through these challenging times.”

“I look forward to meeting and listening to as many farmers, stakeholders and service providers as possible to hear their perspective of the challenges they face and better inform government of the types of assistance and information required to get them through these dry times.”

Sydney will take centre stage in February when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Qudos Bank Arena for UFC 325.

On 1 February, Australian sporting icon, and current and two-time featherweight champion, Alex ‘The Great’ Volkanovski will defend his title in front of his home fans for the first time in a blockbuster showdown against Diego Lopes. The event is expected to sell out and attract fans from across Australia and around the globe.

The third, massive pay-per-view card secured as part of the Minns Labor Government’s multi-event agreement with the UFC comes after the previous two events collectively delivered millions of dollars for the state’s visitor economy.

This highly anticipated event will deliver a major boost to the NSW visitor economy – filling hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars, while showcasing Sydney as Australia’s premier city for world-class sporting experiences to a vast international audience.

Hosting UFC 325 supports the Minns Labor Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which sets an ambitious goal of $91 billion in visitor expenditure. A key pillar of the strategy is delivering a dynamic, nation-leading calendar of major events that drives visitation and supports the jobs and businesses that rely on year-round tourism.

The announcement adds to Sydney’s stellar line-up of major sporting events for 2026, including the United Cup, New Year’s Ashes Test, Sydney Sail GP, AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Sydney 500, State of Origin, NRL and NRLW Grand Finals, Rugby League World Cup and the TCS Sydney Marathon Abbott World Marathon Major.

Secured by the Minns Labor Government, UFC 325 will showcase Sydney to the sport’s global TV audience of millions, reinforcing the city’s position as a premier destination for unforgettable sporting experiences.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“I am thrilled to see UFC make its return to Sydney for what is expected to be an incredible sell-out event.

“We are laser focused on ensuring we continue to secure a calendar of exclusive, diverse and unmissable events to boost the state’s economy, support local businesses and create more jobs, and that’s exactly what these events do.

“And what better city than Sydney for Wollongong local and Australian UFC legend Alex Volkanovski to defend his featherweight title for the first time on Australian soil.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism and Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“It is incredibly exciting that Sydney will take centre stage next February for this blockbuster event, which will draw thousands of fans from across the world and inject millions into the NSW visitor economy.

“UFC 325 will reaffirm Sydney’s position on the world stage as a leading destination for unforgettable, world-class sporting experiences.

“And I know that the whole of NSW will be behind Wollongong’s hometown hero Alex Volkanovski!””

The Minns Labor Government is today launching its landmark strategy to respond to the perpetration of domestic and family violence in New South Wales.

Building Better Responses: NSW Strategy to Respond to the Use of Domestic and Family Violence 2026–2030 is NSW’s first dedicated plan aimed at disrupting domestic and family violence and focusing on those who cause or may cause harm.

The purpose of this strategy is to drive a whole-of-government, coordinated approach to respond to people who perpetrate domestic and family violence and integrates prevention, intervention, response and recovery efforts.

The Minns Government allocated $5 million in the 2024/25 Budget for perpetrator research and effective interventions. Part of that funding was to develop this Strategy, with an Action Plan for implementing it.

New South Wales is only the second state to have a strategy dedicated to addressing the use of violence and holding perpetrators to account, while prioritising victim-survivor safety. 

In 2024, NSW Police recorded more than 100,000 domestic violence–related crimes, and 39 people in New South Wales were killed in domestic violence-related murders.

BOCSAR data reveals that in the last 10 years, domestic violence sexual offences increased by 103 per cent, domestic violence assaults by 31 per cent and breaches of Apprehended Violence Orders increase by 90 per cent.

The strategy focuses on stopping, disrupting and changing perpetrators’ harmful behaviours.

Actions under the strategy will be rolled out over time, including continuing work that is already underway, such as the Men’s Behaviour Change Program, strengthening services, building evidence on effective interventions, improving collaboration between services and evaluating progress.

The government consulted with more than 300 stakeholders, including people with lived experience, service providers, peak bodies, academics and regional communities in developing this strategy, with all calling for stronger, earlier action to prevent the use of violence.

The strategy highlights six priorities to better target the drivers of domestic and family violence:

• Supporting children and young people
• Preventing the use of domestic and family violence
• Strengthening interventions and behaviour-change options
• Ensuring all services and systems work together
• Building the workforce’s skills, resources and capacity to work with or refer people who use violence to appropriate services
• Strengthening data and evidence to guide best practice.

The strategy complements whole-of-government efforts already underway through the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022–2027 and Pathways to Prevention Strategy 2024–2028, creating a more holistic and evidence-driven response to domestic violence.

This includes being the first state in Australia to legislate a specific non-parole period for intimate partner homicide and the implementation of NSW’s first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy alongside record investment in crisis support.

To find out more, https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/service-providers/supporting-family-domestic-sexual-violence-services/domestic-family-sexual-violence-plans-and-strategies.html

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Domestic and family violence demands urgent action on all fronts. As a government we continue to ensure victim-survivors receive the crucial wraparound support they need when escaping violence.

“However, safety should not rest on the shoulders of those who have been harmed. More must be done to keep our communities safe.

“It is essential to prevent violence from happening in the first place, with work having already begun in primary prevention.

“This strategy is the next step. Real change requires addressing the perpetration of violence, to strengthen our responses to people who use domestic and family violence.

“There is no room for domestic and family violence in our community. The NSW Government is working to stop violence at its source so that everyone can live free of fear and violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:

“We need action on multiple fronts to address the shocking rates of domestic and family violence we see in NSW. Policies and programs focused on people who use violence are essential to improve accountability, prevent further violence, and keep women and children safe.

“This new strategy represents an important step towards a more holistic approach to addressing domestic and family violence that includes prevention, early intervention, response and recovery efforts. I welcome this strategy and believe it has the potential to make families and communities safer.”

CEO No to Violence Phillip Ripper said:

“No to Violence welcomes this historic moment in Australia’s efforts to end men’s use of family violence.

“The release of NSW’s first dedicated strategy to stop violence at the source is a landmark achievement by the Minns Government and a significant shift toward genuine prevention.

“By placing responsibility back on the source of harm, the Minns Government is leading the nation. We now call on the Commonwealth and all other states and territories to follow NSW’s lead and develop a coordinated national approach focused on people who use violence.

“We thank Premier Chris Minns, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison, and the NSW Cabinet for their leadership and commitment in delivering this important reform.”

CEO Domestic Violence NSW Delia Donovan said:

“We welcome the state’s first strategy dedicated to addressing people who use violence. It offers a significant opportunity to build a more effective, accountable and holistic approach to preventing and responding to domestic and family violence.

“As the strategy is implemented, it’s essential that the specialist domestic and family violence sector is recognised and engaged as a key expert in designing and embedding programs and responses for people who use violence. Genuine impact will also depend on meaningful and sustained funding to ensure that services are properly resourced to deliver the actions proposed and meet the strategy’s objectives.

“With these essential elements in place, this strategy has the capacity to drive long-term change, strengthen accountability, and ultimately contribute to a safer future for victim-survivors across NSW.”

Support:

For information on Men’s Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.

The Minns Government is investing more than $6.38 million in two major projects in the New England region to strengthen the local economy and create new jobs, as part of its broader plan to drive economic development across regional NSW.

This funding reflects the Government’s commitment to working with local partners to deliver smart, targeted investments that make a real difference to regional communities.

Through the NSW Regional Development Trust, the Government will contribute $6.38 million, with the two local businesses adding a further $7.16 million — bringing total investment to $13.5 million to support new training, skills development and job creation in the New England region.

The two projects receiving funds are:

• International Flight Training Tamworth – $6.61 million for major upgrades to the Tamworth facility to attract new tenants and investment
• Upgrades will include new lighting, replacing heating, and new ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to ensure the facility meets industry standards.
• The project will bolster the Tamworth Aviation Precinct’s reputation as a leading pilot training hub in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region, creating new employment opportunities and driving economic growth while meeting critical global demand for Australian-trained pilots.
• The investment will increase pilot training capacity to over 200 pilots annually, creating direct and indirect business and employment opportunities.
• NSW Government will contribute $5 million and the Tamworth Council will contribute $1.61 million to the project
• Medicinal cannabis manufacturing company, ABC CAN – $6.93 million to invest in infrastructure and create 20 jobs at its Armidale facility
• Facility upgrades will include improvements to cultivation areas, processing rooms and secure storage, helping to strengthen efficiency, quality and future export readiness.
• The improvements will see the company significantly increase throughput to meet growing domestic and export demand and create 20 new jobs on top of its existing 80 staff across cultivation, manufacturing, quality and logistics.
• The project will also grow local capability by expanding in-house curriculum and practical training for specialised roles in cultivation and manufacturing, supporting career opportunities in a regional industry with national growth potential.
• NSW Government will contribute $1.38 million and ABC CAN will contribute $5.55 million to the project

Investments through the NSW Government’s Regional Development Trust represent a new approach by the Minns Government to funding shovel-ready regional projects that create jobs and attract fresh investment.

For more information go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“This funding is about delivering new jobs and investment for regional communities.

‘Working with two local dynamic and innovative businesses we are supporting projects that create jobs, grow local businesses and improve essential services.

“By investing in infrastructure and innovation, we’re helping communities thrive now and into the future.

“The International Flight Training investment is about securing NSW’s place as a leader in aviation training.

“By upgrading international training facilities we’re helping ensure NSW remains at the forefront of global aviation standards.

“ABC CAN is doing incredible work to provide safe, high-quality medicinal cannabis for patients who need it.

“By supporting this company we are also supporting the New England region in diversification of crops and industries to help grow economic resilience.”

Tamworth Region Mayor, Russell Webb said:

“We are grateful to the NSW Government for this investment in the International Flight Training Tamworth, a facility our community is very proud of.

“With over 300 favourable flying days annually, Tamworth is the ideal setting for cadets looking to take off in their aviation careers.

“Funding infrastructure like this supports regional communities like Tamworth to contribute to the growth and success of the aviation industry locally, and internationally.”

ABC CAN Chief Financial Officer, Max Taylor said:

“We are honoured to be a recipient of this grant, which represents a strong endorsement of our contribution to regional NSW and Australia’s emerging medicinal cannabis industry.

“As Australia’s largest exporter of medicinal cannabis and one of Armidale’s largest employers, we are committed to strengthening sovereign manufacturing capability and advancing the development of a skilled regional workforce.

“This investment will help accelerate sustainable growth, create high-quality jobs and enable the delivery of premium-grade, Australian-grown plant medicine – supporting both local and international demand.”

Bed block in state hospitals has surged by over 50 per cent over the past year.

Despite this, emergency department (ED) treatment times are continuing to show signs of turning around with the state achieving another yearly improvement in T2 emergency treatment times.

Data released today in the latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) MyHospitals update reinforces this improvement, showing that despite having the highest demand for emergency care in the country, NSW hospitals had the shortest emergency care wait times in the country for 2024-25.

T2 emergency treatment times continue to turn around

The latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) quarterly report shows ED treatment times are turning around during this same period.

NSW hospitals recorded a third consecutive increase in a quarter of the number of T2 emergency patients being treated within ten minutes, when compared to the same quarters in 2024. 

It follows increases in the number of T2 patients being treated within ten minutes in the March 2025 quarter as well as the June 2025 quarter, compared to the same quarters in the previous year.

T2 emergency patients are among the most unwell including those suffering from chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe fractures, serious abdominal pain and sepsis – and need to be treated within ten minutes.

Some of the state’s busiest hospitals saw significant increases in the proportion of T2 emergency patients being treated within ten minutes when compared to the same quarter the previous year:

• Bankstown Hospital – increasing by half (from 31.6 per cent to 47.4 per cent)
• Blacktown Hospital – increasing by over a half (from 22.4 per cent to 35.2 per cent)
• Campbelltown Hospital – more than doubling (from 11.8 per cent to 30.1 per cent)
• Liverpool Hospital – almost doubling (from 33.6 per cent to 61.9 per cent)

It is particularly noteworthy given the July-September quarter is generally regarded as the busiest of the year, as winter illnesses circulate the community.

This improvement is part of the Minns Labor Government’s broader work to rebuild essential health services, by recruiting more health workers, delivering more  beds, expanding urgent care options, and fixing the problems too long ignored.

Improvements in ED performance come as the number of semi-urgent and non-urgent presentations to EDs have decreased by almost 20,000 in the July-September 2025 quarter compared to the same quarter the previous year.

In addition, half a million people called Healthdirect in the year to September 2025 – almost 55 per cent of these or 222,000 were referred to an alternative pathway to an emergency department, which includes GPs, virtual care, urgent care or allied health. This is a direct result of the Minns Labor Government investing into more pathways to care outside the ED through Healthdirect and the expansion of urgent and virtual care.

The Bureau of Health Information also released its survey results for the patients’ experiences in emergency departments in 2024-25. Around one in 10 patients (11%) said they thought their condition ‘definitely’ could have been treated by a GP or other health professional. The most common reasons for not seeing a GP or health professional included that the service was closed or they couldn’t get an appointment within a reasonable time.

The ED performance improvements are a result of over half a billion dollars in major initiatives by the Minns Labor Government to relieve pressure on our hospitals, including:

• Completing the rollout of nurse safe staffing ratios at 18 hospital EDs and recruiting for nurse safe staffing ratios at a further 28 hospital EDs;
• Expanding virtual care across the entire state;
• Establishing more short stay units and expanding hospital in the home; and
• Freeing up more GPs by empowering pharmacists to treat less complex conditions.

The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering the hospitals the community needs and deserves, after the Liberals failed to build Rouse Hill and Bankstown hospitals; and failed to deliver enough beds for Blacktown and Mount Druitt.

Commonwealth bed block surges 

The number of patients exceeding their estimated date of discharge in NSW public hospitals because they are waiting to access a Commonwealth aged care or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) placement increased from 747 to 1,151 in the year to 30 September 2025.

The number of these patients increased by 5.6 per cent in the September quarter alone.

The biggest yearly increases have occurred at some of the state’s largest hospitals:

• Westmead – from 33 to 60
• Wyong – from 28 to 48
• Campbelltown – from 26 to 42
• Calvary Mater – from 6 to 42
• Nepean – from 25 to 41
• Gosford – from 12 to 39
• St George – from 5 to 30
• Blacktown – from 7 to 18
• Shoalhaven – from 6 to 16
• Wollongong – from 5 to 14

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Commonwealth bed block has surged in NSW hospitals by over 50 per cent in just a single year, and this is simply not sustainable. 

“Commonwealth bed block has serious consequences for our state hospitals – from wards, to surgeries that can’t be conducted, to people waiting for beds in the ED.

“Imagine if Westmead and Mount Druitt hospitals were ripped out from our health system, that’s what Commonwealth bed block is doing to NSW right now.

“I want to thank our health workers for delivering another yearly improvement in ED T2 emergency treatment time performance.

“This is a result of fewer people presenting with semi-urgent and non-urgent conditions, thanks to people contacting Healthdirect and receiving treatment through virtual and urgent care.

“I do want to reiterate, if you have less urgent conditions, you can expect longer wait times, and you can spare yourself a wait in an ED by phoning Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, where you can speak to a registered nurse who will advise you of your pathways to care outside of the hospital.

“No one will forget that the Liberals decimated the health system by planning to sack over 1,100 nurses; refusing to implement safe staffing ratios in EDs; failing to build Rouse Hill and Bankstown Hospital; failing to deliver enough beds for Blacktown and Mount Druitt; and planning to privatise six acute public hospitals across the state.”