Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build better connected regional communities, with the proposed design of a major Queanbeyan intersection at Ellerton Drive, Yass and Bungendore roads unveiled today.

When completed, the intersection upgrade will reduce congestion, improve safety and provide better pedestrian and cyclist connectivity.

Under the proposed design, traffic lights will replace the existing roundabout to improve safety by better controlling traffic flow and reducing the likelihood of crashes.

The design includes:

• two through lanes in all directions
• dedicated left and right turn lanes on all legs
• signalised pedestrian crossings on all roads at the intersection
• on-road cycle lanes from Ellerton Drive to Yass Road
• relocation of the bus stop on Bungendore Road
• installation of a new bus stop on Ellerton Drive and
• upgraded footpaths.

Community members can provide their feedback on the designs by completing a survey available at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/yass-bungendore-ellerton-intersection   or by writing to the project team at southprojects@transport.nsw.gov.au before April 13.

Feedback from consultation will be used to inform and refine the design before construction progresses.

Utility investigations will be carried out by Transport for NSW over the coming weeks to further inform the design. Workers will be in the area borehole drilling to locate existing utilities underground.

Work will be carried out from Monday 17 March for up to four weeks between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday with occasional work on Saturday between 8am and 1pm. To reduce impacts to motorists and local businesses, some work will be carried out at night between 8pm and 5am from Sunday to Thursday.

Single lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place during work hours.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government has committed $19 million from the Regional Roads Fund towards the future major upgrade of this intersection.

“We know that after 12 years of neglect from the Nationals we need to make investments like this to improve travel times for local families and make Monaro roads safer.

“This intersection of particular concern to people and that’s why along with the major upgrade work, we’ve already provided short term relief by installing the pedestrian refuge and additional right-turn lane earlier this year.”

Member for Monaro, Steve Whan MP said:

“The upgrade of the Ellerton Drive Bungendore Road intersection (often known as the Spotlight roundabout) was a key election promise I made in 2023.  It is a complex intersection, and planning has taken some time, the release of these plans is a very important step forward. 

“This is currently a bottleneck for people commuting to Canberra for work, another problem ignored by the Nationals but tackled by the Minns Labor Government.

“We are honouring our election commitment to invest more in Monaro roads, and I encourage everyone in the community to check out the proposed upgrade designs and provide feedback.”

From next Monday, 17 March, free immunisation from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be available to all newborn babies.

It will mean all newborn babies in NSW can be protected against serious illness from this virus, with an estimated 1,150 babies under six months of age avoiding hospitalisation for RSV in NSW each year.  

The NSW Government is expanding eligibility for infant immunisation from a more targeted vulnerable cohort.

The NSW Government will offer nirsevimab, a type of monoclonal antibody immunisation to:

• Infants at birth not protected by maternal RSV vaccination;
• Infants at birth with certain medical conditions that place them at highest risk of serious RSV disease, irrespective of whether their birth mother was vaccinated; and
• Children up to 24 months of age with certain medical conditions.

Nirsevimab will be given to eligible newborns before hospital discharge. 

Since February, pregnant women have been eligible for a free RSV vaccination (Abrysvo) which passes protection to their babies for the first fives months of life.

Maternal vaccination for RSV is recommended for women between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

It is provided through the National Immunisation Program.

With the combined coverage of free maternal vaccination and free infant immunisation, all newborn babies in NSW can be protected.

RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness infecting up to 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life.

It can affect anyone, but the infection is more severe in children under one year of age, who may develop bronchiolitis or pneumonia requiring hospitalisation.

In NSW between 2016 and 2023, there were more than 52,000 hospitalisations with an RSV diagnosis, of which approximately 41 per cent were in children aged less than 1 year.

Further information on how to protect yourself and others from RSV can be found on the NSW Health website here.

NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“RSV can be very serious, and I know how stressful and anxiety-inducing such a condition can be for parents.

“Today, we can announce that from next week, all newborns can access protection from RSV for free.

“It doubles the options for protection of newborns, either through maternal vaccination or infant immunisation.

“This will keep babies out of hospital, and at home with their family.”

NSW Chief Paediatrician Dr Helen Goodwin:

“RSV can be a serious illness in babies and young children, and I want to encourage parents to make sure their babies are protected, either through maternal vaccination or immunisation at birth with nirsevimab.

“Nirsevimab is safe and effective. It provides antibodies directly to the infant, so they have immediate protection against RSV that lasts for five months.”

New technology trials to improve the road safety of motorists and reduce the number wildlife vehicle strikes, particularly of koalas, kangaroos and wombats, will be rolled out in coming weeks, delivering on an election commitment by the Minns Labor Government.

Road engineers and safety experts are working with wildlife experts on two key trials:

• A trial of light-coloured pavement marking will test whether lighter pavement surfaces make it easier for drivers to avoid wildlife. This work will begin in April at the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre in Cudal and will focus on a driver’s ability to see animals on existing and lighter road surfaces at varying vehicle speeds.
• Artificial Intelligence assisted animal detection systems linked to ‘smart’ roadside signage. A trial at a Transport for NSW facility at Yennora in Western Sydney will ‘train’ AI cameras to identify common wildlife including kangaroos, koalas and wombats and link that to smart road signage to warn drivers of the presence of animals on the road and roadside in real time.

These trials are made possible by a $500,000 election commitment to investigate the use of emerging technologies as measures to reduce wildlife vehicle strike.

These initiatives complement existing measures being deployed to protect native wildlife and improve motorist safety travelling along some of the state’s busiest roads.

Additional wildlife road safety initiatives include:

• New road markings to increase awareness of known koala hotspots.  Motorists along Appin Road in Sydney’s southwest will soon notice new road markings in known koala zones between Rosemeadow in Campbelltown south to Appin township. The design will feature the outline of a koala and the word “slow” to increase driver awareness of active koala colonies.
   
• One-way koala escape doors. Koalas frequently attempt to cross roads in search of mates or new habitat. The one-way doors allow koalas to escape the road corridor where fencing is in place, but do not allow them to pass back through into traffic. Escape doors have been installed on koala fencing along the Hume Highway near Wilton, at the Nepean Bridge and Moolgun Creek Bridge, and will be installed on Appin Road near Gilead. Escape doors complement the existing timber pole escape structures and will be installed in several locations in south-west Sydney in the next year.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“Wildlife vehicle strike is a serious road safety issue, as well as impacting badly on our native fauna.

“Protecting our native wildlife along busy transport corridors and areas with growing communities is a real challenge for the NSW Government and Transport for NSW.

“We have committed to do more and I’m pleased that we’re making progress, implementing new protection measures and starting trials on emerging technologies.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Wildlife vehicle strikes represent a significant road safety issue and pose a threat to our native fauna, which is why the Minns Labor Government is committed to implementing effective mitigation strategies.

“With over 220,000 kilometres of public roads in NSW, our focus is on reducing animal strikes through collaboration with experts and community groups to safeguard both motorists and wildlife.

“The upcoming trial at our Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre at Cudal near Orange will pave the way for safer roads and better outcomes for our wildlife.”

Member for Campbelltown Greg Warren said:

“Appin Road is a key east-west transport corridor with growing communities along it, which creates a real challenge for protecting a healthy and active koala population.

“A variety of measures are being used to redirect animals away from the roadway, including, underpasses, rope crossing, barriers and fences.

“I understand the community concern and expectation around wildlife management. These measures will continue Transport’s work to meet community standards when it comes to wildlife safety but also expectations around effective infrastructure to support these growing areas.”

Emma Hurst MLC said:

“Wildlife vehicle strike is both a major animal welfare issue and a risk for drivers.

“There is a lot to be done in this space to protect both human and animal life, so it’s promising to see the work being done by Transport for NSW in consultation with animal welfare groups, including the trials of AI technology and lighter pavements to improve wildlife visibility.”

Background

• Transport for NSW is working with all levels of government, experts, and community groups and using proven techniques, such as fencing and connectivity structures, as well as exploring emerging technologies to reduce wildlife vehicle strikes and enhance habitat connectivity.
• There are more than 220,000 kilometres of public roads in NSW including over 40,000 kilometres of State and Regional roads and over 180,000 kilometres of local roads.

Impact on wildlife:

• BioNet data between 2013 -2024 shows that kangaroos are the most reported mammal species involved in animal strikes across NSW, followed by wallabies, wombats then possums.
• Koalas have the highest number of reported vehicle strikes of all threatened species.
• Transport is proactively collaborating with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water NSW Koala Strategy to identify and prioritise koala vehicle hotspots on existing roads around the state that require intervention.

2024 Wildlife Symposium

• A 2024 Wildlife Symposium brought together experts from Australia and around the world, including ecologists, technology specialists, transport agencies, NGOs, industry leaders, and community members. A summary of the symposium can be found here.
• A summary of the recommendations and government response can be found in the Future Directions Paper here.

The Albanese and Minns Governments are today announcing emergency financial assistance to help residents in the State’s north-east severely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The jointly funded package will provide emergency financial assistance of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation.

The Personal Hardship Assistance Grant for individuals and families is part of a range of support aimed at helping people recover.

To be eligible for the grant individuals must reside in one of the declared affected Local Government Areas of – Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glenn Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed.

Further, individuals must have:

• Been subject to evacuation orders (Category red emergency warning) or
• Experienced power outages of more than 48 hours.

Applicants must demonstrate they have suffered hardship as result of the disaster, making them unable to meet immediate needs.

Applications will open on Wednesday 12 March and will be open until 8 April 2025.

These payments are part of the Albanese and New South Wales Governments’ ongoing commitment to helping residents rebuild their lives following the severe impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Impacted community members are encouraged to visit New South Wales Government Recovery Assistance Points which will be operating in key locations from the end of this week.

To find out where these will be and about other support available go to www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery to find out supports and assistance available.

In addition the Albanese Government has activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance for communities directly affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances, who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.

For more details on the Disaster Recovery Allowance go to Services Australia website at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support.

Other support available to communities as a result of Tropical Cyclone Alfred can be found www.nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

 “We are working with the Minns Government to get this money out the door as quickly as possible.

“My message to those affected is my Government has got your back.”

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns:

“It has been tough going for the communities impacted by TC Alfred. In particular those families who have been without power for days or required to leave their homes under evacuation orders have faced huge challenges.

“We know these communities are concerned about the cost of re-stocking the fridge, or replacing damaged goods.

“This payment will go a bit of the way to providing some immediate relief for hardship experienced.” 

Minister for Emergency Services Jenny McAllister:

“This payment will help provide some immediate assistance after a very tough week for Northern New South Wales.

“We’re acting quickly to make financial assistance for impacted individuals and families available.

“We know recovery will take some time, but we are here for the long haul.”

New South Wales Minister for Planning Paul Scully:

“Through this financial assistance, we aim to ease the burden of immediate costs like food, clothing, and accommodation, helping individuals and families get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

“Eligible residents in the affected areas can apply for the financial assistance package starting Wednesday, March 13.

“We encourage those in need to apply through Service NSW online or in person, and we are committed to making sure this support reaches those who need it most, as soon as possible.”

New South WalesMinister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“Our hearts go out to the people of this region who have done it particularly tough but continuously shown their resilience and spirit in recent years.

“These payments in partnership with the Albanese Government will help the community by ensuring we get immediate financial relief to where it’s needed.

“We will continue to work alongside our agencies and service partners to provide the community the help and support they need to recover.”

The Minns Labor Government and the Albanese Federal Government have been caught red-handed trying to pull the wool over Western Sydney’s eyes. Their big Fifteenth Avenue ‘upgrade’ announcement was nothing more than another classic Labor trick—lots of fanfare, but when you read the fine print, it is another broken promise kicking real progress decades down the road.
 
On 19 January, the Minns Labor Government sent out a media alert stating that ‘Federal Representatives’ would be joining the Premier for the big Fifteenth Avenue announcement. What they were apparently too embarrassed to say outright—but was later revealed—was that the ‘Federal Representatives’ included none other than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese himself. Standing side by side with Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car, and Roads Minister John Graham, they made yet another grand promise that won’t be realised for at least 15 years.
 
Media reports last night revealed the shocking truth of Labor’s so-called upgrade that will not be completed until 2040—if ever. And what are they actually delivering? Only a six kilometres stretch of road, covering less than half the distance needed to connect Liverpool to Western Sydney Airport. It is like claiming you’re building a bridge, then only laying the first few planks, and calling it a success.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said this is Bob Carr politics 1-0-1—make a flashy announcement, take the photo, then push the actual delivery 15 years down the track.
 
“Western Sydney deserves real infrastructure now, not vague promises about what ‘might’ happen in 2040. This is another example of the Minns and Albanese Governments treating the people of Western Sydney like second-class citizens,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said this Government just makes it up as it goes along.
 
“The people using Fifteenth Avenue every day can’t wait for an extra lane in 2040—they need construction to start as soon as possible. At the last election, the Member for Leppington promised the community an upgraded road by 2027, not in 2040,” Ms Ward said.
 
Last night’s media reports made it clear that Western Sydney is getting a road to nowhere. Labor’s so-called ‘investment’ is a mirage, designed to trick voters into thinking something is being done when the region is being left behind.
 
This is the small-target Minns Labor government at its worst. Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car and Minister for Roads John Graham all stood together with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pretending to deliver for Western Sydney, but all they really delivered was another empty promise.
 
Western Sydney is growing fast, and it needs real infrastructure to match—not a dodgy, half-baked road that leaves commuters stuck in traffic for another 15 years.

People impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred who require essential medicines, including diabetes, heart and asthma medicines, can access a limited supply without a prescription at pharmacies.

NSW Health has issued an Authority under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods legislation that enables pharmacists to supply prescription medicines to people without a prescription who are affected by the cyclone.

NSW Health is working with local hospitals, pharmacies and health professionals in the affected areas to ensure the community is supported and essential medicines are available to those who need them.

The temporary change is designed to assist people affected by the cyclone by ensuring they can continue to access essential medicines.    

While some community pharmacies may be closed in the affected areas, many pharmacies placed advanced orders to ensure they retain adequate stock.

NSW Health has also brought extra medicines into the affected region to assist the community.

Where able to, people are encouraged to phone ahead and try alternate pharmacies if their usual pharmacy is closed.

The full conditions of the supply of prescription medicines by a pharmacist without a prescription are listed in the Authority which is published online here.     

For more information speak with your local pharmacy, GP; call healthdirect on 1800 022 222; or visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/Publications/authority-pharmacists-tc-alfred.pdf

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“People who are impacted by the cyclone are strongly encouraged to pack their medications and prescriptions while preparing for its impact and if evacuating.

“But in unfolding events like this, they may be lost or suddenly become inaccessible.

“If you find yourself in this situation, if you can, please contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or speak to a pharmacist, to seek advice specific to your circumstances.

“If your medication is considered essential, pharmacists will be able to provide you with a full pack without a prescription to ensure you don’t run out during this extreme weather event.”

President NSW Pharmacy Guild Mario Barone:

“Community pharmacies are ready to support patients across northern NSW.

“The continued dispensing authority means that you can get your medicines even if you don’t have a script and can’t get to your doctor.”

The Albanese and Minns Governments are extending disaster assistance to the Armidale, Glen Innes Severn and Tenterfield Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Northern NSW as Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s impacts move inland.

Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include:

• Assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation and essential items generally provided from evacuation or recovery centres.
• Grants for eligible low-income residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living.
• Grants for eligible low-income residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a basic, safe and habitable condition.
• Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets. Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations and grants to sporting and recreation clubs to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property.
• Freight subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.
• Financial support towards counter disaster activity undertaken by emergency service organisations to keep communities safe. 

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said it’s a challenging time for communities in Northern NSW who are already experiencing the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.  

“We are extending the support available to assist more flood impacted residents in the immediate recovery phase,” Minister McAllister said. 

“Thank you to all the community members who have heeded the advice of the local authorities and all the personnel out there working to keep their communities safe.

“We are urging the community to know your local risk, listen to emergency services, have a plan. If it’s flooded, forget it.”

“The Australian Government continue to work closely with the NSW Government as we prepare and respond to this event.” 

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said unlocking joint assistance will help communities begin the clean-up, rebuilding and recovery process as quickly as possible. 

“Communities are still dealing with rain and flooding from the cyclone, and this assistance will help us quickly shift to recovery as soon as the weather clears,” Minister Dib said.

“We are rolling out support measures for communities we know are likely to be impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and as impacts are known we will look at further measures to support the community.” 

“I would like to thank NSW State Emergency Service volunteers and emergency services who have been supporting the community across the state. The NSW Reconstruction Authority has also been on the ground in Northern NSW ready to begin recovery support and have appointed NSW Police Superintendent Scott Tanner as Recovery Coordinator.” 

“Communities have worked hard to prepare for this cyclone and we understand this has been difficult for Northern Rivers residents who experienced floods in 2022. We are committed to continuing to support this resilient community through these challenges.”

More information on disaster assistance can be found at NSW Government and Disaster Assist websites.

A $15 million Community Recovery Support Fund, jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments, is now available to NSW councils and their communities following the impacts of the Cyclone Alfred weather event.

Activated councils will have up to $1 million in funding made available once impacts are known. This will provide proactive support for communities to undertake essential immediate clean up and restoration activities for important community assets such as pre-schools, senior citizen centres, libraries and community halls.
 
Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
 
The NSW Government is coordinating a multi-agency response to the cyclone, which has been forecast to significantly impact Northern NSW and Southern Queensland.
 
The currently weather modelling suggests that these 15 NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs) will sustain the most immediate impact of the cyclone,
 
The Commonwealth Government is working closely with both the New South Wales and Queensland Governments to ensure appropriate support is provided to impacted communities over the coming days.
 
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
 
“Northern NSW residents, and their neighbours to the north, are on high alert watching Tropical Cyclone Alfred approach.
 
“We are providing assistance now, but also have this future support on standby, ready to roll should recovery and cleanup work be needed in the immediate aftermath.
 
“Having this support ready to go means, if needed, essential work can begin and people’s lives can begin to return to normal as soon as possible.”
 
Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

“It’s a challenging time for communities in the Northern Rivers, who are experiencing the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
 
“Having grown up in the Northern Rivers, I know these communities well.  I am acutely aware of how worrying this event will be for local people.  
 
“I’ve been incredibly grateful for the work of the local mayors, Councils and community leaders, supporting their communities.
 
“We are activating this assistance quickly to ensure councils are supported in their work. 
 
“We seek to be good partners to Premier Minns and his government, through the immediate event and into the recovery”.
 
Premier Chris Minns:

“This is a pre-emptive step to help local councils quickly respond to this disaster.

“Councils are helping their communities prepare for the onslaught, and this will help them in the aftermath.

“This is just one early part of the support for the regions that get impacted by this disaster.”
 
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:
 
“The NSW Government with the support of the Commonwealth is continuing to roll out support for the Northern NSW communities facing the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
 
“This funding will be directed to councils in the local communities who need it most, with many of them still recovering after the devastating 2022 floods.

“The NSW Government is committed to providing ongoing support to the communities impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the days and weeks ahead.”

Recovery services have begun setting up in Northern NSW ahead of community outreach as the NSW Government appoints a Recovery Coordinator in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The NSW State Emergency Service supported by other emergency services are continuing to deal with the impacts of the extreme weather and will be completing damage assessments as it becomes safe to enter flooded areas.

As the water recedes, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is getting ready to support communities and begin recovery operations as quickly as possible.

As a pre-emptive step to boost recovery efforts for impacted communities, the NSW Government has appointed NSW Police Superintendent Scott Tanner as Recovery Coordinator for the region following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Mr Tanner will retain his role as Richmond Police District Superintendent, allowing him to deploy the full resources of the NSW Police Force while effectively marshalling all other Government resources.

Mr Tanner played a critical role in the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, serving as the local emergency operations controller and assisting the coordination of recovery efforts across the region. In June 2024 Mr Tanner was awarded the Australian Police Medal for his role during the 2022 floods.

As the focus turns towards recovery, critical information about recovery support will be available at nsw.gov.au/cyclonealfredrecovery

Information will also be shared through local radio stations, social media and online, with posters and flyers to be distributed across impacted areas.

From early next week, community outreach will begin with RA and our partners checking in on communities in key locations. On Thursday, Recovery Assistance Points will open in Lismore, Tweed South, Ballina and Coffs Harbour.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is an anxious time for residents and communities across NSW, which is why we have taken the pre-emptive step and appointed Superintendent Tanner as Recovery Coordinator for Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, so that when the weather has passed, we can immediately move to recovery.

“We stand with everyone in the storm’s path and will continue to provide as much support as needed to help individuals and communities get back on their feet.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“While we are still assessing the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, we are preparing for the recovery phase so that every community and person impacted by this event receives support as soon as possible.

“We have taken what we have learnt from previous natural disasters to improve the way we prepare. Appointing Superintendent Scott Tanner to help lead the recovery means he can apply his experience from the 2022 floods to assist communities as they deal with the aftermath of this major weather event.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“While I’m sorry we’re in this position again, I welcome the announcement that Superintendent Scott Tanner will be helping lead the recovery post Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“I know Mr Tanner extremely well, we worked very closely in the 2022 floods, and locally as he’s the Superintendent in my electorate, and he is the right person to work with community to help us recover as soon as possible.”

NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said:

“I want to reassure the community that the NSW Reconstruction Authority is on the ground in Northern NSW working alongside our response agencies to understand impacts and resolve issues as we prepare for recovery.

“There will be no daylight between response and recovery, but in the meantime, I encourage everyone to continue visiting the NSW SES website for the latest information about flooding. We are focused on ensuring recovery progresses quickly and seamlessly from response.

“I worked closely with Superintendent Tanner when I served as Recovery Coordinator myself after the 2022 floods and I can think of no one better placed to begin recovery in the region. Appointing Superintendent Tanner provides a dedicated focus on the ground to ensure recovery progresses quickly.”

Latest data from the Minns Labor Government’s Rental Taskforce has revealed solicited rent bidding via listing platforms has been virtually stamped out.

In the NSW Government’s first ever Bidding in the NSW Rental Market report, the impact of the Government’s strong rental reform agenda is showcased, revealing insights into rent bidding, underbidding, and pricing variations.

The analysis, conducted by NSW Fair Trading and the Department of Customer Service’s Data Analytics Centre, found the rent bidding ban is working on listing platforms and shows a rising trend of renters now securing rental properties for less than the advertised price.

Solicited rent bidding occurs when agents, landlords, or platforms invite or pressure prospective tenants to offer more than the advertised rent, increasing housing and cost of living pressure on renters in an already competitive market.

Before December 2022 non-fixed price listings made up 17 per cent of the market.

In a win for renters, the report found systemic law changes introduced by the Minns Labor Government in 2023, which included expanding a ban on solicited rent bidding from only real estate agents to landlords and rental platforms, have led to the widespread removal of illegal rental listing practices, including price ranges and ‘offers over’ terminology on major listing platforms.

This means more than 99 per cent of advertisements now comply with the rules.

The results linked rental bond data with CoreLogic rental listings and deployed advanced data-matching techniques, informing and validating the ongoing compliance work of the new $8.4 million Rental Taskforce within NSW Fair Trading.

Underbidding – where tenants pay less than the advertised rent – surged from seven per cent to 36 per cent of tenancies between March and August 2024, reflecting a broader market cooling, as listed rents exceeded what the market would bear.

NSW Fair Trading has come down hard on real estate agents caught doing the wrong thing – issuing 145 penalty infringement notices totalling more than $157,000 between May and December last year to those who breached their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) and associated laws.

Sydney property hotspots including the Randwick, Waverley, and Canada Bay LGA’s showed the highest rates of overbidding for a property, while Byron, Woollahra, and Ku-ring-gai demonstrated the highest rates of underbidding.

Historic reforms passed in 2024 are further transforming the rental market by banning no-grounds evictions, limiting rent increases to once per year, making it easier to have pets, as well as improving laws governing fee-free rent payment options, and prohibiting fees for background checks.

The Bidding in the NSW Rental Market reportalongside NSW Fair Trading’s Rent Check website provide important market information to support renters and landlords in the NSW rental market.

The Bidding in the NSW Rental Market report can be read on the Rent Bidding in NSW Insights Report webpage.

Information on the NSW Fair Trading Rent Check can be found on this webpage. 

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong:

“This report shows how the Minns Labor Government’s rental reforms, coupled with targeted action by NSW Fair Trading, are working to better protect tenants and foster a more transparent and sustainable rental market.

“The Minns Labor Government understands that more people than ever are renting and that they are renting for longer.

“That’s why the Government is committed to supporting the rental market, so tenants see it as one that offers security, and quality, while providers view it as one they can invest in with certainty and viability.

“The suite of rental reforms that the Minns Labor Government is implementing will give renters greater stability and security when renting a home, while providing certainty for landlords and agents.”

NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones:

“This report highlights the NSW Government’s commitment to data-driven regulation and the importance of effective enforcement when responding to wilful non-compliance in the rental market.

“NSW Fair Trading’s regulatory measures have effectively eliminated solicited rent bidding through rental listings, with compliance rates now reaching above 99 percent.

“Importantly, our analysis reveals that broader rent bidding practices, while present during periods of market pressure, have not been a significant driver of rental price inflation.”

Core Logic’s Head of Research Eliza Owen:

“Our research indicates that transparent and fair rental practices contribute significantly to market stability, benefiting both tenants and property owners.

“As we continue to gather and analyse data, it’s clear that targeted reforms and effective enforcement are key to fostering a rental environment where all stakeholders can thrive, especially in the context of affordability barriers to home ownership.

“There are signs of demand cooling in the rental market, which has likely helped reduce the practice of rent bidding, but NSW Fair Trading’s regulatory measures are a positive step, protecting fairness and transparency in the event of future market upswings.”