Category: NSW News

More than 2,000 first home buyers have found their dream home on the Central Coast thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s signature stamp duty assistance program.

The 2,145 new homeowners on the Central Coast have saved a combined $47.6 million in stamp duty since July 2023.

The popular initiative has seen first home buyers across the Coast save an average of $22,185, significantly easing the pressure for people saving for a deposit.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme provides a full exemption from stamp duty for eligible buyers purchasing up to $800,000, and a concession for purchases between $800,000 and $1 million.

In Gosford, 628 buyers have saved a combined $13.5 million, while 522 new home owners in Wyong saved $11.3 million.

In The Entrance, 307 buyers shared in $6.9 million in savings, and 65 buyers at Avoca Beach benefited by $1.3 million.

Statewide, total savings for more than 50,000 first home buyers across NSW have topped $1 billion.

The 50,000 families milestone coincides with the release of a helpful dashboard detailing the program’s impact suburb-by-suburb.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Dashboard also provides program statistics Central Coast wide – as it does for every Local Government Area and regional classification in the state. It will be updated regularly and can be viewed here: First home buyers assistance dashboard | Revenue NSW

First home buyers can learn more about the program and calculate their potential stamp duty savings here: First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme – how to apply | NSW Government

This program is just one part of a suite of reforms from the Minns Government to help address the housing crisis and ease cost of living pressures.

This includes sweeping reforms of the planning system to deliver more housing, including establishing the Housing Delivery Authority to speed up approvals.

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said:

“This Minns Government program is fantastic news for the more than 2,000 families, couples and singles able to get into their first home sooner in our beautiful region.

“The more than $22,000 in average savings per homeowner is making a big difference for people saving up for a deposit.

“Home is where the heart is, and there’s nothing better for Coasties to have a place to call their own in a region they love.”

Minister for the Hunter and Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:

“Buying your first home is a major achievement and I’m thrilled the Minns Labor Government is helping so many first home buyers reach this milestone.

“Our community is a great place to live, work and play and this scheme is allowing people to build their dream life in one of the best places in NSW.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:

“The Minns Labor Government’s stamp duty assistance program is making home ownership more accessible, providing real relief for local families entering the housing market.

“It’s great to see that local residents are benefiting from this fantastic initiative” 

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:

“With over 628 first home buyers in Gosford alone saving a combined $13.5 million dollars under this scheme, the Minns Labor Government is ensuring that families across NSW can achieve their dream of home ownership.

“I want the students that I taught to be able to make a home on the Central Coast, not be forced to leave their hometowns because they can’t afford a deposit to get into the housing market.

“This program is making home ownership a reality again for thousands of Coasties.”

The Tweed Heads community will soon enjoy an enhanced customer experience while completing NSW Government transactions when the new Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre opens. 

The Centre is relocating to a larger site, still within the Tweed Mall shopping centre, providing a larger space and an improved layout for customers.  

Due to open mid-2025, the new centre will be located opposite the current site, ensuring a modern, purpose-built facility for people to complete the 1300 NSW Government services and transactions available at Service NSW.  

The new centre will include a dedicated space for one-on-one appointments where customers can receive cost of living support in-person or over the phone with a Service NSW team member.  

The team will also be able to connect business owners with the Service NSW Business Bureau for free, ongoing and personalised support for every stage of their business.  

There were more than 77,000 customer visits to Tweed Heads Service Centre last year with people appreciating the efforts of the team, giving them a 97% satisfaction rating.  

Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre is open Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5pm and Saturdays 8:30am – 12:30pm. For more information, visit the Service NSW website.  

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said: 

“Service NSW is a vital part of our lives whether transacting individually or as a business, so we want the people of Tweed Heads to have an enhanced experience when requiring NSW Government services. 

“This move ensures Service NSW can support the customer demand in Tweed Heads and provide people with a welcoming space to complete government transactions. 

“Whether applying for a Seniors Card, renewing a driver licence or looking for cost of living support, Service NSW is a one-stop-shop for NSW Government services and transactions.” 

Duty MLC for Tweed, Emily Suvaal said: 

“The Minns Labor Government is focused on delivering essential services like the Tweed Heads Service NSW Centre. 

“This new site will better serve the community, the location within Tweed Mall is bigger and better and only steps away from the current location. 

“The new centre makes life easier for locals now and will cater to their needs into the future.” 

Australia should be a multi-racial society with freedom of religion but not a multicultural society according to the Family First Party.

Lead Senate candidate for New South Wales, Lyle Shelton, said yesterday’s appalling antisemitic threats to kill Jewish hospital patients by two Bankstown Muslim nurses underscored the failure of multi-culturalism.

“Jew hatred, which sadly is central to the culture in many Muslim countries and increasingly amongst un-Australian left-wing elites, has no place in Australia.

“Migrants who come to Australia and trash the trust that underpins our health system, or any other Australian institution for that matter, should go back to their country of origin.

“Australia is a proud Western nation built on the Judeo-Christian ethic,” Mr Shelton said.

The antisemitism crisis since October 7, which peaked yesterday, is a wakeup call to all Australians to renew our commitment to the values which have made this nation such an attractive place for people from all over the globe coming to seek a better life.

Labor’s “Doc” Herbert Evatt, through his ground-breaking work at the UN, was instrumental in the creation of the state of Israel.

Support for Israel was a pillar of the Hawke Labor government’s foreign policy.

Mr Shelton said the abandonment of support for Israel in its just war against Islamic terrorism by the Albanese government, our universities and large swathes of the media would have Doc Evatt and Bob Hawke rolling in their graves.

“Australia’s antisemitism crisis has festered and metastasised because the Israel-annihilationist ‘River to the Sea’ movement has been granted legitimacy.

“This must stop.

“The antisemitism crisis culminating in yesterday’s outrage is symptomatic of the failure of multi-culturalism.

“Australia has always made room for religious diversity and freedom and that should continue where non-Western religions are willing to adapt to overarching Western values.

“If Islam is a religion of peace, it should prove this to the Australian people by disciplining its numerous antisemitic preachers who have spouted hate and violence for Jews on our streets and in their mosques since October 7.

“Our university vice-chancellors should do the same with their antisemitic academics.

Australian culture is pro-Israel, proudly pro-West and underpinned by the Judeo-Christian ethic of love of neighbour.

“The ANZAC values of courage, mateship, perseverance and sacrifice – which spring from the Judeo-Christian ethic – have stood our nation in good stead and now must be contended for.

“These are the culture and values which define Australia, not what we saw at Bankstown hospital yesterday and since October 7,” Mr Shelton said.

Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad have charged seven people following the discovery of fraudulent sexual abuse compensation claims in a scheme which has paid out over $1 billion in claims to date.

Strike Force Veritas was established by State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad in February 2024 to investigate alleged fraudulent compensation claims for historical sexual abuse brought against the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and the NSW Department of Education (DoE).

During the investigation, detectives identified several ‘claims farmers’ at the centre of the scheme. These individuals allegedly approached adults who were former young offenders, inmates, and public-school students, encouraging them to file fraudulent compensation claims for historical child sexual abuse while in care.

The claims farmers then coached these prospective claimants on how to make fraudulent claims through various Sydney law firms, receiving a benefit for each referral.

The proceeds were reportedly referred to as ‘bum money’ within the criminal syndicates, and detectives suspect a significant portion of the $1.3 billion worth of claims are fraudulent.

Following extensive inquiries, about 6.05am yesterday (Wednesday 12 February 2025), strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant in Girraween where they arrested a 55-year-old man.

The man was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with 21 offences, including nine counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception, eight counts of accessory before the fact to publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage, three counts of incite to commit publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage and dishonestly intend to obtain a gain.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 13 February 2025).

Police will allege in court the 55-year-old man was a claims farmer in the scheme.

About 7.45am, strike force detectives arrested a 53-year-old woman in Granville. She was taken to Auburn Police Station, where she was charged with publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 25 March 2025.

About 7.50am, a 32-year-old man was arrested in Pendle Hill. He was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 12 March 2025.

About 11.40am, strike force detectives arrested a 42-year-old man at Gladesville Police Station. He was charged with publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on Monday 3 March 2025.

About 12.05pm, a 52-year-old woman was arrested in Horsley. She was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where she was charged with publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 25 March 2025.

About 2.30pm, detective arrested a 35-year-old woman in Pendle Hill. She was taken to Granville Police Station, where she was charged with publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 12 March 2025.

With assistance from Queensland Police, a 23-year-old Mermaid Beach man was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice (CAN) for publish etc false misleading material to obtain advantage, to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 25 March 2025.

In addition to the arrests, police also executed a search warrant at a law firm in Sydney where they seized items relevant to their investigation.

Police will allege in court the seven people charged stood to make $3.75 million in fraudulent sexual abuse compensation claims but were uncovered before the claims were paid out.

Investigations under Strike Force Veritas continue, with more arrests expected.

More than 50,000 first home buyers have found their dream home thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s signature stamp duty assistance program.

The popular initiative has seen first home buyers save an average of $20,540, easing the pressure on the key task of saving for a deposit.

Total stamp duty savings for first home buyers across NSW have topped $1 billion since July 2023.

First home buyers are using the program to get a foot on the property ladder in a market heavily influenced by investors.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme provides a full exemption from stamp duty for eligible buyers purchasing up to $800,000, and a concession for purchases between $800,000 and $1 million. This means first home buyers can save up to $30,529 in stamp duty.

Of the more than 50,000 first home buyers who have received support under the Minns Government’s program, more than 37,000 first home buyer households received a full exemption and more than 14,500 received a concession.

More than 3,200 buyer households in the City of Parramatta have saved a total of $74.1 million, while more than 2,100 on the Central Coast have saved a total of $47.3 million.

The 50,000 households milestone coincides with the release of a helpful dashboard detailing the program’s impact suburb-by-suburb.

The First Home Buyers Assistance Dashboard also provides program statistics by Local Government Area and regional classifications. It will be updated regularly and can be viewed here: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/resources-library/statistics/fhba-dashboard

First home buyers can learn more about the program and calculate their potential stamp duty savings here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/home-buying-assistance/first-home-buyers-assistance-scheme/how-to-apply

This program is part of a suite of reforms from the Minns Government to help address the housing crisis and ease cost of living pressures.

This includes sweeping reforms of the planning system to deliver more housing, including establishing the Housing Delivery Authority to speed up approvals.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We have now delivered more than $1 billion for first home buyers since coming to Government.

“There is more to do on cost of living, but this is real relief that has helped 50,000 NSW singles, couples and families.

“Our Government is helping more buyers to get a foot on the ladder, without having to leave Sydney or NSW.

“This is the best first home buyer scheme in the country, and just one part of our plan to address the housing crisis and build a better NSW.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This is an incredible milestone for this program.

“50,000 families have been able to get into their first home sooner because of this essential stamp duty relief.

“The savings mean more money in people’s pockets, easing pressure on households and giving crucial assistance in the task of saving for a deposit.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said:

“Families and households in NSW are feeling under pressure with increasing costs of living. We want to support families and households to realise the certainty of home ownership.

“This shows our program is working, delivering real savings that can make a real difference for first home buyers.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to create safer communities across regional New South Wales by addressing the concerning rates of youth crime, with over $4 million to support place-based efforts across Bourke and Kempsey.

Government support for place-based initiatives reflects the fact that a one size fits all approach does not work for issues like youth crime in regional communities. This funding means local communities are empowered to make decisions, develop strategies, design programs and decide how resources are used to address local needs.  

In Bourke and Kempsey, this funding will match the Commonwealth Government’s investment in the Stronger Places, Stronger People program, which supports community-led place-based responses to local issues.

This funding will support the existing successful local teams in each community who work in tandem with Government to develop and implement projects to address identified issues.

This program, which has run since 2019 in these communities has been recognised as having positive impacts including improved social, cultural, health, justice and economic outcomes.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing work to crackdown on crime across the state, which has included:

• Amending the Bail Act to include an additional bail test for young people between 14 and 18 charged with committing a ‘serious break and enter offence’ or motor vehicle offence while on bail for a similar offence.
• Creating a new ‘post and boast’ offence under the Crimes Act, criminalising the filming and disseminating of footage of certain serious offences to publicise or advertise the commission of that offence.
• Paying recruits to attend the Goulburn Police Academy and welcoming 294 probational constables to the NSWPF ranks in December, the largest class to graduate in a decade.
• Passing and enacting ‘Jacks Law’ which provides NSW Police with powers to scan people for knives without a warrant and raised the age from 16 to 18 for the sale of knives to young people.
• Doubling the maximum penalty for certain knife crimes.
• Introducing new offences for repeated and serious breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.
• Introducing Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders.
• Modernising the definition of ‘stalking’ to include monitoring a person online.
• Making it harder than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns said:

“We know that what works in the middle of Sydney won’t work for our regional communities, which is why we are making this long-term investment to ensure local knowledge informs the action we take to address local issues.

“We know there is no easy solution to address the issue of crime in our regional communities, but that is why we are pulling every lever possible from law reform to investing in local organisations. “

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to address traffic concerns at one of Sydney’s worst intersections while retaining a police station in the Revesby area that is currently on the corner of the intersection.

The corner of River Road and Marco Avenue has been ranked as the 6^th most confusing intersection in Sydney and has been the site of many car crashes and near misses, including the tragic death of a young man in a car crash.

Due to the location of the Revesby Police Station on the intersection it may not be possible to address issues with the intersection without relocating the police station.

As a result, at the 2023 state election, the Member for East Hills Kylie Wilkinson committed to working with the local council and the Federal Government who have committed funding to fix the intersection.

This commitment included the possible relocation of Police Station while keeping it in the Revesby area, acknowledging the critical role this station and it’s officers play keeping this community safe.

The current Member for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson is now working with all levels of government to finally fix this intersection and keep Revesby Police Station in the Revesby area.

For 12 years, the former Liberal and National Government failed to address this issue with the former Member for East Hills completely missing in action on this while in parliament.

Disappointingly the former Liberal Member who is now a Councillor has resorted to spreading misinformation in the community by falsely claiming that Revesby is set to lose a police station.

The Minns Labor Government is working to deliver a real solution by fixing this nightmare intersection while also maintaining a Police Station in the area.

This follows action already taken by the NSW Government including by providing historic pay rises to NSW Police and paying police to train – already delivering the largest graduating classes of police in a decade.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said:

“For too long this intersection outside Revesby Police Station has put lives at risk and I am proud that our government is working with council and the federal government to upgrade this intersection while retaining a police station in the Revesby area.

“It’s very disappointing that this Liberal councillor is spreading misinformation and playing politics with our police, all to stop a much needed upgraded to this dangerous intersection.

Member for East Hills, Kylie Wilkinson said:

“We shouldn’t have to choose between safe roads and a safe community. That’s why we’re fixing this dangerous and confusing intersection while keeping a police station in the Revesby area.

“I’ve lost count of the number of people who have spoken to me about how dangerous this intersection is and I call on all local councillors to join us in fixing this issue once and for all.

Two Queensland businesses have been separately convicted in the NSW Local Court of breaching biosecurity regulations designed to protect NSW from red imported fire ants and in total ordered to pay $60,000.

These successful prosecutions highlight the effectiveness of the Minns Labor Government’s surveillance and compliance activities in preventing fire ants into the state.

Both businesses illegally moved turf, soil, turf underlay and compost from the Queensland fire ant infested area into NSW.

Since being elected in 2023 the NSW Government has made biosecurity a priority and fighting fire ants a top order.

This commitment to fight fire ants entering NSW was demonstrated by raising the funds to address the menace of the fire ants from the former Government’s low $15 million annually, to $95 million over four years, only a few months after the 2023 election.

To strengthen the fight against fire ants entering NSW in mid-November last year, the NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty took the unprecedented step of banning the movement of any turf from the Queensland fire ant infested area into NSW.

These recent successful prosecutions demonstrate that the Government’s crackdown on rogue businesses potentially spreading fire ants is working and is now sending a message.

The importance of movement controls and the ability of the Minns Government’s restructured NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to trace carrier movements back to their point of origin is producing successful prosecutions.

The first landscaping supply business was convicted on the 29 January and the second on Friday 7 February.

The first business, Brytarbri Pty Ltd trading as Allenview Turf, was convicted of nine offences after moving soil, turf underlay and compost into NSW from the Queensland fire ant infested area without the required biosecurity certificates.

The second business, Marlyn Compost, was convicted of 20 offences under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 for moving turf from the Queensland fire ant infested area into NSW without certificates.

Early detection surveillance is continuing across NSW’s border state agencies with detection cameras and operations with Police and Department of Primary Industries and Regional NSW teams working together as exemplified by Operation Victa.

So far four waves of Operation Victa have resulted in eight penalty notices issued and three warnings after stopping 352 vehicles, 156 of which were from fire ant infested areas, and ordering 12 vehicles back to Queensland, due to not meeting certification requirements.

In addition, fire ant sniffer dogs are on patrol in Kyogle and Tweed Valley sites to monitor trucks, landscaping sites and target properties.

The NSW Government’s fire ant team has completed the following since December 2023:

• Checked 1,366 voluntary community reports of potential fire ant sightings
• Received 12,750 Record of Movement declarations from businesses
• Undertaken with 1,613 surveillance events

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The Minns Labor Government is serious in stopping fire ants getting into NSW and in the three instances when they have got through the nets we have eradicated them quickly.

“There will be no sympathy for a business who flouts our biosecurity controls and threatens our state’s land, homes and farms with fire ants. The full force of the law will be instigated to show this is very serious and will not be tolerated.

“I urge everyone to do the right thing and comply with our biosecurity requirements to protect NSW from fire ants, or if you know someone is flouting the controls please let us know.

“We are applying monitoring, CCTV, police, sniffer dogs, controls and border checks to address the fire ant situation as well as supporting the Queensland Government eradicate their infestation.”

Councils in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast are invited to apply for a share of $4 million in grants to build more parks, playgrounds, walking tracks and restore local bushlands.

The Metropolitan Greenspace Program 2024-25 is available to 34 councils for projects such as shared pedestrian and cycle pathways as well as open space strategies and master plans for future works.

Established in 1983 by the Wran Labor Government, the Metropolitan Greenspace Program is the longest running open space grants program in NSW.

Since 1990, more than $56 million has been provided for 680 projects.

This funding will support the Minn’s Government’s planning reforms as we unlock more homes and deliver supporting community infrastructure and green space.

Last year, the program awarded $3 million in funding supporting better access to open spaces for more than 31,000 homes within a 10-minute walk from residential areas.

A panel of experts will assess applications against selection criteria designed to ensure funding is awarded based on merit and impact.

Applications for the 2024-25 round of the Metropolitan Greenspace Program will open on 12 February and close on 31 March 2025.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more green spaces, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to relax and play in the communities they choose.

For more information on the Metropolitan Greenspace Program visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/plans-for-your-area/infrastructure-funding/metropolitan-greenspace-program.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The NSW Government is fast-tracking the delivery of more homes, and these residential areas will need to be supported by more parks and green spaces.

“The Metropolitan Greenspace Program helps councils provide more of these facilities where people can relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

“The program has a strong track record of increasing and improving open space to create thriving places and connected communities.

“I encourage eligible councils to apply for the next round of funding so they can build more high-quality green spaces for their residents and visitors alike.”

The NSW Government will today introduce two bills to protect places of worship and further criminalise Nazi symbols, as part of a crackdown on recent racial hatred and antisemitism.

The Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025 is part of a package of reforms announced last week to give police additional powers and resources to respond to acts of racial violence and hatred.

The latest proposed changes to the Crimes Act create two new offences to ensure people of faith can attend their place of worship in safety:

• Intentionally blocking, impeding or hindering a person from accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship without a reasonable excuse; and
• Harassing, intimidating or threatening a person accessing or leaving, or attempting to access or leave, a place of worship.

The maximum penalty for the new offences is 200 penalty units and/or two years’ imprisonment.

The Bill will also amend the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 to authorise a police officer to issue a move on direction to a person who is participating in a demonstration, protest, procession or assembly occurring in or near a place of worship. This would not apply in circumstances where the relevant action is within an authorised public assembly.

The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Racial and Religious Hatred) Bill also:

• Clarifies that graffiti is a “public act” for the purposes of the offences of threatening or inciting violence and displaying Nazi symbols;
• Provides for tougher sentencing for displaying by public act a Nazi symbol on or near a synagogue, the Jewish Museum or a Jewish school; and
• Aggravates sentences when a person’s conduct is partially or wholly driven by hate.

These reforms provide greater protection to the community against public displays of hate and crimes that may be partially motivated by hate and prejudice.

The Department of Communities and Justice held targeted consultation on the legislation, including with faith institutions, key legal stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

The NSW Government is currently finalising new laws on hate speech.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Disgusting acts of antisemitism and intimidation have no place in NSW – acts designed to divide will not work.

“Our package is a strong response to recent antisemitism, but will also protect any person, of any religion.

“We are sending a clear message that these disgusting attacks have to stop.”

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“People of faith have the right to attend their place of worship without fear or obstruction.

“Blocking access to a church, mosque, synagogue or other holy building is a completely unacceptable behaviour that has no place in our society. These proposed changes provide strong penalties and expand police powers to ensure people can practice their beliefs in safety.

“The NSW Government is also expanding the criminal law to send a clear message that inciting hatred is not just unacceptable, it will soon be criminal.

“We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community’s right to protest.”