Category: NSW News

This morning Chris Minns’ credibility as Premier is up for debate. During a train wreck radio interview, he tried to sidestep the obvious – his Transport Minister, Jo Haylen, misled the public about her use of taxpayer-funded drivers – and yet he still refuses to sack her.
 
This is not just about one dodgy minister; it is about two and a cover-up.
 
Yesterday Chris Minns claimed Jo Haylen made a “singular lapse in judgement.” He said she had nothing to hide. He said there were no other examples of Jo Haylen doing this.
 
That was not true.
 
It is since emerged that she repeatedly used her driver between Sydney and Caves Beach for the Saturday sports run.
 
It is also emerged that she used her driver on Sunday double time for a weekend family lunch west of the Blue Mountains.
 
Chris Minns is too weak to act because he relies on the hard-left faction that helped put him in the job.
 
If Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson stay, it is because Chris Minns is too scared to cross factional masters.
 
If Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson stay, it is because Chris Minns cares more about protecting the Labor Left than protecting taxpayer money.
 
Leader of the Opposition, Mark Speakman, said it is time for Chris Minns to do what any decent leader would do and sack Jo Haylen immediately. Rose Jackson, who has been and still is in hiding, must go too.
 
“Now we find out Jo Haylen has been caught out again – and this is not just about one rogue minister, it is about two. This is about a Premier who is too weak, too compromised, and too tied to faction heavyweights to do the right thing. If Chris Minns will not sack Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson, then he may as well admit he is just a puppet for the Labor Left,” Mr Speakman said.
 
This is not a government that treats taxpayer money with respect. It is a government of self-entitled elites, who see public money as their own personal slush fund.
 
Acting Shadow Minister for Transport Damien Tudehope said Chris Minns is letting Jo Haylen get away with it.
 
“The Premier’s repeated defence of the indefensible has now collapsed under the weight of fresh revelations about Jo Haylen’s travel rorts. Jo Haylen lied to the people of NSW, lied to the media, and lied to the Premier.
 
If Chris Minns has a shred of integrity, Haylen and Jackson must go. If he refuses, the people of NSW will know exactly who he works for – and it is not them,” said Mr Tudehope.   
 
Chris Minns’ judgement is shot. If he lets this slide, then the only conclusion voters can draw is this this Premier’s standards are as bad as his ministers.

On Saturday 25 January—the day before Australia Day—while NSW families were battling rising rents, mortgage repayments, and back-to-school costs, Jo Haylen ordered a taxpayer-funded van to drive from Sydney to her holiday home in Caves Beach—where the average house price is $1.28 million—just to pick her up.
 
Not work. Not essential. Just the same old labor.
 
And who was in the back seat? Their mates and Rose Jackson—the same Minister who thinks rent in Sydney is $200 a week.
 
Meanwhile, a government driver was forced to do a 13-hour shift for their luxury. Where was the duty of care?
 
Would any employer—government or private—allow this?

• How exactly will Haylen “pay it back”? Has she even asked the Premier’s Department Secretary Simon Draper how this works?
• Or will the Premier’s Department be left to clean up the mess again?
• And let’s be real—this wasn’t just a quiet trip. Caves Beach is not far from the Hunter Valley’s best wineries and Vodka Distilleries.
• Was this taxpayer-funded ride part of a luxury day on the plonk?

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson had shown utter contempt for the NSW taxpayer and must resign.
 
“Now that they’ve been caught, Minister Haylen said she’ll ‘pay it back’—that’s not accountability, that’s an admission of guilt. And worse, they forced a government driver into a gruelling 13-hour shift,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Public transport has been in chaos—but the Transport Minister refuses to take a train or bus.
 
The mental health system is in freefall—but the Mental Health Minister is too busy enjoying her free rides.
 
Acting Shadow Minister for Transport Damien Tudehope said this isn’t just about failing the pub test—it’s about failing the duty-of-care test.
 
“They didn’t just rort the system—they endangered a government worker. A 13-hour drive is reckless and unacceptable.”
 
“NSW taxpayers are under massive financial pressure, but the Transport Minister treats public money like her personal Uber account. And the Mental Health Minister thinks it’s fine to tag along for the ride,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
This is same old Labor—entitled, wasteful, and completely out of touch.
 
This is a test for Chris Minns’ own standards and leadership. If Jo Haylen and Rose Jackson don’t resign, Chris Minns must sack them. No excuses, no spin—just leadership.

The NSW Government is building a safer New South Wales for regional women and children with construction now beginning on a new safe haven in Port Stephens.

Built under the Core and Cluster program, $7.2 million is being invested in a new six-unit refuge in Port Stephens being developed by Hume Community Housing.

The Core and Cluster refuge model promotes independent living by providing self-contained accommodation located next to a ‘core’ of support that facilitates access to services such as counselling, legal assistance, education, and employment support.

Hume Community Housing is a Tier 1 Community Housing Provider with more than 30 years’ experience, providing social and affordable housing and specialist disability accommodation.

Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services (PSFaNS) has been nominated as the future service provider to deliver tailored support services to victim-survivors at the completed refuge, helping them rebuild their lives and heal from trauma.

The NSW Government has invested $426.6 million over four years to provide new crisis accommodation across NSW for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence as part of the Core and Cluster program.

Once all 49 new Core and Cluster refuges are completed, and the replacement of eight existing government-owned women’s refuge buildings are refurbished, they will support more than an additional 2,900 women and children escaping domestic and family violence each year.

The Minns Labor Government is addressing domestic and family violence at all stages, by investing in primary prevention, early intervention, crisis responses and recovery. Making sure women and children have a safe place to go when they escape abuse is crucial to their recovery and helping them rebuild their lives.

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

“For women and children escaping abusive and violent homes, having a safe haven is vital to begin recovering, healing and rebuilding their lives.

“The NSW Government is continuing the roll out of Core and Cluster refuges for domestic violence victim-survivors across the state, with a total of 49 new refuges set to be up and running by 2026.

“We’re proud to partner with local service providers to ensure that Core and Cluster residents receive tailored support so they can regain their confidence, recover and thrive.”

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said:

“Domestic and family violence has a devastating impact on the lives of people in Port Stephens and across the state. It must stop.

“This new Core and Cluster refuge will be life-changing for local women and children, giving them a safe and secure place to begin rebuilding their lives after trauma.

“For too long, women and children in our community have had to leave behind their jobs, schools, and support networks to find safety. This refuge means they will now have access to the crisis accommodation and support they need, right here in Port Stephens.”

Brad Braithwaite, CEO of Hume Housing said:

“Hume Community Housing is proud to be partnering with the Department of Communities and Justice and Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services to deliver this Core and Cluster refuge.

“Breaking ground today is just the beginning as we look towards providing a safe place for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.

“This is central to Hume’s purpose: to create homes and opportunities for people to heal, rebuild and prosper in vibrant and connected communities.”

Sue Pollock, Manager Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services said:

“Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services has been providing services to our community for over 35 years.

“For most of those years women in our community have been advocating for a refuge to be available for women and children living with domestic and family violence.

“Women in Karuah Aboriginal Community have been working for nearly two years now to make sure that the refuge will be a place of comfort and safety, a place where women and children can breathe and be nurtured by the surroundings. They have been meeting each week designing and sewing the soft furnishings and mapping out the outdoor and living areas. We are grateful for such generosity of spirit.

“With the hard work and commitment from women in this community, with Hume Community Housing and funding from Department of Communities and Justice, women and children can now know that a place of safety and respite will exist in their community. A place where they can stay close to their supports, their schools, their jobs. Everyone deserves to feel safe and supported and live a life free from violence.”

Support:

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 Labor Government is charging ahead with its commitment to save billions of litres of water by injecting $3 million into round 2 of its innovative Active Leak Detection Project, helping to boost long-term water security for regional towns and cities across New South Wales.

It forms part of the hugely successful Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program that has secured $11.3 million in further funding, on top of an initial $12.5 million investment, to continue its activities in the regions over the next two years.

The program has already achieved impressive results between 2022 and 2024, clocking up a staggering 7,500 megalitres (ML) per year in water savings in over 60 regional locations.

This next round aims to save up to 4,000ML of water per year, or enough to meet the annual water needs of around 20,000 NSW regional households.

The active leak detection project uses cutting-edge equipment including noise loggers, electronic listening sticks, ground microphones and leak noise correlators to detect leaks within local water networks that will then be repaired by local councils.

Crews will survey approximately 6,000 kilometres of regional water supply mains across more than 40 high priority areas that are severely impacted during dry months including Warrumbungle Shire, Warren, Moree Plains, Forbes, Cobar, Dubbo and Lithgow.

The NSW Government is locking in more locations over the coming weeks.

The next stage of the program will also focus on identifying leaks in residential properties, with homeowners to be notified if issues are found. Work commenced in January and will be rolled out until June 2026.

The $35.3 million Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program aims to create a more sustainable and resilient water future for country towns and cities across the state.

For more information, visit the Regional Leakage Reduction Program webpage. 

NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:

“Our leak detection program has been smashing it out of the park by recovering a massive 7,500 megalitres of water in regional NSW per year since 2022 that would have otherwise gone to waste.

“That’s why I am absolutely thrilled to announce that we are rolling the program out to even more locations across the state over the next two years.

“While water levels are currently stable, the next drought could be just around the corner, so projects like this one are a simple solution to make the most of the water we already have by identifying and fixing leaks across local networks.

“You’d be amazed at how much town water gets lost every year because of cracks or holes in pipelines, which is why using high-tech equipment to pinpoint these leaks is one of the most effective ways to safeguard our long-term water supply.”  

The proposed upgrade to Mandalong Road at Morisset, southwest of Newcastle, has taken another step forward with the community consultation report for the preferred design display now published. 

The Australian Government is investing $56 million and the NSW Government is investing $20 million in upgrades to Mandalong Road.

The community and key stakeholders were invited to have their say on the preferred design for the proposed upgrade from 26 June to 4 August last year.

This design includes replacing the existing roundabout at the intersection of Wyee Road and Freemans Drive with traffic lights, a shared path between Ourimbah Street and Gimberts Road, as well as two new bus stops on Dora Street.

The Gimberts Road/Gateway Boulevard roundabout will now be separately upgraded by a private developer.

A total of 202 submissions were received during the display period, including 190 survey responses and 12 emails.

The consultation report includes feedback on the design, operational and network impacts, environmental impacts, project concerns and suggestions.

Feedback received about the preferred design has been considered as work on the concept design and environmental assessment continues.

Timing for construction is yet to be confirmed and is dependent on planning approvals and the finalisation of project costings and funding arrangements.

Consultation will continue with key stakeholders and the community will be kept informed as the project progresses.

For further information on the community consultation report and the project, visit the website of Transport NSW.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“Mandalong Road provides a critical link from the M1 Pacific Motorway to Morisset and the southern part of the Lake Macquarie local government area.

“This upgrade will improve traffic flow and safety for about 17,000 road users daily, while helping meet the future needs of an increased population and employment in the Morisset area.

“The upgrade will also support retail, industry, commercial and housing growth along the corridor, with potentially upwards of 5,000 new dwellings in the surrounding area.”

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:

“We know this is an important project for the community with more than 200 submissions received during the consultation period.

“As part of the survey, respondents were asked to provide feedback on the level of project importance and support of the preferred design.

“I was pleased to note that 90 per cent of survey respondents believe the project to be very important or important, and more than 80 per cent supported the preferred design.

“I’m proud to be part of a government getting the work done to improve the daily lives of people living in NSW.”

Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi:

“These traffic upgrades will be really significant for local and visiting motorists and pedestrians in terms of safety and also minimising delays on their journeys in this part of the lower Hunter.

“We will continue to engage with the NSW Government, key stakeholders and the community to deliver the best option for traffic and pedestrian movement in Morriset.”

Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper:

“Upgrading Mandalong Road is the most important transport priority in southern Lake Macquarie.

“Like other frustrated locals, I have been calling for a solution to the traffic and safety issues at Mandalong Road for years.

“With its strategic position, the Morisset area is poised to experience a surge in people, jobs, homes and industrial and commercial development. Upgrading Mandalong Road, along with other infrastructure and services, is essential to support this growth and help Morisset realise its full potential.”

Duty MLC for Lake Macquarie, Emily Suvaal:

“This is a key step in the upgrade process and I welcome the work the NSW Government, together with the Commonwealth, is doing to improve traffic conditions for motorists in Lake Macquarie.

“The much-needed Mandalong Road upgrades will significantly improve local traffic conditions and this next stage of consultation is vital to getting that work done.”

The NSW Government is set to take up residence in a new workplace hub in the heart of Sydney from early 2025.

Parkline Place is a 39-storey energy efficient tower building located on the corner of Pitt and Park Streets above Gadigal metro station. The development has created 600 construction jobs and will support up to 4000 workers spanning across the government and private sectors.

The NSW Government’s central property agency, Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) has negotiated the lease arrangements for the four agencies, and is leading the CBD Workplace Hub design and delivery project, which aims to provide modern and sustainable government workplaces as public sector workers return to the office.

The lease arrangements are as follows:

• A 12-year lease for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), with the agency now occupying four floors since the start of January.
• A 12-year lease for the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for flexible touchdown space across three floors. The agencies are due to move into the building from April 2025.
• A 13-and-a-half-year lease for the Crown Solicitor’s Office (CSO) to occupy three full floors, plus another floor partially, with the agency set to relocate in mid-2026.

The leases support the NSW Government’s net zero emissions targets. Parkline Place is fully electric and powered by renewable energy, and targets net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions in operation. It is also designed to achieve 5.5-star NABERS Energy, 3.5-star NABERS Water, and 6-star Green Star Design and As-Built V1.3 sustainability ratings.

The development has been delivered and will be managed by Investa, on behalf of co-owners Oxford Properties Group and Mitsubishi Estate Asia, with four government agencies to occupy more than 10 floors in the building.

For more information about the CBD Workplace Hub at Parkline Place, visit the Parkline Place workplace hub page.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Our leases at Parkline Place will provide public servants with quality and sustainable modern workplaces. They will support flexibility and increased collaboration to deliver better service outcomes for the people of NSW.”

Investa Head of Leasing Mark Podgornik said:

“We are delighted to welcome the NSW Government this year as one of the first tenants at Parkline Place.”

“Many major employers are progressively bringing employees back to the office and placing significant value on creating a desirable workplace experience for their people through access to amenity, connected and sustainable workplaces. We are pleased to help facilitate this at Parkline Place.”

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) Secretary Kiersten Fishburn said:

“This new touchdown space offers a great opportunity for our Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s employees to access modern facilities conveniently located near the new Metro and other excellent transport options. It also provides a prime location for them to engage with sector colleagues and key stakeholders in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.”

NSW is the big winner from the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 host city announcement, with our state set to host more games than any other, including both semi-finals and the final.

The third largest sporting event in the world, the Rugby World Cup has delivered decades of drama including Wallabies glory, extra-time heartbreak and Nelson Mandela hoisting the trophy alongside the Springboks.

All of that history, along with 24 national teams, an estimated 215,000 visitors, and hundreds of millions of global TV viewers, will culminate in NSW for six weeks in October and November in 2027.

The host city agreement has resulted in 17 of a total 52 games being played in NSW, with Newcastle hosting four pool matches and Sydney hosting 13 fixtures, including five pool matches, two Round of 16 matches, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the bronze final and the final set to take place at Stadium Australia on November 13.

Destination NSW estimates the tournament will inject more than $610 million into the state’s visitor economy and be Sydney’s biggest sport event in over 20 years.

In addition to the direct social and economic benefits, the right to host the finals will mean Sydney is centre stage for the global television audience, providing immeasurable marketing impact for the NSW visitor economy.

The announcement confirms NSW as a premier destination for world class sporting events including the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Sail GP and the Sydney Marathon which recently gained world marathon major status.

Supporting major events is a key part of the Minns Labor Government’s strategy to grow the visitor economy. In October the government committed to a new ambitious growth target of $91 billion of visitor expenditure by 2035, a 40% increase on the previous 2030 goal.

Sydney has a proud Rugby World Cup history, having hosted six games during the inaugural tournament in 1987 and 16 games – including the final – when Australia last hosted in 2003. The NSW Government is also proud to support this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour while Australia will also host the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.

In the lead up to the event Chair of Destination NSW Sally Loane will lead a committee tasked with maximising the tourism opportunities of hosting the Men’s Rugby World Cup.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“It’s great to see NSW come out on top – securing hosting rights to the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

“Staging the finals and having more matches than any other state, demonstrates just how attractive NSW is as a destination for global sporting events.

“To all those keen rugby fans across the globe – it’s time to lock in your travel plans. Not only will you get to watch some fantastic sport, but you will also get to tour the best state in the world, home to extraordinary national parks and unparalleled Harbour views.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

“With more games than any other state, NSW will be the home of the tournament which means hundreds of thousands of fans will travel here and experience what our incredible state has to offer.”

“The stadiums and the streets of Sydney and Newcastle will be absolutely buzzing during the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.

“Hosting world class events is a key part of our strategy to significantly grow the NSW visitor economy over the next ten years.”

“My message to rugby fans around the world is – come for the rucks and mauls, stay for the food, the wine, the beaches and cultural experiences!”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be a festival of rugby union like no other that will inspire the next generation of players.

“The choice of Sydney to host the tournament’s final match – along with both semi-finals and the bronze final – reflects the city’s position as world class sporting events capital, and the NSW Government is excited to welcome the world’s best rugby teams – and their fans – in 2027.

“For 6 weeks, we are going to be centre stage for the sporting world.

World Rugby Chair, Brett Robinson said:

“We are delighted to reach another significant milestone on our journey to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The selection of these incredible host cities reflects our commitment to bring Rugby World Cup to Australians’ backyard and maximise the tournament’s positive impact and sporting legacy in all host communities.

“Australia’s iconic cities and rich culture will create an extraordinary atmosphere for fans and players alike, uniting an entire nation for six unforgettable weeks. We look forward to working with host cities to make this tournament one for the ages.”

The South Coast is set to become a new manufacturing hub for the next generation of public transport with the creation of a brand-new electric bus manufacturing facility in Nowra.

Australian owned bus manufacturer Foton Mobility Distribution is set to build a 6,000 square metre manufacturing facility in South Nowra from late 2025, subject to council approval.

This follows the Minns Labor Government awarding a contract to Foton to deliver 126 battery electric buses that will be built in Nowra and service bus routes across Greater Sydney.

The facility will also produce battery electric trucks, as well as hydrogen fuel cell engines, creating around 100 ongoing quality, skilled manufacturing jobs for local workers.

Foton’s bus contract was one of the first bus orders made through the NSW Government’s Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) program.

This program is also converting 11 existing bus depots in Greater Sydney to battery electric technology, building a new battery electric depot at Macquarie Park and procuring around 1,200 new electric buses by 2028.

Transport for NSW is delivering the ZEB program in stages in close consultation with industry, including manufacturers, to provide an opportunity to increase capability and capacity supported by a published pipeline of bus orders.

While the domestic manufacturing sector can’t be rebuilt overnight – facilities like this are the first step towards building things here in NSW again.

This facility delivers on the NSW Government’s commitment to domestic manufacturing, supporting local jobs and local industry to build the public transport our state needs.

This follows 12 years of offshoring by the former Liberal National Government, leading to NSW missing out on thousands of job opportunities and bringing lengthy delays and cost blowouts on major transport contracts.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“The offshoring of public transport by the former government was a complete disaster, which is why we’re building these buses here in NSW – creating local jobs and public transport that works.

“This state of the art facility in Nowra will create ongoing skilled jobs in regional NSW while also delivering emissions free world class public transport for the people of our state.

“Workers across NSW are great at building public transport like these buses, and under our government they’re building them here again.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“When the Minns Labor Government says we want to build more buses here, we mean it.

“Once our partners at Foton get this plant up and running there will be an extra 100 quality manufacturing jobs right here. That’s great news for Nowra and a big boost for NSW manufacturing.

“We want our local manufacturers and suppliers have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need. That’s why we have structured our zero-emissions bus program in a way that builds our bus manufacturing capacity for the long term.”

“We are at the beginning of our project to build the clean, green buses of the future. Transport for NSW announced the first battery electric bus orders under the Zero Emissions Bus program for Greater Sydney in December 2024.

“There will be many more orders to come for Sydney, Outer Metropolitan and Regional NSW and many good quality, skilled manufacturing jobs that will be created thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s support for building our buses, trains and ferries right here in Australia.”

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“This new facility shows the high-quality products that NSW workers and businesses can deliver.

“The previous government sent contracts like this offshore, costing NSW thousands of jobs and billions of dollars. We are choosing to support local jobs and local businesses.

“By leveraging the power of government contracts like this, we can rebuild local industries, support local workers and grow the NSW economy, particularly in regional communities.

“This is an important milestone as we deliver on our pledge to bring domestic manufacturing back to NSW.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“The Minns Government understands the importance of local jobs and skills training for regional communities.”

“The proposed new bus factory here in Nowra will provide fantastic employment opportunities for up to 100 people once fully operational and enable the re-skilling and upskilling of many workers who wish to be a part of the transition to zero emissions transport.”

Member of the Legislative Council Sarah Kaine said:

“We’re building Australia’s future right here in the South Coast and delivering good quality, local jobs in the process.”

“This is a Labor Government that is investing back into its regional economies and ensuring equal opportunity for local manufacturing of our world-class transport system. 

Developers could face financial penalties for failing to deliver homes and unfairly profiting off buyers under reforms being considered by the NSW Government.

Feedback is being sought on stronger protections for consumers in off the plan contracts for homes and land in NSW, to guide the delivery of new housing and prevent lengthy delays that leave people out of pocket.

An off the plan contract is an agreement for the sale and purchase of a property that is yet to be developed or constructed. These contracts can apply to the sale of a proposed lot in a strata or community land scheme or to the sale of land in a conventional subdivision.

The reforms are being designed to help increase housing supply by providing greater certainty and clearer deadlines for home buyers and to free up land for development faster by removing outdated restrictions on development sites.

The reforms are intended to help more people achieve the Australian dream of home ownership and build greater confidence in the housing market by improving protections for buyers and preventing developers from delaying homes they have been contracted to deliver.

About five per cent of 180,000 residential purchases in NSW last financial year were off the plan contracts which allow a buyer to commit to purchasing a property before the complex is built or land is subdivided.

Potential reforms being released for comment aim to tighten contract rules to give buyers a clearer understanding of when they can expect to move into their new home, reducing uncertainty and the risk of being left behind in the market when a contract is cancelled.

This could include scrapping the ability for developers to draw the contract out with indefinite sunset clauses which give buyers no clear path forward, or ability to exit the arrangement.

Other proposed changes the NSW Government is considering include:

• Making sunset clauses mandatory in contracts so that buyers can withdraw if sunset events do not occur by a set time
• Requiring developers to disclose the status of the development against construction milestones so buyers have a better understanding of timeframes and potential risks
• Limiting a developer’s ability to extend sunset dates only for certain reasons beyond the developer’s control such as weather or supply issues, and imposing time limits on extensions
• Requiring developers to take reasonable steps to meet dates by potentially introducing penalties for inaction.

The Government is also looking at unlocking potential development sites by making it easier to remove private, outdated agreements from land titles (known as obsolete restrictive covenants) which can limit how land is used or developed.

Covenants can continue to bind future landowners indefinitely, even if they become outdated – for example, an obsolete covenant may prevent more than one property from being built on the land or ban the use of certain building materials.

To support the reforms, the Office of the Registrar General has released a discussion paper called ‘Contracts and Covenants: Reforms to support development of land’ outlining the options.

The community is invited to respond to survey questions or upload a submission on the reform proposals and share their experiences on the NSW Government’s Have Your Say platform.

The consultation will lay the groundwork for legislation to be developed in 2025.

The Contracts and Covenants consultation is open until 7 March 2025.

To have your say, visit: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/offtheplan-contracts-covenants 

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“Buying a home is one of the most stressful experiences for an individual, these proposals are designed to provide greater certainty and consistency. This review is about making sure home buyers have the right protections and information they need to make informed decisions.”

“Off the plan contracts play a crucial role in supporting essential housing supply initiatives in NSW. They allow buyers to purchase property early in the development process, while giving developers the confidence and financial security to build.”

“We know that most developers do the right thing, but we don’t want situations where businesses try to run down the clock on a contract to sell to a higher bidder or mislead consumers by unfairly changing the goalposts for when they can move into their dream home.”

“These reforms are designed to provide greater transparency as well as encourage the delivery of new homes. These proposals are about encouraging developers to be upfront about timelines and challenges to assist homeowners.”

“We encourage people to have their say on these proposals which aim to boost consumer confidence in the off the plan contract process and help NSW achieve our housing targets.”

Registrar General Danusia Cameron said:

“Off the plan buyers need more information and support than buyers of established homes because they are not able to inspect a property before committing to buy it.”

“It is important that the laws governing off the plan contracts also arm buyers with appropriate safeguards, meet the needs of the community and address emerging issues in the sector to ensure there is continued confidence in the process.”  

In the first three weeks since the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) started accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for larger scale housing developments, it has already received nearly 100 proposals with the potential for more than 40,000 homes, with more expected.

So far, 85 EOIs in metropolitan areas and 11 in regional NSW have been received, exceeding expectations.

The HDA offers proponents a new State Significant Development pathway and State Significant Development pathway with a concurrent rezoning process – neither having to be approved by councils, cutting approval times and speeding up the delivery of new homes.

Each EOI is assessed against its capacity to deliver high yield, well-located, good quality homes faster.

Having identified that major residential developments above $60 million in metropolitan areas and $30 million in regional NSW often take longer in their assessment, these can now be submitted through the HDA.

These complex proposals often require greater resources and planning capabilitites and as a result, the projects can get stuck in council planning systems for years.

These delays compound declining housing availability, worsening affordability and create greater uncertainty for proponents who are trying to build much needed new homes.

In early February, the HDA will meet to recommend proposals to be declared a State Significant Development (SSD) project, community consultation and assessment will then proceed.

The EOI process is ongoing, providing regular opportunities for industry to have their major residential development proposals considered, with submissions reviewed monthly.

For more information visit Housing Delivery Authority | Planning

Premier for New South Wales:

“For far too long, it has been made harder and harder for people to build homes in NSW, so it is wonderful to see these reforms starting to turn that around.”

“Without these major changes that are speeding up the delivery of new homes, Sydney risks becoming a city without a future because it’s simply too expensive to put a roof over your head.

“By speeding up the approval of new homes near existing infrastructure and removing red tape that seems to have been designed to slow down development, we’re delivering the homes that young people, families and workers need.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“We expected 80 to 100 EOIs in the first year, so to see this many in less than a month signals trust from the industry in the Minns Government to deliver.

“Building more homes for NSW is a priority for the Minns Labor Government and the HDA is a major step towards unlocking those homes.

“This pathway is about seeing good quality projects move through the planning system faster and as part of that process, if we don’t see shovels in the ground in two years, proponent will lose their approval.

“The Minns Government is making it easier to build more houses closer to jobs, infrastructure, parks and transport and we need more, quality, large scale residential development proposals from industry to build a better NSW.”