16 News

Consumers have been warned not to deal with clothing and accessories website Bondi United which has falsely claimed to support victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Following an investigation, NSW Fair Trading has issued a public warning about the trader after determining that assertions made by Bondi United’s trader Mr Marvaldeep Singh linking himself to the terrorist attack were false. 

Bondi United sold its clothing and accessories through the websites www.bondiunited.com and www.bondiproject.com, both of which have now been taken down.

After interventions by NSW Fair Trading, Bondi United has also indicated it will be paying refunds to consumers who contact the business requesting a refund.

This joins a separate public warning issued in January about misleading claims made by the Isla & James website, which has also been taken down following NSW Fair Trading’s investigations.

NSW Fair Trading does not tolerate misleading conduct and is actively monitoring for scammers targeting people in the aftermath of the events at Bondi.

Consumers can lodge complaints against companies with NSW Fair Trading via the NSW Fair Trading website, at any ServiceNSW centre, or by calling 13 32 20.

To view the public warning against Bondi United, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/fair-trading/news/public-warning-bondi-united

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Attempting to profit off this horrific incident is just plain wrong – and it is a breach of Australian Consumer Law. 

“The NSW Government strongly condemns any attempts to mislead consumers in the aftermath of this terror event, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect consumers from this behaviour. 

“I encourage people to buy from reputable sellers, be cautious when dealing with unfamiliar online sellers, and get in contact with NSW Fair Trading if they believe they have been adversely affected by this business.”

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann said:

“These misleading websites are deeply concerning, and we have taken strong regulatory action to ensure that they do not continue to spread misinformation in the community.

“NSW Fair Trading monitors for scammers or fundraisers who target people following major events, including environmental disasters, and has powers to investigate businesses and prevent consumer harm.

“In these situations, take steps to verify that the trader is legitimate and is not misrepresenting a connection to the victims of the attack or that proceeds of sales will go to the support of victims of the attack.”

The Northern Rivers is entering its most critical home rebuilding phase, as the NSW Government issues a region-wide call for licensed builders and trades to help homeowners upgrade, raise, rebuild or relocate homes impacted by the 2022 floods.

With a 2027 program deadline looming, the focus has shifted from administrative assessments to active construction sites.

Builders, designers, engineers, architects, project managers and house relocation specialists are urgently needed to support communities to meet this deadline.

With a multi-year pipeline of work now confirmed, there has never been a better time for builders and contractors to get involved in the Northern Rivers recovery. To ensure the industry is briefed on these significant opportunities and the technical requirements for resilient construction, the NSW Reconstruction Authority is hosting a series of regional engagement sessions.

Local trades are encouraged to attend an upcoming ‘Builder Brekkie’ or information workshop to connect with the program team and learn how to access this work. The full list is below or more detail can also be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority/our-work/events

Following the devastating 2022 floods, the Australian and NSW Governments established the Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program (RHP) to reduce long-term flood risk across seven local government areas. The program supports voluntary home buybacks and resilience measures including house raising, retrofitting, rebuilding and relocation.

In addition, the NSW Reconstruction Authority is working with delivery partners to unlock land for hundreds of homes across the region in 2026, with thousands more in future years, driving demand for builders and skilled workers to construct housing options ranging from small one and two-bed homes and terraces to larger three and four- bed family homes. Coupled with private developments taking off across the Northern Rivers, there is a clear pipeline of work for many years to come.

These efforts will sit alongside the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s work with councils and communities planning for the future use of vacant buyback land, with consultation to occur throughout 2026 for all areas with buyback land, particularly in Lismore, South Murwillumbah, Kyogle, and Richmond Valley.

FAST FACTS: Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program

• Total Program Funding: $880 million co-funded by the NSW and Australian Governments.
• The Deadline: All building and renovation works must be completed by 31 March 2027.
• Pipeline of Work: Approximately 600 homes are slated for Resilient Measures (raising, retrofitting, or rebuilding) in this final phase.
• Grants available for homeowners:
  • Home Raising / Rebuild / Relocation: Grants up to $100,000.
  • Home Retrofit: Grants up to $50,000 for flood-resilient materials and modifications.
  • Co-Contribution Bonus: The program will match homeowner contributions dollar-for-dollar, potentially doubling total project value (up to $200,000 for raising/rebuilds or $100,000 for retrofits).
• Design Support: Homeowners can access an additional $20,000 grant specifically for planning, design, and development application (DA) costs.
• Priority Areas: Recovery efforts are concentrated across the seven Local Government Areas of Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, and Tweed.

Minister for Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“We have reached a critical juncture in the Northern Rivers rebuild. Plans are being finalised, funding is in place and now we need boots on the ground to turn these designs into resilient homes.”

“This is a massive call to arms for our local construction industry. We have a clear window between now and March 2027 to complete these vital works.

“By stepping up now, our builders and trades aren’t just completing a job—they are laying the foundations for a stronger, more connected Northern Rivers, bringing our neighbors home and building a legacy that will define our towns for decades to come.”

NSW Reconstruction Authority Northern Rivers Adaptation Executive Director Kristie Clarke said:

“The scale of work now underway across the Northern Rivers is unprecedented, and we need skilled builders and construction specialists to help us deliver it.

“This is about working alongside communities to rebuild homes that are safer, stronger and more resilient, while meeting ambitious timeframes and supporting the long-term recovery of the region.”

Resilient Measures information sessions for homeowners and the construction industry:

5 March – Tweed LGA – Murwillumbah Community Centre.

11 March – Byron LGA – Mullumbimby Civic Hall.

17 March – Clarence Valley LGA – Maclean Bowling Club.

18 March – Richmond Valley LGA – Woodburn Community Building

RHP Expos:

29 April – Lismore Workers Club

13 May – Murwillumbah Civic Centre

Builder brekkies:

23 April, 14 May and 4 June – Lismore – The Bank Café.

26 February, 7 May – Murwillumbah – Keith Cafe.

4 March – Mullumbimby – Lulu’s Cafe.

12 March – Casino – Walker Street Café.

18 June – Grafton – Vines at 139

The NSW Government is launching a new initiative to ensure compliance and improve transparency across the NSW building and construction industry.

Led by the NSW Industrial Relations Construction Compliance Unit (CCU), the initiative is designed to support government agencies and contractors to meet existing legislative, policy and contractual obligations across the construction supply chain.

This priority work reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all reasonable steps are taken to uphold lawful and ethical industrial practices throughout the industry, in line with existing legislative requirements. This will support the delivery of new schools, hospitals and public transport for the people of NSW.

Set to commence on 1 March 2026, the initiative will be delivered through three complementary streams of work:

• Prior to Government awarding a contract, the CCU will conduct checks of publicly available records held by relevant regulators. A report of any findings will be provided to the procuring agency to support its due diligence process.
• The CCU will work with client agencies and head contractors to develop and maintain a database of subcontractors operating on NSW Government construction sites, improving transparency and oversight
• The CCU will conduct audits of head contractors and subcontractors to assess compliance with industrial relations obligations, including the payment of wages and superannuation. The CCU will continue to work closely with existing contractors and the broader industry as the initiative is implemented.

The NSW Government will monitor the initiative closely over the next 18 months and look for opportunities to continue to improve compliance.

The announcement is the latest milestone in the NSW Government’s industrial relations and government procurement reform agenda, which includes:

• An ‘If not, why not’ mandate for NSW Government agencies to engage with local NSW suppliers before going to tender for projects worth more than $7.5 million.
• Updated requirements for NSW Government agencies to take stronger action to address modern slavery risks across government supply chains.
• Re-establishing the Industrial Court of New South Wales to provide workers with access to workplace justice and improved workplace safety with specialist judges

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“I’m proud to announce the latest major milestone in our committed industrial relations reform agenda.

“The Supply Chain Initiative will play a key role in protecting hardworking building and construction workers across our state, and will ensure compliance and ethical standards across the entire supply chain. It will protect and promote businesses who do the right thing by complying with their legal and industrial obligations.

“We will work closely with workers and industry to ensure that the initiative is implemented effectively, makes sense on the ground, and truly delivers over the long-term.”

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:

“Our procurement reforms allow us to grow the NSW economy and support local jobs, while upholding high standards of integrity and compliance.

“With a multi-billion dollar infrastructure pipeline, we have an opportunity to drive domestic manufacturing, strengthen local supply chains and back businesses that invest in their workers.

“Better leveraging government spending to deliver value for money supports local jobs and the infrastructure and essential services that communities need, all at once, as part of one plan.”

This year’s Mardi Gras will get a big boost with metro and rail services running 24 hours for the first time ever and plans for venues to trade into the early morning, as part of the Minns Labor Government’s ongoing push to rebuild Sydney’s night-time economy.

This year’s event is set to benefit from special event trading hours which would allow eligible hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, nightclubs and live music venues in the Oxford Street cultural and creative precinct to trade until 6am on Sunday 1 March.

Supporting the parade and the late trade, partygoers can jump on a metro train every 5–10 minutes from 5pm to 2am, then every 20 minutes until regular daytime frequencies resume at 5am.  This builds on two years of successful all night metro services on New Years Eve.

Sydney Trains will operate a 24-hour service with trains running every hour from midnight to the first regular Sunday services on the City Circle, T1 Western Line, T1 North Shore Line, T2 Inner West Line and T9 Northern Line and to Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburb Line until 3am Sunday.  

Light rail will run a 24-hour service on the L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines with a service every 15 to 20 minutes until normal services resume Sunday morning.

Bus routes 370 and 343 will run 24 hours with added hourly services on Sunday. Around 300 extra bus services will run to the city from Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore throughout the afternoon, along with additional NightRide buses.

The special Mardi Gras transport services build on a year-round uplift in regular late night bus services which now includes 37 all night services.

With thousands of people attending the parade and major road closures in place from 4pm to 2am on Sunday morning.

For the best views of the parade:

• Northern side viewing in Darlinghurst: Use Town Hall, St James, Martin Place or Kings Cross train stations, or Gadigal Metro station.
• Southern side viewing in Surry Hills: Use Central station. For Parade viewing along Flinders Street, use the Moore Park Light Rail stop.

For more information on public transport for the parade, including extra services and trip planning, visit the event page at transportnsw.info or plan ahead using the Opal Travel app or other transport planning apps.  Motorists can check Live Traffic NSW for the latest information on road closures.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“It’s great to be able to give the Mardis Gras a boost after the late cancellation of the official afterparty. We want unofficial afterparties to kick on all around Oxford Street, knowing there’s even more safe and affordable ways to get home.

“A great night out and good transport go hand in hand, and that’s why we’re running metro and rail services 24 hours in line with trading hour extensions for this year’s Mardis Gras.

“We know that public transport is a vital part of a thriving 24-hour economy. We’ve been increasing bus services at night and this is a great chance to see the impact of increased metro, rail and light rail services.”

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the pride of Australia’s major events calendar. Each year, the Parade brings tens of thousands of people to Sydney, which not only celebrates diversity and inclusion, but also makes a significant contribution to the businesses and jobs that rely on our visitor economy.

“We have been clear from the start; we want to bring the entertainment and vibrancy back to Sydney. Extending trading hours will mean locals and visitors alike can make the most of the Mardi Gras.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“Mardi Gras is a festival of fun and celebration which continues well beyond the parade and the NSW Government wants to ensure venues and patrons can make the most of this hugely popular event.

“These extended trading hours will allow festival-goers to dance the night away and venues to benefit from the thousands of visitors and locals who flock to our city for this special celebration.”

Executive Director of Business Sydney Paul Nicolau said:

“Running Metro, train and light rail services around the clock for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a fantastic step forward for our city.

“It means people can celebrate safely, stay longer, and get home easily, while supporting local businesses and boosting the night-time economy.

Night Time Industries Association CEO Mick Gibb:

“This is a big win for Sydneysiders who want to come out and experience one of the best parties of the year.

“Industry has long said that when you give people safe, affordable ways to get home late at night, everyone wins.

“Late night venues can stay open with confidence, punters can enjoy themselves without stressing about the last train or breaking the bank on a taxi, and the city can actually function as the global destination it is. 

Remarks by Senator Pauline Hanson questioning whether there are “good Muslims” are offensive, divisive, and completely inconsistent with Australian values.
 
To single out an entire faith group and question their goodness or legitimacy as Australians is not only wrong, it risks fuelling fear and prejudice along with division in our communities.
 
Muslim Australians are an integral part of the fabric of New South Wales they are our neighbours, our workmates, our doctors and nurses, our teachers, tradies, small business owners, volunteers and emergency service workers.
 
They raise families, run businesses, serve our communities and proudly call Australia home.
 
Their contribution to our state and country is significant and valued.
 
Rhetoric that targets people on the basis of faith undermines decades of work to build a harmonious, inclusive multicultural society.
 
Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, we have people from all corners of the globe.
 
When political leaders use language that casts suspicion on entire communities, it does real harm. It makes people feel unwelcome, unsafe and unfairly judged in the country they love.
 
I have had the privilege of working closely with Muslim community leaders, families and organisations across our state, and what I see time and again are communities focused on education, opportunity, service and giving back. Values that reflect the very best of Australia.”
 
At a time when social cohesion has come under strain, everyone in public leadership should be seeking to unite Australians, not tearing them apart for political gain.
 
There is no place for fear-mongering, dog-whistle politics or divisive rhetoric in modern Australia.
 
Our future depends on unity, mutual respect and the shared belief that everyone deserves dignity and fairness.