16 News

The 2025 NAPLAN National Report released today shows some positive progress, with more still to be done to lift literacy and numeracy outcomes across the state.

This year, students in Years 5, 7 and 9 were the first cohort to complete a second NAPLAN cycle under the new proficiency levels first introduced in 2023.

For NSW schools, results in 2025 are stable compared to previous years, with students showing strengths in areas including:

• Year 5 reading up 4.9 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same cohort’s Year 3 results in 2023
• Year 5 spelling up 6.3 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same cohort’s Year 3 results in 2023
• Year 7 spelling up 3.6 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same 2023 cohort in Year 5
• Year 5 grammar and punctuation up 7.4 percentage points in strong and exceeding compared to the same 2023 cohort in Year 3

Today’s results show positive signs for many students in NSW, which is exceeding the national average in writing, reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. The results also show where continued and consistent support is required, particularly in Years 5, 7 and 9 writing and Years 7 and 9 reading.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to the work of rebuilding public education and lifting outcomes across NSW.

Among our most significant reforms has been our work to address the teacher shortage and ensure every classroom in NSW has a dedicated teacher, by lifting wages, improving job security, reducing workload and improving the classroom environment by banning mobile phones and restoring principals’ authority to manage student behaviour. This work has seen teacher vacancies drop 40% to their lowest level in five years and the number of merged and cancelled classes halved.

The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement we signed with the Commonwealth earlier this year ensures every public school is on a path to getting 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard, with the additional funding going directly towards programs and reforms that will lift student outcomes.

Our ongoing work to lift student outcomes includes:

• Introducing a new Year 1 Number Screening Check trial to assess students’ early numeracy skills, with wrap-around early intervention;
• Delivering the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check with targeted support for schools to ensure students obtain foundational literacy skills;
• Introducing system-wide literacy and numeracy targets with ambitious goals to improve student outcomes;
• Boosting the Small Group Tuition Program to provide more targeted literacy and numeracy support;
• Building teachers’ capacity to deliver the new knowledge and skills rich K-12 English and Mathematics syllabuses through explicit teaching;
• The explicit and systematic teaching of writing is a key focus in all new NSW syllabuses to better support all NSW students. 

The full 2025 NAPLAN national results are published on ACARA’s website.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“Congratulations to all of the students across NSW who participated in NAPLAN testing this year, especially those at more than 300 schools in the state’s north who did so in the face of extreme weather conditions.

“Students, families and teachers across NSW should feel proud of these results – and know that where there are gaps, we are focussed on supporting schools and teachers to close them.

“These results show NSW continuing to perform strongly against national benchmarks, and identify areas that require attention.

“We are committed to reforms that will strengthen literacy and numeracy foundations, including the introduction of an early Phonics and Number Check and a knowledge-rich curriculum explicitly taught across all our schools. These will equip NSW public school students with the vital knowledge and skills they need to achieve excellent outcomes.”

The Minns Labor Government has opened the latest in a growing network of government-owned residential homes, ensuring more vulnerable children in out-of-home care (OOHC) are moved from unsuitable emergency accommodation into stable, therapeutic settings.

The Waratah Care Cottage at Blacktown in Western Sydney is the fourth new property designed to keep sibling groups in the OOHC system together, with a sibling group of three already identified to move into the new cottage in the coming weeks.

The cottages support children who were living in High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs) who cannot be immediately placed with relatives or foster carers, with the former government’s arrangements often seeing sibling groups split up.  

The Blacktown cottage opening builds on a $49.2 million investment in 44 government-owned homes for children in OOHC with the most complex needs as part of the record $1.2 billion Child Protection Package in the 2025-26 Budget – the largest in NSW history.

The purpose-built and upgraded homes will accommodate up to four children each, providing:

• Trauma-informed care in a stable environment tailored to support recovery and wellbeing
• Improved safety and permanency outcomes
• A reduction in the number of children in High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs)
• Greater flexibility for government to respond to placement needs
• Better staffing models that increase visibility and accountability, and reduce service delivery costs

The new homes will be located in metropolitan Sydney and regional areas including the Hunter, using both new construction and upgrades to existing government-owned properties.

This investment reverses the former Liberal and National Government’s complete outsourcing of residential care services, which stripped away public oversight and control, and left vulnerable children without the protections they deserve.

In our first two years, the Minns Labor Government:

• Ended unaccredited emergency accommodation for vulnerable children – meaning no children are living in places like hotels and motels as of April this year
• Reduced the number of children placed in all types of High-Cost Emergency Arrangements (HCEAs) by 35 per cent since November 2023
• Restarted the recruitment of foster carers in the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), a critical program which was disgracefully abandoned by the Liberals and Nationals more than a decade ago
• Recruited more than 240 emergency carers so far, who have kept hundreds of children out of emergency arrangements
• Announced the first real increase in the Foster Care Allowance in 20 years, with $143.9 million budgeted to recognise the critical role of foster carers to keep NSW children safe
• Delivered a record $350 million investment for family preservation programs delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
• Invested $191.5 million to recruit more than 200 new caseworkers and retain 2,126 caseworkers with higher pay and more specialised training, as well as 100 new leading caseworker roles
• Redeployed our best and brightest casework specialists back to the frontline. Already this means more than 300 additional vulnerable children have been given support
• Insourced 300 family time workers, directly employing staff to keep children in OOHC connected to their parents
• Released a comprehensive roadmap for reform

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This new cottage builds on our record $1.2 billion investment to protect and support the most vulnerable children in NSW.

“We are building the capacity of the child protection system to provide safer, more stable care — and reversing years of neglect under the former government.

“Every dollar we invest in frontline services and stable homes is an investment in a better future for these children.”

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“These children have experienced the most serious trauma — and they deserve care, stability, and a real chance to heal.

“For too long, too many children with complex needs have been let down by a system that isn’t providing what they need most: a safe and stable home.

“The government’s historic investment will help us change that. It means purpose-built homes, specially trained staff, and a care environment that supports recovery and hope.

“The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding the system from the ground up — putting children’s safety, wellbeing and futures at the centre of everything we do.”

Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali said:

“I’m incredibly proud that this new Waratah Care Cottage will play a critical role in protecting vulnerable children – and keeping siblings together here in Blacktown.

“It’s not just a house – it’s a safe and supportive home where children get the care and stability they deserve.

“This is what real change looks like on the ground, and I’m pleased to see it’s happening right here in Blacktown.”

Shadow Minister for the Environment, James Griffin MP, has slammed the Minns Labor Government for presiding over an environmental catastrophe, following the release of data showing a 40% surge in land clearing across New South Wales in 2023.

According to the 2023 NSW Statewide Landcover and Tree Study (SLATS) released yesterday, 66,498 hectares of native vegetation were cleared last year – a 40% increase from the previous year, and the equivalent of 237 Sydney CBDs or four Royal National Parks lost in 12 months.

Mr Griffin said the Minns Labor Government has betrayed conservation and communities across New South Wales.

“What we’re seeing is environmental vandalism on a scale comparable with palm oil deforestation in Indonesia. This Labor Government came to office promising reform, and two years later they’ve delivered nothing but excuses and inertia,” Mr Griffin said.

“Labor campaigned in 2019 and 2023 on curbing land clearing yet clearing has exploded on their watch. They campaigned on this issue and have delivered absolutely no solutions.”

Mr Griffin said, “The State of the Environment Report earlier this month was a shocker, the Great Koala National Park is a farce, there are no aquatic reserves or marine conservation ideas to speak of, and clearly the environment doesn’t really matter around the Minns Cabinet table”. 

Labor’s inaction contrasts with the forward-looking initiatives of the previous Coalition government – conservation initiatives such as those aimed at: 

• The establishment of NSW’s first Natural Capital State Accounts – a nation-leading framework to measure, value and protect the state’s ecosystems in economic decision-making.
• Major investments in koala habitat corridors and private land conservation agreements.
• Strengthened data systems for land cover monitoring and vegetation mapping.
• And an ambitious push to integrate biodiversity metrics into infrastructure planning.

Authorised by Chris Stone, Liberal Party of Australia, NSW Division, Level 2, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

Donations by individuals to registered political parties of between $2 and $1,500 in a financial year are tax deductible. Phone: 02 8356 0300.

Privacy Policy

From 12.01am Thursday 31 July to 6am on Saturday 2 August 2025, travel will be free on all Sydney Trains, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services.

Opal gates and readers at Opal enabled train and metro stations will be turned off during this fare free period meaning customers will not need to tap on and tap off.

Passengers traveling on NSW TrainLink regional rail services who purchased a ticket from 12.01am Thursday 31 July to 11.59pm on Friday 1 August will be refunded but must have booked a ticket to secure their seat to travel.

However, passengers on all other services including bus, ferry, and light rail must tap on and off as normal as fares will continue to be charged.

For more information see the news article.

Netball NSW is proud to announce the athletes selected in the 2025 Regional Emerging Talent Team, part of the broader Emerging Talent Program that identifies and supports the next generation of netball stars across Regional, Metro, and First Nations pathways.

Twelve athletes from across New South Wales have been named in this year’s Regional Team, recognised for their skill, dedication, and potential to progress to Netball NSW’s underage 17/U and 19/U State Teams.
Recognising the tyranny of distance, additional travel and accommodation costs, and the commitment required from regional families, Netball NSW is deeply committed to breaking down barriers and nurturing talent from across the state.

“This program gives our regional athletes the opportunity to step into a high-performance environment and see what’s required at the next level,” said Mardi Aplin, General Manager – Performance and Pathways at Netball NSW.

“By bringing them into Sydney for training, we’re able to provide the same quality of coaching, education, and support as their metro counterparts-ensuring an even playing field and a clear pathway to future success.”

Throughout the five-week program, the regional athletes train as part of a 36-athlete performance cohort, coming together for a mix of on-court sessions and off-court education. These sessions are led by Netball NSW’s top coaches and performance staff and are designed to expose athletes to the intensity, preparation, and mindset required at the elite level.

Regional athletes receive targeted support tailored to their specific needs and challenges. This includes training in performance analysis, helping them learn how to review and self-assess their own games at home; education in nutrition and recovery strategies, especially relevant for those who travel long distances to train and compete; access to physiotherapy and injury-prevention resources; and structured workshops in high-performance behaviours designed to build habits for success both on and off the court.

Bringing regional athletes to Sydney ensures they are immersed in a true high-performance training environment, while still being able to connect with teammates and coaches from their home areas.

“While they wear different colours during the tri-series tournament, all Emerging Talent athletes train and grow together,” said Aplin. “It’s not just about skills on the court, it’s about building the confidence, resilience, and behaviours needed to thrive in our sport.”

Athletes in the Regional Emerging Talent Team were identified through a range of talent ID platforms, including Senior State Titles, Regional Academies of Sport, and previous state trials.

The program not only supports athletes but also contributes to long-term talent identification for Netball NSW’s state teams, ensuring that regional athletes are front and centre as selectors look toward future state and national squads.

“We know that talent is everywhere – and this program is about making sure opportunity is too.”

2025 Netball NSW Regional Squad

ATHLETE FULL NAME NETBALL ASSOCIATION 1ST 2ND
Ava Francisco Dubbo GD WD
Chloe Eyles Charlestown GA GS
Emma McCallum Lakeside C WD
Eve Power Newcastle GD WD
Gemma Humphery Illawarra District GA GS
Isabella Christian Illawarra District WD C
Jade Stringer Lakeside GA WA
Molly Brownell Maitland GS GA
Molly Stephen Wagga Wagga WA C
Paiton Cook Newcastle WA C
Skye Hutchison Barellan & District GK
Sophie Lockyer Illawarra District GK GD

Head Coach: Linda Macleod, Dubbo Netball Association
Assistant Coach: Charli Wright, Armidale Netball Association
Apprentice Coach: Alex McNeil, Illawarra Netball Association

The new AUKUS defence agreement made public today between the United Kingdom and Australia cannot hide the core failings of AUKUS. With AUKUS under threat from the US review, this agreement is a step back into the 20th century and further distances us from our neighbours. It makes clear the need for an inquiry into AUKUS.

The detail in the treaty makes clear that Australia is at the bottom rung of AUKUS, with the UK making all critical decisions on the design of the yet-to-be-built AUKUS nuclear submarines, and Australia once again funnelling money and little more.

The 50-year deal has little new detail and is largely a virtue signal to the US seeking the Trump administration’s support for the failing AUKUS deal.

The UK defence budget and industry are in disarray. Since 1972 the UK has made it clear it does not have a meaningful role in defence matters “East of Suez” and the decades since its economic and military reach has only diminished.

This deal also makes clear that Australia will be responsible for high, low and intermediate nuclear waste from UK submarines in Australia, with the limited exception of spent nuclear fuel. The deal will also see Australia “waive all claims for liability” on the transfer of AUKUS nuclear submarines.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Defence and Foreign Affairs, said:

“The Albanese Government has already committed to giving the UK a $5 billion down payment on AUKUS. Of course, the UK is committed to AUKUS; they have found a sucker in Australia.

“With this latest round of AUKUS the Albanese Government is making it clear they would rather handcuff Australia to an erratic bully in the US and a dying empire in the UK than work with our neighbours to have a peaceful and stable region.

“Signing Australia up to a 50-year agreement with the UK like this is an expensive distraction for Australia’s defence and security planners. Think of the message being sent to our region as we invite the UK back, half a century after our neighbours finally saw them sail away.

“These decisions are seemingly being made on the fly and just highlight the urgent need for inquiry into the AUKUS to pull Australia back from this reckless and expensive nuclear folly.”

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