16 News – Page 13 – Newcastle and Australian News

Greens call for immediate new laws to keep billionaire donations out of state elections as Labor’s botched electoral laws are found unconstitutional

The Victorian Greens are calling on the Allan Labor Government to immediately introduce laws to cap political donations ahead of Victoria’s state election in November as the High Court has ruled that Labor’s existing donation laws are unconstitutional.

The Victorian Greens say that Labor has botched these donation laws from the start by including a sneaky loophole that allows Labor and Liberals to collect millions of extra dollars through their ‘nominated entity’ slush funds.

This dodgy loophole has caused the High Court to throw out Victoria’s donation laws entirely, meaning Victoria now has no cap on donations from corporations and billionaires to elections, putting our democracy at risk and allowing big money from the likes of Gina Rhinehart, the gambling and fossil fuel industry to flow to Labor, Liberals and One Nation.

The Greens say that immediate action must be taken, otherwise Labor is allowing big corporations and billionaire donations to influence the state’s election later this year.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“In Labor’s desperate attempt to cling onto their political slush funds, Labor have completely botched these donation laws. As a result, the Victorian state election this November could be influenced by multi-million dollar donations from big corporations, Gina Rinehart and other billionaires who want to buy our democracy for their own gain.”

“If Labor doesn’t take immediate action to cap donations to political parties, they’re giving big corporate interests and billionaires free reign to influence this year’s state election. We cannot afford to have a system like the United States where billionaires and big corporations can buy politicians and elections.”

Doubling down on AUKUS, gambling on Trump, is not a defence strategy that will keep Australia safe

Defence Minister Richard Marles today used his National Press Club address to launch Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy, a document billed as a landmark reset of Australia’s defence posture. It was anything but, it has Labor doubling down on its dependency on the US, while applying tricky accounting on defence numbers to placate the Murdoch media and the increasingly volatile US leadership.

Greens Senator and Defence Spokesperson David Shoebridge:

“It is astonishing that nowhere in his “landmark” defence speech did Defence Minister Richard Marles even mention Donald Trump or the chaotic behaviour of the US and its military. That tells you everything about how detached this strategy is from the world we actually live in.

“Minister Marles has looked at the last twelve months of global chaos and decided China is the main threat to peace. Someone should check if he owns a television.

“Minister Marles still talks of “impactful projection” with his plan to project Australian military force anywhere on the planet to police global trade. This is a foolish and dangerous strategy that inevitably embeds us into global US military deployments.

“At its core this new strategy is doubling down on the US alliance, while still pretending it is based on a “shared commitment to rules, sovereignty and self respect.” You can only deliver this message if you actively ignore all the evidence of the US actively trashing international law and peaceful norms.

“For all the trumpeting of increased spending it’s worth noting it’s primarily delivered by an accounting trick where defence pensions get rebadged as defence spending and most of actual budget increases are being sunk straight into the AUKUS submarine black hole.

“This current strategy is a frantic attempt to convince News Corp and the US leadership of our unquestioning loyalty, it has nothing to do with pivoting towards a genuinely sovereign defence force that would protect us here at home.

“The US is an increasingly rogue actor pursuing its own interests, not ours and any rational review of national defence needs to acknowledge this.

“Real human security means investment in defensive capacity plus investment in renewable energy, housing, health and education. The things that actually keep Australians safe.”

Migration numbers explode under Labor as standards slip

New data released today shows Labor has no plan to address Australia’s migration crisis.

ABS data published today reveals 1,154,000 permanent and long-term arrivals to Australia over the year to February 2026.

In 2026 we are seeing the highest levels of annual arrivals on record in fifty years (since 1976).

Permanent and long-term departures over the same period were just 675,000 resulting in net permanent and long-term arrivals of 479,000.

Under this Labor Government net permanent and long-term arrivals have risen and been consistently between 400,000-500,000 per annum – and only showing signs of stabilising at this elevated level.

Under the Coalition Government (2013- 2022) net permanent and long-term arrivals were consistently around or below 300,000 per annum.

“These figures confirm what Australians already know: Labor has lost control of our migration program,” Mr Taylor said.

“Numbers are too high, standards are too low, and the national interest has been left behind.

“Australia’s migration system must serve Australians first. That is why the Coalition will put Australian values at the heart of our immigration policy, restoring integrity, strengthening social cohesion, and protecting our way of life.”

“Migration should strengthen our nation, not strain it. We will lower the numbers, lift the standards, and ensure every decision is guided by our values, our interests, and our future prosperity.”

“Labor is not taking responsibility for the broken migration system that is in urgent need of reform,” Senator Duniam said.

“There are too many overstayers and the Government hasn’t been able to assure that those coming in are committed to Australian values. On top of that, the Government is not building enough houses or adequately expanding our services to keep up with demand.”

“The system has to be more targeted than what we have seen under this Government. They have to do better so that current and future Australians can enjoy a standard of living that should be expected in our country.”

The Coalition’s Australian Values Migration Plan will protect Australians’ way of life and restore integrity to our migration system.

Our plan will lift standards and reduce numbers to ensure migration serves Australia’s national interest by:

Putting Australian Values First – placing Australian values at the centre of our migration laws and ensuring our system always prioritises Australians.

Shutting the Door to System Abuse – cracking down on unfounded asylum claims and preventing people from remaining in Australia illegally.

Showing a Red Light to Radicals – strengthening security screening to stop terrorist sympathisers and high-risk individuals from entering our country.

A Coalition Government will also enshrine Australian values in law by making adherence to the Australian Values Statement a binding condition of every visa.

$41 million road upgrade cruises past midpoint

The largest road project funded by City of Newcastle has crossed the halfway mark, with dual lane upgrades set to ease traffic congestion in the western suburbs by Christmas.

The $41 million road widening project is a response to bottlenecks along Minmi Road and Longworth Avenue at peak times, and is designed to improve traffic flow for the tens of thousands of residents and commuters who travel through Wallsend every day.

City of Newcastle Interim Executive Manager Project Delivery Matthew Bennett, Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk, Daracon Project Manager Alison Wood and Councillor Callum Pull view progress on one of the Minmi Road sections of the Western Corridor Road Upgrade project.

When complete, more than 20,000 tonnes of asphalt will have been installed as part of the project, alongside 5.2 km of kerb, 92 stormwater pits and 7,100 sqm of landscaping to bolster Wallsend’s urban forest.

City of Newcastle Interim Executive Manager Project Delivery Matthew Bennett said the western corridor project was the city’s largest and most ambitious road upgrades to date.

“From the realignment and relocation of key services with partners like Hunter Water, Ausgrid and Telstra, to the forward-thinking approach we’ve taken to greening the streets and median strips, we can be proud of the progress made so far,” Mr Bennett said.

“In the coming weeks, you’ll see work switch onto the northside of Minmi Road east of the Summerhill Road roundabout, and sections at both ends of Longworth Avenue, near Newcastle Road and Cowper Street, reach completion.

“Additionally, significant underground and foundation work has been completed to deliver additional benefits to the local community.

“This is not just a road duplication project, it’s a major, long‑term investment in our western corridor.

“The project delivers new and upgraded stormwater infrastructure, watermain upgrades to improve water quality and security, and a comprehensive street garden program designed to reduce urban heat in the area.

“Upgrades to the traffic signals at the intersection of Longworth Avenue and Cowper Street further enhance safety and efficiency for all road users.”

Minmi Road duplication An aerial view of progress on the lane duplication along Minmi Road, Wallsend

City of Newcastle received $7.61 million under the NSW Government’s Accelerated Infrastructure Fund towards this $41 million project. The project is estimated to support 3,000 homes.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully welcomed the progress made on a project that will significantly improve the link between Newcastle and its growing western suburbs.

“It’s great to see the $41 million road upgrade progressing, which will deliver a tangible improvement to traffic flow for commuters travelling to and from the city,” Mr Scully said.

“This project is paving the way for suburbs like Minmi and Fletcher to support more homes for people in the Newcastle region.”

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said that reaching the halfway point on this project is a significant milestone for the entire region.

“Labor is delivering the essential road upgrades the region needs – projects like this that keep people moving, support local jobs and ensure freight and services can get where they need to go without delay,” Ms Catley said.

“This project is about delivering the roads that connect communities to work, school and essential services, while improving safety and cutting congestion.

“With the announcement that the Heatherbrae Bypass is now complete and this project hitting its halfway mark, we’re getting on with delivering a more connected road network right across the Hunter, building for what the region needs now and into the future.”

State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery said once complete this will be a game changer for residents.

“This is an exciting milestone for a project which will have long term benefits for our community,” Ms Hornery said.

“The upgrade will improve travel for thousands of people that travel through Wallsend every day.”

Ward Four Councillors Elizabeth Adamczyk, Deahnna Richardson and Callum Pull welcomed news the project was tipped to conclude by Christmas.

“Roadworks of this scale of course don’t come without disruptions for neighbouring and nearby properties, so we’d like to extend thanks to our residents for their patience while City of Newcastle has been completing these essential upgrades,” Cr Adamczyk said.

“These upgrades are the largest roadworks project we’ve ever delivered, and it’s been great to see City of Newcastle and Daracon working in partnership with the Wallsend community and other agencies to minimise disruption,” Cr Pull said.

“In addition to widening the road, it’s fantastic to have active and public transport upgrades incorporated into the program, such as the shared cycleway and footpath that will run along Minmi Road,” Cr Richardson said.

To keep up-to-date with the latest information, visit the project page on City of Newcastle’s website.

Collaboration leads to unique Indigenous cultural experience

A City of Newcastle program, which is designed to develop and promote new tourism products, has helped two local operators create a new First Nations experience for women.

Moon Woman Gathering on Water (Gilayn Galbaan Yalawanyi Bathuga) is a two-hour cruise on the Hunter River at Carrington, under a full moon, that invites women to reconnect with the rhythms of moon, tide and Country through cultural teaching, reflection and guided practice.

Nicole Herring from Nova Cruises, Aunty Theresa Dargin a Warrimay Nyuragil woman, Natalie Kelly from Nova Cruises and City of Newcastle Executive Manager Media Engagement Economy and Corporate Affairs Nick Kaiser.Passionate Warrimay Nyuragil woman, Aunty Theresa Dargin, was selected to be part of the 2025/26 Product Mentoring Development Program to learn from the expertise of past participants such as Natalie Kelly from Nova Cruises.

Their collaboration led to the development of Moon Woman Gathering on Water (Gilayn Galbaan Yalawanyi Bathuga), with the first cruise to take place on Friday 17 April.

Aunty Theresa said she’s looking forward to providing a culturally grounded experience for visitors and community alike.

“As a Warrimay Nyuragil woman, lore woman and cultural knowledge holder, it is important to me that these experiences are shared respectfully and create opportunities for deeper connection to place and story here in Newcastle,” Aunty Theresa said.

“I’m grateful to be part of the Product Development Program and to be working with the team to continue developing meaningful visitor experiences that honour Country and culture.

“I’m also thankful for Natalie and the Nova Cruises team for their openness and collaboration in bringing this initiative forward.”

City of Newcastle Executive Manager Media Engagement Economy and Corporate Affairs Nick Kaiser said the Product Mentoring Development Program helps local businesses develop and promote bookable experiences.

“We want to increase the appeal of Newcastle as a tourism destination by adding to the number and diversity of available products,” Mr Kaiser said.

“Businesses take part in workshops, receive mentoring from previous participants and six months of ongoing business support.

“We’re excited to see this new collaboration between Aunty Theresa and Nova Cruises, and what other ideas come out of the program in the future.”

Natalie Kelly from Nova Cruises said they love collaborating with other local businesses to create new tourism products.

“When we met with Aunty Therese Dargin the initial idea was helping Spiritual Waterways offer on-water experiences to schools,” Ms Kelly said.

“From there we discussed creating a tourism product for Newcastle and Moon Woman Gathering on Water (Gilayn Galbaan Yalawanyi Bathuga) was the result.”

“We’re very proud to be part of this bespoke Indigenous tourism offering in Newcastle.”

For more information on this unique experience visit the Nova Cruises website.

Applications for City of Newcastle’s next Product Development Mentoring Program will open later this year.

City of Newcastle climbs to new heights with $1.1 million playground investment

A new benchmark for playground upgrades will be set this month when City of Newcastle starts work on the replacement and enhancement of the Lambton Park play space.

City of Newcastle has invested more than $1.1 million across six neighbourhood playground projects this year, the highest number completed in a 12 month period since the annual Playground Replacement Program began almost a decade ago.

Artist’s impression of the planned upgrades for the Lambton Park playground, shown from an aerial view. In addition, City of Newcastle is also on track this year to deliver the city’s first regional-level inclusive play space and waterplay area in Foreshore Park.

Executive Manager Community and Recreation, Lynn Duffy, said the work at Lambton Park reflects City of Newcastle’s long-term approach to providing quality, inclusive recreation spaces for the community.

“Lambton Park has been a much-loved play space in Newcastle for decades,” Ms Duffy said.

“These upgrades will enhance existing equipment, introduce new play elements and support the enjoyment of the playground for children and families for years to come.

“During the life of our annual renewal program we have upgraded 34 local playgrounds, ensuring facilities remain safe, fun and engaging for children across Newcastle.”

The upgrades will be delivered in two stages to ensure part of the playground remains accessible during construction. The commencing works will form stage one and are expected to be completed mid-year, with stage two scheduled to follow later this year.

Stage one will introduce a range of new equipment designed primarily for children aged two to eight years, including a double swing and nest swing, a small trampoline, spinner, rocker and a main play structure featuring a slide and climbing nets.

The equipment sits amongst mature trees, providing extensive natural shade throughout the park. Inclusive design elements have been incorporated at ground level such as voice tubes and a role-play shop to support users with physical access needs.

The upgraded playground will sit alongside City of Newcastle’s recent redevelopment of a former 1940s Baby Health Centre. The building is set to reopen its doors as First Light Café on 22 April and will provide access from the rear of the cafe to the playground with a ramp for families, parents with prams and people with mobility needs.

The renewal and upgrade of play equipment at Lambton Park follows the delivery of upgrades at Whistler Parade Reserve in Maryland last month, where new equipment including a see-saw, spinner, rocker, bridges and slides were installed.

City of Newcastle has also delivered improvements across four other sites this financial year, with Beauford Avenue Reserve in Maryland receiving a new playground and a half‑court basketball area, while updated play equipment was installed at Stockton Swimming Centre.

Upgrades were also completed at Johnson Park in Lambton and Morpeth Road Reserve in Waratah West.

New study hub opens in Hay to boost regional workforce and keep students local

Students in Hay and across the Southern Riverina can now access tertiary education closer to home, with a new Country Universities Centre (CUC) officially opened yesterday.

Co-located at the TAFE NSW Connected Learning Centre, the Hay CUC provides high-speed internet, dedicated study spaces and academic support – making it easier for students to undertake tertiary study close to home.

The new centre is part of a growing network that has supported around 7,000 students across NSW since 2017, helping to build a pipeline of skilled workers in areas such as health, education, and community services.

Students across the network are enrolled in more than 616 courses through 171 tertiary providers, with most graduates going on to live and work in regional communities – helping address local workforce shortages.

The Hay centre has been established through Australian Government funding, with support from the NSW Government, and demonstrates how co-locating university study hubs with TAFE NSW facilities can deliver more connected education pathways in regional communities.

Country Universities Centres also support greater participation in higher education among underrepresented groups, including students balancing work and family commitments, with many the first in their family to undertake tertiary study.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“Students in Hay can now access hundreds of courses and study close to home, without the cost and disruption of moving away.

“These centres are delivering real results – helping more regional students get qualified and go on to work in their local communities, particularly in areas like health and education.

“By co-locating this centre with TAFE NSW, we’re making it easier for people to move between vocational training and university study, all in one place.”

Building the skills to power the next generation of council EV fleets

The Minns Labor Government is backing councils to super charge their electric vehicle fleets, ensuring they have the workforce needed to service and maintain EVs into the future.

Twelve apprentice mechanics from six Sydney councils have undertaken hands-on training during a four-day EV workshop with TAFE NSW. The workshop in Western Sydney provided practical, on-the-ground training and the skills needed to power the shift to electric, keep services moving and fleets on the road.

The workshops are funded by the Minns Labor Government as part of the $252 million Fresh Start program which is enabling councils to hire an additional 1,300 apprentices, trainees and cadets in councils across the state.

The Fresh Start program is building a pipeline of skilled workers with over 1,100 already working in NSW councils. The program is providing careers for young people to work in their local community, which is particularly important for rural and regional communities.

The TAFE NSW EV workshops give council apprentice mechanics the specialist skills to inspect and service EVs as more councils move to electrify their fleets. The training includes:

Depowering and reinitialising battery EVs
Inspecting and maintaining battery EVs
Diagnosing and repairing high voltage rechargeable energy storage systems in battery EVs
Diagnosing and repairing system instrumentation in safety interlocks in battery EVs.

Training more regional mechanics and expanding the EV Fleets Incentive Program are key focus areas of the Minns Labor Government’s 2026 Electric Vehicle Strategy. Around $5 million will be invested in training around 2,000 mechanics in regional NSW to safely service EVs and charging infrastructure.

The NSW Government has invested in more than 3,300 EV chargers across 1,200 locations including service stations, regional visitor centres, holiday hotspots and residential streets.

Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig said:

“With the current fuel prices, councils need support to future-proof their workers and fleets – we’re delivering exactly that. The Minns Labor Government’s Fresh Start program is equipping mechanics to service electric vehicles and keep local services running.

“There’s never been a more important time to make sure local government staff have the skills they need to keep their fleets on the road. In uncertain times, the shift to electric is becoming a non-negotiable for councils needing a future-ready plan. This program delivers the skills and roadmap councils need to succeed.

“By upskilling council mechanics to work on electric vehicles, we can cut costs, keep jobs local and in-house to make sure councils are ready for the shift that’s already underway. It’s about doing things smarter and backing our workforce for the future.”

Member for Prospect, Hugh McDermott said:

“The Minns Labor Government is ensuring our local mechanics have all the skills they need to service the next generation of electric vehicle fleets.

“The innovative Fresh Start program ensures that TAFE continues to play a vital role in delivering capability for Western Sydney, future proofing our council fleets and giving our mechanics crucial expertise for the future of the industry.”

General Secretary of the United Services Union, Graeme Kelly said:

“The United Services Union wholeheartedly supports the Minns Labor Governments initiative investing in more than 1300 local government apprentices and trainees, particularly the Fresh start EV upskilling project that will ensure councils across NSW are well placed to meet the mechanical needs of the fleets of the future”.

Historic pay increase for nurses & midwives

Nurses and midwives will receive their largest pay increase in more than two decades after a ruling from the independent industrial umpire today, with the wage boost being an all-time record-breaker for the lowest paid amongst them.

The Minns Government welcomes the decision delivered by the Industrial Relations Commission, which was restored to resolve exactly this type of matter.

The ruling will see nurses and midwives receive an historic pay rise of between 16 and 28 per cent.

Backdated to July 2025, the pay rise will comprise a reset increase of between 10 and 22 per cent. This will be followed by a 3 per cent increase from July 2026 and a further 3 per cent from July 2027.

Labor was elected with a mandate to scrap the Liberals and Nationals’ unfair wages cap and restore the independent adjudicator. Since then, we have worked closely with workers and unions to rebuild the industrial relations system, putting fairness back at the centre of workers’ pay. This includes:

Delivering record pay increases to paramedics, police, teachers and other essential workers.
Making good on our commitment of ensuring a fair, modern and sustainable wages policy.
Hiring more than 5,000 nurses, who are working in hospitals right now.
Saving the jobs of 1,100 nurses the Liberals and Nationals would have axed.
Helping attract and retain the essential workers NSW needs.

All this has been achieved through careful economic management, while putting people at the centre of decisions. Our approach has been in stark contrast to the Liberals and Nationals’ reliance on short-sighted privatisation and punitive wages freeze.

The Opposition must now come clean on whether it remains committed to a wages policy that leaves workers going backwards, after it suppressed pay and refused to introduce safe nurse-to-patient ratios while in government.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Nurses and midwives are the beating heart of our health workforce and while we acknowledge this was a hard-fought dispute, we believe it is a fair outcome.

“This pay rise is meaningful cost of living support that would have been impossible under the Coalition’s oppressive wages freeze.

“Bringing back the Industrial Relations Commission to serve as an independent umpire is a much better way to resolve a dispute than a blunt wages cap.”

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“Nurses and midwives will receive one of the largest pay increases in a generation.

“This historic pay increase would not have been possible without the hard work undertaken between the Minns Labor Government and the union movement.

“Together, with the Nurses & Midwives Association, we have worked to recruit 1,200 nurses to roll out staff to patient ratios, saved 1,112 nurses that the Coalition planned to axe, and we will deliver one of the most significant pay increases for nurses and midwives in a generation.”

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said:

“For too long, nurses and midwives have been held back by the former government’s draconian wages freeze.

“After 12 years of neglect, we promised to rebuild the state’s essential services and reform the state’s industrial relations system.

“The days of governments dictating wages are now over.

“We’ve introduced a modern bargaining framework, rebuilt the Industrial Relations Commission and we’ve changed the law to put the achievement of gender equity as an object of the Act.

“90% of nurses and midwives are women and today’s outcome demonstrates why gender equity matters.”

A better way to pay: Minns Government completes roll out of contactless ticketing program for regional and rural buses

The Minns Labor Government has made it easier for commuters in rural and regional NSW to access public transport, with contactless payments now available on nearly 350 fare-paying buses across 47 local bus networks.

The tap and go payment system means commuters can leave their wallet at home, accepting payments from phones, smartwatches, as well as credit and debit cards.

The program has been delivered in just 10 months, from its launch in Wagga Wagga in July 2025 to completion in Queanbeyan earlier this month.

On the buses where Transport’s contactless ticketing technology has been installed, in total more than 140,000 tickets have been purchased, accounting for about 40% of journeys.

The Minns Government has partnered with 28 bus operators, ranging from small, single vehicle, family run businesses to larger multi-depot companies to deliver this upgrade, as well as software and hardware partners TransportMe and Littlepay.

The Contactless Ticketing Program does not include dedicated school services where students mostly use pre-paid bus passes or NSW TrainLink long distance coach services where tickets are pre-paid.

Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government has listened to regional communities who told us they wanted simple, modern ways to pay for their bus trips.”

“After over a decade of delay under the former Liberal and Nationals government, which failed to deliver contactless ticketing to the regions, we’ve rolled this program out right across rural and regional NSW, bringing these services in line with what city commuters have had for years.

“We’ve seen strong uptake where this technology has been introduced, with 40% of commuters choosing to tap and go.

“We know that making buses easier to use can help boost patronage and give families the option to leave the car at home, saving on fuel and everyday costs.

“Of course, cash is still available for those who’d like to use it, but this is an important change, giving regional communities more choice and making it easier to catch the bus.”