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The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to repair Stockton Beach by allocating $21.5 million in the 2025-26 NSW Budget to continue crucial renourishment works.

The NSW Government is dedicated to the long-term future of this beach. This action, backed by funding, will protect the beach’s natural beauty, Aboriginal heritage, and its recreational and economic benefits.

The Stockton Beach Repair Blueprint outlines the actions required to preserve the beach. The NSW Government has already worked with the City of Newcastle Council to deliver 130,000 cubic metres of sand to nourish Stockton Beach.

The new funding in the 2025-26 NSW Budget will ensure the NSW Government can deliver the next phase of the Blueprint, which involves a range of action including finalising environmental approvals, creating and implementing an environmental monitoring plan, securing licences, planning the approach to procurement, and delivering beach nourishment.

This investment over five years is in addition to the $6.3 million stage one project administered by the NSW Government and jointly funded by the Australian Government and the City of Newcastle Council.

The NSW Government will continue to involve the community and seek their input on the restoration process. The Stockton Special Advisory Panel will continue to provide important stakeholder perspectives.

More information: www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/coasts/stockton-beach-repair-project.

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe:

“The Minns Labor Government has made significant progress on the restoration of Stockton Beach, but there’s more to do.

“This investment delivers on our election commitment and funds the largest beach repair project ever undertaken in NSW.”

Chair of the Stockton Special Advisory Panel Chairman, Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp:

“I have been fighting for Stockton Beach alongside the community since I was first elected as the Member for Newcastle. I secured $21.5 million for mass sand nourishment, and I am so pleased to be delivering on that commitment.

“It’s one thing to have a blueprint – it’s another to have the funding confirmed in this year’s Budget and to be moving onto the net steps of getting sand back on the beach.

“I look forward to continuing as Chair of the Stockton Advisory Panel and working alongside the City of Newcastle in delivering for the Stockton community.”

Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley:

“Locals have fought for action on Stockton Beach for years, and now, the Minns Labor Government is delivering.

“We’ve already seen the first signs of recovery with sand returned to the beach. This next round of funding means we can keep that momentum going, push ahead with planning and approvals, and deliver the long-term solution Stockton needs.

“This is about protecting a place that means so much to locals – for lifestyle, for culture, and for the economy.”

The Minns NSW and Albanese Australian Governments have combined to provide matching funding worth a total of $500 million to kickstart the long-awaited congestion busting Mona Vale Road West project.

The Minns Government is prioritising delivering essential services that people rely on, including key road infrastructure, that will set NSW up for long-term prosperity.

This is about building a better NSW through better economic management, all without privatisation.

Mona Vale Road is one of the most critical arterial roads serving the Northern Beaches area, connecting the Peninsula to the Northern Suburbs. It is a long-standing traffic pinch point.

The NSW State Budget commits $250 million for the project, matching an Australian Government commitment of $250 million on 22 March by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King.

The project involves upgrading 3.4 kilometres of Mona Vale Road from two lanes to four lanes between McCarrs Creek Road, Terrey Hills and Powder Works Road, Ingleside.

Key features of the Mona Vale Road West upgrade include:

• A new traffic signal intersection with Kimbriki Road, including additional dedicated turning lanes and a truck climbing lane
• Relocating the intersection with Tumburra Street to the west by about 40 metres and changing access to left turn in and left turn out only
• Closing the existing intersection with Addison Road to general traffic and restricting access to emergency vehicles only
• Constructing a new local road connection between Bungendore Street and Powder Works Road, using the existing Harvey Road corridor, and extending the new local road east of Addison Road to meet the intersection of Mona Vale Road and Powder Works Road
• Removing bus stops near Tumburra Street and re-directing bus services along the new local road connection and Tumburra Street to serve existing and future land uses

Other features to encourage pedestrians and cyclists include a shared use path on the northern side of Mona Vale Road between McCarrs Creek Road and Addison Road and upgraded street lighting and landscaping for the full length of the project.

To protect local wildlife, there will be a 40-metre fauna bridge over Mona Vale Road and two fauna underpasses. 

NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to infrastructure that improves people’s lives in NSW.

“I am delighted to be able to give the green light on this project which will make a real difference to the local community with congestion and safety improvements over 3.4 km of one of the busiest arterial routes on the Northern Beaches.

“I acknowledge the constructive role played by the local State MP, Jacqui Scruby, and the local Federal MP, Sophie Scamps, in advocating for this project to be brought forward. This is an example of local representatives working together across the aisle for a good community outcome.

“The most important thing this announcement delivers in the certainty for the project to proceed. Transport for NSW will now be able to move ahead with critical planning work along this important corridor that has significant biodiversity, terrain and technical challenges to be addressed.”

The Minns Labor Government is returning 1.6 hectares of parkland to the people of the Inner West thanks to a $4.8 million investment in the 2025-26 Budget.

For years, central areas of Callan Park have been neglected and locked up by condemned buildings which are not only an eyesore but a safety hazard and a target for vandals. 

This Minns Labor Government investment will enable the demolition of nine derelict buildings over two years.

This work is crucial not only to remove unsafe buildings but to deliver more green and open space for the park’s 2.4 million yearly visitors and the area’s growing population. 

By 2041 the five kilometres around Callan Park is expected to be home to 415,000 people.

Unlocking more open space for people to play, relax and gather is a key step as the area welcomes more housing thanks to the Minns Government’s Transport Oriented Development Program and the Low and Mid-rise Housing Policy, which are expected to deliver higher density in well located areas.

Home to the popular Bay Run, Callan Park is a special place not just for locals but for visitors from all over Sydney and New South Wales, and an important link in Sydney’s broader network of parklands and waterways. 

This investment is part of the ongoing transformation of Callan Park into one of Sydney’s significant urban parklands, providing quality open space and recreation areas for locals and people from across Sydney and New South Wales.

The Minns Labor Government is building better communities for NSW by delivering the green and open space needed to support growing populations.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Minns Labor Government is putting an end to the neglect of Callan Park and investing to restore more quality green space for the growing Inner West community.

“Callan Park is a jewel in the crown of the Inner West, but these nine buildings have been left to deteriorate beyond repair becoming a stain on the park’s reputation.  

“By demolishing these buildings, we will return 1.6 hectares of green open space to the community which is the equivalent of 4000 large picnic blankets or two football fields.

“We’ve unlocked housing density in the streets and suburbs surrounding Callan Park and this funding will make sure future residents have more quality green space in their neighbourhood.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen said:

“Callan Park is beloved by the Inner West community as a space to gather with family and friends, relax, exercise, and connect with nature and this announcement will further expand its capacity to support our growing community.

“The Minns Labor government are reclaiming areas of Callan Park that have been neglected for years to again make it an inviting place for today and into the future while celebrating and respecting its past.

“I look forward to seeing green space replace the eyesore of these derelict buildings and returning use back to the community.”

In an Australian first, the Minns Labor Government has mandated all hospitality staff and liquor licence holders receive specialised sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention training.

The training will enable hospitality staff to identify and respond to sexual harassment and sexual violence in licensed venues, is part of an update to the state’s Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training program.

The additional training is an important step in helping improve workplace safety for hospitality staff across NSW.

RSA training is mandatory for anyone who sells, serves or supplies alcohol in NSW. Certification is valid for five years and must be renewed to remain current.

The new sexual harassment and sexual violence course material was developed by Liquor & Gaming NSW in partnership with Good Night Out, an international campaigning organisation focused on gender-based violence prevention in night-time economies.

Approved training providers must now deliver all RSA courses using the updated materials.

This update builds on last year’s RSA training handbook revision, which included new guidance on drink spiking, and is part of a broader strategy to improve both patron and workplace safety in the hospitality industry.

The strengthened RSA module gives hospitality workers a clear understanding of the law, including the differences between sexual harassment, sexual assault and drink spiking.

It explains how alcohol can affect a person’s ability to consent and the role coercion can play. The training reinforces that alcohol is not the cause of sexual violence and is often used to excuse perpetrators and shift blame onto victims. Staff will also be trained in how to respond when patrons disclose sexual harassment, sexual violence or suspected drink spiking, and how to connect them with appropriate support services.

Licensee training has also been updated to reflect employers’ obligations under the federal government’s Respect@Work legislation, which requires businesses to take proactive steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment, including providing relevant education and training for all employees.

The licensee training now references workplace safety requirements for prevention of sexual harassment in addition to guidance on patron safety requirements.

These changes complement existing initiatives such as Think Safe to Drink Safe and Ask for Angela, reinforcing the NSW Government’s commitment to a safer, more inclusive night-time economy.

Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said:

“We want NSW to be the global gold standard for live music, nightlife and entertainment. That only happens if our venues are safe, welcoming and respectful for everyone who walks through the door.

“The updated RSA training course gives hospitality staff real-world tools and guidance needed to step in, defuse trouble and assist their patrons when it counts.

“One of the key priorities in the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy is safety for night-time workers and these changes are all about ensuring workers can look after their colleagues and customers.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

“Sexual harassment and sexual violence have no place in NSW and are completely unacceptable in our pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants.

“That’s why it is so important that RSA courses now include training on how to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and violence and that this training is required to gain certification to serve or supply alcohol in NSW.

“These changes will give the more than 100,000 workers who complete a course each year the skills and confidence to recognise and respond to unacceptable behaviour and is a major step towards making venues safer for everyone.”

Minister for Work, Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“Sexual violence and harassment have no place in any workplace or community.

“SafeWork NSW is committed to educating employers, enforcing Work Health and Safety laws, and supporting respectful, safe workplaces across the state.

“With a dedicated Respect at Work team and the largest investment in workplace mental health in NSW history, we are strengthening protections and expanding specialist inspector roles to prevent psychosocial harm and workplace sexual harassment.

“Every worker deserves to go to work and return home safely to their loved ones.”

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

“The NSW Government has a zero tolerance approach towards sexual violence and harassment, and we are working to stop it before it starts.

“We are implementing the first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy in NSW to address the underlying and gendered drivers of violence against women.

“It’s important for us to engage with people where they live, learn, work, socialise and play, including the hospitality sector.

“This training is one example of the work underway to change the beliefs and cultures that tolerate or condone violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said:

“There should be no places or spaces where women in NSW feel unsafe. Everyone should feel confident that they’ll be safe when they’re socialising or working in a bar, club, restaurant or pub.

“These changes to RSA training represent an important step in making these spaces safer and more respectful for women. Women will be reassured that staff in licensed venues across NSW will now receive enhanced RSA training, and that this will better equip staff to recognise and respond to unsafe or unacceptable behaviour.”

Full Stop CEO Karen Bevan said:

“Full Stop Australia welcomes the addition of new and updated sexual violence prevention and response content in the Responsible Service of Alcohol framework. We were pleased to support the development of the content.

“Sexual violence is widespread and prevalent across the community, and particularly in nightlife settings. Ensuring hospitality staff are equipped to respond sensitively and safely to disclosures of sexual violence is a positive step towards improving outcomes for victim-survivors. Nights out should be fun and safe for everyone. This change is a step in the right direction to ensure the safety of all workers and patrons in NSW venues.”

Support: Anyone impacted by sexual violence can contact the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 on 1800 424 017.

NSW Government taxes and charges on new housing remain at record levels and the highest in the country notwithstanding today’s Government announcement. The Opposition welcomes giving developers a choice to do works in kind to partially meet those taxes and charges, but the total amount they have to meet remains the same.
 
Nearly two years after slapping homebuyers with the Housing and Productivity Contribution, Labor now wants credit for releasing a draft guideline that gives developers a way to do the Government’s job for it — building basic infrastructure. But the tax still stands.
 
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Labor is always quick to blame others but slow to deliver.
 
“This announcement is an admission that Labor can’t build the infrastructure needed to support housing — so now they’re begging the private sector to do it instead.
 
But the $12,000 tax per home still exists, driving up costs and driving down supply,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said Labor’s move is too little, too late.
 
“The $12,000-a-home tax is still there, it’s still pushing up prices, and it’s still holding up supply.
 
While the Government tries to distract with this announcement, the real sting in the tail is that all HPC concessions come to an end on 30 June. 
 
Today’s announcement is an attempt to soften a policy that’s done nothing but make the housing crisis worse,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
Shadow Planning and Housing Minister Scott Farlow said Labor was pretending to fix a problem it created.
 
“Developers have been asking for this. The Government promised it two years ago and they have been sitting on their hands ever since.
 
This isn’t reform — it’s a panic patch job, and the tax hasn’t gone anywhere. Housing is still less affordable because of Labor,” Mr Farlow said.
 
The Housing and Productivity Contribution, introduced by Labor in October 2023, adds up to $12,000 per new home in charges. That cost still applies. The only change today is a draft guideline letting developers pay the tax by delivering infrastructure such as roads or schools, or land themselves.